There are a lot of things people can struggle with in life. We all have our own battles, but some battles can be a bigger struggle than others. In our family we have relatives that have struggled with some of the obvious addictions, alcohol addiction, and substance use are the most well-known.
But a useful reminder is that there are many different kinds of addictive behavior that can be used by Satan to destroy lives.
There are many different reasons we need to educate the church about addictive behavior. When we educate the church, we can see signs in our loved ones if they need help. We can also learn the reason behind addictive behavior so we are less judgmental and can be helpful.
One of the ways we can educate the church is through movie nights with films that show the story of recovery from substance abuse. Here are a few suggestions.
The Heart of the Matter
Pornography is destroying families and a generation of young people. Sexual addiction in the form of pornography has become almost an acceptable form of addiction. I have personally watched two families fall apart and land in divorce because of this addiction. It is a topic the church doesn’t want to talk about, and it is an addiction that unfortunately many church leaders are also facing.
The movie Heart of the Matter shines a light on the topic of Pornography addictions.
The first film to present an authentic, compelling depiction of Christian adults who are addicted to porn. However, hope can be found when we share our stories, and allow the Lord Jesus Christ to show his power of forgiveness, hope, and peace.
In this documentary film, you will see young adults who share their true story of the horrific impact porn had on their family and their Christian faith. You will hear about the spiritual warfare, and how they overcame the addiction through God’s unconditional love.
This is a movie to show to your youth group, small group, or community.
Still Got Joy
There is a church in my town that runs a celebrate recovery program on Tuesday nights. I have had the chance to get to know some of the families that have been helped through this program. One of the women is a young lady who just got out of prison. Her story inspired me to look beyond what we see and learn the story of the person standing in front of us.
This movie tells us the true story of Dr. Shonda Reynolds. A woman hit rock bottom after she had her children taken away from her because of her drug use. But she finds life again in God’s love. This is a powerful Christian film that shows there is hope no matter how bad things seem to be. This is a move about the restoration of broken people and the hope that anyone can rebuild their life with God’s help.
Screened In
I have four young adults as children. My youngest is 17 years old. When my oldest was in grade six she was the only one in her class to not have a phone. Most of her friends were on an app called Musically, which eventually turned into Tick Tock when they were in high school.
I saw firsthand the addiction their friends had when they would come to visit, and all the children would be on their phones instead of interacting with each other.
While we did allow phones eventually, we set limits on the amount of time our teens could be on the phone. This did not make us popular parents. However, now we see the positive outcome of those rules. If you are a parent and you want to help your children understand the negative effects of addictive behavior surrounding screens this is a great movie to show them.
Screened In was proceeded by a 15-year-old girl, and it tells the story of a group of teenagers who discover their lives have been taken over by their phones. They decided to change their lives and find the beauty of the world they had ignored. They give a challenge to their friends to put their phones down. This turns out to be a bigger challenge than they expected.
Daisy
My brother-in-law came home from Afghanistan with PTSD. He tried to hide it for a while but eventually, he had to move out of his home because his behavior was hurting his family. After some time in a treatment center, he was able to return home. I saw firsthand how hard it was for him to find healing. Unfortunately, many others in his position end up facing drug addiction or alcohol abuse.
In the movie Daisy, the main character is a British War veteran named Stinky Alias Peter, who has become a heroin addict after returning from war. He meets a 13-year-old girl who is in the last few weeks of her life.
Wayward – The Prodigal Son
The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of my favorite Bible Stories. This story shows God’s love forgiveness and mercy in a profound way. In the Faith-based film Wayward we see a modern-day version of the Prodigal Son.
Tyler McMillan can’t live up to his brother Will. And he takes his early inheritance and uses the money for fun and parties. Then he finds himself at rock bottom. Can he ever ask his father for forgiveness? This is a great movie to watch for your next family movie night.
Royal Ashes
A young man has to choose between the life he dreamed of and taking care of his siblings. His mother is an addict and can’t care for her children. That leaves Paul with four little children, including a beautiful boy with severe autism and a parent with addictive behavior.
That is so much to put on a 19-year-old. Just when Paul feels he can’t go on a young lady moves next door and offers him the love of Christ Jesus. These Christian films about addiction can help us see the world from a different point of view.
One of the things about addiction that is hard to understand is the role of the people hurt by the addiction. It is not just the people who are drug addicts, or drunks that have to face addiction recovery. It is also the role of the people around them. This is a movie that reminds us to care for the families.
My Name is Bill W
My uncle is an alcoholic. I remember at the age of 13 hearing that he joined Alcoholics Anonymous. It seemed so strange to me that this fun uncle had an issue with drinking. My cousins were older than me and I loved being at their house. But I saw firsthand the issues the family had as my uncle started to be honest about his struggles.
The movie My Name is Bill W’ tells the true events that led to the starting of Alcoholics Anonymous.
We see the story of William Griffith Wilson a man who returned from World War 2 and finds himself dealing with the stress by drinking. Then when his whole bank account is wiped out by the 1929 stock exchange he sinks deeper into his addiction. Once he realizes he has hit rock bottom he wants to find a solution. He started up a support group and Alcoholics Anonymous was born.
Gateway to Hope: Overcoming Heroin
I don’t know anyone who has had to deal with Heroin. However, I know that the opioid epidemic has led to a heroin epidemic as well. This movie has former addicts, public officials, paramedics, and pharmacists sharing their stories of dealing with Heroin. You will find their stories inspiring and see the hope you will find through Jesus Christ.
I recommend this movie if you are looking for a film to show to your church. A lot of people need to hear these stories. This movie serves as a useful reminder to the church that people around them need help.
Home Run
I have children who are in competitive sports. I have seen firsthand the pressure that many athletes face. Often this pressure can lead to addiction. This family movie helps shine a new light on the lives of people dealing with the pressures of personal and occupational challenges.
Scott Elrod and Vivica A. Fox does a great job acting in this movie.
This is the story of Cory, who has a drinking problem. After he is kicked off his team, he ends up coaching Little League in the small town where he grew up. He finds help when he begins attending Celebrate Recovery and finds addiction recovery.
121: Overcoming Drug Addiction By Faith
Have you ever felt the world is falling apart and you have no hope, and then you find read a passage of scripture that just changes everything? When God uses his words to speak into our lives it is a miracle that can change our life if we let it.
In this Christian movie, you will see the story of Burton Barr. At the age of 20, his friends forcibly inject him with heroin and that starts him down a path into drug addiction. When his father comes to visit, he finds him at rock bottom. Instead of yelling and lecturing him, he turns to prayer.
Burton finds his help in the Bible Verses he reads in Psalms 121. This is a great movie to watch to remind you that hope is found in the Bible.
Redemption Ride
My brother played football at university. He never did drugs; however, he was one of the few on his team who did not do drugs. It became a crisis to the point where the media was covering the story and the school asked him to do the media interviews. It was weird to see him on Fox News talking about drug use in athletics.
My children were not born at the time, so they don’t remember it happening, however, he told them the story and used it as an example to help them know to stay away from drugs.
Redemption Ride is the story of Colter Reese, who is trying to be a father, and also a world-class cyclist while dealing with a drug issue. When Colter finds out his son is dying, he has to find a way to save himself and his son.
Generation at Risk – Pain Killers
The United States has an opioid epidemic. The young minds of a generation are being destroyed by prescription medication. We have to make sure our children understand that drugs don’t just come in the form of weed or powder. They also come in prescriptions you can get from a local pharmacy.
This faith-based film documentary is a great way to educate our loved ones on the risks associated with opioid abuse and help us know how to support others who are facing this addiction.
The Ride
If you want a family-friendly movie that is a faith-based film that will help you understand addiction this a great option. Michael is a legendary rodeo performer and has always ridden bulls. But when he runs into trouble with the law, he has to volunteer to teach riding lessons to stay out of jail.
He ends up teaching a young boy named Danny how to ride a bull. Danny is a Christian and he helps Michael find a way to break free from drinking and gambling.
The Wager
I was adopted. My husband and I are foster parents and have adopted two children. Our family has spent a lot of time dealing with issues revolving around abandonment. It is hard to find good Christian films that help us see the issues surrounding abandonment.
In this Christian movie, we see the story of Brucie who loses a bet and suddenly sees the truth of all the people he has hurt in his life. He was abandoned as a baby at the police station. He then ends up with years in foster care including 17 different homes. The hurt from this early abandonment leads him to addiction. But a friend invites him to church and finds some peace.