Mankind is characterized by two large factors, mind and emotions. Often they are at odds with each other and we become contradictory/paradoxical in our lives (personal) and conduct (social). Some of us knowing (mind) the health problems related to tobacco smoking, smoke anyway (emotion). Knowing the physical cost of poor nutrition, some of us continue eating menus saturated in fat and sugar. Nagged about the need for exercise to sustain health, mobility and long life, we are known as a sedentary population. Addictions have their seat in the emotional contexts of our lives, but they have to be fed (managed) by the decision-making of the mind. Addictions are not all bad. Addicted to habits of proper sleep, of good hygiene, of excellent work performance, of family solidarity, of maturing life, of spiritual formation, we gain increasingly fulfilled and comforting lives. We learn that God is not evaluating us on our status in the world, or in our wealth, power, or celebrity. He evaluates on the basis of what we may call quality in belief (faith), in practice (righteousness), in service (relationships) and these in balanced living touched with his aid in developing a full and coordinated body of experience. That experience is not dependent upon the circumstances of nature and mortality. It is modeled to us in persons like Jesus Christ, and the Apostles, or those identified in Scripture, as in the lists of names of persons in formation in Romans 16, and noted with specific qualities in Hebrews 11. Even in the positives of our lives we are moving in the direction of justification before God. When our habits have taken us strongly, they become addictions. We tend to use the word addiction for poor habits, and keep the word habits for both good and poor actions that may not have gained driving force (addictions), good that become determiners for us, nearly impossible to break. Following a person like Janis Joplin, the entertainer, we can fairly well predict that addiction will kill her – and it did. She must have known it would, but could not find her way out.
The Christian ought to be seeking to educate both the mind and the emotions. Neither act automatically, but are influenced by inheritance, experiences, aspirations, health, and the general factors related to human education. We sometimes see ourselves in animals, especially in emotions of happiness (dogs wag their tails), or in their anger (the same dog bites and growls at those who threaten the master of the dog). We take advantage of these controlling factors by training seeing-eye dogs, even trackers of human beings. They become addicted to the object of their training and can be trusted to carry through assignments even to death. The wise person can learn the good so as to be dominated by that which becomes pleasing to self and to God in righteousness, and avoid evil in practicing the habits of the good which is a simple defense. David the King missed the point when he held gaze on the appearance of Bathsheba – which preoccupation led to a series of events that sullied the memory of him. We learn the secret of gaining better things for our lives by simply turning away. (Offered a highly lucrative position as an important officer in a company I was prepared to accept the contract one evening and flew to Chicago to finalize an agreement. The meeting was postponed to the next day because of inclement weather. During the night I was struck that I was taking the offer simply because of the wealth factor. The next day the president and board members were surprised at my negative decision, a decision my wife agreed to readily when I informed her of it on arising that morning. I have never regretted my decision. I had become addicted to ministry in higher education and in the church, which commitment might have been diluted by accepting the gracious offer.)
We develop habits which are addictions in formation, some partial and some complete. I have met many persons addicted to education, to food, to family, to nationality, to social differences, and the list grows long. Those who make habits work in an intellectual/emotional balance that is guided by spiritual integrity form lives that make a difference to themselves and others for good, not only in measureable benefit, but in the mystery of life that knows it was good to have lived, that a legacy of life is commendable to others, and that life has been coordinate with Scripture for both earth and the kingdom of God. That is not easy to do, but becomes easier as we make strong habit of righteousness for constancy. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020