What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective
Nearly every common behavioral problem is considered to be a “disease” in American culture gambling, overeating, excessive time spent on the internet, excessive shopping and spending, stealing, rebellious behavior, and certainly drugs and alcohol.God’s Word lovingly tells us the truth about the “Heart of Addiction”, yet it is a neglected resource for those who suffer from these so-called “addictions”. One of the reasons for this is that people choose to believe the theories and ideas of mankind that the “disease” renders them powerless to overcome the problem.Non-Christians have no power to truly overcome an “addiction” to they really are “powerless.” But a Christian is not powerless if he or she has the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to say “no” to choices that will mentally enslave them. When that occurs, the Bible calls it a “sin” problem.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2008
308 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 4, 2016
"...you cannot overcome your addictions and the idolatrous desires of your heart without Him." (Mark E. Shaw, The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective, Page 205, Kindle Edition)
This book is awesome in my opinion. Most books on addiction are based on secular philosophies that leave God out of the picture. I don't know how anyone can overcome addiction without the strength and help of God. I would say it is literally impossible. We need God and we need others. And that is what this book is about.
I particularly liked the "put on" and "put off" advice. We require to put off our addiction and put on God pleasing things to replace these behaviours. After a person has stopped doing wrong, he/she has to put on the right things or else there will be a kind of vacuum left to be filled and sooner or later if this vacuum is not filled, it will cause the person to go right back to their addiction.
The Bible has much to say about addiction and Christians lean too much on secular psychology that leaves God out of the picture and is ineffective. Jesus overcame every temptation thrown at him by Satan and so can you (See Matthew 4:1-11). This book if put into practice will truly help one to overcome addiction.
God will finish what he started in you.
This book is awesome in my opinion. Most books on addiction are based on secular philosophies that leave God out of the picture. I don't know how anyone can overcome addiction without the strength and help of God. I would say it is literally impossible. We need God and we need others. And that is what this book is about.
I particularly liked the "put on" and "put off" advice. We require to put off our addiction and put on God pleasing things to replace these behaviours. After a person has stopped doing wrong, he/she has to put on the right things or else there will be a kind of vacuum left to be filled and sooner or later if this vacuum is not filled, it will cause the person to go right back to their addiction.
The Bible has much to say about addiction and Christians lean too much on secular psychology that leaves God out of the picture and is ineffective. Jesus overcame every temptation thrown at him by Satan and so can you (See Matthew 4:1-11). This book if put into practice will truly help one to overcome addiction.
God will finish what he started in you.
March 19, 2024
This is an incredible resource, in dealing with addictions, and idols. It is one of my top books of the year. It distinguishes nuances of typical strategies, and reframes them with the word of God.
For instance, in most addiction programs they harp on recovery. Yet here, Mark drew our attention to recovery being a sense of repairing before the addiction, or idol had come. That’s not the point of the gospel, the point is we are to become more like Christ through reconciliation and sanctification.
It also talked through the phrase “Let go and let God.” Here it emphasized that sin will always have consequences, and repentance entails hard work, towards change. There are instances you trust God, but this emphasizes like in the book of genesis, when Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, God was still with them, but they now had to labor and sweat for their food, and pain in childbirth. In other words, just because God is good and all powerful/ all forgiving, does not mean we always sit back. Overall this chapter was incredibly helpful for me, as someone that struggles with apathy.
For instance, in most addiction programs they harp on recovery. Yet here, Mark drew our attention to recovery being a sense of repairing before the addiction, or idol had come. That’s not the point of the gospel, the point is we are to become more like Christ through reconciliation and sanctification.
It also talked through the phrase “Let go and let God.” Here it emphasized that sin will always have consequences, and repentance entails hard work, towards change. There are instances you trust God, but this emphasizes like in the book of genesis, when Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, God was still with them, but they now had to labor and sweat for their food, and pain in childbirth. In other words, just because God is good and all powerful/ all forgiving, does not mean we always sit back. Overall this chapter was incredibly helpful for me, as someone that struggles with apathy.
April 22, 2022
I read 1/3 and may come back to it and try again later.
October 19, 2022
We live in a world that labels common behavioral problems as "diseases" and often blames everything BUT the individual for their problems. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, stealing, rebellion, eating problems, etc., are legitimate problems in the lives of many people and influenced by surrounding circumstances. But often therapy and group counseling teach people to cope rather than be free from bondage to these things.
This book is an excellent resource that helps addicts and those who care about them see there can be real and lasting hope in their struggle. God is not merely concerned with spiritual matters, but also physical; together they are who we are. The Bible holds the answers for the root issues of addiction. In addressing the heart with Jesus and the power of the gospel, a person receives the peace their heart is searching for to address their actions, consequences, and physical needs biblically.
The book is divided into four sections:
⚔️Teaching (root causes, redefining terminology, identity, FAQ, purpose of drugs and alcohol and their abuse, idolatry and the heart)
⚔️Reproof (consequences, pride, putting off)
⚔️Correction (battle of the mind)
⚔️Training in righteousness (putting on, responsibility, prayer, Holy Spirit, others-focused, ongoing battles)
This book is an excellent resource that helps addicts and those who care about them see there can be real and lasting hope in their struggle. God is not merely concerned with spiritual matters, but also physical; together they are who we are. The Bible holds the answers for the root issues of addiction. In addressing the heart with Jesus and the power of the gospel, a person receives the peace their heart is searching for to address their actions, consequences, and physical needs biblically.
The book is divided into four sections:
⚔️Teaching (root causes, redefining terminology, identity, FAQ, purpose of drugs and alcohol and their abuse, idolatry and the heart)
⚔️Reproof (consequences, pride, putting off)
⚔️Correction (battle of the mind)
⚔️Training in righteousness (putting on, responsibility, prayer, Holy Spirit, others-focused, ongoing battles)
February 11, 2015
There is some good information in this book that I will be able to utilize in my role as an addiction counselor but it is not material that I could utilize as curriculum because Mr. Shaw has several philosophies about addiction which I think could create confusion and possible harm.
May 3, 2024
I’ve read about 15 books dealing with addiction & various issues surrounding addiction. This book is the best book I’ve read on the subject. It is beneficial for both the addict & those who have loved ones that are addicts. Informative, truthful & very practical.
May 10, 2020
This book is both basic and repetitive. It’s fairly sound, but it does leave much to be wanting.
Shaw is not shy about his anti-alcohol feelings and this often excludes him from being balanced (and at times even truly scriptural) on the subject.
Shaw basically applies the process of biblical discipleship to someone who is addicted to substances (he doesn’t call it addiction or alcoholism... that’s a no-no... you have to use the word drunkard because otherwise people will automatically blame a disease for their bad choices instead of take responsibility for them). This is all well and good for the person who has gotten to the point in their life that they see their problems clearly and agree to submit to this particular kind of discipleship. But this entire book could have been reduced to a pamphlet. I felt like I was re-reading the last chapter in every new chapter.
He uses anecdotal stories throughout and conveniently picks from the lot of his success stories.
Moreover, his strict over-reading into scripture (despite his warning to not do that) will exclude anyone who does not subscribe to his exact approach in getting help. He and a lot of folks from this school of thought are marked more by what they are against than what they are for. It’s disappointing because I really was looking forward to a useful and Biblical resource on addiction. This isn’t the one for me.
Shaw is not shy about his anti-alcohol feelings and this often excludes him from being balanced (and at times even truly scriptural) on the subject.
Shaw basically applies the process of biblical discipleship to someone who is addicted to substances (he doesn’t call it addiction or alcoholism... that’s a no-no... you have to use the word drunkard because otherwise people will automatically blame a disease for their bad choices instead of take responsibility for them). This is all well and good for the person who has gotten to the point in their life that they see their problems clearly and agree to submit to this particular kind of discipleship. But this entire book could have been reduced to a pamphlet. I felt like I was re-reading the last chapter in every new chapter.
He uses anecdotal stories throughout and conveniently picks from the lot of his success stories.
Moreover, his strict over-reading into scripture (despite his warning to not do that) will exclude anyone who does not subscribe to his exact approach in getting help. He and a lot of folks from this school of thought are marked more by what they are against than what they are for. It’s disappointing because I really was looking forward to a useful and Biblical resource on addiction. This isn’t the one for me.
July 10, 2022
I would give this book 1 1/2 stars—between I did not like it (one star) and it was okay (two stars). The author repeatedly used false dichotomies as he attempted to describe a biblical way of understanding addiction versus a secular way. He seems to have ignored the biblical doctrine of common grace, (Matthew 5: 45b; Roman 1:19f), which acknowledges the potential for secular recovery programs to be used by God. There are things a Christian can learn about addiction from sources other than the Bible.
A strength, and at times a weakness, is his use of Jay Adams' counseling methodology. Adams reacted against the Rogerian, non-directive approach to counseling that dominated pastoral counseling in the late 1960s and developed his nouthetic counseling approach along a consistently directive, even behavioristic line. See the Introduction of Jay Adams first counseling book "Competent to Counsel." A more nuanced sense of a biblical approach to addiction can be found in "Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave," by Ed Welch.
A strength, and at times a weakness, is his use of Jay Adams' counseling methodology. Adams reacted against the Rogerian, non-directive approach to counseling that dominated pastoral counseling in the late 1960s and developed his nouthetic counseling approach along a consistently directive, even behavioristic line. See the Introduction of Jay Adams first counseling book "Competent to Counsel." A more nuanced sense of a biblical approach to addiction can be found in "Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave," by Ed Welch.
July 6, 2021
Good Read To Recognize the Root Issue
So far NY thoughts on this book are good, however a few points I don't agree with. First, I believe that we make a choice to take a drug. We choose to abuse maybe to lighten the pain, or escape. However,I do not think it continues that way. Somewhere the enemy creeps in and takes over. You no longer are in control; you need deliverance. God is able. So yes,you take responsibility for choosing to turn to a drug instead of the One who can actually help you in your time of need,but if you keep turning to that drug(or unhealthy habit) eventually a demon comes in and you no longer are in control, it is! Christ is the only One who can deliver. According to the Word of God we're all helpless, that's why Jesus came! Those who are in Christ have hope because of the Blood of Jesus. We have our way out.Without Him, we're hopeless.
So far NY thoughts on this book are good, however a few points I don't agree with. First, I believe that we make a choice to take a drug. We choose to abuse maybe to lighten the pain, or escape. However,I do not think it continues that way. Somewhere the enemy creeps in and takes over. You no longer are in control; you need deliverance. God is able. So yes,you take responsibility for choosing to turn to a drug instead of the One who can actually help you in your time of need,but if you keep turning to that drug(or unhealthy habit) eventually a demon comes in and you no longer are in control, it is! Christ is the only One who can deliver. According to the Word of God we're all helpless, that's why Jesus came! Those who are in Christ have hope because of the Blood of Jesus. We have our way out.Without Him, we're hopeless.
February 8, 2025
This is a book written primarily for the counselee, but it is helpful for family members or counselors trying to learn more about struggles and mindsets that are particular to the addict/idolater. Each teaching is biblically saturated and deals with addiction as a worship problem not as a disease. The clear and readable style allows for a wide range of readers. The appendices at the end of the book were excellent. There are a few teachings that are harder to understand because they use terminology particular to the writer ("go button" and "perishing mentality," for example) but overall this would be a very helpful book to walk through with someone struggling with addiction. Would love a leader's guide.
October 26, 2019
Solid but wanting
This has some solid truths in it, borne out of years of ministry experience. I have two criticisms though. One is that the author is a little polemic at times. This may be due to his background in psychology, and his context but it detracts unnecessarily from the book overall. The second criticism is that this book is too long. It appears to be aimed for a relatively new believer who is wanting help for addiction. The problem is that a new believer is not likely to read a long book like this. So while the material is good these two things detract from its overall value, particularly outside of the United States.
This has some solid truths in it, borne out of years of ministry experience. I have two criticisms though. One is that the author is a little polemic at times. This may be due to his background in psychology, and his context but it detracts unnecessarily from the book overall. The second criticism is that this book is too long. It appears to be aimed for a relatively new believer who is wanting help for addiction. The problem is that a new believer is not likely to read a long book like this. So while the material is good these two things detract from its overall value, particularly outside of the United States.
May 3, 2020
This is a great resource for those fighting addiction or substance abuse, particularly drug or alcohol related. Mark E. Shaw provides a biblical framework based on 2 Timothy 3:15-17 to guide the reader in putting off idolatry and putting on righteousness. There are over 100 biblical references and many practical steps to take, including a helpful appendix. Shaw says of the book, “This book is primarily concerned with Christians having a proper relationship with the Creator of the Universe and with other people.” As such, all Christians would benefit from reading it.
January 9, 2019
Great book for those addicted to substances, and for those counseling the addict. There's also a companion workbook ("The Heart of Addiction Workbook"). The author has years and years of experience as well as training in counseling addicts. He uses the biblical motif of idolatry as the governing perspective on addictions. Excellent, practical book. Have used it successfully in my own counseling ministry.
May 23, 2023
Great book on getting to the heart idols and desires of addiction and a good resource to take someone through who is struggling with an addiction (there is also a workbook to go along with it). While it is geared toward addicts / substance abusers, it is also just a great reminder to anyone that we need to live to please God and not to please self. Looking for fulfillment in temporary pleasures does not satisfy and is ultimately not worth it.
January 9, 2024
Good reference for a counselor. I wouldn’t necessarily give it to an addict but I appreciate the foundations given.
Positive: good analysis of secular addiction groups. Useful ideas for restructuring a counselees life. Excellent treatment of idolatry as the root of addiction problems.
Negative: the writing is not the best. He jumps rather quickly to take someone at their word they are a Christian, even if they remain enslaved to alcohol. He has a low view of the goodness of wine.
Positive: good analysis of secular addiction groups. Useful ideas for restructuring a counselees life. Excellent treatment of idolatry as the root of addiction problems.
Negative: the writing is not the best. He jumps rather quickly to take someone at their word they are a Christian, even if they remain enslaved to alcohol. He has a low view of the goodness of wine.
May 2, 2024
This was generally a good book with some worthwhile applications. Some of the Biblical references felt a little stretched beyond context to accommodate the author’s point, but nothing heretical. Though I certainly see this book as being a helpful tool for some, I also believe there are other books that treat the subject matter a bit better. Overall, Shaw handles the topic of addiction well and his heart for those who struggle is clear.
December 30, 2021
The answer to solving addictions is to draw closer to God in a very humble way. Mark Shaw clearly and helpfully walks the reader the root problem of addiction (self worship, idolatry). He then moves on how to correct this problem biblically. Finally, he lays out the training necessary for the prior addict to stay in the righteousness of God.
December 31, 2021
FINALLY!!! the only book to discuss addiction from a right biblical perspective! truth of the salvation in Christ and the need for dependence on Him while walking in faithful obedience to His Word are so clearly implemented for God's glory and the good of anyone entangled in sin (which is what all "addiction"s are). Peace out 2021!
December 16, 2022
Excellent Biblical book
Read this book if you’re interested in Biblical recovery, or transformation. Mark E. Shaw is an excellent writer who knows his Bible and gets to the heart of addiction and what we can do about it. If you’re looking for Biblical answers, read this book!
Read this book if you’re interested in Biblical recovery, or transformation. Mark E. Shaw is an excellent writer who knows his Bible and gets to the heart of addiction and what we can do about it. If you’re looking for Biblical answers, read this book!
November 10, 2024
A very clear but clunky book on addition. Mark does a great job at showing how the Bible can help people break free from addition. We do not need all sorts of methods or cool ideas, we need the Bible and a changed heart!
February 27, 2020
I recommend this book very highly. Even if you don't have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it is very helpful in walking in a relationship with Jesus.
July 14, 2021
I have been transformed
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. Has completely changed how I look at my past with addiction.
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. Has completely changed how I look at my past with addiction.
June 7, 2023
Worth it
This book focuses on the real heart of addiction and addresses the biblical reality of drunkenness.
Read it. Apply it.
This book focuses on the real heart of addiction and addresses the biblical reality of drunkenness.
Read it. Apply it.
June 13, 2023
Mark Shaw does a wonderful job of demonstrating the problem behind drug and alcohol addiction. I have read this book and taught it many times.
September 4, 2023
Well written. Highly recommend.
December 9, 2023
Very good and practical. Focused on alcohol and drugs, but phenomenal for any addiction. Great resource to come back to regularly.
December 31, 2023
Excellent
July 31, 2024
Class read for: A&E
Fundamental, biblical perspective of what addiction is and how to overcome it.
Fundamental, biblical perspective of what addiction is and how to overcome it.
February 27, 2025
A fairly non-complicated book addressing addiction, but doing so basically by laying out what it looks like to be sanctified (conformed more to the image of Christ).
November 3, 2013
A paper I wrote for one of my couneling classes was called "The New Nazarites." Mark Shaw talks about taking the Nazarite Vow under the care of a physician. I don't believe in taking vows but this is a good book and I'm glad there was a discussion about the Nazarites in relationship to addiction. I have somewhat against NANC because they sold me a lot of counseling books but, later, when I personally contacted two of the counselors who wrote these books and were in a geographical position to help friends, they were unwilling to go and do. I find this true of a lot of "Christian conferences." Are they evangelical or just writers selling books?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews