Fallen Condition Focus

The sequence of temptation is the lust of the Flesh. The second is the lust of the eye’s, and the third is the pride of life.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn, is a remarkable book on the effects that sin has on humanity now after the fall in the Garden of Eden, and how God uses His unfailing grace to redeem us from our sin so that we can still live in relationship with Him. The author discusses the different beliefs when it comes to sin and how many people believe that sickness and health issues are directly related to the sin that you have going on in your life. He then counters those beliefs with his personal beliefs and

Even though Psychologists have generally been uninterested in sin or the concept of sin, as Christian’s counselors, we must understand sin from theological and spiritual perspectives. McMinn’s believes that changing behavior in a client is not more important than changing the inner life of a client. These methods will also allow personal honesty, humility, and discernment in the Christian counselor’s personal and spiritual

1) Content: God gave Adam by design all that he needed
2) Command: God gave Adam a command
3) Challenge: Satan lies, lures, and tempts us to go against God, as if God is withholding something good from us
4) Courage or Coward in our Choices: to appreciate and obey or lust wanting more than we have and disobey God
5) Consequences: to our wrong choices always brings death to relationships and our soul
6) Covering: we need to be restored and forgiven to be in a right relationship with God and man

2. Jesus (the flesh body of Jesus) had a certain time that He began on this earth. A time came when he went off the earth. We do not know him after the flesh anymore (II Corinthians 5: 16) because He became the Word again. Jesus said, “Things concerning me have an end” (Luke 22: 37).

Substance abuse providers that believe spirituality and religion is one in the same, may hold the belief that an individual that is an atheist or agnostic will not have the opportunity to acquire spiritual opportunities when participating in alcohol and addiction programs (Sussman et al., 2013). In addition, these substance abuse providers may believe that when an individual that eliminates alcohol and drug abuse without the intervention of spiritual assistance, such as a Higher Power, they may believe that the individual will not have the capability to achieve and maintain balance within their sobriety and recovery. Sussman et al. (2013) suggests that these substance abuse providers unknowingly engage in a thought process that includes stereotypes. Suggesting that individuals, who engage in spiritual behaviors that do include a Higher Power, are more deserving of achieving sobriety and recovery because they are practicing by being involved with working the 12-step program, thus, making them more righteous in obtaining a blessing from their Higher Power. Noteworthy, the term spirituality is often linked with religion with no specific boundaries out of lack of knowledge. Engaging in a spiritual practice that allows an individual to have a spiritual solution that is higher than them and gives them hope has a significant influence on alcohol and drug abuse. Gedge and Querney (2014) describe discussing spirituality with

other addiction treatments, such as Rational Recovery, fail to incorporate spirituality as a vital dimension in recovery due to the misunderstanding between religiosity and spirituality. The science community has always been at odds with religiosity and spirituality throughout history as research has shown. However, as we aim to become a more culturally competent society, looking at research that shows the importance of spiritual principles and practices in addiction recovery, should compel clinicians to incorporate it in other treatment programs besides twelve step programs. The inclusion of spirituality in addiction recovery should not be optional as it is not restricting one to a particular doctrine, but rather freeing an addict to obtain a healthy quality of life which is the ultimate goal. Arnold et. al

But God restored us to himself through his love and mercy and saved us with his grace (v. 4-7).

However, Christ’s resurrection ensures our regeneration. We have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peter explicitly connects Jesus’ resurrection with our regeneration or new birth (1 Peter 1:3-4). When Jesus rose from the dead, he had a new quality of life, a “resurrection life” in a human body and the human spirit that were perfectly suited for fellowship also obedience to God forever. In his resurrection, Jesus earned for us a new life. Notably, we do not receive all the new “resurrection life” when we become Christians, for our bodies remain as they were, still subject to weakness, aging, and death. But in our spirits, we are made alive with new resurrection power.

The moral model of addiction developed when religion and the clergymen within were held in great respect. They were considered to be highly knowledgeable on issues of human behaviour thus; they held great influence over society and offered a moral guide on the behaviour of people. The moral model of addiction is based on the assumption that substance misuse is the outcome of moral weakness and bad character (Wilbanks, 1989, p.408). According to Wilbanks (1989), the moral model views addiction as a choice made by those with low moral standards and addicts are characterised as inherently

Disease of the human spirit does fit within the bio/psycho/social models. The spiritual model of addiction indicates that substance use and abuse is the result of a spiritual weakness within the person. Every addiction is a disease of the spirit (Doweiko, 2015). People that have a deeper involvement with the church have a decreased risk of developing an addiction. Spiritual development includes the acknowledgment of the pain and suffering

II. Main Point 2. God tells us in 1 John 1: 9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And again in 2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

When Jesus died on the cross he was giving up his life for other people's sins and demonstrating the love of God. When Jesus rose again he proved that it was possible to overcome death and live with God for all eternity. Christians were freed from the burden of original sin if they followed Jesus' teaching and example and believed in him as the Son of God. Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies' - John 11:25-26.