The Honor Of Being Known As The Pill Preacher
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Matthew 11:19-The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
The enemies of Christ paid Him one of His greatest compliments by giving Him a name that they meant as an insult: a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Years ago, some people in Eastern Kentucky likewise paid me a compliment by giving me the nickname of “the pill preacher.” While some no doubt meant this designation as an insult, I consider it a great honor. I am humbled and thankful to have a reputation of being a Gospel preacher who has a lot of experience working with addicts.
You see, some of the best people that I have ever known are addicts. There is, sadly, a lot of misunderstanding in the church about ministering to addicts. One deals with what I call the strongholds of addiction, of which we may say there are at least six. Addicts need to be ministered to in all six of these areas in order to have lasting and meaningful healing.
The first stronghold is what we might term physical addiction. Addicts often abuse substances, and as a result, their bodies can become physically dependent upon the substances that they abuse. Just as diabetics may need medical intervention in order to treat their physical symptoms, so addicts may also need medical help to treat their physical dependency. Over the years, I have seen much good come from such chemical treatments as Suboxone clinics. The Bible authorizes the legitimate use of drugs (cf. Luke 10:34; 1 Timothy 5:23). Addicts who seek legitimate medicinal help should not encouraged and supported in this, not looked down upon or shamed for needing assistance. Indeed, addicts will often tell you that it isn’t another high that they are seeking: it is an attempt to avoid the horrible pains of withdrawal.
The second stronghold is what we may term environmental. This has reference to how a person’s surroundings and environment (including friends and family) may influence their addiction. While it is a cliche, it is true: people, places, and things matter! An addict needs to be able to undergo a change of environment in order to live triumphantly over addiction. Family and friends who enable addiction and addictive tendencies need to be removed, and friends and family who will support an addict in his struggle against addiction must be introduced. This is one of the places where a strong and encouraging church family becomes absolutely imperative (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Romans 15:14).
A third stronghold is one of trauma. When we are talking about trauma, we are speaking about areas of a person’s life that have been touched by adversity and tragedy of different degrees and types. One stronghold that I have noticed with many addicts I have worked with is abuse (including sexual abuse). As with other aspects of ministering to addicts, the body of Christ is blessed with many professional counselors who can help survivors of traumatic experience. We can do our best to to be a good friend and listen to what our addicted friends have gone through, offer. spiritual and Biblical counsel which will often include encouraging them to seek professional help to help them cope with what they have endured.
A fourth stronghold of addiction is what we may term spiritual. Many addicts turn to drugs in order to fulfill some spiritual craving or void that they have come to realize. Perhaps the drugs are from a desire to seek out God in some way, or as an expression of a crisis of faith, or maybe even anger towards Him for some perceived wrong that He has committed. It is here especially that we as Christians need to do our best to equip ourselves with knowledge of Christian evidences and Apologetics (Isaiah 1:18; 1 Peter 3:15).
Addicts often have excellent questions: let’s help them to see that God’s Word has excellent answers.
A fifth stronghold that we may say helps to ensnare the addict is what we may identify as the pleasure stronghold. Very simply, drugs can lead to extreme physical pleasure. One friend told me that the pleasures of drugs can be illustrated by imagining everything pleasant that you have ever associated with what you hope Heaven will be like, and then having that given to you multiplied by a hundred in chemical form. None of this should shock us: after all, the Bible tells us that sin is pleasurable!
Hebrews 11:24-26-By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
The example of Moses really teaches us how we can minister to this stronghold of addiction. Pleasure is a good thing that God has given to mankind, but it can be abused when it leads people away from Him. Left unchecked, a life of self-seeking pleasure will lead to destruction (Romans 6:23). As such, addicts (like every person who follows Jesus) need to decide which is more important: their eternal soul (and true lasting joy in this world with promise of the next), or momentary sinful pleasure that will lead to Hell (1 John 2:15-17). If we follow Jesus, there will be times that we will sin and fall short-but His grace will provide forgiveness as we walk with Him (1 John 1:7-9). However, He will help us to develop holiness as we walk with Him (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 4:13).
That brings us to a final stronghold that is often overlooked (whether through ignorance or fear): a demonic stronghold. The Bible teaches that demonic spirits are real, and that they can gain access to a person through abuse of drugs. As an example, consider the Greek word pharmakeia, translated as “sorcery” in the NKJV (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 9:20-21). This is the origin of such English words as “pharmacy” and “pharmaceuticals.” The word had reference especially to the abuse of drugs, and to the ways that demons gained a foothold in a person’s life through such abuse. Far from teaching as many Christian’s today believe, the Bible testifies that demonic influence and activity increase during the Christian Age (cf. Matthew 7:21-23; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Revelation 16:13-14).
How do we minister to those who are under demonic influence? The main key is the Good News of Jesus. Paul says that in the act of baptism, the penitent believer is delivered from the control of these principalities and powers (Colossians 2:11-15). That doesn’t mean that the battle ends at baptism, as those forces still watch us and try to find ways to destroy us (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). In the Christian life and ministry, there will be needed times of specialized prayer and fasting for those who are struggling through various forms of spiritual warfare (Mark 9:29).
Addicts are loved by God. They are not “bad people.” Many of them have simply fallen victim to some of these strongholds that we have been discussing. May God help us to love them as He does.
Father, thank You for our loved ones who are addicts. We pray for them today, bringing them to You and asking for Your healing and intervention in their hearts and lives. Please encourage them, and help us to do what we can to minister to them. We thank You for Jesus our Savior and Hope in this world of despair. We praise You. In His Name we pray, Amen.