Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday November 1, 2011

Referring to a comment from a friend another friend and I spent some time talking about the first commandment and in the course of the conversation a comment on the intense problem of addiction entered the exchange.

I posited that the First Commandment, Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." when understood as per Jesus’ explanation is a great tool in the prevention of addictions and also helpful in receiving and maintaining freedom from the bondage of any type of addiction.

Note the explanation of Jesus on the First commandment in Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Christ makes it plain that the idea, person, thing or God himself that dominates our life is in fact what or whom we worship. Both Testaments are in harmony that we must love God with our all. Philip Yancey, based on his work with addicts of different sorts states it very clearly with this statement concerning the awesome power of addiction:

"We are all vulnerable to addictions of one sort or another, for an addiction is simply a form of idolatry, something that supplements God as the center of our lives."

The truth is that each one of us depend on something or someone to prop us up along the path we call life. It is worth noting that in his book, What Good is God Yancey points out the "supplemental" nature of addiction. God is insistent that He alone is the author of life, of salvation and the sustainer of proper life. He is adamant that we shall have no gods before Him and just as adamant we shall have none in any sort of equal position. Salvation is by grace alone, not of our own works, and thus it goes in our total relationship with Him through Christ.

Many who caustically judge the addict to cocaine or John Barley Corn pass it off as a light thing that deep down they are addicted to shopping, spending beyond their means, sports, showing off of things. Deeper and more dangerous is the person who carries a Bible or other religious icon and thinks there is some saving or keeping power in the act.

In my humble opinion, though one man said "Larry Lilly is like Dr. John R. Rice, he hasn’t had a humble opinion in years;" among the most tragic addicts are the poor souls who are enslaved to the acceptance, promotion or even exaltation of the brethren which Jesus referred to as loving the praise of men more than the approval of God.

When we can enter into the personal fellowship with Christ envisioned in a song by former slave Charles Albert Tindley, Nothing Between my Soul and the Saviour we then are close to Christ and our real self is not divided. You will never try to help an addict who is not divided in their soul, mind and spirit. We must all get it together in Christ.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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