What About those Groups that Force you to State that You’re an Addict?

The first thing I have to say is “shame on them” for forcing you to tell that type of bold faced lie! In Christ addiction ENDS and a new life BEGINS!

The practice of requiring people in recovery to repeatedly identify as “addicts,” even after achieving sobriety, conflicts with several key biblical principles about identity and transformation in Christ:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

As born again believers, we receive a new identity in Christ. Forcing you to continuously identify with your past struggles contradicts Go’ds promise of transformation and new life.

The Power of Declarations and Identity

Scripture emphasizes the power of what we speak and declare:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7)

Repeatedly declaring oneself an “addict” can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, potentially undermining recovery by:

– Reinforcing shame and stigma

– Creating a fixed mindset about addiction

– Limiting belief in the possibility of complete transformation

– Keeping you psychologically tethered to your past

Biblical Examples of Name and Identity Changes

Throughout Scripture, God often gave people new names to signify their transformed identity:

– Abram to Abraham (“father of many nations”)

– Saul to Paul

– Simon to Peter (“the rock”)

These name changes represented God’s work in their lives and His vision for their future, not their past struggles.

The Role of Confession vs. Identity

While the Bible advocates confession of sin (1 John 1:9), it’s important to distinguish between honest acknowledgment of your past struggles and being forced to permanently identify with those struggles!

Biblical confession is meant to bring healing and freedom, not create a permanent label or identity.

There are Harmful Psychological and Spiritual Effects resulting from Forced Identification as an Addict

Forced identification as an “addict” can:

1. Create spiritual confusion about salvation and transformation

2. Undermine faith in God’s power to completely deliver and restore

3. Foster shame-based recovery rather than grace-based recovery

4. Keep people bound to their past rather than embracing their future

A More Biblical Approach

Recovery programs should consider:

1. Allowing people to choose their own language of identification

2. Emphasizing present reality over past identity

3. Celebrating transformation and new identity in Christ

4. Creating space for testimonies of complete deliverance

5. Using language that honors both the reality of recovery and the power of transformation

Summary

While acknowledging the reality of addiction and recovery is important, forcing permanent identification as an “addict” can create spiritual and psychological barriers to full healing. A more biblical approach would emphasize transformation, new identity in Christ, and the power of Jesus Christ to make all things new.

“And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.'”  Revelation 21:5

Have a super blessed rest of your day knowing, without a doubt, that your past has nothing to do with who you are today. If you want to confess something, just say, “By the grace of God, I am NOT an addict anymore!” Just as there is a final end to addiction, there’s also a final end to recovery! Hope to see you next post!