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ISSUE 2 | VOLUME 49 | JUNE 2012
I remember years ago, a preacher was in a prayer line and he noticed an elderly woman, quite well dressed and refined looking, swaying back and forth a few persons down from where he was praying for someone. The elderly woman was saying in a commanding voice, “Take it away Lord, take it away!” When the preacher finally got to where she was, he asked her what it was that she wanted God to take away. She replied, “Snuff. God, take away my snuff chewing.” The preacher, in a moment of great wisdom said to the elderly woman, “God is not going to take it away; you are going to have to give it up.” To which she replied, “What, give up good old snuff?” Emotional and Spiritual freedom come through many differing vehicles of intervention. Many times when we are struggling with something in our lives, we just want God to take it away. For example, deliverance is one way that God has provided for believers to become free from the stronghold of the demonic influence that may have entered into his/her life because of a variety of circumstances. God can take this away because He has provided us with His power to set the captives free and to cast out demons in His Name. A chemical imbalance in a believer’s life can lead to a depletion of certain chemicals within the body, resulting in a short-circuiting of the normal functioning of the brain to send messages to the rest of the body. For example, the depletion of serotonin, the feel good chemical produced by the body may lead to depression, and in extreme cases, suicide. Many times in these situations, a doctor is able to prescribe an antidepressant medication to re-balance the depleted natural chemical within the person’s body. This allows functionality to return and life becomes manageable once again. For many believers, taking an antidepressant has a certain negative stigma attached to it. The same person who struggles with taking an anti-depressant may not struggle with taking insulin if they were a diabetic. Freedom from addiction is yet another vehicle the Lord uses to bring healing and freedom. I have never met a
person with a drinking problem, but I have met many people with problems that have caused them to drink. The descriptor: drinking problem could be replaced with any of the following: drug problem, workaholism, pornography addiction, sexual addiction, gambling, hoarding or eating disorders. These all represent different forms of self-medication. Medicating manages pain, but does not address or heal the cause of the pain. Therefore, it is not a matter of concern that you use whatever you have found helpful to ease the pain. God wants to heal the source of the pain. I personally know more about this struggle to medicate than just reading the many excellent books on this subject over the last few decades. I had self-medicated my pain with a bottle of whiskey or a case of beer everyday for quite a few of my teenage years. The most difficult thing for me when I finally quit drinking was that I had to face reality, and that reality included deep emotional pain. The question, what is the source of the pain? The difficulty with giving up, “good old snuff” or in my case, “good old whiskey or beer” was how would I numb the pain without my whiskey/beer medication? That was when the Holy Spirit became real in my life. He offered something I never had before, healing for the pain. It was a process. God brought many wonderful people into my life. People who were led by the Holy Spirit and used their spiritual gifts to bring healing. Gifts like, compassion, mercy, discernment, wisdom, and knowledge. Some of these people were professional counsellors; others were professors, pastors, board members, congregation members and close friends.
District Clergy Care Coach 1 District Superintendent 2 Children, Preteen and Family 2 Assistant Superintendent 3 BCYD Global Workers 3 Next Generation Ministries 4 University Christian Ministries 4 Women 2 Women 5 Aboriginal and Cultural Ministries 5 PAOC Rebranding Initiative 6 District Calendar 6 & 8 Happenings Around the District 7 BC Yukon PAOC District @bcydist
As you are reading this article, perhaps you are struggling with an addiction, a chemical imbalance, or a need for deliverance. You may be a mom, dad, teen, pastor, youth leader, counselor, Bible college professor, member of a police force, lawyer, barista in a coffee shop, a new believer, or a seasoned follower of Christ; you need to know that you can be free and whole in Christ. I encourage you to talk with someone you trust; someone who is safe and presents Christ in a real way. May I encourage you to “give up good old snuff”. Jim Caruso DMin. District Clergy Care Coach jcaruso@bc.paoc.org Page 1