"1. the act or power of regaining, retaking, or conquering again; a recovering or reclaiming ...Strictly speaking, by definition, "recovery" involves eventual closure. One regains what is lost, is revived, is healed, is returned to a former state of soundness, etc. One either recovers from an injury, illness or setback or one doesn't recover. It is not an open-ended process. Unfortunately, for many "recovery" has become a way of life or lifestyle with no closure. In fact, for some "recovery" has become their religion with its own "sacred" liturgy, concepts and rituals. It is almost with pride that some say they are "in recovery," state the length of time they have been "in recovery," mark when they "came into recovery" or otherwise make some reference to their continuing "recovery" much as a Christian would speak of their baptism and time as a child of God. The term is not used in the sense of a completed process, but rather to denote a present and continuing state of being.2. a getting well again, coming or bringing back to consciousness, revival of a person from weakness, etc.
3. a regaining of balance, of former position or condition, etc.; a return to soundness.
4. the time needed for recovering."
We recognize that while we seek perfection in our obedience and service to God we all sin and fall short (Romans 3:23). Consequently, we all need forgiveness, grace, repentance, restoration, etc., on a continuing basis. The major difference between the secular concept of "recovery" and the Biblical concept of "restoration" is that restoration is just one part of God's plan for our spiritual well being whereas recovery has become a way of life and an end unto itself. Restoration is descriptive of a process of mending the effects of sin in our life and equipping us to seek and achieve mastery over sin in the future. In alcohol and substance abuse issues our souls are restored from the effects of this sin through obedience to God's word/submission to His will. Integral is the concept and application of repentance. We do not get distracted from the "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3) by the "tradition of men" (Colossians 2:8).