Slavery, Freedom and Addiction – Part 2: From Slavery to Sonship
Guest Blogger Stuart Leitch
Many in addiction do an “addiction geographical” hoping that a change of location will give them a fresh start. But we always take our heads with us! The run-away slave was never truly free—but Christ offers more than a breather between tyrannies.
Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” (John 8:36), and Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal 5:1).
So what is the good news for our recovery?
It starts with reality. Paul paints a vivid picture that anyone with addiction can recognise: “…There is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.” (Rom 7:24). This is the ‘powerlessness’ in Step 1 of AA. The ‘righteous’ may not see themselves in this text—but ‘sinners’ often do. (As an aside—it’s unlikely we can help others find freedom if we haven’t seen our own slavery yet.)
Paul speaks of those who discovered a new allegiance: “…though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free… and become slaves of God.” (Rom 6:18-22). It’s a paradox: true freedom is found in a “new slavery”—not in doing anything we like, but in surrender to the will of God.
This isn’t just about behaviour management—it’s a spiritual transformation rooted in a new identity. “You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Rom 8:15)
The Greek word for adoption refers to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. This is more than being set free—it’s being made a family member and heir. It’s about becoming a recognised somebody.
This shift—from slave to son—has enormous power for recovery, especially considering the high rates of adverse childhood experiences and broken family relationships. In contrast to Roman manumission or adoption (which were rewards for exceptional behaviour), God’s invitation reaches especially to the downtrodden.
Slaves feared their masters. A life of fear and insecurity is often both the cause and the fruit of addiction. But Paul says we can have a secure attachment to God, who we call Father. That must have taken some getting used to—going from no name and no future to having a name, a place, and a Father.
Paul says, “You were called to live in freedom… But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Gal 5:13). Love is at the heart of true freedom.
“I am no longer a slave to [fill in the blank]… I am a child of God.” That is living in hope.
His passion is to see faith-based recovery teams across the UK and offers training consultancy to that end.
He can be contacted via https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-leitch-recovery1010 or stu.leitch@outlook.com.
*Opinions expressed in guest posts are those of the author, and do not represent any official position held by Jubilee+.*