WHAT SHOULD I DO? HE/SHE IS AN ALCOHOLIC! PART 3

AN ALCOHOLIC

While divorce is a last resort, physical separation is not. First Corinthians 7:15 may apply in this situation. After instructing husbands and wives not to divorce, Paul wrote, “But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases, the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.”

When a Christian spouse sets reasonable boundaries for the home that prohibit drunkenness, the alcoholic is free to leave if he or she will not adhere to those boundaries. If the situation becomes volatile, the sober spouse should not be afraid to call institutions for help.

Marriage counseling may also be helpful as the couple builds a future free from the effects of alcoholism. Both will need to change the destructive patterns that kept them in bondage

. If the sober spouse was used to drinking in moderation, then it would be wise to eliminate all alcohol consumption from both their lives. First Corinthians 8:12–13 gives Christians a foundation for self-denial for the sake of others: “When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for families of alcoholics, so a spouse needs to stay in a spirit of prayer through the difficult decisions. The goal should be to create a godly atmosphere in the home.

This applies to more than just alcohol. Our music, movies, magazines, and other forms of entertainment also contribute to a home’s atmosphere. We should walk through our homes, carefully considering areas we may have kept off-limits to God. If we create boundaries for the alcoholic, we need to also apply those boundaries to ourselves.

...THE END...

MICHAEL OPPONG-AMPONSAH