Is fighting evil really the best way to defeat it? In my town of Battle Ground, WA we have a heroin problem. Heroin addiction is evil. It’s a tool the enemy uses to steal, kill and destroy lives. I just heard yet another story about a local kid who overdosed on heroin and died. I hate hearing stories like that. I get angry and I want to fight this evil.
The Bible instructs us to abhor evil and to cling to what is good. So as a child of God it’s natural to hate evil. But we don’t just want to have our feelings validated by scripture, do we? We want to take it a step further and see evil defeated.
We know that Satan was defeated at the Cross. No question there. Jesus won – Satan lost. But how do we see evil works, like heroin addiction, destroyed? For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8b).
While I believe strongly in spiritual warfare and casting out demons I want to talk about another tactic available to us.
Giving the Kingdom away
It’s a Kingdom strategy that has more to do with giving than fighting. I’m not talking about giving money or time. I’m talking about giving the Kingdom of God away to those who need it.
Let me tell you a short story that might help better explain what I mean.
Last Sunday at church, Pastor Dan had all of the men go for a walk. We were asked to walk with the Father down the street (it was Father’s Day). Our walk brought us to a field where we gathered around and listened to an exhortation from Dan’s friend. It was about the men in Battle Ground and how God wants to give us strength and honor. He also talked about the enemy’s plan to bring shame and mockery to the men here. He said something was breaking off of the men today. It was a powerful word.
He then asked us to walk back to the building in a spirit of quiet and contemplate what we heard.
People are starving to death
As I was walking and pondering what was spoken I clearly heard this question in my heart, “How do you fight hunger?” I answered , “With food.” I then heard, “It’s the same with addiction.” But I thought, “What do you feed them?”
I heard the Lord say, “The Word of God. People are hungry for the Word. They are hungry for significance, purpose, meaning and life.”
As I continued walking I realized something. Fighting addiction isn’t so much about fighting something as it is about providing something. I couldn’t imagine fighting hunger all day without actually feeding starving people food. But how often do we fight things like heroin addiction without feeding people the Word and giving them the Kingdom of God?
(Added 6-22-11: I originally wrote this post last night, 6-21-11, and just today I met a man from Battle Ground who told me he had 5 boys but just lost his 23-year-old son to heroin addiction overdose. Unfortunately this is not the story I mentioned in the first paragraph – it’s another death from heroin.) This makes me even more angry and I encourage anyone reading this to agree with me in prayer for my community. Pray Thy Kingdom come in Battle Ground and Thy will would be done here as it is in heaven.
About Josh Monen
Josh is a Christian entrepreneur who lives in Central Texas with his wife and 4 kids.
I will join in prayer and with Gods help fight addiction with what ever means he gives me. On another note there is going to be a benefit dinner sometime next month to raise money to help people who are willing go to rehab if your interested in attending give me a call or shoot me an email. cool blog or what ever you call this thing though
Hey Jon – thanks for reading my blog. And yes, I would be interested in getting info on that dinner thing. I’ll message you on facebook.
YES, I could not agree more with your statement concerning those whom have been subsided by drugs, particularly heroin (I too have a certain kind of hate towards the whole drug world).
You see, i have been one of those siblings whom buried a brother who died from heroin when he was only in his early thirties, my brother was a very loving and caring person whom had his whole life ahead of him and could of continued to serve others as a nurse, in which he loved to do for work.
In my mind and understanding of the what the Word of God has to say about the spiritual battle that goes on daily between God’s children and the devil in the fight for freedom from addictions is that all can be free from the bondage of addiction if only He is asked and prayer is sought through a personal relationship with Jesus.
However as you were saying with the analogy of trying to save a group of people from starving to death with out offering them food is a very clear point in respect to saving others from a battle in which they can not physically see nor understand is even going on in front of them with out the knowledge of the Word, and how could they, if they have never been taught the Truth of what they are up against.
We as believers in Jesus Christ do have a mandate and a responsibility to those whom have not yet been explained the Word of God or to them whom are aware of the power of Jesus but have gotten off track and are heading down the road to destruction and death.
Yes, be mad, be very, very , very mad at the devil (but be smart and constructive with your anger and do not let the devil take you down with the ones that he already has in bondage with drug addictions) and do what God says to you to do, Pray and take action through the Word of God, do as He directs you to do for those on the battle field and that have been wounded, but not dead. A warrior would never leave a wounded man behind, and nor should we.
So yes, giving out what you know as a christian and sharing the good news through love,charity,prayer,understanding and wisdom to those whom need it most the lost and misled.
All us bible believing Christians need to be feed every day, how much more food does the non-believer need then you. So please, feed the hungry and ask for nothing in return and you just might save a life and another sibling from attending a funeral of their loved one.
Sincerely in Christ,
Michael Monen
Thanks for sharing your heart Dad. I know this issue hits close to home for you. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to lose one of my brothers. I agree that we do have a mandate and a responsibility to be good stewards of the gospel. You’re right – we may be able to play a part in saving someone else’s loved one from attending their sibling’s funeral.
Joshua,
Very thoughtful post. I think I sometimes doubt the true power of the Word of God. It really is the only way to feed the hunger of the soul.
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It really is. We were created to feast on it.
I had heard a sermon in which the pastor had mentioned battle ground has one of the biggest heroin problems in the country I had to Google it to see what came up and I came across this blog. I got the chills reading it and kept thinking wow this person is right on! I scrolled down and saw it was you 🙂 keep writing!!
Hey Sharla – thanks for the comment. And I will keep writin (I make myself post something on here at least once a week). Keep praying for Battle Ground!
Good post!
I for sure have a strong hate for drugs myself and a huge heart for those addicted and the families of the addict. My heart cries out to God for a brake through of freedom from addiction(s) (not just heroin or drugs but all aditction) here in BG and across the world. God will answer His faithful children! -sadly, in all honesty I am not always so faithful, sometime it feels like prayer is the weakest tactic for the fight… 🙁 Glad that our God is so good and renews my faith!
Keep writing!
Hi Katrina, thank you for sharing your heart too. I know, it can seem like nothing is happening when we pray and don’t see the results right away. But I know God hears our prayers and He answers them! Sometimes we just have to be persistent. I like the story Jesus told here:
Luk 11:5-10- And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] ‘for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; [7] “and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? [8] “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. [9] “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
I have 6 months and fifteen days clean from heroin. Spent 3 years feeding that beast. Not to use a cliche but it “took everything from me.” I know that when I was in my addiction there were plenty of people willing to say what would work and though I appreciate their thoughts, it did nothing for me. I had all the knowledge in the world of how to change but none of the will to do it. The pure Gospel was what brought me to my knees and allowed me to finally give up every part of heroin, no reservations about it. Then, God worked through ordinary means and even non-Christians to give me wisdom on how to change. I can say I am “delivered” from drug addiction today. I do however know that with one use I would be right back to square one, which can be a scary thought, but by the Grace of God I do not have to live like that.
I believe that the people who can make a difference in an addicts life are “real” people. They do not need condescension or lofty statements. Right before I got clean I went to breakfast with a friend of mine from the church, I hadn’t seen him much at all especially since I was homeless. He took me out, bought me food and asked if i was clean in an incredibly sincere way. I couldn’t help but tell him that indeed no, I was not clean. In fact if I didn’t go get drugs within two hours I would not be a pretty sight. I felt like he hurt for me, hated to see me having to go through that but still had love for me. It made such a difference. I was so thankful for that. I now get to see him and I’m not 120 pounds and ghost like anymore 🙂
Oddly enough, I don’t feel like a better person now that I’m clean. I just feel blessed.
I appreciate your post Joshua, it is a plague upon Battle Ground and many friends and school mates are still in active addiction.
Lucas, I really appreciate you sharing your story with us! It’s so good to hear what the “pure Gospel” can do in a person’s life. And congratulation on your sobriety…over 6 months clean and sober…that’s awesome! Praise the Lord!
I like what you said, “people who can make a difference in an addicts life are real people.” I agree. After I went to rehab I started going to AA meetings and that was the first place (outside of rehab) where I felt I could be real and share my story without any condemnation. That feeling of acceptance was a major factor in my recovery…Later I met Christians who also showed me grace and unconditional love but most importantly I met the Lord who showered me with His grace!
It’s so good to hear your story. And I also have friends who are still active in their addiction; like you said, it’s not that we are any better, we are just blessed by the grace of our Father. If it wasn’t for His grace I don’t know if I would still be alive today, and it sounds like the same could be said for you. Let’s keep praying for our friends and our community…that these chains of addiction would be broken and our friends would discover the source of true pleasure – our Lord Jesus!
Awesome post!