Addiction: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:04, 28 April 2016

What is addiction and how does it work? If a "Rat Park" is part of the solution what does the Kingdom of God Park look like? 5:41

Addiction

Addicted is defined as "physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects."

There are many forms of addiction. The principles that help us overcome addiction are often applicable in a variety of ways. What we are dealing with here is an addiction to benefits, aid or welfare that comes from men who call themselves Benefactors, known as the Welfare of the World.

This includes any benefit offered to people that is obtained by taking something away from other people by the use of threat, duress and coercion. This would include all forms of welfare including Public Education, Social Security, Food Stamps, medicare, etc. All those benefits are the result of governments that take from people by force to provide other people with benefits.

This covetous practice curses children and makes people merchandise and is an anti Christ behavior that proves many people are taking the name of the Lord in vain when they say they believe in Jesus the Christ.

While preachers are paid millions of dollars and theologians produce distracting debilitating doctrines to help people justify coveting their neighbor's goods to provide what they want for free, the people are lost for lack of knowledge that there is a better way to deal with their needs. Jesus warned us about Becoming dependent upon the very Fathers of the earth who turn the people into addicted Human Resources and make us a surety for these rulers' lust for power. This leaves us hopelessly addicted to the benefits of the Corban of the Welfare State which makes the word of God to be of none effect.

The Bible, from the beginning to the end, has preached the solution concerning the tyrants and despots of the world like Cain, Nimrod and Caesar. That solution is Charity and Freewill offerings by people who are willing to gather together in forgiveness and loving one another instead of Biting one another. We must still address our personal addiction to benefits. We have become Aid Addicts by addiction to the benefits of the Benefactors of the World and the Fathers of the earth.

This covetousness, Lasciviousness‎ and greed is evidence of our lack of love. This Wantonness‎ is what we are called to repent from by Jesus. The Kingdom of God at hand is what we are to be seeking and is the alternative way.

We are still trying to play a god, seeking to control others, rather than serve God by seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. So how would we apply the twelve step plan to breaking that addiction to the ways of the World?

There is the Welfare State which is of the world, and the Kingdom of God which is not a part of the world. We should be seeking the latter. Welfare; Welfare types; Private welfare; Public religion; Roots of the Welfare State; Aid_Addicts; Corban

Aid Addicts Step 1 Admit our helplessness

"We admitted we were personally powerless to change ourselves and our own thinking." This is one of the primary reasons why we need to congregate with others. The acceptance that we cannot do it alone is the beginning of humility. Giving and forgiving require other people.

Aid Addicts Step 2 Believe there is a loving power

"Come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to Righteousness." You must have hope and faith that you will return to a healthy state under the God of heaven. This will involve God, spirituality and [[1]] or contemplation but also action in the healing process. The daily practice of Pure Religion will be a part of that process.

Aid Addicts Step 3 Submit to righteousness

"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, not just a created image of God in our own minds."

The real Church is a strictly true Christian organization because it is established by the real Jesus Christ. It is not a False religion that does contrary to His Commandments. The Way of God may be different than what you originally were taught, and you must want to have the righteousness of the real Jesus and be willing to submit to His will which means we must depend on His care through Freewill offerings of others and not the force of men who call themselves Benefactors but who exercise authority to provide for us.

Aid Addicts Step 4 Search our hearts and minds

"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."

A major step that happens after admitting a problem is admitting to our faults and weaknesses, our appetites and sloth. The loving rebuke of others is another of the primary reasons why we need to congregate.

In seeking to live in the kingdom ways we come face to face with our own lack of love and forgiveness. Seeing the truth about ourselves lets God write upon our hearts.

Aid Addicts Step 5 Confess openly

"Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."

Knowing what you have done wrong and admitting it are two very different things. Admitting past errors and wrongs to individuals and a group and receiving support to change your life is another primary reasons why we need to congregate.^[1]

Aid Addicts Step 6 Sacrifice for others

"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."

Christ came to serve and sacrifice, and we must do the same, which is again why we need to congregate so that we may serve in a way that strengthens others.^[2]

Aid Addicts Step 7 Humility in all

"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."

Putting others first and ourselves second is a confirmation in aid to others as a humble foot washing servant, and it is why we need to congregate, and in that doing, a spirituality may grow in us through the mutual process of healing, prayer, meditation, of charity, hope and faith in The Way of God.

Our shortcomings fall away as we submit to God when He points us in the direction of serving others. Humbly asking Him for wisdom to love in truth, He pours into our lives the grace He knows we need for serving others, and our shortcomings become replaced with the good works that please the Father. With out actively sacrificing for the benefit of others in love there is no Grace.

Aid Addicts Step 8 Forgiveness toward all

"Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all."

We are all In need of forgiveness‏‎, which is a mutual process which may have begun in our congregations but must reach out to the rest of the world, in humility and sacrifice in the same process of healing forgiveness.

Aid Addicts Step 9 Making Amends

"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."

In many cases, admitting you're wrong, apologizing and informing a person that you're getting help is enough to have that person's support. We have all been a part of covetousness, and to love others and even our enemy, we need to seek recompense to others with the Self-Sacrifice‎ of the Red Heifer.

Aid Addicts Step 10 Inner Process

"Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."

There are many layers to our addictions. It is not just our support from the Benefactors of the World, but the false security we get from "professionals" and other mercenaries like the preachers and pastors for profit, or the doctors and lawyers. We must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit while living in the World but not of it. We must learn to eat of the tree of life, which is the Holy Spirit.

Aid Addicts Step 11 Practice Listening

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

The process is one that encompasses all the steps, level after level. Arrogant pride must diminish in order to hear the still small voice in all things. "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:12

Aid Addicts Step 12 Practicing the message

"Having had a spiritual awakening continue in us as a result of taking these steps, we try to carry this message of the kingdom to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

Practicing what Christ preached is another serious aspect of the 12-step program. That includes a Daily ministration for your congregation, and giving back to the community that has helped you to receive the truth. The main point of this is to help others seek help when they need it, which may help them focus on more positive aspects of life. Community service, aiding others and working with future Congregations are all essentials of seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

If you need help:

Or want to help others:

Liberty by the numbers. Step by Steps...

The original twelve steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous:^[3] founded in Akron, Ohio on August 11, 1938 by Bill Wilson has had value to millions of people for almost a century in the overcoming of addictions. Instead of just telling people to stop drinking he set up step by step approach to obtain and maintain a culture of sobriety. People can be addicted to many types of opiates that may not be just alcohol or drug.

Forms of religion, ideologies, philosophies and our own imagination including what is called sin can all be sources of addictions which is why the Bible also talk about sobriety.^[4].

More about 12 steps

A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles which include spiritual principles outlining a course of physical action for tackling the deeper problems related to addiction to the ideologies of the world.

These 12 steps and traditions and the Steps we outline for seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness can be useful for the individual congregant and the free assemblies of Christ as they strive and persevere to sit down in the Tens as Christ commanded.

Any behavior that is detrimental that we continue to return to is the result of some form of a compulsive addiction that may be the result of a deeper trauma or problems stemming from the Shadow Consciousness of the mind.

Together

Because these steps required group effort there was also The Twelve Traditions^[5] accompany the Twelve steps to supply some form of self governance within chapters through a common union and discipline.

A key element to success is Sponsorship. A sponsor's job is to care about someone else more than himself. Becoming a sponsor is a step toward the kingdom which requires patience and love, sacrifice and charity. A sponsor may be a more experienced person aiding in recovery who humbly guides the aspirant^[6] of sobriety in the ways of the twelve steps.

The recovery process deals with many areas and problems which confront us in this life process. Whether it is compulsive behaviors like eating, dieting, cleaning, accounting or hoarding, or distractibility like hyperactivity, mania, or hypo-mania, irritability, panic attacks, psychosomatic illnesses, or other dysfunctional compulsions like depression, lack of motivation and laziness, bipolar tendencies, poor impulse control, procrastination, or even abusive behavior of others or self-injury and suicide attempts.

These same traits can be identified with terms like sloth and apathy, unforgiveness and anger, judgment and pride, fear and lust, wantonness and greed. In all these negative virtue conditions there must be a comprehensive approach that addresses physical, mental, emotional, as well as spiritual states that are in the present or rooted in the past.

The steps must help you go deeper in yourself and come face to face with the truth about yourself and the demons who keep you from finding your way out of the darkness. It may be important in this process to be regularly reassured that you are not alone in this journey of the mind and body and soul.

Not forsaking the assembling^[7] of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

National Addiction

By listing off these aberrant behaviors we disassociate ourselves with the common problems of society which can cause whole nations to follow compulsive patterns of distraction, dysfunction and even destructive and self-destructive behaviors.

Can an entire nation of people become addicted to a compulsive way of seeing and thinking that causes it to self-destruct? History tells us that they do just exactly that.

Babylon, Israel, Greeks and Romans all brought about their own destruction by following social patterns that caused their own decline and fall. They eventually clamored and defended the conditions that were destroying them and were willing to murder anyone who offered them an alternative.

According to Plutarch, Polybius, John the Baptist, Christ and many others, including Paul the Apostle; the greatest destroyers of society are the Benefactors who exercise authority and our appetite for their benefits. Eating at the tables of rulers has become addicting and we have become Aid Addicts.

↑ Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
↑ Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Lamentations 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
↑
Twelve Step program
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
↑ sophrosune σωφροσύνη \@so-fros-oo’-nay\@ Strong's 4997 from sophron meaning a sound mind; n f AV-sobriety 2, soberness 1; 3 1) soundness of mind 2) self-control, sobriety
Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness <sophrosune>.

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety <sophrosune>; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety <sophrosune>.
↑
The Twelve Traditions
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
↑ A disciple, aspirant, student or even Padawan is someone striving to learn (a term from Star Wars identifying a Jedi in Training who is a Force-sensitive adolescent).
↑ 1997 ~ἐπισυναγωγή~ episunagoge \@ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay’\@ from 1996; n f AV-gathering together 1, assembling together 1; 2 1) a gathering together in one place 2) the (religious) assembly (of Christians)1996 ~ἐπισυνάγω~ episunago \@ep-ee-soon-ag’-o\@ from 1909 and 4863; ; v AV-gather together 5, gather 2; 7 1) to gather together besides, to bring together to others already assembled 2) to gather together against 3) to gather together in one place

[1] Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

[2] Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Lamentations 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

[3] Twelve Step program
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

[4] We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

[5] Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

[6] Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

[7] Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

[8] Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

[9] Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

[10] Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

[11] Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

[12] Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

[13] Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

[4] sophrosune σωφροσύνη \@so-fros-oo’-nay\@ Strong's 4997 from sophron meaning a sound mind; n f AV-sobriety 2, soberness 1; 3 1) soundness of mind 2) self-control, sobriety
Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness <sophrosune>.

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety <sophrosune>; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety <sophrosune>.

[5] The Twelve Traditions
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.

Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

[16] Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

[17] For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

[18] The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

[19] Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.

[20] Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

[21] An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

[22] Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

[23] Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

[24] AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

[25] Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

[26] Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

[27] Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

[6] A disciple, aspirant, student or even Padawan is someone striving to learn (a term from Star Wars identifying a Jedi in Training who is a Force-sensitive adolescent).

[7] 1997 ~ἐπισυναγωγή~ episunagoge \@ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay’\@ from 1996; n f AV-gathering together 1, assembling together 1; 2 1) a gathering together in one place 2) the (religious) assembly (of Christians)1996 ~ἐπισυνάγω~ episunago \@ep-ee-soon-ag’-o\@ from 1909 and 4863; ; v AV-gather together 5, gather 2; 7 1) to gather together besides, to bring together to others already assembled 2) to gather together against 3) to gather together in one place

[30] We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

[31] Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

[32] Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

[33] Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

[34] Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

[35] Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

[36] Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

[37] Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

[38] Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

[39] Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

[40] Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

[41] For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

[42] The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

[43] Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.

[44] Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

[45] An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

[46] Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

[47] Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

[48] AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

[49] Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

[50] Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always to maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

[51] Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

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@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 "Come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to [[Righteousness]]."
-You must have hope and faith that you will return to a healthy state under the God of heaven. This will involve God, spirituality and meditation or contemplation but also action in the healing process. The [[Daily ministration|daily]] practice of [[Pure Religion]] will be a part of that  process.
+You must have hope and faith that you will return to a healthy state under the God of heaven. This will involve God, spirituality and [[http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Meditation|meditation]] or contemplation but also action in the healing process. The [[Daily ministration|daily]] practice of [[Pure Religion]] will be a part of that  process.
 === Aid Addicts Step 3 Submit to righteousness ===