If you are going to pick a fight, why choose a giant. It would be easier to choose an opponent not so big, right? David did not have the option of fighting Goliath. That was the giant in front of him and that was the giant facing the people of God. Imagine how the story would look if David faced multiple giants not just Goliath. That is the visual I have when I think of the ministry of JIBC. We have taken on some of the largest giants in our community. Truthfully, it would be easier not to.
One of the largest and most imposing giants in Charleston County is addiction. The Surgeon General has said that 1 in 7 Americans have an addiction. In Charleston County that means 50,000 people have addictions. Again, the Surgeon General said only 10% of those will seek any treatment. Think about that for a moment. The number of people suffering from addiction is just about the same as the number of people who live on James Island. One American dies every 19 minutes from opioid or heroin overdose. There are more people addicted (21 Million) than those who have all types of cancer combined. There were 54,000 drug overdose deaths in 2015. That is almost as many Americans killed in the entire Vietnam war. This is a war with a giant enemy we must fight even if it would be easier not to.
Celebrate Recovery and the Recovery-Transition House are like David taking on Goliath. JIBC is like David taking on Goliath. It would be easier not to and certainly many, like David’s brothers, would counsel us not to. But we have the answer, we know the Higher Power by Name and we have experienced the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nobody was placing a bet on little David but they did let him go out and try. I love that about JIBC…you are not afraid to try. “Goliath is too big to hit” his brothers cautioned. “He is too big to miss…throw the rock and trust God” was David’s commitment. Truly, this problem is too big for us. The good news is we do not come in the name of JIBC or Tom Brown or Celebrate Recovery. We come and trust in the Name of the Lord our God. Until He tells me otherwise, it’s on. Not everyone who has cancer has a favorable outcome…yet we encourage them to trust God and seek treatment. Not many who battle with addiction are successful at first…or second…or third. When they are ready…we know The Way, The Truth and The Life who will help them.
See you Sunday, Good Lord willing,
Pastor Tom
