On October 5,2019 I presented at the Gospel of Relentless Love Conference. My session, Relentless Love for Addicts (and Those Who Love Them). Here is the video of my presentation:
A few key thoughts on the presentation:
The Importance of Relentless Love
Yes, the Gospel grants forgiveness, but forgiveness never makes the addicts behavior ok. The harm done to others, be it overt or something inadvertent and negligent, is real. When we dismiss it, it fails to honor the dignity of those harmed by the addicts behavior. Rather, the Gospel, when fully embraced, sets the stage for a life of amends that seeks to heal the damage whenever and wherever possible.
Beyond The Addict
At the same time, the addition of “and those who love them” is essential in the title, because grace often focuses on soothing the addict, but does so at the neglect of those they’ve harmed.
Addiction is a bad solution to a much deeper problem, and more often than not, shame sits at the root of the deeper problem. This is what makes relentless love so essential for those who want to move beyond addiction.
It was this presentation that set the stage for me to preach my story at The Sanctuary a few months later.
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