Narcan in the Church

As many know, Dayton, Ohio has been one of the hardest hit cities in the US by the Opioid epidemic. As I wrote in my previous blog, the church spent many years burying its head in the sand until it was too big to ignore. Now that some churches have come on board to fight the crisis, there is a huge debate on the use of Narcan in the church. Unfortunately, there are also some churches attempting to use "recovery services" as a way to grow their church and get donations for the cause.

Today, I was in a conversation with someone who stated there is a church with a "recovery service" who now (1) refuses to use Narcan on anyone who overdoses and (2) does not allow anyone who is intoxicated or high to attend their services. Let me address these in order.

(1) The Use of Narcan in the Church

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a great example here (Luke 10:25-37). In fact, Jesus even points out that a priest (vs 31) was walking by the person in need of help and left the man there as he walked to the other side of the street to avoid him.

Jesus went on to say, " But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The point here is we are called to love those who aren’t necessarily "like" us. We are called to give those who are down a chance in life. The fact a church of any kind let alone a "recovery" church would refuse to give someone a fighting chance at life because they "will just keep using" and "are looking for a bigger high" is absolutely NOT what Jesus had in mind. Who are we to say how many chances someone gets? How many chances did we get and how many are we still getting to get it right? Jesus reminded us that we are to forgive 70 times 7 times (Matthew 18:22) yet we are saying to someone’s son, someone’s daughter, or someone’s parent that two times is enough?

Example: I have been working in the recovery community for several years know and have sponsored dozens of men who have overdosed at least once. Many of them have clinically died and come back thanks to Narcan. One in particular has clinically died at least four times and was brought back. He is now preaching to message of recovery in Christ, sponsoring other men, and giving back to the community as a whole. Under the notion that "they'll just keep using," he wouldn't be here today, and neither would hundreds of others who are beating the devil of addiction.

I could go on and on about how it’s not our job to put a limit on how many times to save a life. However, as long as we acknowledge and allow online self-ordinations with no accountability and no discipleship for EVERY leader in the church, there will be people who make up rules as they go and play God with people’s lives.

(2) If You are Intoxicated or High, You are not Allowed to Attend Recover Services

I understand as well as anyone the notion that we don't want the intoxicated person to "trigger" others in recovery. However, what is the harm in having a few strong people sit with the intoxicated person and witness to them? If it’s a dinner, why not send one of your leaders with the person to another area to eat with, pray with, and even attempt to get them help in treatment?

The problem is everyone wants to be in the spotlight and hold a microphone and no one wants to work in the background. Everyone thinks they are "called" to be a pastor and preacher, but they don't realize the two aren’t always one in the same. Just because someone is a good preacher, doesn't make them a pastor (shepherd); and just because they are a good pastor doesn't mean they are a good preacher. The church has attempted to combine both callings into one out of necessity and it doesn't always work out that way. What the church needs is more pastors who are working with and praying with these people behind the scenes and less people who want to preach because they are "called." Again, just because you are a preacher, doesn't mean you are a pastor. If you are turning people away for any "reason," this might be you. As Pastor John Gray once said, "yes, they smell like alcohol, weed, etc. But you smell like Pride."

Here's the point. If you are holding "recovery services" for people who are already recovered, its just a church service no matter how you spin it. We are called to be like Jesus and if Jesus came for the sick and the sinners, not the righteous (Luke 5:32), why are we only serving those who are already on the mend? I'm not saying recovery services aren't needed for those who are on the mend. I'm simply pointing out the hypocrisy of only serving those who are easy to deal with when we have all had a time in our lives when we needed someone to walk us through life. How do you reach those in need and actually make a difference in the active epidemic when you only serve those who are no longer a part of said epidemic?

As I have said many times before, I am far from perfect in my walk and have needed more grace than most. Maybe that is why I am so passionate about being graceful to others as Jesus and others have been to me. So the next question is, how do you call yourself a recovery program for those who need second chances, but judge everyone who walks through the door and don't give THEM a second chance?

Finally, if we refuse Narcan out of pride or ego, we refuse love. If we refuse love, we refuse Jesus. If we refuse Jesus, regardless of the title we have on earth, we will go to Hell. Don't believe me? I'm not making it up, I'm just repeating it from God's word...

Luke 12:48 (NKJV)

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.