Biochemical Warfare: Moral Sabotage<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDevout men and women of God, who love God,\u00a0throughout time have struggled with\u00a0the issue of sexual addiction and love\/relationship addiction. Contrary to what some might say, this aspect of addiction is a brain problem that leads to some awfully sick choices that suggests that it is\u00a0wrought with disease. However, people with the sex\/love addiction disease are not exempt from responsibility and consequence. The diabetic and the heart patient not only needed intervention at one time for their disease, but if they continue in patterns of behavior that contributed to the cause and severity of their disease they will experience logical consequences that prove fatal. As sex addicts continue in patterns of behavior that perpetuate the severity of their disease, the consequences they experience could prove fatal in terms of relationships, family, career,\u00a0and even their physical well-being.<\/span><\/p>\nSabotaged by Addiction<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe moral sabotage that occurs through the experience of alcohol and drug addiction is also encouraged by biochemical warfare. Drug addicts will do whatever they have to do to experience that high.\u00a0So parents are stunned and shocked when their sons and daughters steal from them to\u00a0obtain alcohol and drugs (including cigarettes since nicotine is about the most addictive drug that exists).\u00a0For 15-20 years their sons and daughters have been these model God-fearing, even God-loving kids and then… WHAM! These beautiful children\u00a0turn evil having been turned on to drugs.<\/span><\/p>\nThe sole purpose of alcohol and drug use is to stimulate the pleasure, reward, relief center of their experience. What does every drug there is do? Drugs increase dopamine levels and people feel better. From that cigarette to that drink to that drag on a pipe to that hit of something; it is all about that dopamine\u00a0rush that is the euphoria of the high. Husbands and wives will leave their spouses for that high. Mothers and fathers will neglect,\u00a0abuse, and even abandon their children for that high. Students will go from academic achievement to academic failure for that high. Professionals will risk their careers for that high. Clergy and health professionals\u00a0will risk their credibility, reputation, and license to practice for that high. Finally, not\u00a0only will drug addicts steal and lie and what not, they will kill either because they are high or to obtain what they need to get high.<\/span><\/p>\nEven men and women and teenagers who genuinely love and worship God end up compromising their faith because of their addiction. The same is true of eating disorders and food addictions, gambling addictions, technology addictions, and so on. Once you accept that the biochemical systems of a person have been hijacked by addiction, you can understand why morality is so fragile because of addiction. Why does impaired brain function always direct us down a road of destruction? Well, that is the result of our selfish sin nature working in tandem with\u00a0the self-minded brain to establish a culture of discontent that is unsettling and discomforting, to say the least.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cTemptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.\u00a0 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.\u201d<\/strong> James 1:14-15 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\nI have discovered this principle of life\u2014that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God\u2019s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God\u2019s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.<\/strong> Romans 7:21-25 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\nParaphrasing John 8:32-34:\u00a0Jesus said, \u201cYou will know the truth and the truth will set you free.\u201d They responded, \u201cSet free from what? We come from good families. When were we ever slaves?\u201d Jesus answered, \u201cThe moment you gave into your selfish thoughts and desires, you became a slave to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nOne not need ask, “How\u00a0could she let it go so far with\u00a0him that two families were destroyed?” or “How could he hurt his wife like that with a prostitute?” or “Why can’t he quit drinking?” or “Why won’t she eat (or stop eating)?” I suppose these are all fair questions but it certainly helps when we understand the combination of biochemical condition and process, and the selfish sin nature that are working together to\u00a0erode the moral fiber of our being.\u00a0Once we are enslaved by addiction we are helpless, powerless to do anything about it on our own. It is all about me. I am addicted to me. This is MEdom. This is where we live.<\/span><\/p>\nThese questions are of a highly personal nature but it is important that you answer them honestly for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n\n- What might be examples of moral sabotage in your life?<\/span><\/li>\n
- What would you say are the moral and ethical challenges you are faced with?<\/span><\/li>\n
- What might you say are moral and\/or ethical dilemmas you’re attempting to manage?<\/span><\/li>\n
- What might you say you could be in denial about concerning moral challenges and dilemmas?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How might you be rationalizing your moral issues, whether in your relationships\u00a0and circumstances, or even answering these questions?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How has navigating through your\u00a0moral challenges and dilemmas been stressful for you?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How have these challenges affected you spiritually?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How have these challenges impacted your relationships?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n\n- spouse\/mate<\/span><\/li>\n
- children<\/span><\/li>\n
- parents<\/span><\/li>\n
- friends<\/span><\/li>\n
- colleagues<\/span><\/li>\n
- managers<\/span><\/li>\n
- church<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n- What are the decisions you are faced with concerning these challenges?<\/span><\/li>\n
- How are you feeling about it? Explain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n