The 10 Commandments are some of the oldest recorded examples of written law in human history given to Moses by God after Moses led the people out of the land of Egypt. The Israelites had lived in a pagan society under the rule of slave masters for so long that they needed a reset to return them to the gospel of their fathers. These commandments have been the basis for Jewish and Christian religious ideology ever since. They formed the foundation of the rule of law for centuries throughout the Western world.
Many people say the Ten Commandments are outdated and no longer useful in modern society. Others understand that God and His laws are timeless and truth has no expiration date. But how do these ancient laws help you through your journey in Christian-based rehabilitation centers?
10 Commandments
1. Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me
As part of a 12-step program, you turn your life over to a higher power. In Christian-based treatment centers, we teach that the higher power is Jesus Christ. The sacrifice Christ made in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross makes it possible for you to be forgiven of all your sins and learn to be better versions of yourself.
This budding relationship requires commitment on your part. As you strive to get to know Jesus, understand His promises to you, and learn how to access His power to strengthen you against addiction, it would be unwise to give anything a higher priority in your life. “Where attention goes, energy flows.”— Tony Robbins.
2. Thou Shalt Make No Idols
In Western culture, we don’t worship statues in the traditional sense, burning incense and prostrating ourselves before carved and molded images. However, we idolize objects, activities, and people, meaning they become more sacred to us than God.
Think of it this way. On Super Bowl Sunday, is your heart at church or the game? Anything that comes between you and your relationship with God is a danger to your sobriety.
3. Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain
By calling ourselves Christians, we are taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We are making a commitment to walk as He walked, work as He worked, and live as He lived. We won’t be perfect—to start, we won’t even come close—but we’re moving in that direction.
To deliberately dishonor Christ while bearing his name is to take it in vain. This could mean treating God’s children poorly or using God’s name profanely. The deliberateness of the act violates this commandment. When you willfully dishonor God, it’s hard to feel his spirit
or experience His strength, protection, and power to overcome your temptations.
4. Keep the Sabbath Day Holy
When the rest of the world considers Sunday a play day, going to church rather than the beach can be difficult. However, God asks us to take one day a week to remind ourselves of our covenants so we don’t get off track, to put Him first before other priorities, and to connect with Him as our Father and Jesus Christ as our Savior. The rest of the week is hectic, and we can easily get distracted and lose sight of what’s important. The longer that goes on, the farther off track we can go before we realize we’re lost.
Spiritual practices are like exercise. The more you do them, the easier and more you enjoy them. If you stop for any length of time, it’s hard to get going again. Something you once enjoyed can seem too difficult and time-consuming to resume. Yet these activities will give you the spiritual strength from day to day to meet the challenges of sobriety.
5. Honor Thy Father and Mother
If your parent is the one with the addiction, try to remember that we are all broken people raising broken people. They may be strong enough to get and stay sober with your support. Maybe not. The commandment isn’t to honor your father and mother if they’re perfect. None of us is perfect. It doesn’t mean you don’t set boundaries when their behavior is unhealthy, but you honor that you wouldn’t be here without your parents.
If you are the person with the addiction, realize that your actions don’t happen in a vacuum. Your parents have undoubtedly felt the consequences of your actions in painful ways. Express gratitude to your parents. If the relationships are strained, consider family therapy to bridge the gaps. In the long run, everyone is happier when family relationships are working well.
6. Thou Shalt Not Kill
Self-explanatory.
7. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
In the throes of drugs, we can make bad decisions. Dealing with withdrawal, we can also make bad decisions as we are desperate to feel anything else. Destroying your marriage, your greatest support system, by committing adultery only makes things worse. If the relationship is rocky because of addiction or other factors, work on the marriage; don’t look outside of it for comfort. If adultery was a pattern during your addiction, work on regaining your spouse’s trust. Again, family therapy can help. An outside party can see your conflicts with an unbiased perspective and guide you toward constructive solutions.
8. Thou Shall Not Steal
Many people struggling with addiction hit rock bottom and end up stealing to pay for their habit. Make reparations where possible.
9. Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor
People dealing with addiction also often lie to mask their behavior or cast blame on someone else. We must take responsibility for our actions and be honest in our dealings with our neighbors.
10. Thou Shalt Not Covet
It’s easy to want what others have, but this can lead to negative thought patterns that drive us to seek escape through substances. Ever heard the phrase, “Look up, not sideways?” Look up to the Savior and find your worth in him. Looking sideways at the person next to you and wishing you had their life, personality attributes, talents, career success, relationships, or wealth is a recipe for despair. You’re wonderfully, uniquely you. The Lord can help you understand who you are and what he wants you to accomplish in this life. His opinion is ultimately the only one that matters.
Conclusion
Faith can make a big difference in your recovery from substance abuse and other addictions. Contact our Christian-based rehabilitation center in Utah or Idaho to find out how we can help you heal through a faith-based recovery program.