tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post4481393658535790192..comments2023-05-16T05:27:36.395-05:00Comments on if life is a highway: The truth is, most Christians think alcoholism is a choiceHeather of the EOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607422301391841377noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-82015819828249151152010-07-02T10:58:48.592-05:002010-07-02T10:58:48.592-05:00Cynthia said it better than I did. That was almos...Cynthia said it better than I did. That was almost exactly what I was thinking. I just couldn't figure out the words to express it. I absolutely agree that alcoholism is a disease.Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06567226067848241071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-64620957096553868612010-06-30T00:31:46.681-05:002010-06-30T00:31:46.681-05:00Could not agree more. Yes. Thanks for saying it ...Could not agree more. Yes. Thanks for saying it so well.Kristen Howertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11055131545156196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-81483423953235996722010-06-28T10:44:10.963-05:002010-06-28T10:44:10.963-05:00Heather, I find the same attitude among Christians...Heather, I find the same attitude among Christians about a whole range of psychological diseases - depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc...that somehow those of us who struggle just aren't trying hard enough. If we prayed enough or had enough self-control, we'd be better. But that's so far from the truth. The truth is that all of these things are diseases. We don't deny people medical treatment and tell them they need to try harder. We treat them WHILE we pray. It shouldn't be any different for alcoholism or depression or anxiety...Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06924784279928092348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-67122168857034219482010-06-28T06:32:31.013-05:002010-06-28T06:32:31.013-05:00Heather,
I'm glad you tackled this topic here....Heather,<br />I'm glad you tackled this topic here. It's an important message that needs to be heard. Thanks for being brave enough to put it out here.Michelle DeRushahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658349105535790020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-88487816709132550482010-06-28T00:04:37.233-05:002010-06-28T00:04:37.233-05:00Thank you for helping ME understand this better. ...Thank you for helping ME understand this better. I have ADD. One third of those who have ADD are alcoholics. There is no doubt in my mind that I would be in that place if I ever drank. As you say, "it is in me". I believe that it is latent in me and so many others who may rush to judge. True, it is only because of the 'no drinking' stance of the religion I ascribe to that I have NOT gone there. At the same time, I know it COULD be me. It could be any of us. And we all need mercy because if it isn't THIS, it's something else.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15300459671364768442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-44731692730303385212010-06-27T19:44:50.466-05:002010-06-27T19:44:50.466-05:00DeNae,
YES, totally agree that this is NOT just a ...DeNae,<br />YES, totally agree that this is NOT just a Christian viewpoint. I'm exposed to this mentality in Christians more often than with other people, but that is just my experience. <br /><br />I know there are all kinds of people who don't fully understand alcoholism. <br /><br />And yes, it doesn't matter in the end HOW we got to that place of need and complete humility. But if we do, it's a gift. <br /><br />I will move on from this place of hurt, I will. I'll never stop trying to help people have a better understanding in a loving way, but I really can't afford to be bothered by it.Heather of the EOhttp://www.extraordinary-ordinary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-27557381614093875292010-06-27T19:10:10.743-05:002010-06-27T19:10:10.743-05:00I'm wondering if it really is just a Christian...I'm wondering if it really is just a Christian thing, or if you notice it because you inhabit a Christian world. I'm pretty sure that if you were a Muslim, you'd be getting the same message - and probably more emphatically - from your fellow practitioners. Just a thought.<br /><br />I think what you're talking about has to do with choices and consequences. As an example, a lot of people choose to have unprotected sex. No one actively "chooses" to contract HIV. But while the choice doesn't always lead to the disease, one doesn't know what the consequence will be until they've made the initial choice.<br /><br />Is drinking "sinful"? I'm not willing to go there; even among Christians there are varying attitudes on the subject. When one drinks, do they "choose" alcoholism? Only in the sense that no one can hope to have full control of the consequences of their choices.<br /><br />So I guess I understand the whole "If A, then B" math that leads to what you're talking about here. But there is a part of me that feels that, regardless of what leads to what, the thing God wants most from His children is for them to take all of their pain and lay it on the altar, and let Him heal it. <br /><br />What does it matter how we got to the place where we realized we couldn't make it without God's help? What good comes from passing judgments on one another? Who is helped by such a useless expenditure of energy?<br /><br />I'm sorry that even religious leaders don't always understand this. I hope you can let the hurt pass.<br /><br />Does it help that I think you're awesome?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07532225334730948057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-37506463184534484182010-06-27T18:54:00.185-05:002010-06-27T18:54:00.185-05:00This was perfect. And I have been thinking lately ...This was perfect. And I have been thinking lately how the only people I know who TRULY GRASP the Heavenly---are those who have been through hell and lived to tell about it. Who found God in that dark place and know Him the better and dearer for it. Who have had His Hand at that their backs and the wind of the Holy Spirit in their face. Who fall and fail and fall again and aren't afraid to call out "HELP ME JESUS" with child-hands outstretched. <br />To me, those are the ones I want to learn from. Those are the ones I see knowing Him and proving Him and bringing Him glory.Sara Sophiahttp://www.tout-est-des-roses.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-19307148036410108722010-06-27T13:55:37.354-05:002010-06-27T13:55:37.354-05:00I guess what I'm saying is that yes, alcohol b...I guess what I'm saying is that yes, alcohol becomes a vice, a person becomes dependent, but when we word it like that, it sounds like a choice.Heather of the eohttp://www.extraordinary-ordinary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-15494119298760102252010-06-27T13:54:36.616-05:002010-06-27T13:54:36.616-05:00just to clarify that last quote. What I'm sayi...just to clarify that last quote. What I'm saying is that alcoholism is a physical disease. My choices could not prevent the fact that I have it. <br /><br />Like diabetes, it's just there, genetic, etc. Sure, someone can eat their way into triggering it, but it's still a disease. <br /><br />For alcoholics, it only takes one drink, one sip, to trigger the disease-beast. The NO off-switch response. <br /><br />The quote is about that, and then comes spiritual upheaval. Which can be true of many, if not all, diseases. We struggle-spiritual.<br /><br />The unique thing about alcoholism in that particular regard is that booze will mess you up and have you doing things you would not normally do. Things that will haunt you. That's the hardest consequence of the illness.Heather of the EOhttp://www.extraordinary-ordinary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-2214955556606119102010-06-27T12:47:24.529-05:002010-06-27T12:47:24.529-05:00I am a firm believer that we all have our "vi...I am a firm believer that we all have our "vices". We don't know what it will be usually until we are in the thick of it. I believe there are a lot of choices in life, and sometimes those choices lead to an addiction. But most of us don't know which ones will do that to us. I have come to realize that I have a very addictive personality, therefore, I choose not to drink (or whatever) because I KNOW that it will be a problem. I know this because of past experience. Once someone asked me how I could forgive something someone I loved hurt me with. I responded that I have these certain problems, and how in the world could I judge that thing when I have my own downfalls? I wouldn't want to be cast aside because of the things that I have done, therefore, I cannot do that to someone else. <br />I also believe that through our savior, we can be forgiven. I have also come to find out that he loves me, a sinner, and he wants me to come to him with my problems, sins and temptations, and hand them over to him . Thank you for sharing such a personal story. You are such a sweetheart.Brookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06567226067848241071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756714016745143007.post-7837285968976693392010-06-27T11:45:03.468-05:002010-06-27T11:45:03.468-05:00Hey there sweet strong girl. I'm applauding ov...Hey there sweet strong girl. I'm applauding over here. I had not realized that was a common belief among Christians - I hadn't heard or encountered it before. I'm sorry that you have to hear and deal with and dodge those kind of 'well-intentioned' comments and armchair analysts. And even beyond alcoholism- you make a good point about people needing to recognize their unknowns as they form their judgments and prepare their lectures. Love to you.<br />-elizabethElizabeth @claritychaoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05378413620649405525noreply@blogger.com