Justin Lakemacher, Program Director
Social distancing. Within a matter of days, the phrase became universally known as a main strategy to fight the spread of the Coronavirus. As we have temporarily had to adjust to this new way of life, social distancing has been uniquely challenging for those of us in recovery. Recovery is dependent on community and isolation is often the first step toward a relapse. So while social distancing is a necessary reality to fight COVID-19, for addicts this is a potentially dangerous time.
Social distancing is affecting two significant aspects of relationships in recovery: support & accountability. Addicts walking out a healthy recovery plan have come to recognize they can’t do it on their own. This is why groups like A.A. and Celebrate Recovery are so popular. Those groups provide a community of common struggle and support. They consist of people who have been in a similar hopeless condition and are able to share with each other the hope they have found. At the same time, they also provide accountability and ask us tough questions about temptations, disciplines and behaviors present in our lives. This is why social distancing is challenging for recovery right now. And while going through a pandemic in 2020 compared with other times in history means we have advanced technology to engage with each other in unique ways, it’s not the same as in person support. So how might we encourage addicts in recovery during social distancing?
One of the ways Scripture can speak to what we are all feeling during social distancing is by considering the leper in Scripture. Leprosy was feared as highly contagious and rendered a person unclean. It was the leper who had to socially distance from the community and live as an outcast. They lived this way so that the community would not become defiled (See Numbers 5:1-5). Understanding how the leper felt might be a little easier right now. Alone. Isolated. Outcast. Isolated addicts tend to have similar feelings and the current mandate of social distancing may be perpetuating those feelings.
But consider what happens to a leper who meets Jesus in Matthew 8:1-4. A leper comes to Jesus with courageous faith asking Jesus to heal him. Jesus, the Son of God, has the power to heal him with a single word like he did the centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10). But Matthew gives us a shocking detail of how Jesus healed this leper. He “stretched out his hand and touched him” (Matthew 8:3). Jesus touched him, which should have rendered him unclean, but Jesus’ touch actually made the leper clean and Jesus remains undefiled.
In this story, the heart of the gospel is beautifully portrayed. The disease of sin that runs rampant in humanity is much worse than leprosy or COVID-19. And the separation that sin causes is one between us and God. In the words of Isaiah, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Is. 59:2). So in the gospel when Jesus touches defiled sinners, they do not defile Him and make Him unclean, but rather they are cleansed by His perfection and brought near to God. What Jesus has accomplished on the cross cannot be undone by social distancing. The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:37-39 that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.
We may feel alone in this time of social distancing by missing out on relationships, support, and encouragement. Some of us may be tempted to revert back to addictions or use this time to escape and indulge in the flesh. But we have a God who is an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). We have a God who has brought us near to Himself through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), removing the barrier between man and God. In the words of Paul Tripp, “There is no social distancing with our Savior. When others would separate from us, he draws near, providing just what we need, right as we need it.”
So while we socially distance from one another, God is just as near as He has always been. And when He draws near, He changes us which means Christians can thrive during this time of social distancing. Practically, here are some opportunities for us to consider:
Social distancing is an opportunity to pursue & serve others. One of the things the Coronavirus has revealed is our natural disposition toward fear & self-preservation. Many people have overbought and stocked up. This presents an opportunity for Christians to look different than the world. As Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:28), we too can look for opportunities to serve others during our social distancing. Who can you pursue & serve during this time of social distancing?
Social distancing is an opportunity to re-prioritize our lives. One of the blessings of time alone is time to reflect. Perhaps being uprooted from our normal schedules can be an opportunity to reflect on our lives and re-prioritize what really matters in life. Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 6:33) and order our lives accordingly. Take this opportunity to reflect and consider what things need to be re-prioritized in your life.
Social distancing is an opportunity to display our contentment in Christ. The apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-13 are quite relevant right now. He found a way to be content in every situation through Christ. How did he do it? Through union with Christ. He said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Jesus is with us during this crisis and can give us the peace and contentment to make the most of this present situation, for God’s glory. And when we are content in the midst of a pandemic, it shines a unique light to the world that displays our contentment is not in circumstance, health, or money but is found in a person: Jesus Christ.
Social distancing does not mean we are ultimately alone. Like the leper, we have experienced the nearness of God which nothing can separate us from in Christ. Social distance will remain challenging, particularly for those of us in recovery. But through Christ, we can now see our current situation as an opportunity to reflect Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.