Addiction and Idolatry

BETTER THAN GOD –

Feb. 16, 2024 – Addictions can be considered forms of idolatry, a violation of the First Commandment, which declares, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Almost anything can become an idol. It does not have to be alcohol. Some people are addicted to sex or gambling. Money is another. One of the potentially most destructive idols is the addiction to power. We see this on the national level all the way down to the local. Lust for power often leads to corruption. Some people are evil enough to kill others to stay in power.

But alcoholism is the addiction with which most of us are more familiar. Carl Jung had a patient whom he admitted he could not help get over his addiction to alcohol. So he suggested that the man might want to seek a religious conversion. The man did this and was actually cured. Then he told a friend about it, who was also cured and recommended a spiritual conversion to his friend. His friend did the same thing and, in the process, founded Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron, Ohio.

AA is not 100% successful, but it does have a great track record. They require each participant to admit he is an alcoholic. This forces each participant to face reality first thing. They also use slogans, such as, “Fake it to make it,” and, “I’m not okay, and you’re not okay, but that’s okay.”