Uncovery: The Power of Community to Heal TraumaSýnishorn

The greatest challenges we face in Christian recovery are the implicit and explicit assumptions we have about addiction, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts. Much of the church holds fast to “sin” as the only culprit of any struggle. They’re more likely to let people be defined by that sin rather than pointing them to Jesus, a Savior who is ready and willing to transform their lives.

When Jesus healed the man who was born blind, the disciples assumed his blindness was due to his sin or a generational curse. But Jesus explained, “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

The Uncovery resists calling out and clinging to sin with labels like “alcoholic,” “schizophrenic,” or “suicidal.” It emphasizes people’s righteousness in Christ and invites them to learn how to walk in it. The only identity label people in recovery need to embrace is “beloved child of God.”

Addiction and compulsive behavior often stem from a loss of connection—from life and all it’s meant to be filled with. Family and friends, passion and purpose, hope and a future. While the initial step away from a would-be promised-land life may come by way of personal sin, true separation takes two parties. Someone struggling with addiction may choose to use and disengage from people who would encourage sobriety. Someone struggling with mental health problems may hide and even disengage from loved ones who encourage therapy, medication, and self-care. Someone struggling with suicidal thoughts may never share them with anyone—until thoughts turn to tendencies, which turn into attempts on their own life.

Those of us called to love and lead people to freedom in Christ as part of His body must be relentless in our pursuit of connection with the broken, the hurting, the angry, and the afraid.

What people in recovery need is a more empathetic, caring, and loving community. I believe we, the church, are uniquely positioned to be the solution and lead by example in this way.

People are sick, and people are in bondage. How they got there doesn’t excuse us from setting both captives and prisoners free in the powerful name of Jesus.