A guy in my small group asked me this question last night.

Is alcoholism a disease?

I honestly thought I would have a quick answer with a great explanation to fire back at him, but I had to sit and soak in the question for a moment. I’m still marinating in it, actually.
He asked me the question because he knows I come from a family filled with a past involving alcohol.
My father. His father. His grandfather. His siblings.

Alcohol has labeled one side of my family for decades. 

I won’t pretend to know everything about alcoholism. But I will give you my opinion on it, and back it up scripturally.
When a person, whether Christian or not, battles an addiction to alcohol, or any addiction for that matter, they usually label themselves an alcoholic. They tend to stick with that label throughout the course of their lives.
But, I can’t agree with that, especially when Jesus comes into the picture.
You see, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. He goes on to say,

The old has gone, the new is here!

So, that tells me that labeling ourselves with our struggle with addiction doesn’t line up with God’s Word.

Allow me to use food as an example. 

I’ve struggled with using food as a coping mechanism all of my life. Though I’ve given my life to Christ, that struggle is still very real.
There are days I find myself running to it because I don’t want to deal with my emotions. There are moments I use overeating as an excuse to escape reality.

That does not, however, mean I will label myself as a food addict or call it a disease. 

For me, I would call it an issue with my heart. It means something deeper is happening, and it’s causing me to make an immoral decision to turn to food rather than turn to God, who is the true source of my strength.
Proverbs 23:20-21 tells me in those moments that I am a glutton. I would believe that to be true. I’m not thinking about myself in that moment. I’m thinking about feeding my own desires.
I still don’t have a clear answer on whether or not alcholism is a disease, but I will say this:

I believe alcholism is a generational curse. 

The Bible says that God visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him, but shows mercy to thousands, to those who love Him and keep His commandments.
We live in a world where evil is prevalent. It’s overpowering. Satan is the prince of this world and darkness is his favorite color.
Why would he not try to destroy our lives with things such as alcohol, drugs, food, sex, pornography, etc?

We can’t focus on our addiction and believe we are a new creation in Christ at the same time.

It doesn’t work that way. It’s up to us to break that curse.
I am breaking the curse of sexual abuse in my family by sharing my redemption with the world. The stronghold of that shame no longer controls me and because of that decision generations behind me, and after, will be changed.
Not because of my own doing, but because of the power of God and Him using me as His tool.
He wants to use you, too.

I encourage you to stop labeling yourself with an addiction.

You are not an alcoholic. You are not a pornography addict. You are not a drug addict.
If you know Jesus Christ, then you are a new creation, and it’s time to step up and claim that title, not a title the world gives you! Allow God to use you right where you are, in the midst of your struggles.
What are your thoughts? Is alcoholism a disease? I’d really love to hear from you in the comments below…