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JP
Peace be with you,
JP
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SOTK said:No, you are still wrong and misinformed. You need to go much deeper than the two links you gave me. Check out this link: http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/aaroots.html
There are also some books listed at the bottom of the page which you could check out that digs much deeper into the history of the Oxford Group and early AA.
Ha! I was wondering when an AA defender would post the infamous Life Recovery/Serenity Bible/Alcoholic's Victorious "scriptural" steps. Lion of God, the use of scripture with the "12 steps" came after the creation of the "12 steps". Just when do you think the so called Serenity Bible and Life Recovery Bible came out? The scripture applied to the 12 Steps is Christianity's attempt at making the steps more "biblical". Just why do you think groups like Alcoholic's Victorious, Celebrate Recovery, and other such Christian addiction support groups came out?
One more thing- If the above scripture was really indeed used by Bill Wilson, Bob Smith, Shoemaker, etc. to create condensed "steps" to God, why didn't they use them anywhere in AA literature? For example, I have read Pass it on and other AA early history literature. There was never any mention of scripture.
Really? What about the AA famous line "AA is a butt-saving program and not a soul-saving program"? Why the generic use of god? I had people worshipping trees in one of the meetings I attended. Lion of God, the majority of meetings I attended in AA were all about the steps with hardly any importance placed on the One True God. People were offended when I brought Him up. This was a common theme I came up against in not one particular meeting in AA but many.
I agree with some of what you wrote above. I will comment on what you stated towards the bottom of the above quote. First of all, AA is not a body of believers. While I am certain that some are believers, the majority of them are not. I do feel, as do you, that it is always worthwhile and a matter of responsibility to further the Kingdom of God. The furthering of the Kingdom can occur in AA. I've seen it. That is definitely not a bad thing at all, however, I also think we have the responsibility to adequately and truthfully proclaim the Kingdom of God. A question for you: Are we doing that by portraying the "steps" as an accurate representation of scripture? And, are we doing that by allowing God to be portrayed as a "thing" or allowing paganism to thrive around us? What do you think is your responsibility in that respect? Is it possible we could be doing more harm than good?
Wow. "The Steps are the condensed version of the path to God". Gee, I thought Jesus was the only path to God. Lion of God, your statement is exactly why I speak out against the "12 steps" now.
According to you, the "steps" are much more than a process. Again, they are not outlined in the Bible.
Yes, a raw newcome is also more than likely not a Christian. If you will notice, most of what I have written pertains to the Christian. My writings on our Identity in Christ is a truth which most Christians, especially alcoholics/addicts, have no idea about. Getting this Truth is becoming very effective with Christian brothers and sisters who are struggling with the sin issue of addiction (as well as other sin issues). Many churches have classes/groups on this subject and no "steps" are used.
In terms of the non-believer alcoholic/addict, it is very important that they quit. While I have many problems with AA and the steps, I am not so blind that I would state that AA does not work. The fact of the matter is that it does. I have never stated that AA is not effective in getting a person to quit or to even stay quit. Bill Wilson himself once stated that AA is "spiritual kindergarten". My problems with AA have to do with the larger picture- the soul.
Yes, no real problem with this. I use this type of tact myself when I am witnessing to any non-believer.
Again, no real problem with the majority of what you wrote here. Peer to peer confession is Biblical and healing. I would not call God just a "power" though, but I do understand what you mean.
Yes, some cool things happened to me in AA, but it was in spite of AA that I became a Christian. I will also agree with you on your point that my attendance in AA was part of God's sovereign will for me.
No. Nice try though.If it was part of God's sovereign will for me to attend AA, it is equally part of God's sovereign will that I have come to see the problems and issues surrounding AA and the 12 Steps. I was told several times and by several people that I wouldn't make it in "recovery" if I left AA. This reliance upon AA (a thing and not God) is a big problem. Again, it just reeks of works.
So, does AA work, in terms of helping an individual to quit their addiction? Sure, it definitely does. AA is even pretty successful at this. I don't deny it. You know what really bothers me and is one reason which lead me to where I am at? I observed that Christian brothers and sisters generally have a harder time staying sober than non-believers. I began to wonder why this was. I also observed how so many people in AA were generally so unhappy with their lives even with a lot of time in sobriety. I began to wonder why this was. It seems to me that one can be quit from alcohol and yet feel not free at all. All of this lead me to studying about our Identity in Christ.
There comes a time when no amount of "steps" are enough. There comes a time when works just don't cut it anymore. The only true freedom we can have in this world from any sin or difficulty is to recognize that Jesus Christ already conquered it on the Cross at Calvary. Believing in this is true freedom indeed!
Blessings,
SOTK
sdmsanjose said:sdmsanjose to SOTK 6-24-06
SOTK
Thank you for your reponse.
sdmsanjose said:So if my son "Rests in God" he will be taking action that is from the spirit, right?
sdmsanjose said:What my son can do for his part is to:
" My answer is simply to rest in God. Look to Him for strength, meaning, and purpose. I have done this and continue to do this by praying, meditating, reading His Word, and being active within my Church. I get up on a daily basis and remind myself that I am in Christ. I am no longer of the World. Christ conquered sin, and I am free in Him!"
Am I understanding correctly?
Protinus said:SOTK: you know that recidivism is high in AA, despite creed, denomination, color whatever. What is your point?? You could be making a case for the 12 step program and you resort to this??![]()
Christian79 said:Hello SOTK,
This is Christian79, I am grateful for you time and efforts put into this site. I completely respect your views and am very proud of you. I have found help through others on the site, but I have a question for you? Can someone who has within the last 4 mo.'s of sobriety and living a fully devoted christian life by being in a program that implements the bible and a life of nonstop church, devotion and prayer become overly headstrong and not realize that they are so consumed by what their new life in God encompasses and that they egotistically shun others away. I am asking this because my ex fiance' is the one in the program. I am not perfect, I am opiate free and still take lexapro and xanexx for anxiety. We have had every expectation of renewing our relationship through God. He is two states away and expects me to basically not have a life and wait on him. In the process I have a need to make friends at my new college which makes him jealous. In a nut shell....he had me convinced that as a future husband he was going to be the rock and it was my devotion to him that would allow this type of harmony that God intends for a man and women to exist if I follow in his walk of faith. But how is it that because I went to dinner with some friends and had a glass of wine, he has the right to tell me "IF YOU STOP ACTING LIKE A PIECE OF profanity, I WILL STOP TREATING YOU LIKE ONE?" I was so hurt I would'nt accept his calls and am asking God to help me understand and to heal my heart. This could break me, but I will not give up. Are we good for each other right now, because with him it is all or nothing and I have to find my own faith!
"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the apointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosed and relax our courage and faint" GALAT 6:9
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you." ISAIAH 43:2
sdmsanjose said:SDM to SOTK 6-25-06 (10:05 PM)
SOTK quote
" My answer is simply to rest in God. Look to Him for strength, meaning, and purpose. I have done this and continue to do this by praying, meditating, reading His Word, and being active within my Church. I get up on a daily basis and remind myself that I am in Christ. I am no longer of the World. Christ conquered sin, and I am free in Him!"
I attempt to allow myself on a daily basis to act from the Truth that I am righteous in Christ. If I remind myself that this is the Truth, my action(s) will come out of who I am in Him. In other words, I will have the "Mind of Christ" and every action which I perform will be righteous and good.
I have no problem with those underlined actions above. Frankly, I dont think that my son is ready for those kinds of activities right now. I want my son to take the first steps in getting clean and right now I think that a 12-step program may be one of the ways that can help. I really dont care how he gets clean just that he get clean and CHANGES HIS LIFESTYLE!
In my opinion your rest in God actions are actions that can be of help AFTER he gets into recovery. I may be wrong but that is the way I see it for now.
.I feel that my son has got himself into a vicious trap and it is going to take some degree of pain and suffering to begin a change. At this time my only hope is in God and that is why I am contacting people that are spiritual and have walked the walk. I also believe that Gods uses people.
SOTK, I do appreciate your responding to me and sharing your victory. I always love to hear from someone that has been set free from the grips of addiction.
SOTK said:No, you are still wrong and misinformed. You need to go much deeper than the two links you gave me. Check out this link: http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/aaroots.html
Ha! I was wondering when an AA defender would post the infamous Life Recovery/Serenity Bible/Alcoholic's Victorious "scriptural" steps. Lion of God, the use of scripture with the "12 steps" came after the creation of the "12 steps". Just when do you think the so called Serenity Bible and Life Recovery Bible came out? The scripture applied to the 12 Steps is Christianity's attempt at making the steps more "biblical". Just why do you think groups like Alcoholic's Victorious, Celebrate Recovery, and other such Christian addiction support groups came out?
One more thing- If the above scripture was really indeed used by Bill Wilson, Bob Smith, Shoemaker, etc. to create condensed "steps" to God, why didn't they use them anywhere in AA literature? For example, I have read Pass it on and other AA early history literature. There was never any mention of scripture.
Really? What about the AA famous line "AA is a butt-saving program and not a soul-saving program"?
Why the generic use of god? I had people worshipping trees in one of the meetings I attended. Lion of God, the majority of meetings I attended in AA were all about the steps with hardly any importance placed on the One True God. People were offended when I brought Him up. This was a common theme I came up against in not one particular meeting in AA but many.
While I am certain that some are believers, the majority of them are not.
I do feel, as do you, that it is always worthwhile and a matter of responsibility to further the Kingdom of God. The furthering of the Kingdom can occur in AA. I've seen it. That is definitely not a bad thing at all, however, I also think we have the responsibility to adequately and truthfully proclaim the Kingdom of God.
A question for you: Are we doing that by portraying the "steps" as an accurate representation of scripture? And, are we doing that by allowing God to be portrayed as a "thing" or allowing paganism to thrive around us? What do you think is your responsibility in that respect? Is it possible we could be doing more harm than good?
Wow. "The Steps are the condensed version of the path to God". Gee, I thought Jesus was the only path to God. Lion of God, your statement is exactly why I speak out against the "12 steps" now.
According to you, the "steps" are much more than a process. Again, they are not outlined in the Bible.
Yes, a raw newcome is also more than likely not a Christian. If you will notice, most of what I have written pertains to the Christian. My writings on our Identity in Christ is a truth which most Christians, especially alcoholics/addicts, have no idea about. Getting this Truth is becoming very effective with Christian brothers and sisters who are struggling with the sin issue of addiction (as well as other sin issues). Many churches have classes/groups on this subject and no "steps" are used.
In terms of the non-believer alcoholic/addict, it is very important that they quit. While I have many problems with AA and the steps, I am not so blind that I would state that AA does not work. The fact of the matter is that it does. I have never stated that AA is not effective in getting a person to quit or to even stay quit. Bill Wilson himself once stated that AA is "spiritual kindergarten". My problems with AA have to do with the larger picture- the soul.
So, does AA work, in terms of helping an individual to quit their addiction? Sure, it definitely does. AA is even pretty successful at this. I don't deny it. You know what really bothers me and is one reason which lead me to where I am at? I observed that Christian brothers and sisters generally have a harder time staying sober than non-believers. I began to wonder why this was.
I also observed how so many people in AA were generally so unhappy with their lives even with a lot of time in sobriety. I began to wonder why this was. It seems to me that one can be quit from alcohol and yet feel not free at all. All of this lead me to studying about our Identity in Christ.
There comes a time when no amount of "steps" are enough. There comes a time when works just don't cut it anymore. The only true freedom we can have in this world from any sin or difficulty is to recognize that Jesus Christ already conquered it on the Cross at Calvary. Believing in this is true freedom indeed!
SOTK said:Lion of God,
We will, it appears, have to agree to disagree. Our discussion is not going anywhere nor do I feel you have really taken in and/or investigated what I have written. It would, therefore, be a waste of my time and yours to continue.
If you like, however discussion isn't always a bad thing if it helps people to have a stronger and closer relationship with God.For the sake of fellowship, I say we end our discussion here.
Blessings,
SOTK
Lion of God said:If by this you mean either "Resting in God" or "meditating on who I am in Christ", that would be incorrect. I have known of their effectiveness for a number of years already, and it is always good to be reminded of them.
My point in a roundabout way, is the need for a foundation to be built before getting to that point. Of what value is it to those who haven't seen their own insufficiency and need for Christ or those have haven't made an honest effort to acknowledge their shortcomings? Or those who are not willing to make amends for past mistakes and continue to do so for future ones? Without this groundwork, it is difficult to approach the "altar" with a clear consiounce and to truly experience who we are in Christ. To neglect it is like trying to put a band-aid over a festering wound.
Lion of God said:It has been my experience and that of many others, that the 12 Steps outline the building blocks and the order they are laid down for an effective foundation.
If you like, however discussion isn't always a bad thing if it helps people to have a stronger and closer relationship with God.
God bless,
LoG
sdmsanjose said:I really enjoyed the posts by SOTK and Lion of God. The topics are topics that relate to my situation with my addicted adult son.
You guys have provided me with information that I will be thinking about for a long time.
I think there are thoughts in your posts that stimulate the mind and the spirit!
Thanks again SOTK and Lion of God
ArmouredSaint said:I am feeling very lost. I can't control my drinking any longer.Thinking about admitting myself to rehab.
God bless everyone here this weekend and stay safe.
cajunlady said:Hi Everyone, I see that I have been missing some very interesting conversations here. I hope that you all are doing great and I hope all of you have a great Independence Day....God bless America...Hugs to all..
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ArmouredSaint said:I am feeling very lost. I can't control my drinking any longer.Thinking about admitting myself to rehab.
God bless everyone here this weekend and stay safe.