Christian Rehabilitation

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Now that we have pointed out that the word Christian means to us that we should show Christ like love towards each other it, is important to highlight what we view as the difference between rehabilitation and regeneration.

Rehabilitation is generally seen as the restoration of something or someone. It includes words like treatment, vindication, restoration, renewal, reclamation etc. We do not believe in rehabilitation as an effective and sustainable way to overcome addiction. The odds are too stacked against you and a any change to your environment or situation could complicate the process if further.

We have seen greater results in the biblical principle of Regeneration. The term regeneration comes from a Greek word meaning “rebirth” or “new genesis.” The term signifies the renewal of the fallen creation through the redemptive work of Christ that results in a new thing, untainted, uncorrupted and first-hand.

Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3 (NASB95)

• 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

And a little bit later on Jesus goes on to say:

John 3:36 (NASB95)

• 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Jesus is taking a very strong stance on this matter and the consequence for this is a hard reality. This is what love is all about, being truthful and correcting behaviour that will lead to death!

It is important to understand that before the new birth happens to us, we are spiritually dead; we are morally selfish and rebellious; and we are legally guilty before God’s law and under his wrath. When Jesus tells us that we must be born again, he is telling us that our present condition is hopelessly unresponsive, corrupt, and guilty.

The other difficult thing to understand about regeneration it that is not something that we do but its something that is done to us. This is both difficult to understand but at the same time is the best news we could ever receive. It is not our doing but Gods. He is the one that does this supernatural act.

We are not happy with the fact that anyone should carry the label “Once an addict, always and addict.” Sure it is true that if you have opened doors in your life that should never have done it is a good idea to stay far away from them, this is only common sense. But we do believe that once a person is completely regenerated they are new creatures. The difficulty is submitting the mind to be subject to the Spirit but that is where sound teaching and practice comes in. Once you are a new creation in Christ you have victory over your old nature, it’s just a matter of learning how to rely on this new disciplined spirit inside of you.

We want our students to experience a complete and holistic change that is the result of Gods working in us.

Christian Rehabilitation