Dealing With Addictions
ACCOUNTABILITY
- People are taught that accountability is something that
"happens to them." This is an important aspect of accountability,
but for those dealing with addictions, it is the least powerful
of the two types of accountability. The most powerful and effective
type of accountability is that which "you seek" from
God, family, friends, society and from any source that is healthy.
- Not many are willing or able to help you in your search
for accountability. Why? One reason may be that there are not
many good models of accountability operational in society. Part
of the reason is that very few people are truly accountable, including
those who are not dealing with addictions. Another part is that
even the Judeo-Christian community struggles with applying Biblical
truth in the area of accountability.
- Resources for learning about the Biblical model of "seeking
accountability" are few. Even in reading scriptures, translations
do not clearly represent this aspect. Thus, short of a godly community
model and the ability to understand Greek or Hebrew, it is tough
to learn how to adequately apply biblical accountability to your
life.
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The Bible supports two types of accountability: external and
internal.
- External Accountability: This is usually based in fear.
"If I don't follow the rules, I will be in trouble."
For addictions of eating, workaholism, dependency or co-dependency
(to name a few), society, family, and friends do not represent
much fear of "making you change or else." In many cases,
they actually encourage and benefit from your addiction. The positive
side of fear is that of respect. You fear the power of electricity
enough not to put your finger in a socket. You respect its power
and the consequences of improperly contacting its current.
- Internal Accountability: This is usually based upon our
will - our desire and commitment to be accountable. One of the
key concepts here is that of seeking out those who will ask us
tough questions. In fact, it is suggested that we self-impose
an inquisition upon our lives. We need to find someone who will
relentlessly question us as to our current condition in relationship
to our addiction. Below are some tough questions in the area of
accountability that you may want to give to someone who is committed
to your health and wholeness. Adjust the list to your specific
needs (areas to be held accountable). Pascal stated that "I
life not examined is not worth living." Solomon agreed in
his Book of Proverbs.
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PHYSICAL
Sleep: "Are you getting enough sleep each night?"
- "If not, how much are you getting?" "How do
you plan to change?"
Medicine: "Are you taking your medication daily?"
- "If not, how often are you taking it?" "How
do you plan to change?"
Exercise: "Are you exercising daily?"
- "If not, how often are you exercising?" "How
do you plan to change?"
Eating: "Are you eating properly?"
- "If not, what are you eating/not eating?" "How
do you plan to change?"
Substance: "Are you staying off harmful substances?"
- "If not, when and how often have you taken them?"
"How do you plan to change?"
Add your own:
SPIRITUAL
Word: "Have you been in the Word Daily?"
- "If not, how often?" "How do you plan to change?"
Fasting: "Have you fasted and prayed in the last month?"
- "If not, when was the last time?" "When are
you scheduled next?"
Obedience: "Is your conscience clear?"
- "If not, why?" "How do you plan to attain a
clear conscience?"
Add your own:
ACTIONS
Purity: "Have you kept your mind pure (thoughts, anger,
bitterness, movies, magazines, other)?"
- "If not, when did you fall?" "What provisions
need to be removed or precautions taken to prevent it?"
Provisions: "Do you have any 'provisions' for evil needing
to be destroyed/removed?"
- "If so, what?" "When and how will you (we)
destroy/remove them?"
Control: "Have you lost control (verbally or otherwise)
since we last met?
- "If so, when?" "When and how will you restore
and correct your actions?"
Add your own:
RELATIONSHIP
Family: "Have you offended any family member since we
last met?"
- "If so, when?" "When and how will you restore
and correct your actions?"
Children: "Have you told the whole truth in the above
answers?
- "If not, what do you need to correct?" "What
actions do we need to take to stay healthy and remain accountable?"
Process: "Is this cycle/process adequate?
- "If not, what changes are needed?" "Who needs
to be a part of this process?
Add your own:
Who will ask
these questions?
How often will
they ask them?
Where and when
will they ask them?
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Scripture Memory: I Peter 1:13-16
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Why is accountability such a tough item?