Why I’m still an alcoholic

Ruth Eardley is a GP and member of Affinity partner Little Hill Church, Leicester. She writes a regular piece for her church entitled ‘Surgical Spirit’. Affinity has been given permission to reproduce them. This is her latest contribution:

‘…I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.’ Romans 7:25b (NIV)

Mrs P is a lovely woman, the sort of patient any doctor would be glad to have on their list. She is stoical but not to the point of self-neglect, sensible without being judgemental and kind but not soppy. 

I like Mrs P but I don’t like seeing the word ‘alcoholic’ at the top of her medical summary. It is not a nice label and it sounds harsh especially since she has not touched a drop of alcohol for over a decade. It would be perfectly possible for me to hide that pronouncement under ‘Minor Past Medical History’ where we would have to search to find it. Instead, there it is at the very top of her notes every time you open them. I do not like it, but Mrs. P does: ‘Once an alcoholic – always an alcoholic,’ she says, ‘and knowing that keeps me sober.’

Sinner’ is another pejorative word that is written in big letters in my spiritual record under ‘Active Problems’. Can this be right? Surely I am a new creation through faith in Christ? Is this label accurate or should it be relegated to ‘Minor Past’?

Two natures, waging war within us

Romans 7 addresses just this scenario – the Apostle Paul describes the tension in our lives, the tension between the old nature and the new. Our old nature is sinful, a slave to the law of sin; our new nature wants to live in the light of Christ by the power of his Spirit. Paul says that these two natures are waging war within us (see Romans 7: 23). The immensity of this struggle makes Paul feel quite wretched: ‘Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?’ (Romans 7: 24b)

Just as Mrs P shares that knowing she is always an alcoholic keeps her sober, it’s important to remember that our sinful natures are still active. We still desire to watch things we shouldn’t or read books that would make D H Lawrence blush. If we forget that the descriptor ‘sinner’ still applies we will treat temptation casually, which is a very dangerous game to play.

Prayer

Lord, I wrestle with temptation. I want to do good and I truly delight in your law but there is another law at work within me, waging war and drawing me away. Thank you that deliverance and victory is possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. And thank you that although my record still says ‘sinner’ it has been expanded to include ‘saved by grace.’

Amen