The Radicals

When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. Numbers 6:2-3

It’s the Summer Olympics and so, every night, my wife and I sit and watch a recap of the day’s events, hoping to see team USA win gold. Like most people, I find myself cheering for sports that I never pay any attention to otherwise. Perhaps 20 years ago, I became enthralled with curling (Winter Olympics, I know). A large part of my fascination was that curling seemed to be one of the only sports which I was physically capable of doing. And since I live in Minnesota, I was eventually able to join a curling league where I discovered that curling is a lot harder than it looks. Like all athletes in the Olympics, those who make it spend a tremendous amount of time working on their skill, sacrificing greatly to get there. As I watched the Olympics the other night, I remarked to my wife that even though I was physically capable of curling, I’ve just never had the drive to make the sacrifices it would take to get really good at it. Yes, it would be great to be an Olympian, but even if I had the potential, I simply lack commitment.

I once approached recovery the same way. I thought recovery was a great idea. I wanted it, but I simply lacked the radical commitment it took to get there. Recovery requires tremendous work and sacrifice, which I was unwilling to do and so, like the Olympics, it remained beyond my reach. I see this often now in those with whom I work. Those addicted realize their lives are a mess and they desire profound change. They look at those in recovery and they say, I want that. So, I tell them what it would take to get there. Go to treatment. Change everything. Abandon the old life. At this, many of them balk. I can’t do all that. Can I just get a pill? I can and do prescribe medications that curb cravings and promote abstinence from illicit drugs, but no pill can make someone find recovery. Recovery requires tremendous sacrifice and only those who’re willing to commit radically find radical change.

Today’s passage describes such people. In the narrative, God described the Nazarite – those who would take a special vow, setting themselves apart for God. The first rule of the Nazarite was that he (or she) must abstain from alcohol. God didn’t command that all Israelites couldn’t drink, but those who truly wished to seek him radically must commit to abstinence. God knew that man simply doesn’t do his best thinking, or draw his closest to God, while intoxicated. Second, the Nazarite wasn’t to cut his hair, abandoning concern about his physical appearance. Third, the Nazarite must avoid dead bodies as this was associated with uncleanliness by the culture.

The Nazarites were the radical, the elite. These were the spiritual Olympians of their day, willing to do whatever it took to set themselves apart for a life of seeking and serving God. Others probably considered them kooky, but they didn’t care. They displayed a singular commitment to God and were willing to do whatever it took to abandon themselves for him.

Not everyone was destined to be a Nazarite. Likewise, not everyone who struggles with chemicals will find recovery. Still, recovery is available to all. Finding it though, will almost always require tremendous commitment, radical change, and significant sacrifice. To those who’re willing to do what it takes to abandon self to follow God, he promises the profound blessing of a new life. Yes, it requires sacrifice to get there, but I promise this – It’s absolutely worth it as all we surrender is the misery of the old life while we experience the joy and peace of the new one. Recovery is hard, but it’s more than worth it.