Addictions Quotes

“If our failure to consistently worship the true God is the key feature of sin, we are sinners all.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Addictions are ultimately a disorder of worship: we worship our desires over God. We desire the things of earth more than the One who rules it. This being so, worship is the true deepest need for addicts, as it is for all people. It is during worship that we are most fully human. As we worship, the Spirit changes us. Sometimes this change is the more ordinary, imperceptible, and gradual change that is similar to the growth of a child. At other times, worship changes us more dramatically. Either way, when our hearts are pointed toward the risen Christ, we can’t help but be changed in some way. This change, too, teaches us to remember. When we hear the stories of how God transforms people, it reminds us that God is making us to be “like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Our liberation comes through a person, not a system of ideas and principles. "Everything we need for life and godliness" ultimately comes "through our knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:3).”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel

“the desire is overwhelming. Why? Because there is availability without accountability.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“When it comes to addictions, we tend to divide humanity into two groups: those who are prone toward addictions and those who aren’t. The reality, of course, is very different. All human beings have already fallen into sin.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Sin is not rational.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Is it still difficult to see the spiritual core of addictions? Here are some simple questions that might expose it: While you struggled with addiction, was it ever accompanied by the fear of the Lord? Did you ever have a keen sense of the presence and holiness of God when you struggled with addictions? Did you ever have a sense that you were spiritually growing in repentance, faith, and obedience while in your addiction? When we have a disease, we can still be growing in the knowledge of Christ, but addictions are incompatible with spiritual growth.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Sin is not rational. It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t look into the future. It doesn’t consider consequences, especially if they are not immediate. All it knows is “I WANT—I WANT MORE.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Have you ever found yourself flirting with sexual temptation through a long gaze or sexual fantasies?”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:26-27).”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“When addicts turn away from the Lord and gaze at the object of their desire, God becomes a distant memory. Since one common belief is that God is going to keep us from something good, we try to distract ourselves from remembering him.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Addicts have already proven to themselves that there are things in this world that are more attractive to them than God himself, whether it is comfort, power, pleasure, or reputation. Whatever they have worshipped, however, cannot compare to the God who has revealed himself as the One who always says, “I love you,” before we say it to him.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Change starts, proceeds, and ends with Jesus. We look to Jesus and away from ourselves.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“When our worship is true, we experience joy, peace, love, and hope, even in difficult situations. When our worship is false, and the things we desire are unattainable or impotent, we can be grieved, bitter, depressed, angry, or fearful. Our emotions usually mean something, and it is wise to ask, “What are my emotions saying?” “What are they pointing to?”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Addiction is bondage to the rule of a substance, activity, or state of mind, which then becomes the center of life, defending itself from the truth so that even bad consequences don’t bring repentance, and leading to further estrangement from God.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Most researchers are quick to point out that the biologically oriented studies suggest that genetics can influence people, and with this Scripture has no dispute. People can be physiologically predisposed to enjoying a particular drug, food, activity, or physical experience, but there is a categorical difference between being influenced by genetics and being determined by it.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“It is just to say that, for the addict, slavery with the object of desire is sometimes preferable to freedom without it.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“When you look at it closely, drunkenness is a lordship problem. Who is your master, God or your desires? Do you desire God above all else, or do you desire something in creation more than you desire the Creator? At root, drunkards are worshipping another god—alcohol. Drunkenness violates the command “You shall have no other gods before me.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Sin is ultimately against God. It is any failure to conform to the law of God in either action or attitude”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Sin by its very nature is more often quiet and secretive than loud and public. For every overt episode of rage, there are dozens of jealousies, manipulations, white lies, and malicious thoughts, none of which immediately register on the conscience. And, according to Scripture, the greatest sin of all is even more covert: I do not love the Lord my God with my whole mind and heart. If our failure to consistently worship the true God is the key feature of sin, we are sinners all.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“If addictions are really as prevalent as they seem, we would think that Scripture would be preoccupied with this struggle. And it is.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Worship often takes our attention off ourselves completely. It isn’t necessary to relate our worship of God to what he has done for us. God is great and worthy of our worship regardless of what he has done for us! Yet, having blessed the name of the Lord together, it strengthens our faith to remember what God has done for us, and also to hear what God is doing in other people.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Worship is the work of acknowledging the greatness of our covenant Lord.”1 It can certainly be done privately, but worshipping corporately is more in keeping with the greatness of God’s worth—it is more aptly proclaimed by a choir of people. When we proclaim God’s great worth together, songs of praise are most frequently associated with worship, but they certainly are not the totality. Some of the greatest times of worship are words of praise that are spoken rather than sung (cf. 2 Chron. 20:21; Isa. 6:3). The key is that worship proclaims the greatness of God as he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“If the temptation hooks our desires, we go public. We confess it to a friend, we confess it to the Lord, we get other people praying for us, we ask for counsel that helps us to see that the Serpent is dangerous. Above all, we remember that God’s commands are good. They are intended to bless us.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Jesus tells us to bring nothing so that he can be the One to give us everything. It is this true grace that brings glory to God. If you want something to do, here is one of the hardest—believe. Believe the gospel of grace and be thankful. The reason the world avoids any discussion of sin is that it knows very little of the astounding grace of God.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“This, however, is similar to God saying that the land belonged to Israel. They were promised the land, but they still had to fight for it. Furthermore, not all the battles were successful.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“The violent take it by force” is how the King James Version puts it (Matt. 11:12). That is the way the kingdom of God advances. With persecution outside, Satan fighting us through temptations, and our own lusts within, every disciple of Christ is in a battle, one that demands spiritual strength and ongoing vigilance.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“As a way to practice saying “no,” consider small fasts. You could give up food, desserts, computer games, or other activities important to you. This is not a way to punish yourself for what you have done. It is simply a way to have more practice at self-control. Remember that self-control is a skill that develops with practice.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“If the potential presence/arrival of another person can reveal the ungodliness in our behavior, how much more the coming of Christ himself?”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave

“Selfcontrol is the skill of saying “no” to sinful desires, even when it hurts.”
― Edward T. Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave