#362 - Resurrection Power for the Addicted | Mark E. Shaw#362 - Resurrection Power for the Addicted | Mark E. Shaw
The Addiction Connection Podcast
Dr. Mark E. Shaw connects the resurrection of Jesus with addiction recovery, arguing that addiction is ultimately a belief and sin issue addressed through the gospel. He stresses the sufficiency of Scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the goal of new life in Christ rather than sobriety alone.
36:51•28 Mar 2026
Resurrection Power and the Truth About Addiction with Mark E. Shaw
Episode Overview
- Addiction is framed as a belief and sin issue, rather than a medical disease, with real change flowing from faith in Christ.
- The resurrection of Jesus is presented as central to recovery, offering hope of freedom and newness of life, not just temporary sobriety.
- Scripture is emphasised as sufficient for counselling those struggling with addiction, without reliance on secular psychology or 12-step systems.
- True transformation is linked to the work of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit, contrasted with the chaos of drug-dependent living.
- There is a strong call to urgency in sharing the gospel with addicted people, focusing on eternal life and the reality of heaven and hell.
“Addiction at the end of the day is a belief issue.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation with Dr. Mark E. Shaw leans straight into that question by tying addiction recovery to the resurrection of Jesus. Speaking as both pastor and counsellor, Mark shares a recent health scare and how a long, painful recovery period drew him closer to God. It’s a down-to-earth moment that sets the tone: this isn’t abstract theology, it’s faith worked out in real weakness, open wounds, and missed pickleball games.
From there, he walks through John 20, highlighting the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene’s tearful encounter with the risen Jesus, and Thomas’s stubborn doubts. Mark keeps linking these scenes to addiction, stressing that “addiction at the end of the day is a belief issue” rather than a disease label. For those used to hearing they’ll be “always addicted”, his emphasis on freedom in Christ offers a very different message.
He also lays out why he prefers “Resurrection Sunday” to “Easter” and why the resurrection sits at the centre of his approach to biblical counselling. Clean and sober isn’t the final goal; as he puts it, they want people to have “newness of life” and the fruit of the Spirit, not just abstinence.
Along the way, Mark gently challenges popular models of treatment, questions the dependence on secular psychology and 12-step ideas, and calls for confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture for addressing addictive behaviour. He repeatedly points back to the gospel: people are sinners, Christ is a perfect saviour, and the Holy Spirit changes hearts.
If you’re interested in a Christ-centred, Bible-heavy approach to addiction that talks frankly about sin, hope, and eternity, this conversation might give you plenty to ponder—are you aiming for sobriety alone, or for the kind of resurrected life Mark describes?
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