Addicted to Jesus

Scholars commissioned by King James coined the phrase "addicted to ministry". Such is the case with the second half of 1 Corinthians 16:15. This particular passage of Paul's letter was translated in 1611 as "they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints."

When the translators of 1611 used the word addicted, they had no idea that by the time Webster's Dictionary rolled off the press in 1983, the word "addicted" would long have been relegated to describing those overcome by harmful behaviors. The word "addict" is just not a description that the average Christian would want on his resume for it has been relegated to a mark of weakness.

We know instinctively what the word "addict" describes. It's someone who needs his next fix; someone who will be experiencing withdrawal if he can't get a supply of that which he is devoted to. This has some merit for I would love to live my whole life so addicted to Jesus that I experience withdrawal when I lose His power in my life - but there is so much more to the concept than what we commonly understand.

To make absolutely sure that we grasp the intent of the writer of 1 Corinthians 16:15, we can cross reference the word "addicted" with other places in the Bible where the same Greek word is used and translated into a different English word. One of these words is "set." Luke tells the story of a centurion who sent for Jesus to heal his servant. In the course of that episode, the centurion says, "I also am a man set under authority" (Luke 7:8). The word "set" is the same as the word "addicted." Just as the centurion had put himself under the control of another, so also does the addict deliberately relinquish control to someone or some thing. This idea of a deliberate plan or choice is borne out in a trusted Concordance (James Strong) that defines this word "to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. assign or dispose." There is a conscious decision made involving God's gift to us of free will. It is significant that the phrase in 1 Corinthians reads "they addicted themselves."

There is something inherent to addiction that causes the loss of self protectiveness. There is a passion to it that takes risks. The difference in the Biblical usage of this term, the one who is addicted is not controlled by the object of that passion. In a world where an addict is seen as a foolish helpless individual, we must reexamine our attitude of repugnancy at such behavior. What if those who are willing to throw their lives away on things that destroy actually exhibit a passion that we should all strive for? A passion that many Christians lack in their daily devotion to our Lord? Of course an addict's passion can be corrupted, the object of that passion can be destructive, but it is very possible that the ability to exhibit that kind of selfless devotion, regardless of consequence to life and limb, has been placed in our heart by our Creator.

Those who are addicted to a harmful substance or behavior are told they are helplessly ensnared by genetics or disease. What a misstatement of the truth! God gives us the predisposition of an addict. This is true in the since that the word "addicted" is also translated as "ordained," in Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." But this is false if we believe that it is the object of addiction that has the power over us!

Our ability to choose and take responsibility of our addiction does not arise by itself. We are created in the image of the One who gifted everyone with the ability to choose and take responsibility. We are an addict by design. We have the ability to be addicted - to be passionate - to exhibit the selfless devotion and loss of protectiveness - to whatever we choose. Thus what we are addicted to is a choice.

All of the exposition in the world is of no use if we don't look at the context of the "addiction" of those Paul writes about. Those who had addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints were the members of the "house of Stephanas." Tradition holds that Stephanas was the jailer at Philippi who was saved the night that Paul and Silas were freed from prison (Acts 16:20-34). In 1 Corinthians 16:15, it is said that the church that began in Stephanas' home was the "firstfruits" of that region. The reason Paul is talking about Stephanas at the end of 1 Corinthians is because his letter is written to a group of believers who were addicted to destructive behaviors (i.e. immorality, gluttony). Paul has spent a good deal of his letter pointing out the negatives. Like any good leader, he ends his letter with this positive illustration. He goes on to assure them of the Savior's love and his own commitment to continue to love and support them.

As a new believer, one of the first things Stephanas decided to do was take care of the physical needs of Paul and Silas. "He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes" (Acts 16:33). Serving the Lord in those days was a risky business. It was no small thing that Stephanas took these men home, fed them and gave them a safe place to sleep. No doubt, a strong conviction that came to be known as an "addiction" arose in Stephanas' heart that night. He and his whole church "addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints."

Describing this addiction as the "ministry of the saints" may not be the best way for someone in our own culture to grasp what Stephanas was doing. If we take a look at the roots of the word ministry, we get a clearer understanding. Someone who is a "minister" is working on behalf of someone else. The Greek root goes so far as to explain ministry in terms of running an errand for someone else. All of us, at one time or another, have run an errand. We have been sent to do a task and the completion of it has brought us the satisfaction of knowing that a job has been well done.

When we undertake an errand, we willingly become the servant of the one who sent us. All of Christianity is embodied in this idea. It is seen in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God who is the Cornerstone - the Firstfruit - praying "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). The errand we have been asked to undertake may not seem to have a concrete aspect to it. It may not feel as if there is a definite beginning and ending to it. They key to our life errand as a believer is not in its duration or repetition or even its completion. The key is in our willingness to addict ourselves passionately to being on that errand day after day for Jesus Christ.

Our Creator is also aware that we are creatures who like to see projects completed. He knows we like to have a pat on the back - to see results of our work. Who would be more intimately acquainted with us than the One who made us? It is no accident that Jesus made it very clear that we must take up our cross daily and follow Him. He who created us knows that the limits of our endurance reside between sunrise and sunset. He challenges us to be addicted to "the errand" He has in store for us just today - for just one day.

I'm addicted to Jesus. Whose addict are you?
Steve Beyer www.pagetwo.com