This is a Biblical principle which cannot be shared enough.
You cannot set people free from an addiction of a perversion if you label them according to that perversion. Should we be surprised if people drink compulsively after they are repeatedly labeled and shamed as "Alcoholics"?
Or drug addicts? Or sex addicts, or whatever else?
God sent His Son, to make us new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and thus we are made the righteousness of God in Him! (2 Corinthians 5:21). AMEN!
Still, Laura Tompkins' point about rejecting labels is so important, and it further shows that AA is a terrible cult which must be rejected at all costs:
Here's the post if you cannot read it above:
5 reasons why you should never call someone an addict
1. It creates stigma and shame. When you call someone an “addict” or “alcoholic,” it is shaming and can be a barrier to treatment. People with addictions often have underlying difficulties with how they view themselves and are sensitive to the judgment of others. Labels that are stigmatizing stop people from reaching out for help, and this stops them from working on the shame that probably underlies their addiction in the first place.
Condemnation kills. Pastor Prince has been preaching about this revelation for years.
That revelation is essential for people to break free of any bondage:
"There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
2. Shame leads to a negative self-concept. When a person with an addiction is shamed with labels, it comes as no surprise that it leads to them thinking and feeling negatively about themselves. When we feel terrible about ourselves, how likely are we to achieve our goals? Very unlikely. Shame keeps people in the spiral of addiction. Ironically, this is what traditional treatment options hope to prevent, but often inadvertently make worse.
The last thing that we need is people looking ... at themselves. You look at yourself, you get depressed and obsessed. You look at Jesus, and He puts you at rest:
"2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:2-3)
3. People see themselves as the problem. When we label someone a “drug addict,” it removes the human perspective of examining a person with an addiction. The person is seen as a problem, not an individual. It also makes it hard for the person to see themselves as someone who is struggling, rather than as simply damaged or defective.
A person cannot be the problem without therefore wanting to get rid of himself. That is not the solution. We must break free of telling people that they are their problems. That is sick, and it is oh, so counter-productive.
4. It creates helplessness. It can lead to negative self-talk, such as: “If I’m an addict, then I’ll always be an addict.” Helplessness keeps people turning to alcohol or substances, even though they know these things are bad for them, because there don’t seem to be better options. However, if that individual sees themselves as "someone with an addiction," then they may also envision themselves as "someone without an addiction."
Exactly! Why stop drinking if being a drinker is what you are and what you do?
5. It ignores all circumstances. There’s a cognitive bias known in psychology as the "Fundamental Attribution Error," which states that we see our own actions as being driven by circumstances, while seeing others’ behavior as being driven by their personality. Think of the last time you were cut off on the freeway by a speeding driver . . . “Asshole” was the first word to enter your mind, right? But if you’ve found yourself cutting someone off, you’d say you’re “in a hurry” or “didn’t see them” and attribute your actions to the situation. Now think of how this applies to those you label as “addicts.” By labeling them as such, you ignore the role of their circumstances and attribute their actions fully to their built-in personality.
We are not defined by our circumstances, and therefore we should not do that to others. This is a great illustration.
How can we destigmatize addiction?
It’s clear that the language we use around addiction is powerful, and when used incorrectly, it can leave individuals with an addiction feeling powerless. We need to change the way we view addiction, how we label addiction, and how we treat people with addictions. We can do this by using person-first language and offering people choices in treatment.
What is person-first language? It’s simply removing terms such as “addict” and “alcoholic” and reducing the associated negative biases. Instead, we can say “a person with a substance problem,” or “a person with an alcohol addiction.” This may seem simple, but it makes a big difference. It separates the person from the addiction, which not only reduces shame and helplessness, but also increases a person’s self-efficacy by empowering them to seek help.
I might go so far as to say: "I am X. I have a drinking problem." Avoid the descriptive clauses altogether, too.
So, if you know someone who has an addiction, stop using the “addict” label. Try to reframe how you view them by using person-first language. If you are someone with an addiction, you should try this out too! And, seek out a treatment approach that is shame-free, judgment-free, and suits your individual needs.
It's so important not to focus merely on the behaviors. You have to go deeper. What is the wrong believing, what is the abuse that they are dealing with that is the real issue? That is what needs to be our focus. Why would anyone want to throw harmful chemicals to excess into their bodies? There are deeper, more painful, harmful realities that people are struggling with, and it is difficult for people to deal with them all at once.
Paul writes to the Romans that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).
He further points out that the the Holy Spirit transforms us from glory to glory as we behold Jesus, and we behold Him as we read the Word of God (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).
People cannot recover or improve if people insist on identifying people with their struggles. We are set free when we realize that He has finished the work!
