– Written by J. Ryan Davidson
– A short pastoral guide helping Christians think biblically about addiction
– Points readers to hope and lasting change through Christ
Add x10 to Basket = Extra 10% Off
Original price was: $5.00.$3.50Current price is: $3.50.
Add x10 to Basket = Extra 10% Off Every Title
Orders Over £50/$100 Get Free Shipping
Bulk pricing available. Contact info@brokenwharfe.com.
Addiction is one of the most difficult and complex struggles people face today. Whether involving substances, behaviours, or unhealthy patterns of life, addiction raises serious spiritual questions: What causes addiction? How should Christians understand it? And where can true freedom be found?
In Thinking Through Addiction, J. Ryan Davidson examines addiction through the teaching of Scripture. Rather than reducing addiction to purely medical or psychological explanations, the booklet helps readers consider the deeper spiritual realities involved. Davidson describes addiction as the repeated sinful misuse of created things in ways that harm our souls, minds, and bodies.
Using passages such as Proverbs 23, the booklet explores the nature of temptation, the destructive pattern of addiction, and the idolatry that often lies beneath it. Yet the message is not one of condemnation but of hope. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers real help for those caught in cycles of sin and destructive habits.
Written in a clear and pastoral style, Thinking Through Addiction provides a biblical perspective on addiction, helping readers understand its dangers while pointing to the transforming grace of Christ. It is a valuable resource for biblical counselling, pastoral ministry, and Christian discipleship, equipping churches and individuals to address addiction with truth and compassion.
The Bible does not always use the modern word addiction, but it clearly describes the kind of destructive patterns we associate with it. In Thinking Through Addiction, J. Ryan Davidson examines Proverbs 23:29–35 and other passages to show how Scripture portrays the life of someone enslaved to the repeated misuse of created things. The Bible reveals both the temptation and the consequences of such patterns, describing how addictive behaviours bring sorrow, conflict, and spiritual harm. At the same time, Scripture points beyond the problem to the hope found in Christ, who alone can free people from the idols that enslave the heart.
The booklet defines addiction as “the repeated sinful use of created things to the detriment of our souls, minds, and bodies.” This definition highlights that addiction is not limited to substances like alcohol or drugs. It can involve anything that begins to rule our desires and shape our lives in destructive ways. Created things that are good in themselves can become harmful when they are pursued in sinful and controlling ways. By examining addiction through the lens of Scripture, the booklet helps readers see how these patterns develop and why they are so spiritually damaging.
The booklet carefully addresses both sides of this question. It acknowledges that addiction can involve genuine physiological challenges and bodily dependencies, and that medical treatment may sometimes play an important role in recovery. However, the booklet argues that addiction cannot be understood purely as a biological disease. According to Scripture, addiction is also a spiritual problem rooted in the human heart. When people repeatedly misuse created things for comfort, escape, or identity, those things can become idols that take the place of God. Understanding this spiritual dimension is essential if we are to address addiction in a truly biblical way.
Thinking Through Addiction is written for a wide range of readers. It will be helpful for individuals wrestling with addictive habits, Christians seeking a biblical understanding of addiction, and pastors or church leaders who want to care wisely for those struggling in this area. Because it is clear, concise, and rooted in Scripture, the booklet can also be used in discipleship, pastoral counselling, small group discussion, or personal study.
| Title | Thinking Through Addiction |
|---|---|
| Author | J. Ryan Davidson |
| Dimensions | 190 x 119 mm |
| Pages | 32 |
| Format | Saddle-stitched booklet |
| ISBN | 9781917873109 |
