Addicted vs. Sold Out

What does it mean to be sold out for Jesus? Going to church weekly or twice weekly, wearing Christian graphic t's, listening to Christian music, and doing mission work once a year?

A bit of a disclaimer to be made here is that my objective is not to bash any of those things. They are all great things to do! However, what I think we're missing is the joy and the submissive spirit that comes with being obedient to Christ. This is not just the areas of dress, music, and service...but our entire lives.

We are careful to only allow God to control the areas in our lives that make us look spiritual on the outside, but reserving areas that we are weak in for our own control and passions. When saying the salvation prayer, sometimes we open only some doors to Jesus; because we are a bit frightened to hand over the reins to everything we say, do, and ARE. We say things like:

"What if my social life is over? What if my friends think I'm weak or crazy?"

"I am obsessed with this kind of music or entertainment. I know God wants the best for me, and this kind of entertainment is wrong, but I still enjoy the pleasure of it and don't want to give it up."

"I am super popular with this specific group of people. If I gave everything to Christ, then that means I couldn't hang out with these people anymore and I don't want to be friendless!"

"I'm really worried about my employment right now. I'm not sure I could handle losing control and handing that problem over to God in surrender to Him."

"If I commit everything in my life to Christ, then my family and/or friends might laugh at me or disassociate themselves with me. That would hurt."

"Surrendering my love life to Christ? Now that's a little much, don't you think?"


All of those scenarios are actual ones that I have either personally encountered, felt, or heard told by other Christians describing their journey to Christ.

None of the stories associated with any one of those situations is discounted as silly or stupid. Doubts are real but very dangerous, and they are often what stands in between us and the true joy of knowing Christ in all of His goodness.

Eric Ludy and his wife Leslie have been involved in their own ministry and outreach programs they have begun together (see their website @ ellerslie.com). The Ludy's have also authored books individually and together on relationships with other people and relationships with Christ. In one chapter of their book, "When God Writes Your Love Story" (a book I encourage both young men and women to read), Eric took the liberty of sharing his struggles as a young Christian before his relationship with Leslie began. His train of thought involving giving "the rooms" of our lives over to Christ in this quote is something I have found all too familiar.

“I struggled with trusting Him because I didn’t truly know His nature and character. He created me; He knows me even better than I know myself. Why wouldn’t I say to Him, “Not just this room, but, Lord, I also want You to come into my other ten rooms down the hall!”

Eric struggled with trust because why? He. Didn't. Truly. Know. The. Character. Of. Christ! Whereas most people might find this a scary place to be, it can be the most joyful place to be. At this point, we have the choice before us to submit and learn more about Christ in order to gain a clearer perspective and His peaceful direction.

These personal stories are excellent examples of struggle and triumph, but what does God's own Word have to say on the subject?

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to him."
-Psalm 28:7-

When our heart trusts, our heart exults! What better hope have we than this when walking or struggling through some difficult situation or decision? It is our fault when we walk alone because we do not have to.

One thing I have come to realize is that lacking trust means we are likely addicted to something that's providing a stronghold. ADDICTIONS. When someone thinks of that word, they think of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, prescription meds...and a menagerie of other substance abuse things. However, addictions come in other forms. Emotional forms and spiritual forms as well.

We can become addicted to self and immersed in our own perception of goodness and trust in our own abilities. We become attached to the idea that we know best and place our opinion above all others. We shut people down who try to advise us.

We can become addicted to music and entertainment. This one hits home because, in today's world, it is so very common. I have been a victim of this trap and am willing to share that struggle and about the way I overcome it with anyone willing to listen. Music and entertainment are some of satan's biggest ploys at pulling us in for the kill. Music is so mentally and emotionally enticing and can oftentimes be made to look so very innocent. Entertainment is fabricated with the most appealing elements of the culture. Those of us who claim Christ and a certain set of standards may even gradually lower them for the sake of tampering just a little with its pleasures.

People, jobs, relationships...all three of these things also rope us in. We become addicted to any one of those things out of control or stress reactions to situations in life. People can become emotional strongholds when we really need the shoulder of Christ. Jobs can hold us in a distracting grasp; keeping us from acknowledging the need to surrender stress and situational problems over to Christ. Relationships, depending on their form, can also attempt to take the place of the closeness a Christian needs to have with Christ.

What's the common thread in everything I just mentioned? Everything covers up the need for only one thing: Christ! By definition Addiction is: "the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing or activity". Even the world is aware that it is not simply a substance abuse issue! None of the things I have mentioned (aside from the love of self) are wrong in and of themselves, it is the way they are used and sometimes supplement Christ in our lives that becomes the true danger.

We have all been addicted to something. We can try not to admit it because the very idea of gaining the identity of an addict does not please us, but hurts our pride.

Don't be addicted to your life, the things in it, or yourself. They will all eventually pass away, and the only thing that will be left is the you that either chose to embrace Christ or trade him for comfortable strongholds.

Be sold out for Christ. Embrace Him in those times of tough decision...and believe me, I KNOW what it is like to really not want to surrender all. I know what it is like to wrestle and not want to hand over my beloved strongholds. I have been reminded though, time and time again, of Colossians 2:6-7.

"As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

Walk in Him and sell out for Christ!

You won't regret it for a moment.

Maddy~

(photo courtesy of Free Stock Photos IMG)