Page 51 - Power Guide - January week 1 2019 FINAL

Religious addicts often believe they are
“experiencing God” when they are actually addicted
to the “high” of the experience rather than being in a
grounded relationship with God Himself, that truly
transforms their daily decision-making and thought
processes. This type of spiritual disconnect is why
we too often see persons who claim to follow Christ
praising God with gusto in church on Sunday, and
then behave as an amoral person during the week.

As the Apostle Paul said, “I appeal to you therefore,
brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is
good and acceptable and perfect [whole]” (Romans 12:1-2).

Religious addiction can also present itself as legalism,
wherein persons slavishly--and often judgmentally--
“follow the rules” to the exclusion of compassionately
seeing others (and themselves) as God sees them: as
human persons made in His image. The Apostle Paul
warns us against this type of life, as he himself was
set free from legalism and spiritual status-seeking (see:
Philippians 3; and the Book of Galatians).

To sum up, as humans, we are given to addictions
of various kinds, and one of the most insidious is
religious addiction, that mars the actual beautiful
life of freedom and hope we are meant to experience
in restored relationship with our Loving Father who
loves us so very much!

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