Addiction is offensive to God?

[MiserereNobis]

49 minutes ago, teddyaware said:

If being unable to conquer an addiction through faith in Christ (after others equally enmeshed in the same addiction do succeed in overcoming their addiction through faith in Christ) will be the cause of certain addicted individuals to be deprived of the fullness exaltation and happiness in the celestial kingdom (with an everlasting consignment to a lower kingdom of glory), how could a loving and just God not find such exaltation depriving addictions offensive? Is God supposed to waive the requirements for entry into the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom out of pity, when he knows full well that addiction — a form of groveling, defeatist idolatry — could indeed have been overcome through the mercy of Christ and his enabling atoning power? Is it love to lie to someone and tell them that their Father in Heaven doesn’t find it tragic and offensive when one of his children gives up on his or her celestial birthright for a mess of soul destroying pottage?

In the eternal scheme of things mercy cannot rob justice, which is why indulging addicts with excesses of pity and misplaced compassion isn’t compassionate at all. Do addicts need to be shown love and compassion in order to persuade them that recovery is essential and absolutely imperative? Of course! But there’s a line that can be crossed where excesses of pity can encourage sin and pacify captive minds until they’re unwilling to awake from the sleep of death.

Bottom line? If I knew our Father in Heaven isn’t offended when the devil succeeds in enslaving his children, to the point where they lose the fullness of his blessings (I.e. failing to become joint heirs with Christ in obtaining the fullness of all the Father’s blessings) I would lose faith in him as the steadfast and immovable God of righteousness.

I dare say that you are addicted to bombastic rhetorical flourishes and hyperbole. 

[Peacefully]

6 minutes ago, MiserereNobis said:

I dare say that you are addicted to bombastic rhetorical flourishes and hyperbole. 

Teddy’s “God” does not appeal to me. I would lose faith if I thought I was serving his idea of “God”.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Peacefully

[MustardSeed]

1 hour ago, teddyaware said:

If being unable to conquer an addiction through faith in Christ (after others equally enmeshed in the same addiction do succeed in overcoming their addiction through faith in Christ) will be the cause of certain addicted individuals to be deprived of the fullness exaltation and happiness in the celestial kingdom (with an everlasting consignment to a lower kingdom of glory), how could a loving and just God not find such exaltation depriving addictions offensive? Is God supposed to waive the requirements for entry into the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom out of pity, when he knows full well that addiction — a form of groveling, defeatist idolatry — could indeed have been overcome through the mercy of Christ and his enabling atoning power? Is it love to lie to someone and tell them that their Father in Heaven doesn’t find it tragic and offensive when one of his children gives up on his or her celestial birthright for a mess of soul destroying pottage?

In the eternal scheme of things mercy cannot rob justice, which is why indulging addicts with excesses of pity and misplaced compassion isn’t compassionate at all. Do addicts need to be shown love and compassion in order to persuade them that recovery is essential and absolutely imperative? Of course! But there’s a line that can be crossed where excesses of pity can encourage sin and pacify captive minds until they’re unwilling to awake from the sleep of death.

Bottom line? If I knew our Father in Heaven isn’t offended when the devil succeeds in enslaving his children, to the point where they lose the fullness of his blessings (I.e. failing to become joint heirs with Christ in obtaining the fullness of all the Father’s blessings) I would lose faith in him as the steadfast and immovable God of righteousness.

That’s too bad.  I hold faith in a God who judges in a way I cannot fathom. 
 

its interesting Teddy- I have privilege to sit with people who agonize over their compulsions. In my real life I can find myself “offended” by behaviors of others.  In my work life, that literally evaporates! I imagine Gods power to love and forgive infinitely more powerful than mine.  Gratefully. 
 

After all we can do. 
 

 

[Rain]

On 10/27/2023 at 6:37 AM, MustardSeed said:

That’s too bad.  I hold faith in a God who judges in a way I cannot fathom. 
 

its interesting Teddy- I have privilege to sit with people who agonize over their compulsions. In my real life I can find myself “offended” by behaviors of others.  In my work life, that literally evaporates! I imagine Gods power to love and forgive infinitely more powerful than mine.  Gratefully. 
 

After all we can do. 
 

 

Years ago I listened to a talk by John Lund.  He talks about a client whose son was terribly out of control in so many ways. He encouraged her to find something positive her son was doing and tell him.

She really struggled with this because so many things were a problem, but tried very hard to find something.

One night he came through the door after curfew and may have been drunk or on drugs - I can't remember the details. And she told him the only thing good she could think.  Something like, "Good breathing son." That one, positive thing changed something in him. It started him back to living a good life.

I'm not saying it was easy or that it will work for everyone. Timing, relationships, experiences etc all play into it.  But I think more often than we realize it is God's love for us that changes us. 

Edited October 28, 2023 by Rain

[Tacenda]

15 minutes ago, Rain said:

Years ago I listened to a talk by John Lund.  He talks about a client whose son was terribly out of control in so many ways. He encouraged her to find something positive her son was doing and tell him.

She really struggled with this because so many things were a problem, but tried very hard to find something.

One night he cams through the door after curfew and may have been drunk or on drugs - I can't remember the details. And she told him the only thing good she could think.  Something like, "Good breathing son." That one, positive thing changed something in him. He started him back to living a good life.

Now I'm not saying it was easy or that it will work for everyone. Timing, relationships, experiences etc all play into it.  But I think more often than we realize it is God's love for us that changes us. 

This is a sweet outcome! And a lesson in finding the good amongst so much bad in people.