One of my favorite phrases, slogans, names, or even categories that I’ve heard attributed to a specific group of people has to be: THOSE PEOPLE. Yes, this phrase is typically accompanied by rolling of the eyes and an odd sound emitting from the mouth that can only be related to something heard in a Lamaze class. I don’t know. Now that I’ve mentioned it, you’ll hear it.
You hear this saying when speaking about a group of people that you and I do not feel as if we relate. We separate them from us. We create categories. We segregate. If you’re reading this and are trying to convince yourself that you’ve never done, STOP, you’re only lying to yourself. I often find myself grouped alongside THOSE PEOPLE.
When it comes to worship…I’m one of THOSE PEOPLE.
When it comes to recovery…I’m one of THOSE PEOPLE.
You get the picture.
I’d like to take the next few moments to focus on one of these in particular: RECOVERY. I’ve now been involved in the 12 Step Christ-centered Recovery Program known as Celebrate Recovery for a little over 2 years. It has been probably the most uplifting, life changing, and challenging ministries or programs or groups that I’ve EVER been a part of. I cannot speak for others, but I have experienced RADICAL life change and transformation through simple, practical, everyday steps.
Here’s the part I don’t fully grasp or understand. People in recovery are looked upon as THOSE PEOPLE. Why? Did you know that we’ve ALL either been hurt or hurt somebody? Did you know that God himself said we’ve ALL fallen short and sinned (Romans 3:23)? Did you know that we ALL need recovery? Yes, I said it…we ALL NEED RECOVERY.
I spent a few years thinking I had my struggles all figured out. I thought sobriety from alcohol, drugs, pornography, _________ (insert your struggle here) meant I was…well, OK. I was seemingly healthy. I wasn’t causing trouble. I was growing as both husband and father. I was active in the church. I thought I had left behind all that once held me back…
WRONG!
Just because you’ve been able to move beyond a specific hurt, habit, or hang-up doesn’t mean you’ve somehow arrived. Sobriety is not recovery! There are reasons, some deep-rooted, some surface level, behind our struggles. Drinking is not the problem, so much as WHY you are drinking. Anger is not the problem, so much as WHY you are angry. Unforgiveness is not the problem, so much as WHY you cannot forgive.
Celebrate Recovery is a program designed to get to the root of the perceived problem and, once it’s been identified, turn it over to God. We learn to release our hurts, our habits, our hang-ups…we are FREED from the burdens we choose to bear. That’s right, I said CHOOSE. If you don’t address the problem, you’re choosing to live with it and in it. You have a choice.
I’m proud to be one of THOSE PEOPLE. THOSE PEOPLE are no longer living in denial. THOSE PEOPLE desire to be changed by Jesus. THOSE PEOPLE want to grow. THOSE PEOPLE desire life and life to its absolute fullest!
For you church people, yes, those of you who smirk at the word recovery, those of you who deny any relation to the subject, allow me to share a bit of insight that has made a world of difference in the way I view Celebrate Recovery or recovery in general…recovery is just another word for DISCIPLESHIP. That’s right! Let that sink in. Marinate in that thought for a while.
I don’t know about you, but I want to receive healing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to have any secrets. I don’t know about you, but I want to become more like Jesus.
You hear this saying when speaking about a group of people that you and I do not feel as if we relate. We separate them from us. We create categories. We segregate. If you’re reading this and are trying to convince yourself that you’ve never done, STOP, you’re only lying to yourself. I often find myself grouped alongside THOSE PEOPLE.
When it comes to worship…I’m one of THOSE PEOPLE.
When it comes to recovery…I’m one of THOSE PEOPLE.
You get the picture.
I’d like to take the next few moments to focus on one of these in particular: RECOVERY. I’ve now been involved in the 12 Step Christ-centered Recovery Program known as Celebrate Recovery for a little over 2 years. It has been probably the most uplifting, life changing, and challenging ministries or programs or groups that I’ve EVER been a part of. I cannot speak for others, but I have experienced RADICAL life change and transformation through simple, practical, everyday steps.
Here’s the part I don’t fully grasp or understand. People in recovery are looked upon as THOSE PEOPLE. Why? Did you know that we’ve ALL either been hurt or hurt somebody? Did you know that God himself said we’ve ALL fallen short and sinned (Romans 3:23)? Did you know that we ALL need recovery? Yes, I said it…we ALL NEED RECOVERY.
I spent a few years thinking I had my struggles all figured out. I thought sobriety from alcohol, drugs, pornography, _________ (insert your struggle here) meant I was…well, OK. I was seemingly healthy. I wasn’t causing trouble. I was growing as both husband and father. I was active in the church. I thought I had left behind all that once held me back…
WRONG!
Just because you’ve been able to move beyond a specific hurt, habit, or hang-up doesn’t mean you’ve somehow arrived. Sobriety is not recovery! There are reasons, some deep-rooted, some surface level, behind our struggles. Drinking is not the problem, so much as WHY you are drinking. Anger is not the problem, so much as WHY you are angry. Unforgiveness is not the problem, so much as WHY you cannot forgive.
Celebrate Recovery is a program designed to get to the root of the perceived problem and, once it’s been identified, turn it over to God. We learn to release our hurts, our habits, our hang-ups…we are FREED from the burdens we choose to bear. That’s right, I said CHOOSE. If you don’t address the problem, you’re choosing to live with it and in it. You have a choice.
I’m proud to be one of THOSE PEOPLE. THOSE PEOPLE are no longer living in denial. THOSE PEOPLE desire to be changed by Jesus. THOSE PEOPLE want to grow. THOSE PEOPLE desire life and life to its absolute fullest!
For you church people, yes, those of you who smirk at the word recovery, those of you who deny any relation to the subject, allow me to share a bit of insight that has made a world of difference in the way I view Celebrate Recovery or recovery in general…recovery is just another word for DISCIPLESHIP. That’s right! Let that sink in. Marinate in that thought for a while.
I don’t know about you, but I want to receive healing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to have any secrets. I don’t know about you, but I want to become more like Jesus.
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