Book review of The Heart of Addiction

Here’s a quick review of The Heart of Addiction:

Five stars: Reviewed by Laura (NM), March 08, 2010

Though written primarily for alcohol/drug addiction, this book is so helpful for ANY type of addiction: gambling, sex, shopping, lust,porn, etc. It is solid and biblical!! Once I learned that addiction at its core is idolatry, and that I have a worship problem, true healing and Godly change began to take place. HIGHLY recommend this book and the workbook.

It encourages me because I write to help others and for the glory of God. I want to proclaim His message of truth and grace because that’s where true healing is found. I don’t care as much about sales as much as I do about glorifying the Lord and helping hurting souls. That is what is most important so I’m gald it helped this person (Laura) whom I may never meet until heaven!

-Mark (always thankful to God for allowing me to share His Word of truth in the arena of addictions)

A “disease”? Give me a break!

One of the very pieces of EVIDENCE that show that addiction is NOT a “disease” was told to me by a police officer commenting about the addictive properties of crystal meth.

After the FIRST usage of crystal meth, 70% of people become physically addicted to it (aka ENSLAVED in the Bible).

Crystal meth is POWERFUL and no joke. It’s not a game. Don’t play with that drug and all of the chemicals it is mixed with. There will be very few crystal meth addicts who live a long life to the age of 80 because of the damage to the lungs from smoking all of the chemicals mixed with it. Very few.

So what does that tell us? A drug that is 17x more powerful than cocaine will cause almost everyone to be “addicted” to it after the FIRST usage. Repeated usage puts the numbers even higher.

So if 70% of people get addicted after just one time, then that means addiction is not a disease that some have and others do not have. Nearly everyone is susceptible to addiction if they try the right drug.

Here’s a secret. Shhh! don’t tell anyone this: Everyone is “addicted” to something pleasurable. Everyone.

Why? Because we all fight feeding our flesh which hinders our ability to walk in the Spirit.

But here’s the good news. Galatians 5:16 states: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” It doesn’t say you “might not” – it says you “WILL NOT” gratify your flesh.

Walking in the Spirit is the ONLY way to overcome any addiction in the flesh. Biblical counseling works because Christ is the ONLY solution.

-Mark (glad God never calls addiction a disease, only a sin nature problem in our flesh that Jesus forgives us and empowers us to overcome both in this life and in the next life to come eternally)

Next Webinar – April 25th at 8 pm!

Thanks to all who attended the Webinar tonight – When the Goal is NOT Just Clean and Sober – part 1.

Special thanks to Dr. Rick Thomas for giving me this opportunity to proclaim Christ as the only real hope for the world and for addicts!

Looking forward to meeting with you all again in 2 weeks for PART 2 at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 25th.

-Mark (thankful for Christ!)

A fatal disease? Or a responsible choice?

Seems like many shows keep coming out on this “tsunami” of a problem commonly called “addiction” (the Bible calls it “enslavement” and “idolatry” which still holds the person responsible for sinful choices that feed the problem).

Dr. Drew Pinsky from the secular perspective is passionate about helping “addicts” as am I. But we have 2 different views on the heart of the problem. Therefore, we have 2 different view on the SOLUTION to the problem. I know it is Christ alone who forgives all sins and heals all diseases!

Watch this 8 minute clip from the Today Show:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35888659#35888659

Dr. Pinsky calls it a “fatal disease” and not a “theory of disease” which is what it is: A THEORY. It used to be called the “disease concept” or “theory of disease” but NOW everyone seems to call it a “disease.” Still a theory even though everyone now calls it a fact. Just because 2 men 80 years ago call something a “theory of disease” doesn’t make something truly a disease! This is philosophy (see Col. 2:8)!

I spoke to a Spirit-filled man (I will not say his name) recently who is leading the way of battling all “addictions” in Alabama. He explained it like this: “I have to face the facts. And the facts tell me that it’s not a disease. Even if they call it a ‘disease,’ my Bible still tells me in Psalm 103:3 that God ‘heals all your diseases.’ I see too many people around this program who are set free and no longer struggle with a disease because God has transformed them by the power of His might. I have to face those facts.”

The faith-based can never mix with the secular. The ideas are in oppositon!

Then, at the end of this clip, Dr. Pinsky blames things OUTSIDE of the person as he says: “the things that trigger bad addiction in young actors is the same thing that triggers bad addiction in anyone…abuse, family dysfunction.” Well, if it is a genetic, brain disease, then WHY do things OUTSIDE of the person trigger an internal disease?

They will argue that it’s like diabetes and you have choices that lead to “addiction.” I get that argument. Sounds logical and has a hint of truth in it because of the responsibility. However, the idea that “addiction” is “incurable, progressive, and fatal” and that one must cope with it forever is not what the leader in Alabama knows to be true. He has observed the transformational power of Christ who offers real hope and not just “cope.”

“Addiction” looks like a disease and there is a powerful physical component to it but our God triumphs over all diseases. “Addiction” looks like a disease because it is idolatry which ultimately enslaves the idolater who becomes powerless to get out of the cycle of idolatry. Only the power of Christ rescues someone from idolatry, or addiction.

For more on the biblical approach to addiction, go to http://www.rpmministries.org/2010/02/the-heart-of-addiction-a-biblical-perspective/ and get that book!

Brothers and Sisters, the world’s approach ultimately offers no hope but cope because they cannot offer Christ. Some people get clean and sober but that is not JUST our goal. We want to see people saved and reconciled to Christ.

At least Kirk Cameron, a devoted, solid Christian man, was on this clip to point people to God as the answer though his understanding of addiction from a biblical perspective is limited. Maybe I’ll ask one of you to send Kirk a book called The Heart of Addiction by M. Shaw! I would say to send it to Dr. Pinsky but I don’t think he’d read it. If he would, maybe he’d come to know Christ! On second thought, that’s a great idea, too! I’d love to see that man know Christ (John 17:3).

-Mark (if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed – John 8:36 – I believe Him and take Him at His Word!)

Latest book review of The Heart of Addiction

I wanted to share with you the following great review of my Heart of “Addiction” book by Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of Soul Physicians and a leader in the field of biblical counseling:

http://www.rpmministries.org/2010/02/the-heart-of-addiction-a-biblical-perspective/

I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to share that Jesus Christ alone is the answer to all “addictions” and that He still transforms the heart of sinful man!

I wrote the book so people don’t have to focus upon what they cannot have (i.e. alcohol and drugs) and instead can focus upon what they CAN have in Christ (i.e. love, joy, peace, wisdom, meekness, etc. – see Gal. 5:22-23).

-Mark (grateful to serve the King of Kings and to lift up His Name through the books I am privileged to write)

Just because one human says it’s a disease…

Just because one man says “alcoholism” and “addiction” are a disease, does that make it a disease?

Just because thousands, maybe millions, of people agree that it’s a disease, does that make it a disease?

Here’s the question we are better off asking: Does God say in His Word and by His Spirit that drunkenness and idolatry are a “disease”?

-Mark (learning to ask the right questions)

Transformed: A Metamorphosis

2 Cor. 3:18 and Romans 12:2 use the word “transform” which is translated from the Greek word that we derive metamorphosis from!

Are you a metamorphosis? Are you a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)? Have old things passed away?

Or are you just the same old person you used to be?

In Christ, we are TRANSFORMED.

Transformation is a CONVERSION into something new. It looks nothing like a simple improvement or a recovery. You do not get your old self back. Instead, you get a new self who looks nothing like your old self.

In Christ, you are to be humble not less prideful day by day. In Christ, you are to be gentle not less harsh day by day.

In Christ, you are to be like Him and He looks nothing like you and I. He is different and we are to be hidden in Him (Col. 3:1-3). Our identity is lost in Him but what a wonderful loss that is!!!!

I want to be more like Christ everyday and I know the Lord is conforming me into His image (Rom. 8:29). Believe me when I say, I am a NEW CREATION in Christ. The old Mark has passed away, by God’s power and grace. Praise the Lord! I am a new creation. My wife will confirm it.

That’s the same transformation I want for addicts and everyone who struggles with an addiction! Christ wants it, too, and offers it freely when you surrender to His Spirit.

-Mark (transformed and continuing to grow daily)