Recovery or Redemption

Perhaps I am making too much out of words but as I have been studying addictions, 'recovery' has become a word of great concern. The question that looms in my mind is 'what are people recovering to?'.

Recently, Tim Keller wrote a book entitled Counterfeit Gods which explores the idolatry of the heart. Keller makes the point that we can honor, esteem or adore those things which are both good or bad. Having a child is a good thing. Having a spouse is a good thing. Holding a job and supporting a family is a good thing. Attending church is a good thing. However, when those good things become god-things the individual is left less than satisfied. For when a good gift becomes the identity, significance and worth of an individual it will inevitably fail to fill the void only the Giver of the gift can satisfy. How can the gifts be more satisfying, and thus, significant than the Giver?

Herein is the essential problem with recovery. 'Recovery' means going back to a previous state of well-being. Within the context of addictions, recovery entails aquiring an assortment of good things (i.e. principles of living and a higher power) with the desired outcome of well-being. But if well-being is the goal, or in other words, if recovery is the goal, then aren't we simply moving people from bad idols to good idols? Instead of finding escape, relief, identity or satisfaction in a destructive substance, we are telling them to find worth, esteem, identity and satisfaction in less volitile activities such as work, family, marriage, education, God etc. Herein God is lowered to another good thing in one's life. It's an irony to call God, 'God' and yet esteem him as just another good thing which accasionally is bowed down to. That is the travesty of recovery! So what is God's solution...

Redemption! Redemption is the deliverance provided by God to those who turn from their sin and trust in the Savior. Initially there is the birthing of new affections wherein one now sees God to be ultimatly valued above all the idols of life. However, as one grows in the knowledge and grace of Jesus there is a constant theme of redemption that is played out. This progressive redemption is the constant deliverance from competing idolatry to worship the God who is supreme. Furthermore, redemption allows us to find deliverance from idolatry, to God providing significance, identity, worth and functionality in Christ. Thus, the void is filled! God is magnified through the redemption of his people and we are satisfied in Christ!

It's been almost a year!!!

So much has been learned in such a short time, and yet 'they' tell us, the learning has just begun. What a joy fatherhood has been this past year. My pride has not been offended so much as it has in parenting which means the gospel has never been so relevant. Moreover, what a joy it has been to be a husband... with a child in the mix! Sharing the task of parenting has brought us closer together as a couple. We find that even really good teamwork breaks down in the flury of child rearing showing us, once again, the gospel is relevant.

Thank you Lord for a wonderful year. Your mercy has been overwhelming. Thank you Jodi for your work and patience. You have been a wonderful mother!

And an early 'Happy Birthday' to Trinity Joy. We love you... a lot!

Group Redemption

I am getting more excited as move closer to beginning Group Redemption. Group Redemption is an addictions ministry of Grace Bible Church where our fundamental goal is to present Jesus to those who are suffering from substance abuse. We want to present Jesus as the sole satisfaction of their heart's longing. We want to present Jesus as the answer to all the facets of our sin; for in every aspect of sin lies its counterpart in the Gospel.

We would appreciate your prayers as the team begins meeting together to seek God's wisdom in developing relationships with those who are from our local community.

Part of our curriculum will consist of Ed Welch's Crossroads. He gives an explanation of it in the following video.

Making Much of God?

Within the ebb and flow of life we often find ourselves either trudging through the valleys of dispair or leaping upon the peaks of prosperity. We are either in the Wilderness or we are in the Promise Land. In either case, unbelief can become an underlying variable which is evidence of idolatry. You see, in moments difficulty we fail to depend upon God and in moments of prosperity we miserably fail to continue to act upon that dependence by making much of God. We can get so enravled by the relief or success of the moment that God becomes secondary.

Recently, one of my friends from church was finally offered a job after several months of searching. These 'several months' were full of wilderness experiences. However, now that God has broken through how quick have we been to thank God? I was talking to a non-believer at a coffee shop. She was struggling with a similar wilderness experience. I aimed at encouraging her by the story of our friends from church. And yet, in the midst of encouraging her I neglected to make much of God's provision. I made much of their relief but failed to bring God into the conversation. And we wonder why unbelievers struggle to see the glory of God. Perhaps we don't make much of it. Perhaps we are full of unbelief ourselves.

Through the peaks and the valleys of life we are guided by the wise hand of God. Through Christ we are provided grace in all circumstances; so whether we walk through the Wilderness or stand within the Promise Land our lives are in the hand of a meticulouly sovereign God who is worthy of our dependence. Furthermore, he is worthy of our conversations with both believers and unbelievers! What can you do today to make much of God?