Colossians 2:8 states: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

The idea that “mental illness” and “addiction” are diseases to be coped with is a worldly idea – and not biblical – though many claim “biblical roots” for these worldly ideas.

Nowhere in the Bible does God call these problems a “disease.” It is a man-made concept and is really a PHILOSOPHY for living as mentioned in Col. 2:8 above. The originators of the idea of the “disease concept” of “addiction” devised a philosophical idea based upon the symptoms they observed for those who struggle in overcoming alcohol and drug abuse. They have no explanation for the heart of the problem other than it is a “disease” because they believe mankind is born “good.”

Biblically, the problem is a sin nature issue of the heart of man who becomes enslaved to the physical power of the addictive substance. God gave it the general name of “idolatry” and the specific name of “drunkenness.”

Though God’s words to describe the problem are far more convicting than mankind’s words, God’s prescription for fixing the problem through the power of Christ is far more gracious and hopeful than the world’s ideas to cope with the problem for the remainder of your life. God offers answers but only in Christ.

**The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Col 2:8 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).

-Mark (reading the Word of Truth not the “best” ideas of mankind)