Here's my response to Michellebelle.
You seemed to take a lot of time responding to me in your comments so I will give the same attention back.
First of all wow, it sounds like you've been exposed to an AA for extremists. It's certainly not the AA that I've heard about. In fact it would be like putting Mormons and Baptists in the same group. I hope that I don't have to explain the differences there.
From what you said it sounds like your husband and in-laws are 'friends of Bill' as they like to put it but you are not. So is it safe to say that you are a social drinker, or maybe not a drinker at all, but have no addiction, whereas their drinking led them to an addictive lifestyle? I'm just guessing here, and you really don't have to answer me, I'm just trying to understand where you are coming from because it appears to have caused you a lot of pain.
I am hearing too that you consider yourself a Christian but I'm having trouble hearing Christ in your comments, but that could be your hurt speaking again. My understanding of a Christian is someone who has recognized their own sinfulness and their desperate need for a savior, and turned to Christ to fill that need, because apart from Him there is no hope. If you have ever been caught up in an addiction then you would know firsthand the hopelessness that they feel. (I haven't personally, but I do work with addicts and that's maybe why you think that I may be wrapped up in AA, to use your own words.) I believe that everyone of us is sinful, that there is no person on this earth without sin. That's me and you too. So when you indicate that Bill abused his wife it doesn't surprise me. He was a drunkard too! I don't hold myself up as being without sin and I don't have to know you personally to know that you can't hold yourself as sinless either. These are the 12 steps written from a Christian perspective.
In Steps 1, 2, & 3, we make peace with God
We come to terms with our powerlessness, resolve the fact that only God can do what we can’t do for ourselves, and resolve to let Him do it.
1. I admit that I have no power to control my addictive or compulsive behavior, nor that of others... that my life has become unmanageable, destructive to myself and others, and hindering God's will for my life.
2. I came to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, in His boundless grace and love for me, wants to restore me to sanity...and with His infinite power is able to do so.
3. I make the decision to turn my will and my life over to God's care through Jesus Christ, who died for me...to allow the Lord Jesus to live through me.
In Steps 4, 5, 6, &7 we make peace with ourselves
In taking an inventory, we look at ourselves, who we are, what we are, how we are. It is uncomfortable but in the end we are freed of the guilt and shame and assured of who we are in Christ.
4. Knowing my infinite worth in Christ, I now make a list without fear of condemnation, of all areas of my life which are displeasing to God, as well as my God given strengths and abilities which I have not yet fully used, as revealed to me by the Holy Spirit.
5. Admitted to God, myself, and another human being the exact nature of my sin and shortcomings...thus acknowledging my personal accountability.
6. I ask the Holy Spirit to break down any resistance to His work in me, and to make me entirely willing for Him to remove my character defects.
7. I humbly ask the Lord Jesus to remove my shortcomings and defects of character, submitting to His will.
In Steps 8 &9 we make peace with others
We list those with whom we have to make amends and start on the path of healing relationships.
8. I ask the Holy Spirit to bring to my mind all those people whom I have harmed. I write a list of them and pray for the willingness to make amends to them all.
9. I pray for the Lord to provide the opportunities to make direct amends to all those people I have harmed, and I act on those opportunities...except when to do so would injure them or others... as He guides and strengthens me.
In Steps 10& 11 we maintain the peace
We learn how and then continue to maintain a relationship with Jesus through prayer, meditation and daily reading of God’s Word.
10. I continue daily to take personal inventory, giving the Lord Jesus the praise for any growth in me, and promptly admit any failures, confess all sins, and make amends for any wrongdoing to others.
11. I seek through prayer and meditation on God's Word to improve my conscious contact with God through Jesus Christ, praying for His will for me and for the power of the Holy Spirit to allow Christ to work in and through my life...to His glory.
And in Step 12 we give that peace away……..
12. Having been spiritually renewed in Christ and having applied HIS twelve steps in my own life, I carry this message to others in need of it and continue striving to practice these Biblical truths in all my affairs.
Btw, the place where I work is a Christian program for recovery. We have an incredible success rate, and not because we do the 12 steps, that's only a small portion of what we teach. We are successful because we introduce each woman to the love of Christ. Those who are successful in their recovery give all the glory to Him.
I hope that you can find peace with the addicts in your life.
3 comments:
great words, sue!
Wow...heavy topic, but well said all around. I can identify with what michellebelle shared about her Grandpa - being set free (by the sounds of it) in one powerful encounter with the Living God, and walking in freedom - not having the urge to pick up another drink ever - not ever. I get it! That's my testimony too. In fact I would say that I was delivered from alcoholism and received a baptism of Holy Spirit all in one incredible evening, in my parents basement. (!) At that moment, I covenanted with God to do what He asked me, wherever He asked me to do it. Within a year, I was in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside doing street ministry and smack dab in the middle of ministry to recovering addicts. Here's the best part (and why I decided to leave a comment) While there are things about AA/NA/CA that I wouldn't attest to, God put me in a community full of folks who were relying on it to teach me - you see, within AA/NA, God pointed out to me that although I had quit using, my behaviors were still just as abusive and destructive as when I had been loaded. It was like discipleship for me, it was humbling, but it was appropriate. God used the program principles and the people I came into contact with to mature me spiritually. So that's my story, it seems like it might throw some extra flavour into the conversation.
grace,
Heather Dolby
614 Charlotte
TWELVE STEPS AWAY FROM CHRIST
Mr. Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and creator of the twelve step program. Mr. Wilson was heavily influenced by demons. Chapter sixteen (p. 275f) of 'Pass It On' The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world records Mr. Wilson's use of the ouija board, participation in seances, psychic events, "spook sessions", table levitation, and how he would receive "messages" from "discarnate" spirits. Bill Wilson was clearly in contact with demons, and this is the man who created the deceptive twelve step program. Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. (step #11. Emphasis added.) The last part of this statement ("as we understood Him") is enough to damn your soul! God says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5). This is the exact opposite of "God as we understood Him." All men, according to Romans 1:18-32, are condemned before God, because they rely upon their own understanding (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18, "having their understanding darkened"), and they create (in their own darkened minds) a god of their own making (Romans 1:23). To encourage people to turn their "lives over to the care of God as we understood Him", is to encourage people to "turn their lives over to a god of their own making" (i.e. according to their own understanding). This promotes nothing more than spiritual death (Revelation 22:15). In addition, these twelve steps are a deceitful attack against the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. they are against Christ, antichrist, 2 John 7; Colossians 2:8-10). The twelve steps are (as Mr. Wilson used them) given as an answer (a way) in which one can overcome sin (with Mr. Wilson's case, the sin of drunkenness). Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer for sin. He is the only way (John 14:6). There is only ONE "step", and that is faith in the Savior (Ephesians 2:8/Matthew 1:21/John 8:36/Romans10:13)! The above exemplifies the "twelve steps" are what are used to "become free from addictive, compulsive" behavior (i.e. sin). In other words, the twelve steps are the savior! No doubt it is deceptive, because "Biblical principles" are interwoven throughout; but if they weren't, few (if any) would be deceived. One good question to ask would be, "Where does Scripture talk about any 'twelve steps'"? The answer? Nowhere! These twelve steps come from Satan (via Bill Wilson), who is the master deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Remember, Satan used Scripture to tempt Christ (Matthew 4:6), and Balaam spoke much truth (Numbers 23-24); but he was a false prophet (2 Peter 2:15-16/Numbers 22). In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus warned, Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Jesus likewise warned in Luke 13:24, Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
PEACE BE WITH YOU
MICKY
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