b'Adversity, pain, and suffering all build resiliency if we let them. The biblical worldview acknowledges that pain is inevitable, and we grow and mature when we endure it well.Those with any form of A/SUD have lost theirshowed us how much He loved us by sending His view of seeing themselves as having intrinsicone and only Son into the world so that we might value simply because they are human. This valuehave eternal life through Him (1 John 4:9, NLT). supersedes any whiskey shot, needle filled withWhen treating and working with this popula-heroin, and any timeline associated with addic- tion, we must educate those with A/SUD on the tive behaviors. People have intrinsic value simplyvalue of their lives. If we fail to do this, they may because they are human. As many governmentbelieve their value is only a sum of their choices agencies have defined, human life is more than and actionsa dangerous place to be. a statistical, economic sum. Human life is moreThe biblical response: Genesis 1:26 states, than the sum of our choices, decisions, andThen God said, Let us make mankind in our actions. Humanity itself, or in its own right, hasimage, in our likeness. This is known as imago value. As Christians, we believe we have valueDei, or the image of God. We are valuable as because the Bible says God loves us. It says, Godhumans because we are made in the image 12 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024'