This is Father Jared Cramer from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, here with today’s edition of Christian Mythbusters, a regular segment I offer to counter some common misconceptions about the Christian faith. 

A couple of weeks ago, another issue of people claiming the name of Christ while also acting contrary to the spirit of Jesus surfaced just north of Grand Haven, among our siblings in Muskegon.

Fresh Coast Alliance, an organization that operates various homes for people transitioning from incarceration, in need of mentoring, and in need of outpatient substance abuse counseling, had a proposal for a 30-bed treatment center for women and men recovering from substance abuse rejected by Muskegon County commissioners. One of those who spoke against the facility, in particular, didn’t like how, “they’ve used the face of a church as a front to accomplish their agenda.”  

Over and over, as residents spoke against the treatment center, their language revealed the continued stigmatization of those who suffer from substance abuse addiction. One resident went so far as to say, “There’s certain dogs you can’t feed because they come back all the time.” When Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hillson spoke in support of the center, saying it would be “a well-added benefit to our community,” the crowd heckled him. 

So, I’d like this week to try to break some myths surrounding substance abuse and addiction, as well as the appropriate Christian response. 

The first thing we have to remember is that people who struggle with substance abuse are sick—that is, they are battling a behavior and a way of existing that is outside of their ability to control. 

We don’t know exactly why an addict or an alcoholic is sick. There seems to be numerous factors that can lead to an addictive state, including genetic factors, biological issues of brain metabolism and neurochemical imbalances, or a pathology that is created through the reward centers of the brain, as well as family and social factors. 

But no matter the cause of the illness, the addict has a sickness, a sickness that is in need of treatment. And, just like medical treatment, there is not always a clear path forward to health, much less cure. There are medication-assisted treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy, twelve-step groups, and other ways of combating and treating addiction. Most people experience the greatest benefit by some combination of all of the above, along with the support of a community that can keep them from falling back into addictive behaviors. 

And it is true, relapse is a common part of the journey to sobriety for the addict. But a solid indicator of the likelihood of relapse is that those who seek help with their addiction relapse at a much lower rate than those who seek to go it alone.

The sentiment of some in that neighborhood in Muskegon, a sentiment that opposed this residential treatment center, demonstrates that stigma continues to be a barrier to adequate treatment. I could not imagine what it would be like for someone who battles addiction to read that their neighbors think of them as dogs, or that they are a risk to the community on the sole basis of seeking help with their addiction. 

And I know there were addicts who read this. Studies indicate that over the course of your life, more than 1 in 10 people in America will struggle with addiction of some kind. And the self-hate that many addicts feel only compounds their addiction, drives them further into their drug of choice. For people to pile on to that self-hate with their own prejudiced views of addicts and those who struggle with substance abuse is, quite frankly, unconscionable. 

So, that is addiction in general… but the question remains, how should a Christian respond?

Well, first off, probably we should look to Jesus. When Jesus encountered people who were broken by disease or prejudice, he offered them love and respect. So, Christians, above all, should be people who are willing to show love and respect to those who are struggling with addiction, especially those who are seeking treatment.

That someone would see a church being a part of a rehabilitation service as using your religion as a cover for helping others is mind-blowing. A church helping people recover from addiction through mental and medical treatment, along with a community of love and prayer… I cannot imagine anything that sounds more like something a disciple of Jesus should do.

Listen, if you’re an addict or someone who struggles with substance abuse, I hope you know how much God loves you, despite what some people might say. I hope you know that despite your brokenness and pain, God loves you and wants you to find a community that can support you, that can help you find health.

And if you are blessed not to struggle with addiction or substance abuse, be grateful you don’t have to go through the horror and the pain of this disease. And maybe look around you as well for ways you can help those who do. Rather than driving treatment centers out of their neighborhood, Christians should rally in support of those who seek health and freedom from their addiction. 

Thanks for being with me. To find out more about my parish, you can go to sjegh.com. Until next time, remember, protest like Jesus, love recklessly, and live your faith out in a community that accepts you but also challenges you to be better tomorrow than you are today.