Addiction... or Attraction?

Now don't get me wrong. I know that addictions are an ugly multi headed beast with devastating destruction and an insatiable perpetuation. How do I know? I lived with my alcoholic sister for about 18 years. It was not fun. At all. I saw her go through some very sad and dark days. I saw her lose her identity, and her self-worth. I saw alcohol become her best friend, counselor and lover. They were not a good couple. It was only because she finally hit rock bottom one year that she got on a plane that night and left the state that she is alive today. And even now, we don't know what it was that scared her...nor do we ask her. She has done a perfect 180 and has now finished college (top of the class) got a great government job, and married for several years now. So that's a great end to that story, but unfortunately, most do not end that way.

But the thing I wanted to discuss is not addiction per se...but differentiating between addiction or attraction. According to Webster addiction is: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma. Wow. That's some very serious and powerful words there! I hear of people confessing their sin of addiction to things all the time. Drugs, Sex, Alcohol, Porn, Food. etc. But then I wonder, are they really "addicted" or just attracted? If you smoke marijuana on the weekends or at parties, are you now "addicted". Personally I never got too far in to drugs. I always had more fun watching others make a fool of themselves. But my point is, just because something is wrong or illegal, does that make you an addict if you do it? If it is wrong for someone to look at pornography, and they look at it on their pc now and again, are they now addicts and have a problem with it? According to the definition of addiction, that would have to be one dedicated person to looking at porno to be enslaved to it at the risk of severe trauma!

I am not saying what is right or wrong here. I have my own convictions and know exactly where I stand on each issue, but I am wondering how many times people are confessing addictions that may not be full fledged addictions. Enjoying a meal and then worrying about if you gained weight as a result of the food you ate is something people do all the time. But I surely wouldn't call that an addiction. Now, if a person snuck downstairs at night to sneak food, or hide it in their car or drawer at work and risked "severe trauma" if they didn't have their food fix...well, that is a problem. But for someone who just enjoys eating and may eat too much...I am sorry ...but that cannot be an addiction in and of itself.

I think the Bible offers some very good lines of definition here. To put it very simply "ANYTHING to an excess is bad" including those things that may be considered GOOD. Exercise, hard work, vacations, going to church. If you do any of these to the point you are forming habits at the risk of "sever trauma" that can't be good! But does that mean my buddy Scott who looks forward to working out almost everyday is any less addicted to his workouts than someone who likes to go to the bar after work and have a beer or two. Why is one SO BAD and the other OK?
As for me. I will look at the things in my life I do and just make sure they are done in moderation. Now I am not saying it's ok to rob a bank once a week instead of daily, or to smoke crack only on weekends...I am saying the normal daily and legal things. I only ask that others not judge me as an addict because I am attracted to something. I hold myself plenty accountable for my actions and will govern them according to my morals and values. Thanks for understanding.