| Abstract | Alcohol addiction is a mental health problem and a physical disease that is commonly experienced by a growing number of people both in Africa and around the world. Unfortunately, within my Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian tradition in Cameroon, there is still so much that needs to be done to create a genuine awareness of what addicts go through. I believe most of the pastors are not very prepared in facing this problem of alcoholism as they should, because they do not believe or expect what they term a “genuine Christian” to become an addict because alcohol addiction is considered a sinful condition. It is for these reasons that I have decided to write this paper with my Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian background in mind. I similarly have in mind many clergy members struggling to help church members understand that alcohol addiction is a disease that should be treated, just as we do when our loved ones are afflicted by any disease. I want this paper to shed more light in the areas within my Christian context that are neglected when it comes to dealing with alcoholics. I want to present to them what I believe; that in situations where only prayers and faith in the supernatural power of God cannot help an addict, there is hope for that addict if we can just make good use of the resources I am about to share in this paper. That hope, I believe, is in looking at alcohol addiction as a disease, and not a sinful condition or moral failure, and to be willing to plant our feet more firmly in the teachings of Jesus by embracing the help and resources that science, psychology, and other human agencies like the Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) have to offer. |
