A few weeks ago, I was invited to be the guest on the Samson Society podcast with Nate Larkin & David Mullen.
We talked about everything from cycling across the country, to life as a former preacher’s kid, to women and porn addiction (as well as drug and alcohol abuse), confession, and living a transparent life.
Most interviews I’ve done in the past don’t dig this deep – an uncomfortable deep – but Nate and David did a fabulous job asking questions and responding with truth and grace.
You can stream or download the interview here.
Comments
26 responses to “A Candid Interview on Addiction, Confession & Transparency”
How long did it take you before you could talk openly about your addictions? Do you still find it difficult to be that open?
.-= Lauren?s last blog ..Untitled No.3 =-.
Years, really. And it is still difficult. In one sense, I feel honored to share because it is a part of my life God has so clearly been active in restoring, and I owe it all to Him…on the other hand, I can get trapped in rear view mirror perspective and get lost in the shame that those mistakes brings…
I’m hoping to be able to do that at some point. There are things I am happy to talk about, but then there are other things that I totally stay away from. I always feel kinda fake when I do that. My thought is always “what if this person needs to hear the full story? What if the other part is what they can relate to?” But I can never open up that much.
There is so much I hope to be able to share. I can’t think of another reason for me to have gone through half of it other than to be able to reach people.
.-= Lauren?s last blog ..Untitled No.3 =-.
listening now.
Anne,
So great to ‘hear’ you sharing your story in more and more places! Thanks for allowing Him to use you and your story for the sake of others!
.-= Guy Chmieleski?s last blog ..The Power of Process-ing =-.
POWERFUL story. I’m so thankful for your willingness to share it!
Anne,
I’ve just recently discovered your blog and am so encouraged to hear your story.
I agree with Lauren that some sins I’m very willing to share and publicly confess and others I’m not. “I can?t think of another reason for me to have gone through half of it other than to be able to reach people.” I think this too but am then too shamed to share my whole story.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you.” Is 43:1 I wish I believed this and acted on it like I want to.
Shame is such a powerful force. I try and remember that shame is from Satan – not God – and is a lie. Shame tells us to keep everything hidden and in the dark. It pulls us away from God and away from people.
Confession shows you’re broken and will help encourage others who are broken too, but are trapped in shame. If you go first in your confession, it gives others the permission to speak freely – to go second. Your courage will inspire them and you’ll show them that we are all screwed up…even in what we consider to be the “worst” things…God promises to be faithful and just.
Carley and Lauren, I agree with Anne that shame and silence are very powerful and destructive. I walked that path for a number of years, thinking I was dealing with my issues and not being able to see how much I was truly hurting myself and others by not opening myself up to the truth of my story. I hated my story and didn’t want it, so I tried to hide it and I hid who I was. Learning and having the courage to share your story is difficult. I am still getting there myself, but I have learned that it is bringing me incredible freedom from the shame and I am finding a sense of value and hope through sharing. I am not proud of my sin, in fact it breaks my heart, but I accept it was a part of my life and I walked that path and hurt others. If we open our story up to God allowing him to change us and the story, he is able to use it to speak to and encourage others. I think it is especially helpful for women to start speaking out their stories because the majority of ministries are led by men (and I am deeply thankful for that), but there are struggles which women face and ways they process and feel things that men do not understand and therefore do not speak to adequately. I praise God we are created uniquely and have different roles and places in his family and his work.
I will be praying for both of you as you continue on this journey.
.-= Sherie´s last blog ..The Joys and Struggles of Church Planting =-.
Great interview! I loved the part about the end about confession and healing…how we can, or at least should be able to, confess EVERYTHING. And how if the church tells us we can’t confess certain things, the church is then crippling our ability to get healing. Fantastic.
Also, awesome accountability plan.
An excellent, candid interview indeed. While being so open may make some people in the church uncomfortable, how can anyone heal if we are not allowed to speak out and share each others burdens? We are, after all, called to do so. Great jo
.-= Kristine McGuire?s last blog ..Don?t You Know Your Beautiful? =-.
Hi Anne,
In the interview, you talk about the power of confession. I was wondering if you have written any specific posts about the blessings and benefits of confession and how you have seen those played out in your life?
Not really yet…but it’s totally the topic of my new book.
Looking forward to the release of the book!
This interview opened up my eyes so much to things I struggle with and why. I wish there were more people willing to be so transparent…I wish I was. Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone to share.
A lady in my church and myself just taught on pornography and lust last Sunday for all our services. We shared our own stories with the struggle, talked about the dangers/consequences of pornography, common lies addicts believe about it, and steps toward victory over the struggle. We also invited anonymous follow-up questions via text message and answered them in a separate video that’s now on our church’s website.
Since last week’s discussion, our church’s website has had more traffic than it ever has before.
Here’s the porn page we put on our church’s website as a follow-up to last Sunday.
.-= Tim Schmoyer´s last blog ..Lessons from my 3 year anniversary at Alexandria Covenant Church =-.
So, I clicked on the link to listen to it while I did the dishes (like a five minute job) and when I saw how long it was, I honestly thought, damn – that’s kinda looooong. I doubt I’ll listen to the whole thing.
…and then I ended up leaning against my kitchen counter for the entire 45 minutes podcast.
Anyway, you make the bearing of ones soul look like the most natural thing in the world, which, I believe, is exactly how it should be. Thank you for that!
.-= Jamie, the Very Worst Missionary?s last blog ..The one where she says "Pubes" =-.
Anne, you are very courageous, brave, and I honor your transparency! I’m so glad you felt freedom to speak right out! You have never tested God’s resources until you have attempted the impossible and that is so reaching to all people. I encourage your vision(s). Thanks!
.-= Carol?s last blog ..Beauty!!! =-.
Anne- your realness is just flat-out contageous. Thanks for that.
.-= Josh?s last blog ..Question? =-.
Thanks for your sharing your story Anne, it’s so powerful what God can do through our lives when we open up to Him and others about our struggles. I work at at treatment center in AR. When we opened 9 years ago the focus was primarily drug addiction, now all of therapist are being trained by Patrick Carnes in order to become certified sexual addiction therapists because this issue has grown so dramatically in recent years.
.-= JD?s last blog ..A Disciplined Plan for 2010 =-.
Thanks for sharing your story. Stories like yours need to be told. This Sunday, my husband will be interviewing our youth pastor about his journey through abuse, drug addiction and prison time to discovering a place of freedom and healing. It’s never too late to start over. If anyone needs another dose of hope and inspiration, they can listen to the podcast at gracehonolulu.org (probably up by Mon. am)
.-= Kris?s last blog ..Losing Control =-.
Thanks Anne. I really enjoyed this interview. I’m a pastor trying to create a church environment that celebrates honesty and openness. I’m inspired by guys like Groeschel and others who are open about their personal struggles.
Your interview reinforced what I’m striving for. Thanks.
Awesome interview. keep writing about the things that really do matter like poverty and clean drinking water for everyone. blogging really does help others. it encouraged me to deal with my ADD issues. I agree it is unfortunate that transparency freaks people out. if we keep doing it though we’ll reach a few and thats what matters.
We at Freedom Begins Here, http://www.freedombeginshere.org/, applaud you for your honesty and transparency in regard to women and porn. We are a ministry designed to help the church and individuals to address the issues of porn, lust, and sexual purity. We receive inquiries on our website from women struggling in this area all of the time. It is a very real and growing issue in their lives, especially in the internet age. Thank you so much for shedding light on this issue. Also, thank you for your comments regarding confessing our sins in church in the Samson Society interview. It is unfortunate that the church is generally not safe to do so. It is only as the light is shined on our sins that they begin to lose their power over us. Thank you again!!!
.-= Rick at Freedom Begins Here´s last blog ..A Message To Pastors and Church Leaders: Your People Are Ready =-.
I greatly respect you for your courage. I remember listening to some seminars by Jerry and Lynn Jones a while back(marriage matters). They talk about all sorts of topics concerning marriage. One thing that made a lasting impression on me was when they said that pornography can be as addictive as heroin. That blew my mind. We work hard to encourage our teenagers to stay away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, but we do not do as much to point out the harm caused by porn. Fortunately, we are capable of turning from addictions with much effort and prayer. I have seen this transformation in many people.
I tried to use the link to the Samson Society and I can’t find the podcast. Can you help me find it?