I'd like to preface this post by explaining that I am reading a book (Reinventing Justice, James Nolan) about the Drug Court Movement for one of my legal studies courses. As I was reading through some background on the nature of narcotic additions, I came across some interesting information, and of course, it immediately registered as a Relevant Revelation.
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It was during the early twentieth century that society felt the need to politically intervene with the wide-spread misuse of drugs. For decades physicians and medics had liberally prescribed and administered opiates (namely morphine) to a countless number of soldiers returning from war. These were to act as painkillers for relief of serious injuries. It was in ignorance that these vigorous substances were being used as pain relievers, and, more so, it was in ignorance that these medications became an unrelenting force of addiction.
Once it became clear, public knowledge of the effects of this opiate, what did these doctors decide to do to combat these fierce addictions? - They thought an effective remedy would be to use other forms of opium (extracted from the plant itself) or its synthetic derivatives (man-made substances derived from the opium compound). Consequently, in an effort to fight these morphine addictions, physicians had successfully introduced heroine, cocaine, husa, and codeine (to name a few).
As Nolan notes, many of these "ostensible antidotes simply replaced previous addictions with new ones" (19). These substances are just as well recognized as addictive narcotics in today's society. What was meant to conquer one addiction actually became a new addiction in itself.
My question here is not about the legitimacy of these doctors, nor is it one about such medical practices. Rather, it is this: Do we not practice this in our spiritual lives as well?
We find something that causes pain - even one that seems undeserving - and attempt to find the remedy in a substitute. For you, maybe it's a relational, spiritual, knowledge-based, or even a physical battle. In such ailments we look for a cure to cover up our most difficult defeats. It may be something like seeking new friends to replace old ones who have caused pain or one might search for a different career goal when the current plan is not working out.
Many of us habitually reason (even if we do so subconsciously) that to resolve our worldly issues we ought to find a worldly item to take its place. We tend to try and extract a new outcome out of the same plant with hopes of a cure, or maybe even a distraction. Rather, we should extract from an entirely new source; we should be deriving the remedy not from the natural, but from something so much greater than what we could ever synthetically substitute as a relief for pain.
This is where the Gospel comes into play, a good news that pleases those who are weary. The Lord offers us not only relief, but a true healing above all else. Though we may find temporary happiness in substitutes that we think will overcome our pains, they become replacement idols. More so, at times they may even accidental addictions that may once again lead to pain. I would rather aim for a treatment that selects a Remedy separate from the natural -- One that conquers all ailments and leads to full restoration.
Once it became clear, public knowledge of the effects of this opiate, what did these doctors decide to do to combat these fierce addictions? - They thought an effective remedy would be to use other forms of opium (extracted from the plant itself) or its synthetic derivatives (man-made substances derived from the opium compound). Consequently, in an effort to fight these morphine addictions, physicians had successfully introduced heroine, cocaine, husa, and codeine (to name a few).
As Nolan notes, many of these "ostensible antidotes simply replaced previous addictions with new ones" (19). These substances are just as well recognized as addictive narcotics in today's society. What was meant to conquer one addiction actually became a new addiction in itself.
My question here is not about the legitimacy of these doctors, nor is it one about such medical practices. Rather, it is this: Do we not practice this in our spiritual lives as well?
We find something that causes pain - even one that seems undeserving - and attempt to find the remedy in a substitute. For you, maybe it's a relational, spiritual, knowledge-based, or even a physical battle. In such ailments we look for a cure to cover up our most difficult defeats. It may be something like seeking new friends to replace old ones who have caused pain or one might search for a different career goal when the current plan is not working out.
Many of us habitually reason (even if we do so subconsciously) that to resolve our worldly issues we ought to find a worldly item to take its place. We tend to try and extract a new outcome out of the same plant with hopes of a cure, or maybe even a distraction. Rather, we should extract from an entirely new source; we should be deriving the remedy not from the natural, but from something so much greater than what we could ever synthetically substitute as a relief for pain.
This is where the Gospel comes into play, a good news that pleases those who are weary. The Lord offers us not only relief, but a true healing above all else. Though we may find temporary happiness in substitutes that we think will overcome our pains, they become replacement idols. More so, at times they may even accidental addictions that may once again lead to pain. I would rather aim for a treatment that selects a Remedy separate from the natural -- One that conquers all ailments and leads to full restoration.
"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not His benefits -
who forgives all your sins and heals all our diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's"
~ Psalm 103:2-5
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