Guard Down
This is an excerpt from Cruel Idols - Addiction Through a Very Different Lens
Journey Into Slavery
We’ve already argued that addiction is not something that just happens to people. Nobody suffers from sudden onset addiction syndrome. That’s not even a thing. Because of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3), we are all predisposed to doing wrong. We are “sinners by nature.” You may have heard that before. But even predisposed as we are to wrong and destructive choices, addiction is not just suddenly there. We don’t go to bed sober and wake up addicted the next morning. No, we find addiction toward the end of a road – sometimes a long road and sometimes not so long. Addiction is a waypoint on the journey to destruction and misery. In this section we begin to look at the journey into slavery. Subtle at first, the journey becomes increasingly overt and more difficult to abort, and at the end, our newly coronated idols reign ruthlessly. Let’s take a closer look at the progression. These ideas are informed and inspired by Dr. Ed Welch’s book, Addictions; A Banquet in the Grave.
Guard Down
I can remember as a kid going with my dad to watch Golden Gloves boxing. Dad was a fan of the sweet science. Honestly, though, there was little that was scientific about the way some of these young boxers went about their craft – awkward, unbalanced with arms flailing nervously and indiscriminately. It was entertaining to say the least. Skilled boxers are methodical. They study their opponents and formulate solid offensive strategies. They don’t wear themselves down throwing misguided hay-makers that almost never hit the mark. They break the opposition down with controlled jabs, creating opportunities to land more powerful punches that efficiently achieve the desired goal. And there’s something else that successful boxers do – they keep their guard up. They don’t give the opponent an opportunity to land a solid blow. Hands high; eyes trained on the opponent, always moving fluidly and artistically on their feet. It’s beautiful in its own unique way.
The Bible speaks a lot about the problem of letting our guard down. For example, the Old Testament Israelites were pretty cavalier in their interactions with the inhabitants of the land of promise. God’s command was clear; “Drive them out! To do anything less is to subject yourselves to their pagan influences and ultimately you will worship their gods. Don’t marry their women. Don’t enter into treaties with their leaders. Drive them out! Keep your guard up!” Israel was casual and indifferent in the face of God’s clear warning and directive. The guard was down, and they paid the price. (See Deuteronomy 11 and Exodus 23)
King David is another example we can look to. When he should have been out to battle, he was not. From his rooftop he saw a woman bathing. Ultimately, David called for Bathsheba and committed adultery with her. His guard was down, and he paid the price. (See 2 Samuel 11)
King David’s son, Solomon writes at length about the dangers of an unguarded way of living. In Proverbs 7, Solomon speaks of a “simpleton” who unwittingly – unguardedly - passes near the corner of the prostitute. “With much seductive speech she persuades him,” Solomon says. “With her smooth talk she compels him…”. As an ox to the slaughter; as a stag pierced by an arrow; as a bird entangled in a snare… “…he does not know that it will cost him his life.” Guard down. Price paid.
Cruel Idols; Addiction Through a Very Different Lens will be available in the Spring of 2019