Co-Dependency, Abuse, and Addictions

Co-dependency is an unhealthy attachment to another person to make oneself feel whole. It revolves around what a person can get from someone else by giving them something in return. Such relationships are unwholesome from a moral and spiritual perspective since neither party is willing to be truthful. Both parties are uncaringly clinging to whatever they are getting (money, sex, financial support, friendship, admiration, etcetera). These relationships are fraught with self-indulgence, emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, child, and substance abuse which will undoubtedly harm the body and the mind. Abuse is a learned behavior. Abusing someone or substances is not a person's behavior walking in fellowship with the Lord. Any relationship plagued by any form of abuse or addictive behaviors will eventually have to choose one of three paths: one, the abuser or addict confesses they are at fault…; two, separation from the abuser or addict … Or, three, the abuse or addiction is allowed to continue indefinitely to the harm of both parties… The abuser or addict will only change through genuine repentance and the Lord's saving grace. A person who can understand the nature of their sin will feel godly sorrow that leads to repentance, salvation, and a clear conscience. Change is a personal choice that we must seek, and accepting the abuse is not the way to go. The human view is that we can do "something" to change things in our power. We simply cannot! "Jesus the Word," tells us that only doing things God's way brings true peace that lasts.