Alcoholism??? Read First?!
Question: I wanna know how you feel. You know how in AA one must confess to alcoholism, or being an alcoholic? (Hi my name is .... I'm an alcoholic) This person could have been sober for five years or more. I want to know why must a person have to say that? Do you believe once an alcoholic always one?
I believe that once you repent from that sin and you have removed yourself from it you don't carry that burden with you. It's a clean slate. Why must one live their whole life in that sin even though they've moved on from it. God forgives and doesn't look down on us as alcoholics, or addicts. Why does this program foster that continous label?
Answers: I wanna know how you feel. You know how in AA one must confess to alcoholism, or being an alcoholic? (Hi my name is .... I'm an alcoholic) This person could have been sober for five years or more. I want to know why must a person have to say that? Do you believe once an alcoholic always one?
I believe that once you repent from that sin and you have removed yourself from it you don't carry that burden with you. It's a clean slate. Why must one live their whole life in that sin even though they've moved on from it. God forgives and doesn't look down on us as alcoholics, or addicts. Why does this program foster that continous label?
You're mixing things up. God forgives us our sins, no matter how many times we fall, if we are truly sorry. Enuf said , ok?
Alcoholics, and addicts in general (no matter what they are addicted to: drugs, gambling, sex, etc.) will ALWAYS be addicts. They may not be "active" addicts but they are always addicts. Addictions are progressive. A person can refrain from the addictive behaviors for 5, 10, 20 years but if they resume they resume at the spot they left off at (they don't go back to square one). Another important thing to remember about addictions is that addicts tenaciously DENY that they have a problem (and therefore don't get help). By continuing to profess, "I'm George and I'm an addict" puts him in touch with the principles (12 steps) that s/he needs to deal with the never ending danger of relapsing into addictive behavior. (It keeps one honest and humble). If an addict ever thinks, "Oh, I haven't drunk anything in 12 years... I surely can have ONE drink without relapsing"... he is setting himself up for failure. He needs to be constantly vigilant to the fact that he is one drink away from being a mess. It's like that famous quote that, "one drink(drug) is too many and a million won't be enough to satisfy the craving" so he has to constantly remind himself that he is an addict and has to keep his mind/priorities straight. He's not doubting that God has forgiven him... he's reminding himself that he is weak and subject to tragedy if he forgets himself. As Dirty Harry used to say, "A man's got to know his limitations".
I think they say this because it's something you will always struggle with. As a former alcoholic you have to wake up and make a choice to drink or not to. However, like you, I believe God can deliver us from our sins and make them a thing of the past. I don't necessarily like the term alcoholic, but I'm sure that's why they say it. If you have recovered from alcohol addiction, no matter what anyone tells you, you are no longer an alcoholic.
I just want you to know that I am proud of you for overcoming your addiction. You give me hope for my father. He is an alcoholic at this point in his life. I know God can deliver him, but he has to be willing to give it up as well. Keep up the good work!
It is true that alcoholism is forever. A good moral compass and religion is helpful, but alcoholism is based on a chemical dependence.
Some people are more predisposed to alcoholism than others, I know people who have not had a drink in fifteen years and thought they were fine to have a social drink and ended up back in the whole downward cycle again. Once that chemical dependence starts, it is very difficult to stop.
I also know alcoholics that have not had a drink in thirty or forty years and will not touch even a drop, because they know that they cannot.
God does forgive, but the chemical makeup of the human body is a separate force of nature.
You have found what works for your sobriety, and that is the important thing.