SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES

The nature of the flesh is clearly evident in the abuse / addictions which develop in some people and to which we are all prone in one way or another.

If alcohol or some other drug were the only factor in abuse / addiction then everyone who has ever drunk even a small amount or took a prescribed mood-altering pill would abuse the substance or become addicted.

Changing our feelings by means other than the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation on God's word, fellowship, and spiritually grounded activity is not uncommon for most of us.

Therefore none of us is in a position of moral superiority. Our concern must not be for the "purity" of our fellowship when dealing with a problem of this nature but rather for the recovery of the sinner.

Phil 4:6 (KJS) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Matthew 26:41 (KJS) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

James 5:14 (KJS) Is any sick among you? (Gr. Astheno weak in the faith cp. Acts 20:35; Rom 4:19; 8:3; 1Cor 8:9) Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer (Gk. euche, vow) of faith shall save the sick, (Gk Kamno weary, faint) and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

John 8:7 (KJS) So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Romans 2:1 (KJS) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

James 5:19 (KJS) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.