Written by: Erik-Jan Verbruggen Translated with Permission<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several years ago, the Knowledge Institute for Christian Mental Health (KICG) published a study on addiction within the Reformed community in the Netherlands. The research was commissioned by various church denominations. The report was given the telling title: Also Among Us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is commendable that various churches have joined forces to conduct research into a serious problem that does not pass by the Christian community. The study revealed that addiction issues are present in one out of five Reformed families. These are sobering figures, confirmed by the experience of those working in counseling. Counselors who work with Christian clients encounter various forms of addiction: excessive alcohol use, drug addiction, pornography addiction, or other forms of sexual addiction, gaming addiction, and so on. The reality of addiction has a profound impact\u2014it destroys the life of the addict and is also devastating to the peace within marriages, families, and sometimes even church congregations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no reason whatsoever to look down on those who have become entangled in the snares of addiction. Addiction lurks in every human heart. Everyone has some area in life where they must be on guard\u2014alcohol, media, sexuality, food, work; a pattern can easily develop in which healthy use shifts into excess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spiritual Struggle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What can we learn from Also Among Us<\/em>? The study reveals something of the spiritual reality in which we live. The prince of darkness has aimed his fiery arrows particularly at the destruction of the Christian marriage and the Christian family. Addiction is one of the instruments he employs for this purpose. It is necessary that we receive an eye for the spiritual reality in which we stand. 2 Corinthians 4:6 states \u201cFor God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.\u201d That is what Satan wants to prevent at all costs. That reality lies behind these addiction statistics. Reading such a study can stir a longing for the powerful and irresistible work of the Holy Ghost. Then we break free from addiction and become truly a slave\u2014a servant of the Lord, someone who gives themselves wholly in His service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wake-up Call<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Among Us <\/em>shows that addiction is a serious and widespread problem. Many will agree with that conclusion. Yet in practice, it is difficult to look honestly in the mirror. When it is your own children having one too many beers with friends, or when your own internet habits start showing addictive tendencies, it is hard to face. Rev. M. Messemaker called the study a \u201cwake-up call\u201d in the Reformatorisch Dagblad<\/em>. And rightly so. Addiction to alcohol, drugs, or pornography should never be dismissed as something that will simply go away on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Counseling and Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This study also emphasizes the need for effective counseling and support. The vast majority of Christians consider it important to receive help from counselors who understand their background and provide guidance based on the Bible. At the same time, the available support options are often not easily accessible for everyone. This is where counselors have work to do. Perhaps more can be achieved in the field of addiction through mutual cooperation among Christian counselors. This would bring nothing but benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy Families<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Addiction also highlights the importance of a healthy family. Addiction is often an attempt to fill an inner emptiness\u2014a spiritual emptiness. But that emptiness can also arise from loneliness and a lack of genuine connection with others. An American psychiatrist once made the striking statement that \u201cfather hunger\u201d is one of the main causes of today\u2019s problems. Addiction is often an escape from difficult family circumstances, a sign of low self-esteem, or a cry for attention. Pornography, alcohol, or drugs then function as a way to escape reality, as an effective means of numbing emotional pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that a healthy family is a wonderful place to make children resilient against addiction. A family where love dwells, where there is genuine connection, and where parents are available to their children provides a strong foundation. This makes children resilient against the enticing emptiness of addiction. We need families where love dwells, where biblical parenting is truly practiced, and where the fear of the Lord resides. Every father and mother has work to do in this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compassionate Pastoral Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This study also gives the churches some homework. It is quite striking to read that many people experience a significant barrier when it comes to seeking support from church office-bearers\u2014while such support is of immeasurable value. This research points to the great need for compassionate pastoral care. In our churches, we must truly make pastoral care a priority. The study underscores the immense importance of that biblical calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, there are many good examples of pastoral care for those struggling with addiction, in which the church community plays a deeply meaningful role. Yet more can still be done to make pastoral care more accessible, so that those wrestling with addiction feel safe enough to bring their struggles into a pastoral setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not only a task for office-bearers\u2014it deeply concerns every church member. We need congregations where we look out for one another, where we bear one another\u2019s burdens, where we receive those who have made serious mistakes with grace, and where we actually offer them help. In this, there is no congregation that does not have homework to do as a conclusion of this study.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Written by: Erik-Jan Verbruggen Translated with Permission Several years ago, the Knowledge Institute for Christian Mental Health (KICG) published a study on addiction within the Reformed community in the Netherlands. The research was commissioned by various church denominations. The report was given the telling title: Also Among Us. 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