SADD, BADD, and CADD

Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, also related to ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), affects children by severely limiting their ability to concentrate for any significant length of time and disrupts or retards their education. ADD is a relatively new diagnosis that today’s pediatricians use frequently. Those of us in ministry, however, have long known that ADD is not confined to children. Many adults, especially in church, also experience the same inability to pay attention. Ritalin™, however, the drug of choice to treat ADD, rarely works for the adult form of the disorder.

SADD (Spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder), one form of the adult condition, affects people who allow carnal pursuits to occupy their time. Patients report early morning bouts of media addiction, compulsive tuning in news broadcasts, listening to a steady diet of talk show chatter, and an irresistible urge to consume sports scores, stock quotes and gossip columns. Throughout the day, the mere mention or thought of prayer time or devotion causes an onset of extreme nervousness and feelings of anxiety. Most SADD people cannot pinpoint the precise time or event when their affliction began. They do state, however, that working longer, increasing playful activities like golf or softball, and hours of shopping, yard work or web-surfing usually provides temporary relief. Whenever the symptoms persist for more than three or four weeks, sufferers note a sharp decline in desire for spiritual activity. The condition may continue for years until the patient loses all awareness of God or the supernatural. At the present, the best cure for the SADD problem is a healthy dose of fasting and prayer. Sufferers are prone to resist this treatment, however, citing its painful side effects such as hunger and inflammation of arthritic knees. Other cures, although not recommended, are certain life-threatening crises that jolt a person back to repentance and fervent prayer. Those who recover from SADD usually express great relief and excitement in their renewed relationship with God.

BADD (Biblical Attention Deficit Disorder) is another form of the same syndrome. BADD persons often complain that they cannot find time to read the Bible and that when they try to read it they become dyslexic and confused. Other common complaints are boredom, failure to understand the outdated vocabulary and environmental distractions. Prolonged suffering from BADD leads to a weakened conscience, a faint heart and a negative effect on the spiritual immune system that defends believers against Satan’s fiery darts and destructive schemes. Spiritual health experts recommend a daily dosage of Bible reading, starting with children’s doses, and gradually working up to adult-strength portions. Doses may be taken with a handy Bible dictionary and additional meditation. Audio and videotapes of sermons and Bible studies can be periodically substituted for a treatment, but the patient must always return to a personal reading routine. BADD quickly vanishes when the victim begins a steady intake of the GOOD Word of God.

For those who suffer from SADD and BADD, another condition known as CADD, often compounds the disorder. CADD (Church Attendance Deficit Disorder) seems to be set up by failing to incur spiritual growth or to engage in proper Bible reading. CADD victims, already weakened by carnality and ignorance of Biblical knowledge, see church attendance as a time-consuming, frustrating chore instead of the joy that is really is. They cut back or sometimes totally eliminate the role of church in their lives, ironically exacerbating all the other problems that frustrate them. The syndrome shows striking similarity to those who avoid going to the doctor so they don’t have to hear any bad news about their health. Church attendance places the CADD person in the midst of fellowship, lively worship, the preached Word of God, and an atmosphere of encouragement. The cure for CADD, in contrast to the incremental treatment, is to begin immediately to attend every service possible. Sunday school, Sunday evening service, Wednesday evening Bible study, Friday evening prayer service and youth service all work to turn the CADD sufferer into a healthy saint of God.

Other treatable disorders recently diagnosed include, FADD (Faith Attention Deficit Disorder), GADD (Grace Attention Deficit Disorder), HADD (Holiness Attention Deficit Disorder), PADD (Praise Attention Deficit Disorder) and the dreaded DREADD (Daily Righteousness Examination Attention Deficit Disorder). All of them can be cured through a strong application of spiritual principles. Today, anyone who so desires can find freedom from these disorders that destroy the quality of the soul, and can be restored to vibrant and enriching life in Christ.

Comments

[immiqueveve]

very intresting

[Wepunjupe]

You have really great taste on catch article titles, even when you are not interested in this topic you push to read it

[Rosario Pelletier]

If only more than 94 people could hear this.