Statistics on Addictions

 

 

 

 

         Addiction                                 For Adults     Evangelicals     Born Again

 

 

 

Gambling                                             61%                   27%                   45%

 

Co-Habitation                                     60%                   12%                   49%

 

Sexual Thoughts/Fantasies               59%                   15%                   49%

 

Having an Abortion                            45%                     4%                    33%

 

Sexual Relationships Outside
of Marriage                                          42%                    7%                    35%

 

Pornography/Explicit Sexual
Behavior                                               38%                    5%                    28%

 

Using Profanity                                    36%                    7%                   29%

 

Getting Drunk                                      35%                    8%                   24%

 

Sexual Relationship—Same Sex        30%                    5%                   20%

 

Using Drugs Not Prescribed by
a Doctor                                                 17%                    6%                 11%

 

 

**EXAMPLE ANALYSIS:  Those who gamble, 61% of adults are considered to be addictive.  Those who claim to be a Christian are divided into 2 separate groups:  Evangelicals & Born Again.  The same hold true to other forms of addictions.  This does not account for adolescents who may or may not affliate with Evangelical or Born Again believers. PLEASE NOTE: We have just discovered this statistical chart was not previously referenced.  We are currently searching for our source. 

 

***Guidelines from the American Psychiatric Assocation at the bottom of this article.    

  

Evangelical vs. Born Again

 

Christians often refer to salvation as being “born again”. This survey does not question the issue of salvation of either camp but identifies the broad differences in the way one lives and believes.

 

Evangelical: Evangelical camps are more outwardly focused. Their thrust is for the lost. Evangelicals are comprised of most major denominations including Pentecostals. They believe in the Gospels and are careful to live their lives as a witness as according to the scriptures. They are knowledgeable in the Word and have no problems in sharing the Word with others because of this knowledge and their heartfelt desire for the Lost. Their needs are not as important as living a Christ-like lifestyle and being a consistent witness for Him. Evangelicals may be considered as doers of the Word, rather than hearers.

 

Born Again: Born Again people are more inwardly focused. Their thrust is to seek and satisfying self-serving needs rather than having an evangelistic viewpoint toward the lost. They desire for others to know the Lord but spend most of their time and energy on seeking God’s blessings. Their knowledge of scripture or living by the Word does not rank as high in priority as having one’s needs met. Many will seek how God can meet one’s needs rather than living by the Word. Many born again believers are less attracted to denominational churches or those with structure.

 

Synopsis: This survey is not to “tear down” born again believers but rather point out that addictions are closely associated to people who are more focused on satisfying their needs. Christians, who know the scripture and tries the very best to live by the Word as a personal witness to God and others, have less addictive behaviors. They seem to have more power to overcome temptations, having less of a desire to satisfy one’s flesh, and are more focused on living a Christ-like lifestyle.  

 

Those who are more focused on seeking God’s blessings, understanding the scriptures only to meet one’s needs, not preferring structure, or not applying all the scriptures to one’s daily life, have a tendency to have a higher addiction rate than other Christians. The power of the scripture with born is to receive rather than be rooted and grounded in God’s Word and to have a life-changing lifestyle. These believers may be oblivious of how they are perceived by others in the community because they are more focused on their relationship with the Lord and how the Lord can bless them than presenting a personal witness of Christ. Christ-like characteristics may not be prevalent in their daily life due to a lack of commitment to live completely by God’s Word, not being willing for change or apply structure, or seeking God for His blessings rather than for who He is. Addictions are much higher with people with self-satisfying tendencies.

 

***The American Psychiatric Association has developed guidelines on gambling and says that a person requires at least four of the following issues to take place during the past year:

  1. A person feels the need to gamble with an increasing amount of money to achieve the desired excitement.
  2. A person becomes angry, restless, or irritable when someone tells them to cut back on their gambling, or to stop it altogether.
  3. A person will have unsuccessfully tried to cut back or stop gambling on their own.
  4. A person has frequent thoughts about gambling, including reliving past gambling adventures, planning their next gambling outing, and thinking of ways to get money to gamble with.
  5. A person will often gamble when they are feeling distressed.
  6. After a person loses money, they return to try and “get even” (referred to as “chasing” one’s losses)
  7. A person will not hesitate to lie to hide their gambling activity.
  8. A person will jeopardize or lose a significant relationship, job, or educational/career opportunity because of gambling.
  9. A person will begin relying on others to help with money problems caused by their gambling habits. 
  10. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide.

 

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