Why are so many admittedly seeking spiritual understanding and fulfillment, but completely against anything to do with the Church or Christianity?
- I feel that the Christian Gospel cannot be received until the person hearing it has been ‘made receptive’ by a removal or disarming of their ego.
- I think the reason so many people genuinely participating in recovery and truly desiring to remain sober and have long-term sobriety are more willing and open to a relationship with Jesus Christ because of their having legitimate recognition of thier own inability to remain accountable to themselves; such people have already gone through the degrading process of addiction and the stripping down of thier ego through suffering and withdrawal, which has removed the strength of the ego, thus opening themselves up to receiving something greater than themselves (i.e. Christ) into their hearts, to accepting themselves as a miniscule part of that something bigger than themselves, and to acknowledging their need for structure, security, and stability rooted in something other than themselves.
When a person has no ‘reason to need such things’, or desire such things, why would they?
- Even if a person does not acknowledge or have awareness of thier need for improvement, there is certainly no denying that an addict has obvious failed to successfully develop and sustain a positive, productive, and peaceful life on their own. And of all the changes a person could make to improve their life and situation, Jesus Christ is certainly the greatest, as demonstrated by true Christians all over the world (NOT by organized religion, but those with a real, personal, living relationship with Jesus).
- The Gospel changes a person wholly inside and out, which will not be desired by those that do not yet realize they must change. Many think that the drug or the addiction was a single flaw in an otherwise perfect picture. This is not true, because the addiction is not an independent problem, it is not a cause either. It is a symptom of deeper problems, which manifest themselves as psychological and later physical dependence to drugs for coping with an overwhelming surrounding, interactive, experiential life.
- The Gospel is a seed, which upon being planted, must be fed. It grows with not water or sunlight, but diligent study of God’s Word; the keeping of oneself reading the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit indwells you upon Salvation, and requires the written Word of God as food to undergo the continual process of Sanctification.
Why do some people despise and disregard the spirituality of a relationship with Jesus Christ when it comes to recovery from drug addiction?
- I think that this is due to the incredible clinging of the addicted mind to the sinful nature of the flesh in physical satisfaction, fulfilling personal desires, and a fear of morality correction. The inner-addict wanting to salvage its presence in the person. When a person comes to Christ, they are no longer left to their free immorality, in the sense that the Holy Spirit convicts one who has professed their faith, driving them to discomfort and distaste to immoral acts and thoughts, which are required for the addict’s lifestyle.
- The addict has become fully saturated with selfishness, and due to his corrupted sense of justification, which compels him to evermore victimization, he rewards and indulges himself with all immoral and sinful desires. Lusting due to his sinful nature, he sees God as an end to his own self-indulgence, as an unwanted accountability, and an infringement upon his own free living.
- It is true, that the sinful addict will be righteously judged and annihilated by God, but this is all the more reason to hear the Gospel and experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit by which you can repent of your sins and receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
- God does not will that He annihilate any person, but as man chooses to disobey and live in sin, God’s Holiness is law, and even God cannot go against His laws. God desires a loving relationship with us, as He sent His only begotten Son to save us, and teach us the way, and provide us a way back to His good graces.
- Repentance is referred to in God’s Word (the Holy Bible) 121 times; as it is very important for one to repent, to turn from their sin and sinful nature, and desire a purification through baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What else contributes to the adverse reactions commonly had to the Gospel by addicts, characterized by anger, disdain, unbelief, and irritability? Why do they typically seem jealous, or somehow ineligible, or stubbornly unwanting of Christ’s loving salvation? What has contributed to their convincing themselves that they do not need the saving Grace of Jesus Christ?
- When one does not have sufficient knowledge of the Gospel, they fill in the blanks with assumption. This causes a powerful confusion as to ‘how it works’. Many do not believe the Word of God, or the fact that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross cleanses the believer of their sins. If they would dedicate a fraction of the time to reading the Bible that they spend disrespecting it, hating Christians, or talking negatively about the Faith of Christians, they would certainly learn and gain insight to the truth they are currently confused about and insufficiently informed of.
- I believe that the misinformation, disinformation, misrepresentation, and massive quantity of those perverting the Gospel and it’s message, falsely proclaiming wrong doctrine, and displaying unbiblical values under the banner of Jesus Christ all contribute to the unbeliever’s and the inexperienced layman’s repulsion at the idea of investing in God’s Word or a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Compared to the larger percentage of those claiming to be ‘Christian’ in the world, when in reality they are merely participating in a shallow, hollow, organized religion of man-made traditions, ritual, and ceremonial law. This is not true Christianity, but unfortunately represents to most what being Christian looks like.
What is so great about having a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Gospel?
- Having such knowledge enables one to establish a relationship with the Lord and Most High God and claim their eternal future life in Heaven, rather than being damned to hell- an eternal seperation from God, held in a place of purifying flames, wailing and gnashing of teeth…
- Being cleansed and forgiven of one’s sin is difficult to describe in mere words the kind of weight lifted off one’s shoulders. Being placed in good standing in the eyes of God our Father through the perfected righteousness of the Son, Jesus Christ, aligns one to God’s will, thus setting you up for continual blessings, rather than curses.
- It answers the big questions of life: Who am I? Why am I? Where am I going? All of these questions are answered and life makes sense in a way that was impossible before, and you will immediately realize just how much negativity and anxiety was being manifested throughout your life outof not understanding the answers to such questions up unto the point of your conversion.
- It comes down to having contentment. Content that I am saved. Content that I have eternal life in Heaven. Content that Jesus is with me, in me, and Him for me and I for Him. There is a protected place in my mind and in my heart, that nothing of this world, nothing in this life could ever touch. The truth has set me free. The truth that Christ is Lord, that I have His Holy Spirit, that I have His Eternal Word, I have been forgiven, I am loved, and I am a precious creation that was led astray by the sinful nature of the flesh, but have been able to get back to the Lord’s intended way of life…I have salvation, hope, peace of mind, and eternal life in the presence of Almighty God! The Divine Creator of ALL!!!
- It is aligning oneself with the law(s) of the universal creator, our God Jesus Christ. Disobedience is swept away. God’s law is a restrictive, tremendous, and dominant force only to the lawbreaker (sinner). To keep the law is to be kept by it; to move freely and serenely within it. To violate the law is to feel the heavy displeasure and opposition of God. Courage, strength, and security which God bestows is the natural heritage of every honorable person. It is only the individual who has some ulterior motives within himself who resents God and His law, or regards Him as any infringement upon his own liberty. For all liberty is liberty under law and law under God; liberty within the great structure of God given law. And the greatest liberty man has is the liberty and right of a voluntary, personal adjustment by which he can choose immediately to align himself with the great patterns by which God’s universe is sustained. Thus with God, we can gradually come into a friendly relationship by hearing the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Why are so many admittedly seeking spiritual understanding and fulfillment, but completely against anything to do with the Church or Christianity?
- I feel that the Christian Gospel cannot be received until the person hearing it has been made receptive by a removal or disarming of the ego.
- I think that the reason so many people that genuinely participate in recovery and truly desire to remain sober and have long-term sobriety are more willing and open to a relationship with Jesus Christ is because of their having already gone through the degrading process of addiction; the stripping down through suffering and withdrawal has removed the strength of the ego in those individuals, which opens them up to receiving Christ into their hearts, to accepting themselves as a miniscule part of something bigger than themselves, and to acknowledging their need for structure, security, and stability rooted in something other than themselves.
When a person has no reason to need such things, or desire such things, why would they?
- The Gospel changes a person wholly inside and out, which will not be desired by those that do not yet realize they must change. Many think that the drug or the addiction was a single flaw in an otherwise perfect picture. This is not true, because the addiction is not an independent problem, it is not a cause either. It is a symptom of deeper problems, which manifest themselves as psychological and later physical dependence to drugs for coping with an overwhelming surrounding, interactive, experiential life.
- The Gospel is a seed, which upon being planted, must be fed. It grows with not water or sunlight, but diligent study of God’s Word; the keeping of oneself reading the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit indwells you upon Salvation, and requires the written Word of God as food to undergo the continual process of Sanctification.
Why do some people despise and disregard the spirituality of a relationship with Jesus Christ when it comes to recovery from drug addiction?
- I think that this is due to the incredible clinging of the addicted mind to the sinful nature of the flesh in physical satisfaction, fulfilling personal desires, and a fear of morality correction. The inner-addict wanting to salvage its presence in the person. When a person comes to Christ, they are no longer left to their free immorality, in the sense that the Holy Spirit convicts one who has professed their faith, driving them to discomfort and distaste to immoral acts and thoughts, which are required for the addict’s lifestyle.
- The addict has become fully saturated with selfishness, and due to his corrupted sense of justification, which compels him to evermore victimization, he rewards and indulges himself with all immoral and sinful desires. Lusting due to his sinful nature, he sees God as an end to his own self-indulgence, as an unwanted accountability, and an infringement upon his own free living.
- It is true, that the sinful addict will be righteously judged and annihilated by God, but this is all the more reason to hear the Gospel and experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit by which you can repent of your sins and receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
- God does not will that He annihilate any person, but as man chooses to disobey and live in sin, God’s Holiness is law, and even God cannot go against His laws. God desires a loving relationship with us, as He sent His only begotten Son to save us, and teach us the way, and provide us a way back to His good graces.
- Repentance is referred to in God’s Word (the Holy Bible) 121 times; as it is very important for one to repent, to turn from their sin and sinful nature, and desire a purification through baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What else contributes to the reactions to the Gospel characterized by anger, disdain, unbelief, and irritability? Why do they typically seem jealous, or somehow ineligible for Christ’s loving salvation, thus convincing themselves that they do not need the saving Grace of Jesus Christ?
- When one does not have sufficient knowledge of the Gospel, they fill in the blanks with assumption. This causes a powerful confusion as to ‘how it works’. Many do not believe the Word of God, or the fact that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross cleanses the believer of their sins. If they would dedicate a fraction of the time to reading the Bible that they spend disrespecting it, hating Christians, or talking negatively about the Faith of Christians, they would certainly learn and gain insight to the truth they are currently confused about and insufficiently informed of.
What is so great about having a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Gospel?
- It comes down to having contentment. Content that I am saved. Content that I have eternal life in Heaven. Content that Jesus is with me, in me. There is a protected place in my mind, in my heart, that nothing of this world, nothing in this life could touch. The truth has set me free. The truth that Christ is Lord, that I have His Holy Spirit, that I have His Eternal Word…I have salvation, hope, peace of mind, and eternal life in the presence of Almighty God! The Divine Creator of ALL!!!
- It is aligning oneself with the law(s) of the universal creator, our God Jesus Christ. Disobedience is swept away. God’s law is a restrictive, tremendous, and dominant force only to the lawbreaker (sinner). To keep the law is to be kept by it; to move freely and serenely within it. To violate the law is to feel the heavy displeasure and opposition of God. Courage, strength, and security which God bestows is the natural heritage of every honorable person. It is only the individual who has some ulterior motives within himself who resents God and His law, or regards Him as any infringement upon his own liberty. For all liberty is liberty under law and law under God; liberty within the great structure of God given law. And the greatest liberty man has is the liberty and right of a voluntary, personal adjustment by which he can choose immediately to align himself with the great patterns by which God’s universe is sustained. Thus with God, we can gradually come into a friendly relationship by hearing the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.
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