There are 2 types of addictions - substance addiction (drugs, alcohol, and smoking) and behavioural addiction (gambling, Internet or video games). Gambling used to be a societal no no, but today, gambling is universally accepted as part of everyday life because it has been cunningly modified and infused into sports. It appears subtle, but it is a destroyer of life. While substance addiction affects one's physical function, behavioural addiction affects one's mental health. Needless to see, any addiction has an impact on every aspect of life. It takes total control of our lives. Social media can become a behavioural addiction. 1 Cor. 6:12,1 Cor. 10:23.
There may be things that are 'permissible', which are inherently not sinful. Though an activity may be permissible, It could lead us into sin once it gains control over our lives, time, activities. Brother Paul says I cannot be brought under the control of anything. It is about self-control. Some even go on social media while in worship before the creator of all things. Even parents are found surfing the internet while in worship. What are we teaching our children?
Other addictive behaviours include masturbation and pornography. Many Christians have lost grip of themselves and are addicted to these behaviours, and find it difficult to stop engaging in them even when it is causing psychological and physical harm. Addiction is a condition of being enslaved to a habit or practice to such an extent that stopping it could cause severe trauma. It is a compulsion. In fact, it refers to anything that controls us, especially things that are not constructive or helpful - It is also called idolatry Proverbs 14:12.
All of these mentioned - masturbation, pornography, gambling, social media, internet addiction, alcohol, smoking, starts small. And we can excuse them away. We say things such as "one drink isn't going to hurt", "I just need a little something to relax me", "I can handle it", "It's not such a big deal", "This will be the last time", "I can stop anytime I want".
Romans 6:16.
Reflection on the root cause
How long shall we continue in this?
Self-discipline starts from the home. A boy child not taught to control his desires will grow up to become a man without self-discipline. A girl child not taught self-worth will grow up to become a woman who would expose her body for attention and possibly for money. The Bible describes a word - shamefacedness, which is inherent in everyone. A lack of this means a loss of inhibition, and that is dangerous for survival. A child not corrected for telling lies will become an adult who deceives, manipulates and steals.
Charity begins at home. The fall of family value is the rise of moral decadence. A parent or parents who lacks values, morals and godly virtues, what would they pass on? Such children are now learning from Tiktok instead of the home and the internet is raising a generation with no fear of God and no sense of direction. A child who was never disciplined or taught discipline will grow up thinking life has no consequences. A child who was never corrected, will grow up believing he can do anything and get away with it. Hebrew 12:6-8.
Now we have a world full of adults who can't handle rejection, failures, disappointments - and these and many more are part of life. Everyone would have a measurable dose of them at certain times in our lives. Discipline instils strength and resilience needed when facing this time of our life. It's okay to be your child's friend, and there are times where you need to be a leader with sternness. Don't excuse bad behaviour in the guise of not wanting to "hurt your child's feelings". We have a generation of weak people who cry over small life challenges and breakdown when life gets tough. They cry foul when disciplined, they rather call it abuse when corrected. God himself does discipline anyone, I mean every one of us if we fail in self-control and self-discipline.