From the Daily Herald:
"People think it's bad behavior and that you just need an attitude adjustment, but what they don't know ... is that there's a biology and cognitive science to this," said Dr. Emil Coccaro, chairman of psychiatry at the University of Chicago's medical school.
First alcoholics had a disease, then the homosexuals did (but now they're just "normal"), then drug addiction, then adultery, and so on and so on.
No one is responsible for what they do--everyone just has an "illness" for whatever bad thing they do. There is no right and wrong, no good behavior or bad behavior, no sin.
Actually there is a grain of truth in all this psychobabble. There is a disease, and every human being has it: it's called a sin nature. It's a genetic disease inherited from parent to child, all the way back to Adam and Eve. They got it when they decided their way was better than God's way, and became fallen creatures.
The good news is there is a cure: Jesus Christ. The bad news is, God isn't going to buy any of this "I had an illness" drivel. Some in our demented society might, but He won't.
3 comments:
Alcoholism IS a disease and a very horrible one. It still should never be used as an excuse to break the law, but none the less I have a deep empathy for those who are afflicted or affected by this disease. It is not for any one of us to judge, but for all of us to realize that this IS a very real problem and we need to try to find ways to help those with this disease. THAT is what God would want.
Alcoholism is NOT a disease, any more than adultery or theft or homosexuality.
I used to be a drunk, and the "professionals" said I had this "disease." I didn't have a disease; I had a sin problem. It's a problem that Jesus fixed, and I no longer get drunk, and don't even want to get drunk anymore.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Drunkards in the church? "That is what some of you WERE."
Instead of blaming someone else, and instead of blaming some "disease," we need to deal with our own bad choices and ask God to come into our lives and help us make good choices.
Blaming our bad behavior on some mythical "disease" isn't going to do much to change the bad heart that got us in the mess in the first place.
Identifying something as a disease isn't meant to be a cop-out. Some people do use diseases as cop-outs, but that isn't limited to alcoholism. Every disease or diagnosable condition can (and I'm sure has) been used by some as an excuse for bad behavior, but that doesn't mean they're not real.
Identifying something as a disease simply means that the aflicted person has a jumping off point. No one diagnoses someone with cancer and then says "Oh, well, good luck with that." Rather, once the diagnosis is made, a course of action is laid out, and that patient works with a team of doctors as well as friends and family to treat it.
Likewise, when someone is diagnosed with alcoholism, that person works with a team of doctors or counselors as well as supportive friends and family to make things right.
Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it "psychobabble."
Also, I'm really glad you apparently have a direct line to God, so that He can tell you what He thinks is a disease versus what counts as "psychobabble." I haven't yet found a Bible verse that lays out what is a "real" disease versus what isn't, so if you could maybe have God give me a ring, that would be great. I'd like to hear His opinion on the matter.
If you try to say that the Bible lays it all out, and that Jesus is the answer to everyone's problems, I beg to differ. I am a Christian, but implying that being one means that one has no problems (or diseases) is horribly misleading. Jesus had/has some wise words, but being Christian doesn't mean that you get to sit back and judge other people all day.
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