In the
parable of the prodigal son, we see many truths about our spiritual lives. But,
there is one aspect that I would like to point out here. (Luke 15:11-32) First
we have the prodigal son who goes into the world and lives for himself. He
lives a riotous life, that mirrors what a rock star might live. You get the
picture. He took the blessings of the father and went into the world and
partied with it.
We also see in the parable that
there is an elder brother, who stays at home with the father. He obeys
everything the father tells him to obey. He lives a humble, austere life at
home. He never ventures out into the world very far. He grows bitter,
resentful, and judgmental. He feels he is owed a blessing for obedience.
We can see these two characters
played out today in our churches. You have the person who grew up living in the
world and went full tilt in it. Then trouble comes into his life and God uses
that time of trouble to draw him to be saved. Then, the person starts trying to
live right and do what they are being led by God to do. But, they are still
very rough around the edges, and know it. They then come to church where they
encounter the elder brother.
This is the person who grew up in
church. The elder brother never strayed too far from the laws of God. Oh sure
they “sinned”.They missed church that
Sunday, and kissed a boy behind the woodshed. They went to that party and got
drunk and had to call their parents from jail that one time. “Never again!”
they promised God, and they kept it. But, they did other things secretly, or
unknowingly, or unadmittedly.
The Elder Brother thinks, whether
they know it or not, “This guy comes to the church, because he’s in trouble. He
took the life, and the gifts, and the image of God and then wallowed in the mud
with the pigs. He’s not well churched. He doesn’t talk right. He’s rough, and
he doesn’t fit in. He will never totally fit in. He still smokes, he cusses, he
has a woman he meets, he drinks, and he just tries to hide it all. He won’t
last long.”
The younger brother feels it. He can
feel that some people in the church will never accept him because of who he
was. He can tell by how they look at him and exclude him, that he is not one of
them. Oh sure they invite him. But, it feels like charity or pity. He hears the
sermons and listens to the teachings and knows he doesn’t measure up. He knows
that he never will. But, they all seem to. They seem to be perfect, even though
he knows they aren’t. Next Sunday he’ll just sleep in.
This scenario plays out in churches
all across this land. Someone wants to change their lives, but the perfect
people become a stumbling block to them. The person who has been involved in
church their whole life cannot understand that the person who has been in the
world, has many layers of things that God must remove over time. It doesn’t
happen overnight. A person gets saved
the minute they confess Jesus as their Lord, but it takes a life time to get
totally healed of the damage that has been done to them.
Don’t
let
the elder brother drive you away from God or from church. Church is a
place to learn, and to grow. It is a place to serve and reach out to
others. It
has great value in your spiritual walk. Seek people in your church who
have a
similar background, or who are more understanding. They are there. Pray
and ask
God to show you. Likewise, Elder brothers need to realize this occurs
and
figure out ways to make it easier for folks to integrate into the Body.
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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern
Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a
poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.
I know this works for some people in thier effort to get clean.
But, I cannot speak in terms of a higher power about someone who has saved me.
He
is a person and He walks with me. He was there before my birth. He was
there as I grew and failed and failed again. He protected me and cheered
for me to succeed.
He was there when I became an addict and wept through the pain with me.
He was there as I chose to do the things I did, and He protected me in my bad decisions.
Then, when it was time. He destroyed my life. He broke up my failure of a life. And began to create a new one.
He allowed me to destroy myself so I could be in a better place. He allowed my marriage to fail, and protected them.
He walked with me through prison. Protecting me and blessing me.
He
restored my life and has given me more than I could ever hope for. He
promises a hope and a future. An abundant life and He has delivered, and
is delivering.
His yoke is easy and His burden light. He helps me with all my struggles.
He is always there. And will always be there no matter what.
He
us not just a higher power. He is the Lord. He is God. He is Jesus. The
Great I Am. The Alpha and Omega. Yesterday, today. And Forever.
---
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He
has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook
called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called
"The Future is
Coming"
and is a collection of dystopian short stories.
As addicts we need to totally change our lives, in order to be free of addictions and the temptations to reuse.
It
is my belief that God created us, and that addiction is not a surprise
to Him. Actually, He created everything associated with addiction, but
the purpose was originally for good. It was to get us addicted to, and
derive pleasure from the good things. It was to help us to be devoted to
God, and the things that benefit our lives. But, we are fallen and
our love and devotion to good things, becomes used for evil and
twisted.
So, as addicts we must replace our bad
addictions, with good things. We must devote ourselves to things that do
not harm us. By doing this it will help us avoid temptations,
controlling influences, and give us a stepping place to be free of
everything, except for what we choose to be devoted to.
Addiction
is not always based on chemicals we consume. Gambling, Sex addictions,
Food addictions, are not caused by chemicals you take. They are from
chemicals produced in the brain, that bring pleasure in some way. Even
the drugs we take influence those chemicals already in our brain.
That’s where the battle must occur.
I am in no way simplifying or
belittling the struggle we as addicts face. I’m not saying that simply
painting pictures, or going to church, or exercising will cure us. I’m
saying these things are tools to a better life, and a distraction from
the gnawing desire of what we crave. Then, over time the craving gets
less and less. It has helped me.
So, let’s begin. These are
things we can become addicted or devoted to that will help us take the
focus off of our current addictions and give us purpose, and hope. The
first thing is;
God– Become addicted to
God, the things of God and serving Him as He calls you. This goes along
with any 12 step program, but what I’m saying is that we really let God
have more of an influence in our life. He calls you to a relationship
with Him. This has worked for millions, and is the real foundation of
AA, and the 12 step programs. Ask God to save you and heal you through
Jesus Christ. Then walk a spiritual path, with Him working in your life.
Addict yourself to it. I have done it and God works in my life daily.
Travel– I use travel as a form of healing. When
I was a drunk, I had no money or real desire to see the world. When I
was in prison I could not see the world. But, now I see it. I use travel
to remain excited about life, and to not have a reason to use. Start
traveling locally. Go to a new restaurant, museums, parks, and the next
town over. Then start planning better trips. Start close, so you will
not get discouraged with costs, or the inability to go. Become addicted
to exploring and freedom. But, remember you are still an addict and need
to avoid triggers.
Health and Fitness– Become addicted to health
and fitness. Eat right, try new diets and join a gym. Start running,
walking, and cycling. Grow your own healthy food. Go to farmer’s markets
and get fresh organic food. Study herbs, and alternative medicines to
avoid the pharmaceuticals. Get addicted to it. Not steroids, but health
and life. It’s a life style change that will help you decide to stay
clean, because you’ve worked too hard to be healthy. I’ve come to a
place in my life, where I try my best to take no meds that are not
natural. You can do it.
Athletics– Get addicted to sports. Not just
watching them, but playing them. Pick a sport you can do, and go all in.
Team sports will help you remain accountable. Individual sports will
help you to be responsible for yourself and increase will power.
Basketball, swimming, rock climbing, softball, tennis, marathons, there
are tons of sports to choose from. I went with running. Study it,
practice it, and get better and better. Addict yourself to it, and let
it heal you. This can be done with other things mentioned here. You can
travel to play your sport. You can be healthy for your sport. You can
talk to God while performing your sport. Get addicted to it.
Outdoors– Get addicted to the outdoors. Get in
love with God’s creation. Go hiking, camping, mountain biking, rock
climbing, kayaking, or just go out there and sit and meditate. I can
tell you that many of the greatest breakthroughs I have had in my
healing have come from being in the woods, alone with God.
Serve others– Get addicted to helping others.
Join groups that are making a difference. Help others with addiction or
who have worse troubles than you. You have come through much, use it to
help others. Save the planet, save animals. Give yourself to God and
others. Watch what happens to you and your life. Often times when we try
to heal others, we find ourselves healed in the process. But, remember
that when you are dealing with people it can tempt you to use. You
should avoid helping other addicts till you are strong enough. Just get
away from that mess. Serve in other ways that is not a trigger.
Start a Business– Get addicted to the
excitement of entrepreneurship. Study, go to school, and get a job in
the field you love or feel called to, then start your own business so
you can provide for yourself and your family. The effort and success
will benefit you in many ways, and give you reasons to stay clean. If
school and jobs are not an option, then just go out and make it happen.
Do not be tied down by fear and controlling influences. Get addicted to
success and being financially free. Learn a trade.
Art– Get addicted to creating art. Embrace your
creative side and let it heal you. Travel to see art. Buy art. Make
art. Go to school for art. Try all the various art forms, painting,
music, writing, architecture, cooking, acting, or any other art form
that speaks to you. The desire to create can help you avoid things that
prevent you from creating.
This is a list of things you can do to change your life and help give
you a purpose and a focus that is not drug oriented. But, be aware that
drugs and alcohol can easily be involved with all these things, and
they can just as easily destroy them. I used alcohol with many of these
things camping, writing, and travel or food. But, it destroyed me and
kept me from them. I would drink while writing, but after a few drinks I
could no longer write, and it eventually kept me from it.
A
person can be tempted while doing these things. Art often links to drug
use. Sports, involves drinking. Business might cause you to be led into
a business meeting where there is alcohol. But, if you use these things
in conjunction with other methods of sobriety such as 12 step programs
or rehab, they can benefit you. The key is to stay away from situations
that will lead you to use, and destroy the life you are trying to build.
I currently use all of these methods in my life. My
life has become full of goodness and focused on so much that I simply
cannot use. I would lose everything. I would not be able to focus. These
things give me more reasons to say no. They give me more reasons to get
up every day and stay sober. God has helped me and opened my eyes to
these things.
Remember, that these things must be a
part of a lifestyle change. They cannot be like a diet, where you are
just trying to lose a few pounds. You must decide to be new, and give
yourself to God, and make changes for real. If you just want to get a
little straight, you will be craving your old life, the whole time you
are struggling to stay sober. You must decide that the new life is
better for you, and be happy about it. You must decide to hate your old
life. You must get addicted to the good things.
You
must wake up to God. You must wake up to life, and hate the death that
once controlled you. You must realize that God is healing you, even if
you can’t see it right now. That is faith. You must wake up to the child
you once were before the poisons took over your life. Remember that
free child who had hopes and dreams? Now, go find that little one.
That’s the real you. Get addicted to the real you.
This is the link to my addiction
recovery book. It’s an Ebook. It tells my story of addiction and
recovery, along with my views on how to stay clean. Made Free: Overcoming Addiction
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.
