The authors are part of the 20Schemes group of churches that works in Scotland’s schemes (deprived housing estates). Both have experience of working in places where addiction is woven into the fabric of individual lives and communities. Mez has told the story of his own struggles with addiction in previous books like Is There Anybody Out There? Therefore, if anyone is qualified to write with authority on this issue then it is these two.
The book is clearly needed, as addiction is on the rise in our culture and the church will encounter this issue in its evangelism and pastoral care.
There are two main parts to this clearly written, Biblically-based and practical book: the first is a clear definition of what the authors mean by addiction; the second what the church is called to do to respond to such addiction.
Firstly, the book seeks to navigate some inadequate ways of defining addiction: choice, disease, or a response to emotional turmoil.
Whilst all these things might be factors in human addictions, they are not the root of them. To misdiagnose addiction is like offering a person a paracetamol when they need major heart surgery! The authors assert that addiction is a result of the slavery to sin that is a feature of the life of every human being and the distorted worship that arises out of that slavery. Referencing the work of James K.A. Smith, the authors remind us that we are what we love. If we love self and give way to all-consuming desires that divert us from the worship of God, we descend into circles of addiction. In this way addiction is not seen as a special sub-category of human sinfulness, but the centre of human sinfulness.
Secondly, the book helps the church to understand how to address addiction and help addicts to follow Christ by centring their affections on Him. The authors crucially place the proclamation of the gospel and the place of the local church in this process. I was interested to read that at Andy Constable’s church building there is a daily opportunity for people to read the Scriptures and pray. This is one way that the church seeks to help addicts develop fresh patterns of belief and behaviour in their lives.
It was also interesting to read the authors’ take on rehab and recovery. Whilst not dismissing the value of these things completely, they do express reservations about the limitations of these things as a long-term way of establishing a truly free Christian lifestyle. In place of recovery the authors suggest that Christian discipleship is the way that the dramatic change of conversion is reinforced by the instruction, mutual care, and accountability of the local church. Not least the church is the place where loving discipline is exercised for those times when an addict messes up or lapses back into their former lifestyle.
I was surprised not to see any reference to the work of Tim Keller on idolatry, slavery, and freedom in Christ. His writing and sermons, and the brilliant book by Cornilius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin would be helpful further resources on this topic.
Nonetheless, this book would be useful for any Christian to read as a reminder of how the patterns of sinful behaviour can trap us, and divert our focus from trusting, loving, and following Christ. Christian leaders will find this an invaluable resource for thinking clearly about addiction and how to nurture a secure environment where people can experience true and lasting freedom in Christ.
ADDICTION AND THE LOCAL CHURCH By Andy Constable and Mez McConnell. Christian Focus. 138 pages. £8.99 ISBN 978 1 527 113 008
