Episode Summary //👉 Subscribe here: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com/contact // Most Christians have been told addiction is a failure of willpower. Scripture says something far more serious: addiction is slavery. In this solo episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex VanHouten dismantles the shame-based, slogan-driven approach to addiction and replaces it with a biblical and neuroscience-grounded framework for freedom. Drawing from Scripture, modern brain science, and personal loss, this episode explores how addiction hijacks agency—and how embodied Christian stewardship restores it. You’ll learn why shame worsens addiction, how the brain actually changes under compulsive behavior, and the four God-designed interventions that reclaim dominion over mind and body: exercise, community, awe, and rhythm This is not theory. This is lived conviction—and a call for the Church to do better. Main Discussion Topics Why addiction is enslavement, not weaknessHow shame accelerates relapse and destroys agency What neuroscience reveals about the addicted brain.Why exercise restores executive function and self-control The biblical and physiological necessity of community How awe interrupts compulsive behavior and expands meaningWhy structure, rhythm, and routine are required for grace to take rootStewardship as an act of love—not legalism Key Scriptures Referenced 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19–20 — “I will not be mastered by anything… your body is a temple” 1 Timothy 4:7 — “Train yourself for godliness” James 5:16 — Confession, witness, and healing Proverbs 9:10 — Awe and the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom Quick Research Reference List Lynch et al., 2013 — Exercise and substance use disorders Wang et al., 2014 — Physical activity and dopamine regulation Heilig et al., 2016 — Addiction, stress, and social bonding Kelly et al., 2017 — Recovery capital and community Stellar et al., 2017 — Awe and prosocial behavior Walker, 2017 — Sleep and executive function Timestamped Outline 00:00 – Why slogans and shame fail 00:30 – Addiction as loss of agency, not moral collapse 01:45 – The brain science of enslavement 02:30 – Exercise as a non-negotiable for freedom 03:00 – Training as embodied obedience 03:45 – Isolation vs healing community 04:40 – Awe as a neuro-spiritual intervention 05:18 – Order, rhythm, and structure in recovery 06:15 – Stewardship, dominion, and the mission of Faithful Fitness 07:24 – Final charge: one faithful act at a time Core Takeaway Your body and mind are not the enemy—but they are the first territory that must be reclaimed. Addiction is not overcome by trying harder. It is overcome by training wisely, living in truth, and ordering your life under God’s design. Calls to Action 📩 Join the Newsletter — Letter to the Faithful Weekly clarity at the intersection of faith, physiology, discipline, and stewardship. No hype. No spam. Just truth for people trying to live faithfully in a disordered world. 👉 Subscribe here: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com/contact 📖 Get the Faithful Fitness Devotional A 40-day, embodied discipleship guide built around Integrity, Grit, Growth, and Awe—designed to help you reclaim dominion over body and soul. 👉 Learn more & get your copy: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com Share This Episode If this episode helped you, don’t hoard it. Share it with someone who’s fighting silently. Freedom multiplies when it’s witnessed. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.
