Powerlessness: Hacking the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
Many of you know that I used to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous on a regular basis, but no longer do. After nearly 2 years of 3 times a week minimum, with some weeks hitting six or seven, it’s now been at least a year since I’ve been to one. I could probably fill a book with my reasons for no longer attending, and I’m the first to admit that some are legitimate, while some are not… but there is one that’s been on my mind lately.
Let me say up front that this is not an anti-AA post: some of the people that I met through the meetings I attended helped to literally save my life. Alcoholics Anonymous is a great organization, but like any other large organization it has issues that could use correction. I’ll let others point out it’s flaws – I’m only here to take what I learned from some wonderful people and hopefully pass on to others some tweaks that I’ve made that helped me when I couldn’t (or more accurately, wouldn’t) tow the fundamentalist recovery line.
One of the things that I heard around the meetings quite a bit was that “Alcohol is only mentioned in the first step.” This is because, as it says in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, “bottles are only symptoms.” The purpose of the steps is to produce what is called a “psychic change” that will remove the obsession to drink and make the sufferer “happily and usefully whole.” (See Appendix II – Spiritual Experience of the book Alcoholics Anonymous for more information on what is meant by this “psychic change.”)
Unfortunately, in the very first step of the Twelve Steps, there’s a dirty little word that many in the personal development community find distasteful:
Powerless
That one word stops many people dead in their tracks. They are either insulted and give the big “FU” to powerlessness, or they become stuck in it, and decide that “well, in that case, I’m just screwed.”
In my opinion, the first step (”We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.”) is useless without the second and the third steps.
Step two reads “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
Step three reads “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.”
Whenever a person looks at their life and decides to change something that isn’t as easy as flipping a switch, they go through these three steps.
They recognize that there is a problem that they haven’t been able to solve on their own.
They hope that there is a solution.
They decide that they will follow the directions of people who have already solved their problem.
People who are involved in personal development of any kind do exactly these things. When it first starts, they recognize that they are powerless over their limitations.
This does not mean that there is nothing that can be done about the thing that they want to change. It simply means that, as things stand right now, they don’t have the necessary knowledge or ability to make the change that they want to.
But there’s always hope.
Whatever limitation you are currently powerless over, it’s always possible to find the necessary power if you follow the directions of those that have done what you want to do.
This post has 34 comments
March 24th, 2008
If you were truly “powerless” you couldn’t “Ma[k]e a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.†The powerless can’t can’t make decisions. You are quite right–the twelves stps all go together –like they say about love and marriage “you can’t have one without the other,” Great post! Mom
March 24th, 2008
Lyman, great article. I recently started going to Al-Anon meetings after about 10 years of not going to meetings. Back in 1989, I discovered Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) and, a few months later, Al-Anon. Like you, I went to at least 3-5 meetings a week. I would have gone to 7 meetings a week if they had them. I was that desperate to not hurt any more. Even though I stopped going after 8 years, I still practiced what I had learned in my life and in all of my relationships. About 8 weeks ago, I started going to Al-Anon meetings with a friend who had never been before. She asked me to go with her. Just last week, I told the group that ACA saved my life and Al-Anon saved my marriage all those years ago. The biggest lesson that I learned in the beginning was that control—the idea that I was in control of anything or anyone besides myself—was an illusion that I had created to cover up my fears. The more in control I tried to be, the more out of control I really was. Because I choose to not drink, I am not considered an alcoholic. I have the addictive personality. They taught me in Al-Anon that I had a Higher Power. Through Al-Anon, I learned to trust myself and God again. They really are great programs. Like you, I had my own reasons for no longer attending after 8 years. I needed the space and time to explore other avenues of my spirituality. I am enjoying going to meetings again. It tells me how much I really have grown since those first years.
Patricia
March 24th, 2008
Great article, Lyman! I am definitely one of those people who hates the idea of “powerlessness” – to me, we’re always the Creators of our experiences. But we absolutely have to recognize when what we are creating isn’t working for us. And we all have spiritual resources available to us that will guide us, serve us, and give us strength … but we have to ask.
Blessings,
Andrea
March 24th, 2008
Phew………
Now this article absolutely touches my entire being! I walked into AA 24 years ago — I heard that word “powerless” and my attitude was “FU” — but….
I stayed – Why? I wanted a better life and I met people in there that showed me, through their example, that I could have a better life…..
I worked all of the 12 steps – “My Way” — yup me and Frank Sinatra
People said it can’t be done that way — well that was 24 years ago – So obviously it can be done that way – and today I believe it needs to be done that way – if someone is truly going to find their absolute POWER!
Here is what I decided, early on, about that word “powerless” – Obviously I was not powerless since I am the one that put the bottle down — but — I did realize that when I had picked the bottle up – it was indeed my choice, my power, that I gave away to that bottle and I let it lead me where ever we went….
Did I have an addictive personality? – absolutely I did…
Do I have that personality today? – NO — it is gone – I know the reasons why I drank – and today I no longer live like that.
I actually still go to a meeting here in town once or twice a month… It is a meeting that is mostly folks with about the same time as me – we are good friends today – and we don’t talk about drinking – we talk about all the fantastic things that go on in our lives today! And…. we always go out together for dinner… So it is a great time for all!
Thank You Lyman for talking about this — I have wanted to start a blog about all of this — you might have just pushed me over to do so…..
Big Hugs
March 25th, 2008
Great post. When I quit drinking I went to maybe 4 or 5 meetings a week for two and a half years. I can relate to your issue with powerlessness; I stopped going to meetings for the same reasons. I just have to keep reminding myself that the word powerless refers to alcohol only. I did have the power to not pick up that first drink, but after that the power was no longer in my hands. All I have to do is remember how powerless I was over the booze and I just cringe.
March 27th, 2008
Hey dude, forwarded to me from dave glad to see your doin good great post. I have added you to favs & will check in now & then. Say HI to trace, miss ya love ya.
April 1st, 2008
Wow… excellent comments, everyone!
Mom, I love it how you said that we aren’t truly powerless if we can still make a decision. It really works into what Kevin said – “I just have to keep reminding myself that the word powerless refers to alcohol only.” The first drink is a choice, but once that door is open, the person making the choices is, as my wife puts is, “big stupid drunk guy”.
Patricia – that is awesome that you’ve come back to it and it’s working well for you. One of the things that it says in the Big Book is that that for alcoholics, “bottles are only a symptom.” How those symptoms come out is different for different people. Our preferred method of harming ourselves is just that – a preferred method. The internals seem to be the same.
Andrea – thanks for bringing up the fact that we have to recognize when things aren’t working. It’s unfortunate that some people take the truth that “What we focus on expands” and turn it into “I’ll just ignore the problems and not do anything about them.” I did that for a long time – I didn’t think about my issues because I didn’t want to focus on them – and so nothing was done about them.
Ellie – thank you so much for being another Sinatra, and for letting us know that the one size fits all approach doesn’t always have to fit all!
24 years… that’s awesome. One of the reasons that I loved my old home group back in Illinois so much was because it was one of the few that was truly focused on solutions and growth, and not the “war stories” that can begin to dominate many meetings.
Kevin – thanks for the input! Once again, I loved what you said – “I just have to keep reminding myself that the word powerless refers to alcohol only.” Sometimes I wanted to get up in meetings and scream when people would whine about how powerless they were about this thing or that thing. Yes, it is true that we may not have direct control over the electricity that powers the lights in our homes, but we do have the power to flip the switches.
Jim – what’s up, brother! It’s really awesome to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by, and now that I know that you and Dave are watching me on here, I guess I better behave!
Say hi to everyone out there for me, will ya?
April 6th, 2008
I’ve been sober in (and out of, at times) AA for 16 years. The people who don’t want to admit they’re powerless, who see “powerless” as a bad word, aren’t ready for AA yet. When I was able to admit the reality, the truth, of my powerlessness over alcohol, only then was I able to do what was necessary to get power over it.
The Twelve Steps are about getting power and maintaining power. Nobody who has the power needs the 12 Steps.
I’ve got problems with AA too. But going to AA meetings is a low risk activity, and not going could be high risk.
And I highly recommend not stopping altogether, even if you go only once a month. From what I’ve seen, less active AA members do better than people who just quit altogether.
Not trying to be harsh, but based on my experience–that I’ve basically had the same thoughts–I’d say your concern with the word “powerless” is a cop out, or you’re missing something. AA is clearly not about remaining powerless.
I love reading Abraham and listening to Abraham. But I also believe it’s very possible to go all the way with only the Big Book of AA, which I believe is as channelled as any Abraham.
April 6th, 2008
Thanks for the excellent comment, CowDaddy. You make some great points.
You are absolutely right – AA isn’t about remaining powerless. The stated point of the Big Book is to show a person how find the necessary power to solve his problems.
Unfortunately, AA meetings can be quite a different thing. I suppose this happens when any organization gets as big as AA has – the message gets lost and muddied, even when directly contradicting material is being read from.
One thing that your comment does miss is the fact that there are places to learn and practice getting and staying sober other than AA, some of which require and some of which do not require meeting attendance – SMART Recovery and Rational Recovery each come to mind. There are also a huge number of more general purpose personal development resources (more are out there now than there have ever been) which have a striking similarity to Steps 4 through 11.
When it comes to going “all the way” with only the Big Book, it may be for some, but not for everyone. Just like I would never tell someone that they had to listen to Abraham, I don’t think that it does anyone any favors when an active alcoholic is told that he has to go to AA. Present it as an option? Absolutely. But to say it’s the one true way is just false.
Thanks again for your comment, and the food for thought. I will take your “one meeting a month” idea under consideration, though. I’d never really thought about that before.
April 6th, 2008
Lyman, one of the reasons that I stopped going to Al-Anon after attending for 8 years was that I then needed more time out of meetings to put to use what I had learned in the meetings. Another reason was because I was tired of hearing the same old stories from the same people when I couldn’t see any changes that they were making in themselves. Some people do get stuck in victim mode and never come out of it. If you don’t work the program, whether it is Al-Anon or AA or any other 12-Step program, it doesn’t do you any good. Admitting that I was powerless didn’t mean that I had no control over myself or the situation. For me, it meant that I could finally say, I need help because what I have been doing isn’t working. I had to learn to Let Go and Let God. Saying I was powerless wasn’t saying, I am a victim. Believe me when I say, I had already fought that battle and I wasn’t going back there. I wasn’t a victim when I did 12-Step meetings. It meant that I couldn’t control the things and people that I thought I could in order to feel safe. I was hurting myself and others.
Patricia
April 6th, 2008
Regarding Rational Recovery and SMART–are they even still in existence? I think you’d be hard pressed to find a group. I know people who tried both and the people I knew–it didn’t work at all for them.
When we tell somebody they have to go to AA–that really shouldn’t be done. AA has a method of staying sober that people are welcome to try if they want to.
As far as the people in AA–a lot of them have been through treatment and through therapy and they think what they learned in treatment and in therapy is AA. And it’s really not. The program of AA is outlined in the Big Book.
And, yeah, I believe the Big Book of AA was channeled and that most anybody can go all the way with it–if they want to. I wouldn’t have thought that until about a year ago, and then I met some people who were really into it, and I got back into it, and I remembered how I did the first year I was sober with nothing except the Big Book.
I’m not at all pushing the idea of doing it all the way with the Big Book. I am really into Abraham these days.
And I went through years of going to AA much less often than I do today, sometimes not even once a month. I got back into it about 5 years ago. I didn’t plan on getting back in to it. I was just going to a meeting, dropping in, I thought. But for some reason I really liked it and decided to go back the next night. And then the next night and so on, and I’m back to 5 times a week or so.
April 7th, 2008
Interesting conversation going on here….
I do believe “one size does NOT fit all” and so there are different paths to the same destinations. I think that is great as it just shows how diverse we as a people are!
I walked into the rooms over 24 years ago and while I wasn’t thrilled with some of the verbiage going on – I wanted my life to change and I was willing to try this.
I read the Big Book and have to tell you – it was not for me. It is not how I got sober… If any book was important to me early on – it was the Twelve & Twelve….
I have met many old-timers – I’m taking 40+ years who never read the Big Book nor the Twelve & Twelve and are still sober today!
As for Abraham – well I have had a couple of conversations with Abraham about alcoholism and AA. I just dug out my CD’s and the conversation we had on May 8,2004 CD B in Tarrytown is very interesting….
Abraham makes some points in which I was feeling — that the idea of telling someone how they have to always talk about how bad it was – well they felt that was not a very empowering thing to do… They say much, much more….
If you can get your hands on this CD – I highly recommend it! Also there is a CD (can’t remember the date) they did last year in where they did the next steps after the 12 steps – excellent info!
As Abraham said to me – AA was the path I allowed in – which was very helpful to me — today I have changed – the path that once was useful is not the path for me now. That does not diminish the older path – that path is no longer needed. I do not vibrationally match that path anymore – I am not the same person I was 24 years ago.
I do not find it useful to talk about what used to be – I do not find it useful to believe that if I drank today my life would fall apart. Or if I stopped going to meetings I would drink and then my life would fall apart.
For me, those are dis-empowering thoughts – they strip away my power.
And so… we are back to my original statement – “one size does NOT fit all” – There is not right or wrong way to live your life — there is only living your life!
My favorite saying “There are No Mistakes….. Only Discoveries!”
April 16th, 2008
A little bit of A.A. history can go a long way in eliminating confusion that has arisen over words and meanings that were not a part of early A.A. If you read Bill’s story, you will see that he never talked about being “powerless.” He did make some important observations–alcohol had become his master, self-knowledge was not enough, willpower was not enough, fear was not enough; and finally no human aid was enough. And in the early days, Bill simply said “we were licked.” They also talked exclusively about God, Divine Aid, establishing a relationship with God, and then humbly turning to Him for healing. The “powerless” stuff is language picked up from Peabody and his no cure for alcoholism theories and some language of Sam Shoemaker about being “powerless” to bridge the gap between God and man without accepting Christ. However, you will see that Bill decided to pick up on some other Shoemaker language about a “Force” greater than ourselves, etc. Bill decided to write his own theory–something that didn’t come from Akron A.A., from the Bible, or from the Oxford Group; and I’ve not been able to find that Dr. Bob ever subscribed to the theory. Bill’s theory was based on Shoemaker’s idea that if one conducted the “experiment of faith” and obeyed God’s will, man would “find” God. Shoemaker cited John 7:17 many many times for this proposition. Bill asked Shoemaker to write the Twelve Steps, and Sam declined. So Bill proceeded to put two and two together in his own way and assume that they added up to a “spiritual experience.” One idea is that you lacked “power” on your own to overcome your problems. Anne Smith wrote that Paul believed he needed a “stronger power” than his own (that power being Christ), Bill reasoned that he could open A.A. up by proclaiming that “lack of power” was the problem. That to Bill meant, “powerless.” And the formula was to “find a power that would solve the problem.” Many forget that Bill wrote: And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God; and on the next page he stated that the “power” was God. Dr. Bob, as always, had kept it simple: “Do you believe in God?” If you did, you were on your way. Then your job was to be converted to Christ, study the Bible, pray, ask God’s guidance, and help others. Therefore, 22 years later, I really would rather talk history than words. At the beginning I couldn’t understand “powerless.” Then people began saying n meeting that they were “powerless over people, places, and things.” In other words, they made up their own religion without knowledge of where our ideas came from, where Almighty God fit in the picture, and what this “power” was. They began defining it as a light bulb, a radiator, a tree, the Great Pumpkin, Ralph, the Big Dipper, and finally the “A.A. itself” as Bill inserted in the Twelve and Twelve. My own solution in working with others is to learn what the Big Book and Steps say, to learn our history, to avoid using confusing words like “powerless” and “power” and get back to the basic ideas that helped cure so many: (1) I’m licked. I can’t quit. I can’t stop when I start. I can’t do it alone. My life stinks. (2) I’ve found nobody else has been able, just by himself, to get me out of the mire–doctors, psychiatrists, ministers, hospitals, therapists – beyond human aid. (3)I will entrust my life to God’s care and direction, become one of His kids, obey His will, learn more, and help others. If you know your A.A. history, the report of Frank Amos, the early documented successes, and how they really got cured, you may want to use some “old school A.A.” to get over the confusion of endless, confused meeting chatter that doesn’t even find its counterpart in Bill’s own story, and certainly not in Dr. Bob’s. Two pages of the latest Big Book can enlighten as to what they originally believed, page 181 and page 191. God Bless, Dick B.
http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml; http://www.dickb-blog.com;
http://DrBob.info
December 29th, 2008
11th tradition and selling books?
April 21st, 2008
Hi Lyman, I tried OA for about a year and had the same problem with powerless. I got the whole turning your will and your life over. Ironically, now I don’t have a problem saying that I’m powerless (not in OA anymore, haven’t been for over 6 years). One of the commenters that explained the history hit the nail on the head. The principles can be applied to life in general.
1. It’s out of control and heading in a significant downward spiral. Try as you might you cannot gain control.
2. You discover that there is a Power/Force greater than yourself (God/Consciousness/Spirit).
3. You turn you will and your life over to that Force.
Turns out that I’m more powerful than ever at this point. Not in the conceited-I’m-in-charge sort of way, but in an able way.
It’s an experience. You can probably relate:-)
In Spirit,
Nneka
April 24th, 2008
Check out the 16 step approach – it’s much more sane: http://www.charlottekasl.com/
April 28th, 2008
I believe in the concept of us having an on/off switch. We either flip on consciousness and take responsibility for our lives or we don’t. If we don’t, and we choose to be powerless and guided by our environment, than it’s true, we better pray for someone or something to lead us in the right direction.
April 29th, 2008
The Unmanageable life:
Here’s a tidbit from our history. Oxford Group founder Dr. Frank Buchman often told his “Victor Story.” Buchman had the young lad get on his knees and surrender with this prayer: “O God, manage me because I cannot manage myself.” In Rev. Sam Shoemaker’s Calvary Episcopal Church in New York this was known as “Charlie’s Prayer.” It went: “O’God manage me ’cause I can’t manage myself.” Anne Smith (Dr. Bob’s wife)put an almost identical prayer in the journal she kept from 1933 to 1939 and frequently shared with AAs and their families during morning quiet time at the Smith home. Once again, “Lord, manage me because I can’t mange myself.”
Today, I call it the “manage me” prayer, and it seems rather clear that Bill Wilson–who credited Sam Shoemaker as a “cofounder” of A.A., and Anne Smith as the “Mother of A.A.”–was prompted to add to the First Step the idea that “our lives had become unmanageable.” I dig that: I was licked, and my life truly was unmanageable when I entered AA 22 years ago. God Bless, Dick B. And for more, see Twelve Steps for You and New Light on Alcoholism and Anne Smith’s Journal, 1933-1939
April 30th, 2008
Powerless? Not on your life.
Some tidbits from our history
The original wording of Step Two was “came to believe that God could restore us to sanity.” The original language later said “God can and will.”
Dr. Bob made his belief in the power of God to heal a matter of great clarity. As recorded on page 144 of DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, he simply asked the newcomer “Do you believe in God?” There was only one acceptable answer: “I do.” Then on page 181 of the Big Book, Bob stated his conviction:”Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”
Bill Wilson took a different course, seeming to have borrowed his approach from his mentor, Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, whom Bill called a “cofounder of A.A.” In his first book, Realizing Religion, Shoemaker had written: “You need to find God. You need a vital religious experience. You need Jesus Christ.” The how was by “conversion.” Shoemaker wrote the challenge: “God either is, or He isn’t.” And Bill Wilson wrote the same idea in the Big Book and picked up on Shoemaker’s idea “There is One with all power. That One is God. May you find Him now.” Wilson then set forth the suggested steps to establishing a relationship with God. He said later in the Big Book: “And it means, of course, we are going to talk about God.” On the next page he wrote that the “Power” was God.
In other words, the steps from lack of power to power and hence to overcoming the so-called “powerless” state were to admit you were licked and that your life had become unmanageable, believe in the power of the Creator, and make a decision to entrust your life to His care.
God Bless, Dick B.
For more, see Twelve Steps for You, By the Power of God, The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous, and The Good Book and The Big Book.
May 11th, 2008
I truly know that I am powerless over anything unless I look to God to be my guide in my decsion making. Let’s face it life is one big decision ball and I’m not the one running the show. Why not defer to God? Once I have then I can listen to my gut and know that that is God with his gift of intuition for me to listen to. Going to meetings is like my filling station. Meetings keep me humble and remember that I am powerless over people, places and things but the fact that I am at a meeting shows me that if I keep coming back turning it over and asking for help I’ll be of some good to you guys and my family.
Nothing I do is by myself. God has given me the power to do stuff. When I do bad stuff like drink, lie, keep secrects it’s because I’ve had the arrogants to think I know better.
I better stop writing now because I was just trying to put my thoughts and feelings into writing for the first time. I don’t want to come off trying to sound like I’m reinventing the wheel. God made the wheel through man after all!!
Thank you all for indulging me!!!!!!
May 26th, 2008
Three Alcoholics Anonymous Christian Women Leaders:
They Studied, Taught, and Discussed the Bible in A.A.
Dick B.
© 2008 by Anonymous. All rights reserved
About A.A., the Bible, and Christian Women in Recovery Today
The following sound like simple questions for which there must be simple answers today. And that is the case. The problem is that many women in Alcoholics Anonymous, in Al-Anon, in 12 Step programs, in recovery programs, and in Christian recovery groups just don’t know the real facts that can readily provide them with the answers.
Are there women in recovery groups today? Of course there are. This, despite the fact that the earliest A.A. fellowships consisted of men only. And are there Christian women in recovery groups today? Of course there are. This, in spite of the fact that 12-Step literature pouring out of service offices, treatment programs, and social agencies suggest you don’t have to believe in God or make a decision for Christ in order to recover from alcoholism and other addictions.
Do women have to be or become Christians in order to belong to A.A., receive treatment, or recover from alcoholism. The answer is a very clear “No.†But can women and men believe in God, be a Christian, study the Bible, and read Christian literature today and still be active and in recovery and recovery groups today. The answer is an equally clear “Yes.â€
Are there Christian women in recovery and recovery groups who study or wish to study the Bible as part of their recovery effort? Once again, the answer is “Yes.†Of course, there are. This is the case even though women and others are intimidated in today’s fellowships—if they mention the Bible, Jesus Christ, or religion in meetings, groups, conferences, or to their sponsors. Have I personally seen that situation? The answer is “Yes.†All too often.
Are A.A., Al-Anon, most 12 Step fellowships, and treatment programs “Christian†today? They most certainly are not—at least not A.A. or Al-Anon, or even a substantial majority of anonymous fellowships and treatment programs.
Given this strange assortment of facts, is there a place today in A.A., Al-Anon, 12 Step fellowships, and treatment programs for Christian women who want to participate fully in their societies and programs and still study the Bible? A place for Christian women who desire to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ? A place for women who devotedly choose to attend, talk about, and share facts about some Christian church of their choice—be it Roman Catholic, Protestant, or non-denominational? And the answer is most assuredly “Yes.†They can do this freely, openly, and sincerely even in the face of the oft-heard rumbling in recovery halls today about some “higher power†that is not Almighty God, about a supposed “spirituality†that has nothing to do with Christianity or the Bible, and about an alleged difference between A.A. as “spiritual†and A.A. as a society that rests on countless Biblical and Christian words, roots, language, historical principles, and practices. And also a society that regularly studies and quotes a basic text that patently uses Christian language. It refers to God and to Bible verses taken straight from Scripture. It urges concepts about doing God’s will—concepts that definitely necessitate a belief in Almighty God. These truths are firm whether AAs talk about “a†god of their understanding, “a†power greater than themselves, or some great, undefined “Reality.†These curious and often contradictory usages do not make A.A. Christian or Biblical. They simply contract some basic, biblical ideas. But they do plainly point to the religious wellsprings from which A.A. emerged and was constructed.
Those are the facts today.
In brief, today A.A. and many other recovery societies are not, do not purport to be, and do not require members to become, Christian. Nor do they insist on acceptance or mouthing of any Christian creed, statement of Christian faith, Christian literature, or of any association with some particular sect, denomination, or church—Christian or otherwise—as a condition of recovery.
These also are the facts today. But they do not justify close-mindedness, exclusivity, condemnation, criticism, skepticism, atheism, agnosticism, or unbelief. In fact, typifying his own personal belief in, and reliance on, Almighty God, AA Cofounder Dr. Bob wrote at the close of his personal story that follows the basic text:
If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails, if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when you were getting another drink. Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!
What was the answer of which Dr. Bob spoke? The help of Almighty God! Dr. Bob made it plain that God never fails those who believe in Him and diligently seek Him.
One could argue endlessly in meetings today about the irrelevance of God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. Or that you can stop drinking, get sober, and remain sober without religious affiliation, Christian principles, and Biblical practices. In fact, many many people make these points every day. And that is their affair, as Dr. Bob put it. These doubters and critics are not suppressed, chastised, or expelled because of their views in, for, against, or about God. They are free to hold them and express them.
But my own emails, letters, and phone calls—including hundreds from women in recovery—have emerged from the questions posed above. They ask: Is A.A. is anti-Christian? Is it against religion? Is it non-Christian, and opposed to Bible study, religious literature, and church?. The queries arise largely because of frequent vociferous objections from bleeding deacons, because of some individual’s distaste for churches and Christianity, or because of a widespread misunderstanding of what A.A. is, where it came from, or how it really proposes that people get well.
The best approach I know in dealing with arguments hostile to Christians and Christian ideas and statements in recovery today is to raise clearly the following points: (1) Ask the hostile contender to point to some “rule,†some “law,†some “tradition,†or some authoritative announcement from a General Service Conference that holds one may not be a Christian, may not study the Bible, may not mention Jesus Christ, may not attend a Christian church, and may not—in such situations—claim to be, belong to, and embrace A.A., Al-Anon, or 12-Step fellowship principles and practices today. (2) Ask the hostile contender if he or she has read such A.A. materials as DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers and the many other “Conference Approved†pieces of literature that talk about the Bible, the early Christian fellowship, the Christian women who taught early AAs, and the importance of the Book of James, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 in every day recovery meetings and language. (3) Ask the hostile contender if he or she has any knowledge of the early A.A. Christian fellowship in Akron; of its regular study of the Book of James, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, and 1 Corinthians 13; and of the widespread desire among the pioneers to call A.A. The James Club because of the popularity of the Book of James. (4) Ask the hostile contender if he or she is at all familiar with the role that three Christian women played in the founding and development of the program; and with their teaching of the Christian principles, literature, and practices. (5) Ask the contender if he or she has studied the actual history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dominating the background of my interest in what the early AAs did, what they believed, and how and why they succeeded, is the Bible itself. Why? Because I believe the Bible tells us about our Creator, His son, and His will, and enables us to understand them. And because I believe the original A.A. program called specifically for “finding†God, for “establishing a relationship with God,†for being of maximum service to God, and for trusting God. I found it important to discover the real Biblical ideas, practices, and teachings in early A.A. Yet, almost as soon as my interest in A.A.’s Bible roots developed, my sponsor and his sponsor insisted to me that people who read the Bible get drunk. My sponsor was no Bible student. And his sponsor had never ever read the Bible. Yet each insisted that it was wrong to discuss the Bible with a newcomer and offer him or her the chance to learn from the Bible. Each vociferously and also surreptitiously objected to a huge A.A. history meeting that was held in Mill Valley, California, where I discussed the Book of James and its place in our history. By that time, I had learned what Dr. Bob read in and recommended in the Bible. I knew what Anne Smith had taught AAs and their families from the Bible. And I had begun to see the Bible’s prominent place in the early A.A. practices and recoveries. This, in turn, led me to realize that it was not only appropriate, but immensely practical and valuable, for AAs—particularly women AAs—to learn the forthright way in which the Bible was authoritatively presented by three women in the fellowship itself.
Why Learn About the Christian Women Pioneers and Leaders in A.A.
Today there are a number of women employed by and paid to serve A.A. offices today. Some of these women write materials that become published by A.A. and embedded in its meeting chatter. AAs themselves really have no part in that process. Yet these employed women even write letters to members defining what they believe is the nature of A.A.—“spiritual, but not religious.†But they do not represent, do not speak for, and are not acting on behalf of A.A. members—individually or as a group. So it seems appropriate to look (for reliable experience, precedent, guidance, and actual historical facts) to the three important Christian women who had founding or experienced roles in the founding, development, and successes of A.A. fellowships themselves. Moreover, each of these three unpaid Christian women served A.A.’s primary purpose—to help the alcoholic who still suffers—and certainly did hands-on work with drunks.
This is not to make a special case for women leaders, or for Christian women, or for Christian activities in today’s A.A. The focus on these Christian leaders, however, may be more than justified on the following basis. AAs and others in recovery today may show more deference to the Christian roots and relevance of early A.A. ideas if it is known that they developed in an all male society but were taught, fostered, and practiced in the fellowship by women who were extraordinary leaders, teachers, and believers. And it was the work of these Christian women which contributed mightily to the astonishing 75 to 93% documented success rate among seemingly hopeless, medically incurable real alcoholics who went to any lengths to establish their relationship with God and get well. They contributed yesterday. And today!
Perhaps too it is easier to understand and study A.A.’s Christian roots by turning to the hands-on service of its Christian women leaders, rather than dwelling on the moral shortcomings, spiritual wanderings, and warped theological thinking of some of the men who helped found, and then substantially changed, the early fellowship. These men included some who were cheating on their wives, grabbing for profit and prestige, and fostering interest in spiritualism and drugs like LSD. Admittedly, these men weren’t perfect. Few of us are. But the track record of the Christian women perhaps offer a better and more substantial picture of honesty, fidelity, love, and service. And in any case, I believe they have earned mention as vital contributors to the fashioning of A.A. successes arising out of reliance on the Creator..
The Fruitfulness of Learning About Three of These Women Leaders
Four men whose writings or ideas caused Bill Wilson to dub them A.A. Co-founders: As the years rolled on from the actual founding of A.A., Bill Wilson began extending the title of “founder†to a number of men who played roles in influencing Wilson’s own Twelve Step program. These men included Dr. Carl Gustav Jung and his conversion cure theory; Professor William James and his voluminous study of actual conversion cures; Dr. William D. Silkworth and his ideas about the disease of alcoholism and the Great Physician’s ability to cure it; and Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr., who—according to Bill himself—taught him most of the specifics incorporated in Bill’s Twelve Step program of recovery. All four men were called “founders†by Bill. And the fruits of their ideas can be seen in the A.A. program’s history.
Sister Ignatia, the Roman Catholic nun, acknowledge by Wilson to have “played a considerable part in the founding of A.A.†Ignatia’s biographer called her the “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous.†Bill Wilson pointed to her close work with Dr. Bob in ministering to some 5000 alcoholics treated at St. Thomas Hospital operated by the Roman Catholic Church. Her biographer said she seldom met Dr. Bob’s wife in person, but stated that Anne Smith and Sister Ignatia conversed regularly on the telephone. And, though Sister Ignatia, was not an alcoholic, was not a “member†of A.A., and was not a participant in the fellowship’s early founding years, she became an inescapable part of the Akron family that ministered with success to hospitalized alcoholics in their early days. Admirers spoke of her as the “Little Angel.â€
But we turn to three women who were leaders within the fellowship itself.
The three Christian women leaders and where to find more about them:
Anne Ripley Smith: It is appropriate to start with Anne Ripley Smith (wife of Dr. Bob, founder of A.A., and the woman Bill Wilson called the “Mother of A.A.â€). You can read a few details about her in A.A. Conference Approved literature. But you will find much much more in my titles Anne Smith’s Journal, 1933-1939 (http://www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml); The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous (http://www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml); and Turning Point: A Histsory of Early A.A.’s Spiritual Roots and Successes (http://www.dickb.com/Turning.shtml).
Henrietta Buckler Seiberling: Henrietta was the Christian non-alcoholic woman who, in Bill Wilson’s own words, worked together with Anne Smith and “infused much needed spirituality into Bob and me†while Bill lived with the Smiths in the summer of 1935. It was Henrietta’s determination to get Bob sober that brought the Christian fellowship and Dr. Bob to prayer on their knees for his recovery. It was she who received the initial call from Bill Wilson that caused her to declare that Bill was “manna from heaven†and quickly recognized a God-given opportunity to help Dr. Bob. It was she who immediately introduced Bob to Bill at her home. It was she who “called the shots†at most of the early, weekly meetings. And here also, you will find much much more in my titles, Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio’s Lady with a Cause (http://dickb.com/HenriettaSeiberling.shtml); The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous (http://www.dickb.com/Akron.sthml); Turning Point: A History of Early A.A. (http://www.dickb.com/Turning.shml); and my own biographical chapter on Henrietta in the Hazelden title, Women Pioneers.
Grace Moore Snyder: Grace was the woman of God who was steeped in Christian training and upbringing; earned and maintained long-term sobriety as an AA; married A.A. pioneer Clarence H. Snyder; and learned the facts from Clarence about the real, early A.A. program. It was she who joined Clarence Snyder in conducting many many spiritual retreats for AAs and their families. It was she who literally devoted her life to bringing as many kids as possible “to the Lord†(as she put it). You will find the Clarence-Grace details is my title That Amazing Grace: The Role of Clarence and Grace S. in Alcoholics Anonymous (http://dickb.com/AmazGrac.shtml). There is more about their work in the How It Worked title by Mitch K. and in the Our Legacy book edited and compiled by me for its Three A.A. Oldtimer Clarence Snyder Sponsees and their Wives—which can be read and obtained through http://www.cametobelieve.org.
.
Why These Three Christian Women
As to Anne Ripley Smith: There are so many details about Dr. Bob’s wife and her Bible that I can only summarize them here. Anne began reading the Bible to Dr. Bob and Bill throughout the summer of 1935. She kept a journal from 1933 to 1939 in which she recorded all the facets of the early A.A. program. She shared its contents with, and discussed the subjects therein, with Bill and Bob. Also with early AAs and their families at daily morning quiet times at the Smith Home. She often read from and discussed the Bible in the early and later meetings of Akron Number One—later known as the King School Group. She formed the first women’s group as early as 1936—one year after A.A. was founded. She even counseled Lois Wilson in Lois’s trying times when wives were meeting as a “kitchen group†in the Wilson home. She recommended the reading of all sorts of Christian books. And her most significant statement—recorded in her journal—was:
Of course the Bible ought to be the main Source Book of all. Not a day should pass without reading it.â€
And she made specific suggestions about the portions that should be read, and in what order. I was perhaps the first person in recent years to obtain a copy of her Journal and review it carefully for its 64 pages of spiritual principles and practices taught to and discussed with AAs and their families. Anne was a graduate of Wellesley and had experience as a teacher. She and Dr. Bob attended several churches in Akron and took their children to Sunday school there. All the evidence I saw indicated that Anne was particularly able to make newcomers feel welcome, work with the wives of alcoholics, be a regular fixture at early meetings, and counsel both AAs and their families from her journal, at morning quiet times, and in the Smith home where many lived from time to time. One long-time friend Florence B. wrote that Anne was “evangelist, nurse, salesman, employment bureau all in one†and that “Anne’s personal religion was simple and workable. She never sought to rewrite the Bible nor to explain it. She just accepted it.â€
Henrietta Buckler Seiberling: I believe I was the first person to interview each of Henrietta’s three children in depth about Henrietta’s A.A. role and about her statements, reading, teaching, and Bible studies. From her son John Seiberling, who attended early A.A. meetings with his mother, I was told the specific verses she treasured in the teachings of Jesus and in the later portions of the New Testament—such as Corinthians and 1 John. Henrietta’s older daughter Mary Seiberling Huhn wrote me a great many letters about her mother’s Bible remarks, beliefs, and studies. And I visited the Town House in New York where her younger daughter Dorothy lived with her husband. There I was permitted to review Henrietta’s own Bible, look at and copy the dozens of handwritten notes she had placed in it, and hear Dorothy’s comments about how her mother viewed the Bible. Henrietta’s entire family attended a Presbyterian church in Akron. And Henrietta’s voluminous reading of Christian books and pamphlets somewhat closely paralleled the same Christian titles that Dr. Bob read and circulated widely among early AAs and their families. Henrietta, a Vassar Graduate, was particularly capable in her teaching Christian materials and frequently did so in the early meetings. She was forceful, articulate, Bible-oriented, and personally compassionate in dealing with AAs.
Grace Moore Snyder: Though her role in Alcoholics Anonymous came much later in the A.A. timeline (as compared to the Anne Smith—Henrietta Seiberling period), it was highly effective, personal, and Bible-oriented. In a very real sense, it paralleled the outspoken enthusiasm for Bible study so clearly evident in the service of Anne Smith and Henrietta Seiberling years before. From her earliest years, Grace worshipped at, attended, and participated in churches. I heard Grace speak at several of the retreats she and Clarence had founded or led. I saw her bring many newcomers to Christ at those retreats. I saw her pray for individuals in need. I heard her frequently refer to the Bible. And, in preparation for the book I wrote about her, my son Ken and I spent a week at her home in Florida learning what she had received and passed along from Clarence. I carefully examined her several thoroughly marked Bibles, heard her talk about important Scriptural ideas and passages, and interviewed her in depth about how she and Clarence had sponsored so many in Alcoholics Anonymous—always stressing salvation and fidelity to the truth of God’s Word. Grace was an attractive, loving, and dedicated servant of our Heavenly Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Encouraging and Useful News for Christian Women
In Recovery Today
The recovery population and its present-day membership sources: I can’t pretend to be a surveyor or statistician when it comes to how many incoming newcomers, of which gender and from which source, enter recovery fellowships today. Nor what their religious persuasion may or may not be. In fact, there is probably a totally inadequate understanding of the believer, unbeliever, and non-believer recovery numbers today. But what I can report is information gained from having been much involved in a treatment center and its after-care program, from attending thousands of A.A. meetings around the United States, from receiving hundreds and hundreds of letters, emails, and phone calls from all over the world, from connections with the penal and hospital systems, and from wide reading and wide speaking experience in various types of recovery fellowships—religious retreats, Christian recovery conventions and conferences, and congregations of Christian counselors and facilitators. Nonetheless, I make this disclaimer as an “expert†statistician because I simply speak as a male who was a Christian before, during, and after recovery fellowship involvement. I speak also as one who has sponsored more than 100 men, sponsored four women, and often been a speaker at mixed-gender recovery meetings of all kinds. Often, the Bible was discussed, studied, and used.
Where the new people seem to come from: Today’s newcomers come from a wide variety of sources—court ordered attendance, treatment center sponsored attendance, referrals by therapists and psychologists and physicians, referrals by government programs and agencies, referrals by churches and clergy and non-profit agencies, interventions, and by walking through the doors. In almost every case, they come encumbered by a variety of disasters that are drinking-related—job loss, divorce, death, physical illness, accident, abuse, abandonment, injury, debt, loss of a companion or relative or relationship, imprisonment, hospitalization, severe health and withdrawal problems, and just plain despair.
Their religious or irreligious convictions: My own experience as an AA “member,†as a sponsor, and as a recovery observer tells me that few enter our rooms for religious reasons. Few enter our rooms intent on pursuing a religious solution. Moreover, few enter intending to oppose religions, churches, Christianity, Bible study, or prayer. In fact, there is so little mention of A.A. in company with religion that they probably don’t even know there is an issue. Their overwhelming burden of rampant drinking gone bad hardly produces an inevitable prejudice about any particular kind of solution.
The changes that confront them. It doesn’t take long for prejudice to rear its ugly head! These same bewildered, sick, confused, fearful, and despondent new people will soon hear phrases like “A.A. is not religious;†or “A.A. is spiritual but not religious;†or “all you need is a willingness to believe in some power greater than yourself,†or that your “higher power†can be anything you like—from a radiator to Santa Claus, from a door knob to a light bulb, from an A.A. group to good-orderly-direction, from a tree to the Great Pumpkin; or that sharing about your reading of the Bible, being a Christian, going to church, or praying in the name of Jesus is contrary to the “Traditions†and introduces “outside issues†not appropriate for an A.A. meeting; or that reading or bringing to a meeting or discussing any literature that is not “Conference Approved†is forbidden. That’s all news to entering persons. They don’t want to be preached to, be admonished, be taught definitions, or be pounded with higher power nonsense. Further, the nonsense material is usually presented dogmatically, critically, and in an intimidating fashion which quickly forces the wary new person into silence about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, his church, his religion, or his religious beliefs.
Newcomers aren’t looking for a religious battle. The point is that people don’t come to a recovery fellowship looking for a scrap over religious matters. They just hurt. They just suffer. And they just want to believe someone will help them get over and out of their troubles—last, but not least, over their drinking problem yet to be defined in their own minds. I expected and found A.A. to be such a place when I entered the rooms.
The plain language of recovery books, literature, and articles: Strange it is that a newcomer may hear or notice frequent mention of Bible words or verses. Language such as “Creator,â€
“Maker,†“Father of lights,†“Father,†“Spirit†(all capitalized) and such verses as “Thy will be done,†“Faith without works is dead,†“Love thy neighbor as thyself,†and many more. Then there is that plain, simple, easily understood word “God.†It is always capitalized. It was used in the Third edition of A.A.’s basic text over 400 times, counting the capitalized pronouns and Biblical “names†for God. Then there are plain, simple, frequent references to forgiveness, restitution, confession, prayer, meditation, minister, rabbi, priest, God-sufficiency, God’s will, and many more words commonly derived from the Bible, religion, and churches. These words leave no doubt in the mind of the Judges who are called to rule on the nature of A.A. and 12 Step programs that the program is clearly a religious one, albeit a confused conglomeration of religious chatter. And if reasonable judicial experts, religious leaders, doctors, and Bible students use such ideas, how can any new person conclude that God, the Bible, religion, priests, and God’s will are anything but OK. I quickly reached that conclusion. I felt comfortable with God. I felt comfortable talking about the Bible. And I felt comfortable mentioning the Bible fellowship to which I belonged. In fact, my sponsees and I called our group “the God squad.â€
But that lasted only until I saw people chastised for bringing a Bible to a meeting, chastised for mentioning Jesus Christ, chastised for discussing New Thought literature written by Emmet Fox,
and chastised for even mentioning early A.A.’s Christian origins, roots, principles, and practices. One good friend said she was going to “bar†her women sponsees from coming to a huge A.A. history meeting where A.A.’s New York Archivist, Dr. Bob’s son, and the writer of Pass It On were scheduled to speak. She saw mention of the word “Christian†in a flyer. And that terminated her support for the ideas that her sponsees could attend. 800 others did!
But consider the facts that were and are at stake in any such denial. Early AAs got completely well. They were cured. They recovered. And they never drank again. Very few did that. But those who totally gave themselves to the early program achieved astonishing success. In that group, a documented 75% succeeded. And that raises the question whether their actions warrant our knowing about them today when it comes to choosing an option for attempted recovery.
One way is to learn about the three Christian women leaders who helped bring about healings by the power of God within the great fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. That doesn’t make A.A. Christian. But it can and will make AAs wise.
Gloria Deo
Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837; 808 874 4876; http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml
July 1st, 2008
Hello fellow AA member,
I need alittle help applying the principles that go with each step. I know what they are but could you give me alittle synopsis on how they interwine with each other. Thank-you. Cassi Davis
July 3rd, 2008
Hi Cassie,
You’ll probably get as many different answers to this question as there are members of AA.
Just look at the comments above and you’ll see how different people see things in different ways.
For an in depth study of the principles of the program, one of my personal favorites is Joe and Charlie’s Big Book Study. You can download it at http://xa-speakers.org/pafiledb.php?action=category&id=13
Many people find the book “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” to explain the steps more clearly than the Big Book. You can find a nicely formatted version of that one online at http://www.natureofspirit.com/alcoholics_anonymous/12_steps_12_traditions/index.php
Of course, this is coming from someone who no longer considers himself an “AA Member”, but who still respects and uses many of those principles that the steps represent.
July 3rd, 2008
Hi Cassie….
I absolutely agree with Lyman — AA is filled with diverse people — so when you ask a question – you will get many diverse answers!
I think the best info from AA regarding the steps is the book “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”
And… the only authority on all of this – is each individual person’s perspective!
August 27th, 2008
I find your website very interesting, I caught wind of similar work combining EFT and the 12 steps a few years ago, and was very impressed.with the potential I’m not sure where I dug it up…
I tried it on myself and it worked great, but when I tried it with a couple of my sponsees, they bolted and I got a reputation for being “weird”, “contoversial”, “non AA”, “heretic”etc… and caught a real shit-storm of witch-hunt type gossip and slander and character assasination.
I’m very imterested by this site, and I’d like to know more about this work, and more exactly how you do it.
I’d really like to have more specific information about this please. ie. tapping scripts, or even audio mp3 files that I could download?
Thanks in advance.
Tony “TG” Parker
Sober Drunk
SD 07/26/1979
Kingston, NY
August 27th, 2008
Hi Tony,
In case you didn’t see it, I responded to your comment here: http://tinyurl.com/5j9jsu
December 31st, 2008
Step 1 states powerless over alcohol,that when I ingest it I have no control over how much more I will drink.That when I drink,I can not manage my drinking or my life.Step 2,Do I or am I willing to believe a power greater than me can restore me to sanity?
When I admit powerlessness I open myself to that power.
Step3,turn my will and life over to that power which is God!God of my understanding,which at this point I was asked to have faith in and could and would guide me.
Faith has done for me that which I could not do for myself.In step4,5,6 and7,Iwas given a way to be free of the things blocking me from God.Resentment driven by fear was the key to understading why I was the way Iwas and reacted the way Idid.
Steps8 and 9 suggest cleaning up what Ive done,whitout doing more harm.Step10,keep my channel open by looking at myself daily and being willing to change and ask God to remove whatever fear is driving me and having faith he will do so,by practicing step11.
Now we finally get to step12 where my point is.Its suggested we practice these principles in all our affairs and help others to recover.Today I recognize Im powerless over others.I dont really agree with whats being passed on at meetings,but Im powerless over that.Ego has changed the way the steps are done and passed on.Ego is what got me to where Iwas.To be free of ego I must pass it on as directed in the big book as guided by my sponsor and to pass it on I go to meetings to find others to work with,so I may continue to grow in understanding and effectiveness of this new way of life.From selfishness stem all forms of spiritual sickness.For me to stop attending meetings would be to deprive others of what AA is all about.Today my higher power is my sponsor,but he also works through others.
For me to stop attending meetings would be going back to the depth of my problem.
SELFISHNESS-SELFCENTEREDNESS
idrink
January 13th, 2009
don’t forget the a,b,c in how it works
February 11th, 2009
You are not powerless. You can use your power to seek out all the good that life has to offer. If you seek or are involved with things or thoughts that you think you are powerless over, you will become trapped in sickness, disease, and powerlessness. If you have faith that there is a bright future without such things, your confusion and disease will disappear, for they cannot exist in someone who thinks and lives a powerfully good life. You will be able to more easily and effectively help others with the overflow of love and happiness that comes from one who has left the arena of disease and powerlessness and moved on to thoughts and actions of good health, growth, and wealth. If you have quit using, it’s time to advance. So many others have done so. If you stay with confusion, powerlessness and disease, it will surely lead to death.
Wallace D Wattles has some good audiobooks on growth, give it a try and good luck to ya.
January 13th, 2009
at the end of my comment it was meant to say myhigherpower is God who works thru my sponsor and others
January 13th, 2009
The Highest Power is God: As Dr. Bob’s story says on Big Book, page 181, “Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!” The “higher power” idea appears only twice in the first 164 pages and, in both cases, it is used in the context of “God.” See pages 44-46, 100. Unfortunately, the “higher power” idea has been corruptued into a light bulb, a radiator, a tree, a chair, the Great Pumpkin, Santa Claus, the Big Dipper, Ralph, and Gertrude. There are many more nonsense gods that have appeared on the scene. And the best answer to them is the Ten Commandments and Psalm 115.
January 13th, 2009
god is either everything or he is nothing what is our choice to be
February 10th, 2009
“,it’s always possible to find the necessary power if you follow the directions of those who have done what you want to do.”
(from above article)
Nice.
But what if the majority of people who have completely over come their addictions and moved on have done so without AA or 12-step involvement?
Would you follow?
May 6th, 2009
SOBRIETY OR SALVATION?
We need to realize that we are not ALCOHOLICS in need of SOBRIETY ; we are SINNERS in need of GOD.
We will never find God by trying to clean up our sinful behaviour one piece at a time.
This is the wrong method to find true Biblical healing. A Christian does not keep their old clothes and simply sew new patches of unshrunk cloth on them, patching them up as they cleanse each sin.
If they were to do that their clothes would be worse off with the patch, not better! Look at what Jesus said:
“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:16 – 17)
Trackbacks