How can we reach someone who is still stuck in idolatrous addictive behaviors?

by | Jun 2, 2025 | TAC Blog

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By Dr. Mark E. Shaw

I am often asked this question from people seeking answers for people they love who are not yet born again (John 3:3) and stuck in the bondage of addictive struggles.

And I think about all the different ways Jesus healed people while He was on the earth:

  • He spit and made the mud to place into someone’s eyes.
  • He spoke the words, “I am willing. Be healed,” to others.
  • Sometimes Jesus just touched people and they were made whole.
  • Some people reached out and touched Him! 

So just like there was no repeatable formula to Jesus’ physical healings when He walked the earth, there is no key verse or teaching, no formula, no preventive medicine, so to speak, for those in idolatrous addictive struggles.

I have great compassion for those who are hurting. I sometimes wish there was some way to stop their suffering and pain myself, but there is not. I am not able because I am not in the role of “Junior Holy Spirit.” 

That’s a wrong goal actually. I am never to act as if I am God. My responsibility is clear:

Show them the Word.

So while there is not a formula or secret sauce so to speak, here’s what we have to do in order to really love people in addiction.

We have to share the Word of God.

We have to get them in the Word.

We have to teach and instruct them using principles that start from God’s Word. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” Let’s watch the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of unbelievers when they are taught the Word in the context of encouraging them to know the One True God. Only One God will do for eternal life! 

What’s fascinating about counseling people—there is no way to predict the results!

Sometimes people never touch another drug or drink again after they decide it is sinful and want to turn wholeheartedly to God… they are done. They got it!

Another group of people don’t touch it for a week, maybe two weeks… but go back, choosing to “stumble” back into their sin. It is not an accidental stumble into sin and we are addressing this at one of our pre-conferences at The 9th Annual Summit on July 31st in Cincinnati, Ohio!

When they continue to struggle with sinful heart desires, you may wonder: Is God teaching them they have to surrender to Him and they cannot do this themselves on their own? Is God designing this in such a way that the counselor and those around the person in addiction see something in themselves and learn a new aspect of God’s character and love? Regardless, God has a good and loving plan for each individual in their struggles and there is always hope in Christ.

Be Transformed… (Romans 12:1-2)

A man I know very well tells his Transformation Testimony for National Transformation Month (the world knows it as National Recovery Month) on The Addiction Connection Podcast. He had not been using any drugs for 7 years… that’s a long “clean and sober” time and he really thought he was done with addictive behaviors. But he went back to his drug of choice and overdosed in his pastor’s living room. He survived the overdose, praise God. And his transformation took a different route. Now he serves God in his local church and another ministry that helped him in his battle.

Addiction is all about belief.

If we can work people back to one’s heart beliefs, we can get to the heart of addictive struggles. The people we are trying to reach in any sin struggle will always tell you what they think and what they desire (Mark 7:20-23). Looking into people’s hearts isn’t a super power we have to acquire. God’s Word is the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

But you need to cut through some of the psychological lingo. You may hear mentions about what they believe the cause of their addiction is: parents, upbringing, school system, teachers, trauma… as the cause for their addictive behaviors. These are impactful but not causal for addictive struggles. 

We have to bring them to the place where they see that the drug, drinking, or sexual sin behavior is an outward problem manifested from wrong beliefs. Usually, it is not the only sinful thing in their life. A man’s failure to lead his wife, his failure to use his talents for God’s glory, his squandering of his blessings, his failure to live his life to God’s fullest for the glory of God, and failure to steward the grace God has given him are unseen sins that are often missed because the focus is upon the drunken behaviors primarily.

Our goal for individuals is bigger than just recovery, sobriety, and temporary happiness in this life.

It is possible for people to be clean and sober and not know Jesus Christ. Yes, lots of people have decided to stop using drugs, or stop the chaotic living. But the motivation is not for God’s glory, it’s for self and evidenced when they say something like: 

“I’m doing this for me!”

Real peace and real joy only come from knowing the Spirit of God.

Here’s a mind-blowing thought: sometimes our heart’s sinful motivations keep us from sinning in other ways! Whoa! That’s deep and convicting. For example, I knew someone who said that the reason she didn’t drink or do drugs was because she didn’t want to look foolish in front of others; she looked down upon others who were acting silly or out of control. She admitted later that her sinful and prideful love of trying to totally control what others thought of her motivated her abstinence from drinking – not the glory of God. So we have to discover and reveal what is really driving our actions. 

Addiction behaviors are not the worst sin in the world! They’re just an opportunity to help point people to Jesus the Savior of the world. And as always, the results are up to the LORD GOD of the Universe. Only He can transform a human heart and save us from our sins!  

Mark E. Shaw, D.Min., CABC, ACBC, IABC, CADAC II, is a biblical counselor, ordained minister, speaker, and author of 29 books and booklets of hope and help. Dr. Shaw has been involved in counseling since the early 90’s. He previously served in residential care and medication assisted treatment centers (methadone), but making disciple-makers through Biblical Counseling became his passion in 2001. Mark currently serves his local church in Florida as the Nocatee Campus Pastor of Counseling at First Baptist Church Jacksonville.

Dr. Shaw’s resources are found at Focus Publishing and Christian Book Distributors. He can also be found at amazon.com/author/markeshaw

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The Addiction Connection is a network of ministries who offer hope in Jesus for those struggling with addiction of any kind. Our network of encouraging resources, ministries, and biblical programs that stretch across America and the world will always point people to truth in Jesus Christ for answers.

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