Leaderboard

Since our isolated friends seem a bit disconnected from the world, struggling with the strategy and morality to continue on giving their lives to perpetuate an organization founded upon plagiarism and adultery, I thought a recent series might help them out to develop a few missing principles.

LCM used to shout about what a counterfeit the 12 step program was/is. (Maybe he learned that from VPW, would he think of that himself?) I know nothing about this program personally; I do know a few people who have suffered from alcohol addiction who have found the AA program very helpful. I was very surprised, suspicious, freaked out .. to find that this is the subject of the current term's teachings at one of the churches that I attend. But this sermon series is about the 12 steps on our road to spiritual recovery and our increasing dependence on God ... weaning ourselves off addition to ego, self-centredness, and material obsessions (whatever they may be, including use of oil - fuel, plastics, etc). The sermon series is based on a book called Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr These are the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. I wondered if any of you here have explored these 12 steps in a spiritual (Godly) way; or if any of you have experienced applying them as part of a program for some addition you've had?

Actually, this is what I asked about: "I was very surprised, suspicious, freaked out .. to find that this is the subject of the current term's teachings at one of the churches that I attend. But this sermon series is about the 12 steps on our road to spiritual recovery and our increasing dependence on God ... weaning ourselves off addiction to ego, self-centredness, and material obsessions (whatever they may be, including use of oil - fuel, plastics, etc). "The sermon series is based on a book called Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr" Rohr, a Franciscan friar, posits that we are all addicted. But for all of us, our addiction is to sin, and we love to sin, it's an illness in us. He posits using the Twelve Steps to overcome our addiction to sin and self. Here is one version of the Christian 12 steps: The Christian 12 Step program and Biblical Principles, as used in Christian Rehab Centers for faith based 12 Step recovery programs around the world. STEP ONE is about recognizing our brokenness We admitted we were powerless over the effects of our separation from God – that our lives had become unmanageable I know nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out (ROMANS 7:18) STEP TWO is about the birth of faith in us Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (PHILLIPIANS 2:13) STEP THREE involves a decision to let God be in charge of our lives Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. (ROMANS 12:1) STEP FOUR involves self-examination Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (LAMANTATIONS 3:40) STEP FIVE is the discipline of confession Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (JAMES 5:16) STEP SIX is an inner transformation sometimes called repentance Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (JAMES 4:10) STEP SEVEN involves the transformation or purification of our character Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1JOHN 1:9) STEP EIGHT involves examining our relationships and preparing ourselves to make amends Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (LUKE 6:31) STEP NINE is the discipline of making amends Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (MATTHEW 5:23-24) STEP TEN is about maintaining progress in recovery Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall. (1 CORINTHIANS 10:12) STEP ELEVEN involves the spiritual disciplines of prayer and meditation Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. (COLOSSIANS 3:16) STEP TWELVE is about ministry Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, as you also may be tempted. (GALATIANS 6:1) So, while it may be interesting to discuss the AA 12 Steps programme, the real thing we need to be discussing is the 12 steps we need to take in our own spiritual recovery: our addiction to self, ego, self-centredness, and material obsessions and possessions (things), or even people. For some here, it may mean considering our addiction to heresies, to false teachings, whether from TWI, or Roman Catholicism, or any other religious teaching. --We specifically need to consider our own addiction to anything or anyone that gets between us and the God and creator of the universe. --We specifically need to consider our own addiction to anything or anyone that gets between us and Jesus Christ, in all his sacrifice and glory. --We specifically need to consider our own addiction to anything or anyone that gets between us and living our lives in a spiritual manner, bearing witness to God in our words and our actions. As well as getting rid of ego and self-centredness, we need to examine ourselves and get rid of "nameable" things: hurt, jealousy, lack of forgiveness, thoughts of revenge, living in the past. We need to stop vaunting our own intellectual prowess (vaunting our knowledge above God). We need to stop being greedy, hoarding, and chasing money, etc (all of which show lack of dependence on God's provision). All of these, and many other things, can become "gods" to us, obsessions that get in the way of a true, living, spiritual reality. Instead, we need to consider who God says he is, and to try to deepen our own understanding of Him. This will involve our intellectual abilities - but always bring those back to understanding who and what God is, and what God requires of us. It involves our physical abilities - using what we have to do, to take actions in line with what God wants. That is what "being meek to the Word" means. The 12 steps, whether Rohr's Christian version, or AA's, or Drug Awareness, or any other entity's version, are only tools to help us on our spiritual journey. Too much debate on them, and the exact meaning of the words expressing the steps, veers off into an intellectual curiosity that distracts from actually paying attention and doing what those steps express, which is getting past our selves and into the freedom of our dependence on God.