The Aquila Report

Your independent source for news and commentary from and about conservative, orthodox evangelicals in the Reformed and Presbyterian family of churches

Providence College
  • Biblical
    and Theological
  • Churches
    and Ministries
  • People
    in the News
  • World
    and Life News
  • Lifestyle
    and Reviews
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Opinion
    and Commentary
  • General Assembly
    and Synod Reports
    • ARP General Synod
    • EPC General Assembly
    • OPC General Assembly
    • PCA General Assembly
    • PCUSA General Assembly
    • RPCNA Synod
    • URCNA Synod
  • Subscribe
    to Weekly Email
  • Biblical
    and Theological
  • Churches
    and Ministries
  • People
    in the News
  • World
    and Life News
  • Lifestyle
    and Reviews
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Opinion
    and Commentary
  • General Assembly
    and Synod Reports
    • ARP General Synod
    • EPC General Assembly
    • OPC General Assembly
    • PCA General Assembly
    • PCUSA General Assembly
    • RPCNA Synod
    • URCNA Synod
  • Subscribe
    to Weekly Email
  • Search
Home/Featured/Lies at the Heart of Addiction

Lies at the Heart of Addiction

Whatever you are addicted to, try to find the lies at its heart and then attack them with God’s truth

Written by David Murray | Tuesday, April 18, 2017

“Every addict tells four kinds of lies: lies about God, lies about themselves, lies about the sin, and lies about others. The only way to deliver addicts is to rip out these lies and replace them with truth.”

 

It doesn’t matter what kind of addiction it is—drink, drugs, food, gambling, porn, spending, tanning, people-pleasing, people-critiquing, control, digital technology, etc.—lies are at the heart of them all. That’s why Jesus said to religious addicts, ”You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

Every addict tells four kinds of lies: lies about God, lies about themselves, lies about the sin, and lies about others. The only way to deliver addicts is to rip out these lies and replace them with truth.

Here’s a sampling, and it’s just a sampling, of the lies that addicts tell; and a sampling of the truths that can root them out and replace them.

Lies about God

Lie: God is not Good. He’s just being a spoilsport in forbidding this sin. The sin is good and God is bad.

Truth:  God is good to all and does good to all. His law is an expression of his goodness (Ps. 145:9; 119:68; Rom. 7:12).

Lie: God is not all-seeing. He can’t really see me when I do this.

Truth: God sees all people, all things, all events, at all times (Ps. 139:1-16; Prov. 15:3)

Lie: God is not judge. He will not call me to account for this.

Truth: We will give account for every deed done or not done, in public and in private (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 2:16)

Lie: God is not Savior. I’ve sinned too much for God to save me. There’s no point in even trying to be saved.

Truth: Whoever, whoever, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Rom. 10:13; 1 John 1:9; John 6:37)

Lie: God is not enough. God will not satisfy me as sin does

Truth: There is more than enough in God to satisfy the hungriest and thirstiest soul (Ps. 63:3-5; John 7:37)

 

Lies about Self

Lie: I don’t have a problem. I mean I sin, even quite a lot, but it’s not an addiction.

Truth: Whoever commits sin (lit. continues to practice sin) is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:16; John 8:34)

Lie: I’m not as bad as others.

Truth: Our standard of comparison is God’s Word not other people (2 Cor. 10:12).

Lie: It’s not harming me.

Truth: Every sin hardens our hearts (Heb. 3:13) and ultimately ends in death (James 1:15)

Lie: If only you knew how hard and exceptional my circumstances are.

Truth: Your situation is common to many and they don’t resort to such sins (1 Cor. 10:13)

Lie: I cannot change and I cannot escape.

Truth: God always provides an escape route and he can give real freedom to anyone (1 Cor. 10:13; John 8:36).

 

Lies about Sin

Lie: This habit makes me happy.

Truth: Maybe, but it’s a very brief and fleeting happiness that leaves a bitter taste (Heb. 11:24-26).

Lie: This helps me forget my past.

Truth: The most important thing is for God to forget your past (Heb. 8:12).

Lie: Now is not a good time to stop.

Truth: Now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)

 

Lies about Others

Lie: Those condemning me and trying to stop me are my enemies.

Truth: Those who try to stop you sinning are actually your best friends and they’re doing you a great kindness (Prov. 27:6; Ps. 141:5)

Lie: It’s my parents’/abuser’s/husband’s/wife’s fault.

Truth: When Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the snake, God blamed and punished all of them (Gen 3:14-19; Ezek. 18:20). The soul that sins, it shall die

Lie: This doesn’t affect others.

Truth: Do you need a Bible verse for this? Just ask those around you what the truth is

Lie: People are just objects.

Truth: Your porn addiction feeds its lust on divine image-bearers. You are watching people made in the image of God  (Gen. 1:27). You are abusing the divine image for your sexual pleasure.

Whatever you are addicted to, try to find the lies at its heart and then attack them with God’s powerful truth. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog, Head Heart Hand, and is used with permission.

Related Posts:

  • The Gospel According to Satan
  • Truths and Lies in The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
  • How to Respond to “Trans” and Gender Ideology? Simple: Live…
  • The Deadly Sins of Proverbs 6:16-19: A Lying Tongue
  • Why We Need the Law

Subscribe, Follow, Listen

  • email-alt
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • apple-podcasts
  • anchor
Text and Translation
Re: velation: Seeing Jesus, Seeing Self, Standing Firm (by Stanley D. Gale)

Archives

Books

Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian - by Danny Olinger

Special

A Golden Chain
  • About
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
  • Donations
  • Email Alerts
  • Leadership
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Principles and Practices
  • Privacy Policy

Important:

Free Subscription

Aquila Report Email Alerts

Special

5 Solas of the Reformation
  • About
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Principles and Practices
  • RSS Feed
  • Subscribe to Weekly Email Alerts
Providence Christian College - visit

DISCLAIMER: The Aquila Report is a news and information resource. We welcome commentary from readers; for more information visit our Letters to the Editor link. All our content, including commentary and opinion, is intended to be information for our readers and does not necessarily indicate an endorsement by The Aquila Report or its governing board. In order to provide this website free of charge to our readers,  Aquila Report uses a combination of donations, advertisements and affiliate marketing links to  pay its operating costs.

Return to top of page

Website design by Five More Talents · Copyright © 2022 The Aquila Report · Log in