Did you know that modern addiction treatment is rooted in Christian faith-based principles? The psychologist Carl Jung was once faced with a seemingly hopeless case of alcoholism. He told the patient that his only hope was a "spiritual or religious experience – in short, a genuine conversion." That patient's name was Rowland Hazard and he did have a genuine conversion.
Hazard was moved, by Jung's prescription for spiritual change, to seek out the Oxford Group, a Church ministry intended to help men overcome sin. He met and became friends with Bill Wilson, who would be one of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. The two recruited more men who were struggling with alcoholism until it was time to form a new group that was specifically intended to focus on addiction. Wilson later wrote to Carl Jung, who responded with some interesting insights. He said, "Alcohol in Latin is “spiritus” and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum." That means "spirit against spirit." In other words, addiction is an attempt to fill a spiritual hole, which can only be remedied by spiritual healing. Sin and Addiction Addiction should be treated as a disease--not a moral failing. However, many people with substance use disorders know that addiction often comes with immense guilt because of the moral problems it can cause. Addicted people may relate to the apostle Paul's words in Romans 7:15-20: "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." Paul is talking about the sinful nature that dwells within Christians, and that they struggle to overcome. But it also sounds very similar to addiction. Many people with substance use disorders know they have to stop but they are unable to stay away from drugs or alcohol. The solution is the same for both sin and addiction and Paul gives the answer at the end of the chapter: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" What is Faith-Based Addiction Treatment? From the beginning, Alcoholics Anonymous was centered around realizing your addiction has gotten out of your control and that you need to rely on a "higher power" to help you deal with it. Today, programs like Celebrate Recovery take the basic premise of A.A. and get more specific about who that higher power is--namely Jesus. Faith-based addiction treatment will come with many of the same strategies as secular treatment, including assessment, detox, individual and group therapy, and behavioral therapies. However, it will also focus on spiritual healing--forming or mending your relationship with God through the work of his son. Isolation from your community is the enemy of good mental health. Isolation from God is the enemy of good spiritual health. As Jung put it: "An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil." Faith-based addiction treatment is about restoring these relationships so you have more power to achieve and maintain your sobriety. Seeking Faith-Based Addiction Treatment If you or a loved one are seeking faith-based addiction treatment that focuses on spiritual healing and restoration, Wings of Life Recovery is here to help. Our program offers a comprehensive approach to recovery, combining evidence-based therapies with a strong emphasis on faith and community support. Take the first step towards healing and contact Wings of Life Recovery today to learn more about our recovery program. Comments are closed.
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