“Addiction promises control, comfort, and rescue—but it actually strips all of those things away. It intoxicates you so you can no longer discern what’s really happening.”

Is addiction merely a personal struggle—or is it part of a much larger spiritual battle? In this episode, Joel Muddamallehelps us rethink addiction through the lens of spiritual warfare, not in a sensational or fear-driven way, but in a deeply biblical and pastoral one. Rather than framing spiritual warfare as dramatic demonic encounters or something to obsess over, Joel explains how the real danger often lies in what quietly compromises our discernment, dulls our awareness, and slowly reshapes our loves.

Joel is the author of a new book, The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, Three Rebellions, and Christ’s Victory Over Dark Powers.

We explore how addiction functions as a form of spiritual intoxication—one that promises relief and control while subtly disorienting the heart, mind, and soul. Joel shows why Scripture consistently calls believers to be sober-minded, alert, and resistant, and how addiction undermines those very capacities. This conversation also reframes sanctification itself as a battleground, where the fight is not simply against bad habits, but against counterfeit comforts that keep us from true dependence on Jesus.

If freedom has felt harder than you think it should, or willpower alone never seems to be enough, this episode offers a reason: the struggle is bigger than you think. But so is the God you serve.

We Explore:

— why addiction is not just about excess but about losing spiritual and emotional discernment
— how Scripture frames spiritual warfare as something we resist, not something we seek out
— the difference between awareness and acceptance when it comes to addictive patterns
— why sanctification itself is a form of spiritual warfare
— how counterfeit comfort keeps us from true dependence on Jesus
— the danger of aiming for sobriety instead of aiming for Christ
— how pride, secrecy, and isolation fuel addiction
— why honesty and humility are essential for real healing
— how modern systems quietly train us to self-medicate and self-save
— what it actually looks like to fight sin with love instead of willpower

Joel's new book: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, Three Rebellions, and Christ’s Victory Over Dark Powers
Joel's Substacks Humble Theology and Stranger Theology
Joel’s Instagram: @muddamalle
Invite Joel to speak
Follow me: @jonseidl
Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic

&ldquo;Addiction promises control, comfort, and rescue&mdash;but it actually strips all of those things away. It intoxicates you so you can no longer discern what&rsquo;s really happening.&rdquo;
Is addiction merely a personal struggle&mdash;or is it part of a much larger spiritual battle? In this episode, Joel Muddamalle helps us rethink addiction through the lens of spiritual warfare, not in a sensational or fear-driven way, but in a deeply biblical and pastoral one. Rather than framing spiritual warfare as dramatic demonic encounters or something to obsess over, Joel explains how the real danger often lies in what quietly compromises our discernment, dulls our awareness, and slowly reshapes our loves.
Joel is the author of a new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4rjr3q5">The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, Three Rebellions, and Christ&rsquo;s Victory Over Dark Powers</a>.
We explore how addiction functions as a form of spiritual intoxication&mdash;one that promises relief and control while subtly disorienting the heart, mind, and soul. Joel shows why Scripture consistently calls believers to be sober-minded, alert, and resistant, and how addiction undermines those very capacities. This conversation also reframes sanctification itself as a battleground, where the fight is not simply against bad habits, but against counterfeit comforts that keep us from true dependence on Jesus.
If freedom has felt harder than you think it should, or willpower alone never seems to be enough, this episode offers a reason: the struggle is bigger than you think. But so is the God you serve.
We Explore:
&mdash; why addiction is not just about excess but about losing spiritual and emotional discernment &mdash; how Scripture frames spiritual warfare as something we resist, not something we seek out &mdash; the difference between awareness and acceptance when it comes to addictive patterns &mdash; why sanctification itself is a form of spiritual warfare &mdash; how counterfeit comfort keeps us from true dependence on Jesus &mdash; the danger of aiming for sobriety instead of aiming for Christ &mdash; how pride, secrecy, and isolation fuel addiction &mdash; why honesty and humility are essential for real healing &mdash; how modern systems quietly train us to self-medicate and self-save &mdash; what it actually looks like to fight sin with love instead of willpower
Joel's new book: <a href="https://amzn.to/4rjr3q5">The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, Three Rebellions, and Christ&rsquo;s Victory Over Dark Powers</a> Joel's Substacks <a href="https://humbletheology.muddamalle.com">Humble Theology</a> and <a href="https://strangertheology.substack.com">Stranger Theology</a> Joel&rsquo;s Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/muddamalle/">@muddamalle</a> <a href="https://www.muddamalle.com/">Invite Joel to speak</a> Follow me: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a> Order my new book,&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit christianalcoholic.com for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit <a href="http://christianalcoholic.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://christianalcoholic.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747239325727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1G-752Q-1dyjq6GN5gt7xw">christianalcoholic.com</a> for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic" is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts.

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jon Seidl

Addiction as Spiritual Warfare? Joel Muddamalle on Why Our Struggles Are Bigger Than We Think

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/312902c9-d704-435c-b392-b3df01146c96/transcript