I have this one prayer to you, Daddy! (Romans 8: 17 -- Number of New Beginnings and Victory)
I hope that this prayer will touch and minister to all others out there.
I find myself bound up in how I feel.
I want to feel right, feel good, because I have too long believed that how I feel jeopardizes what I am called to do.
How I feel, I have also long believed, will interrupt what I do or do not hear from you.
Daddy, I need your help, I need your wisdom on this.
You say that the one work is to believe on Your Son, who died for all our sins, who gave us His righteousness, that we may receive His right standing at Your right hand.
I ask you, then, for the Rest that Your Son gives to all who believe.
Please, Lord.
I ask that I may cast every care at your feet, that you have every part of my life, including the jobs that you have blessed me with.
Thank You, Daddy!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Have a Heart of Good News
God is on your side.
God loves you.
These are timeless truths.
Yet how do I know that I can take God at His Word?
He gave His own Son for us, even while we were still sinners (Romans 5: 8).
God gave us the best that He had, His Son, so how can we assume that He will not also give us all things with His Son? (Romans 8: 31-32)
In fact, we receive a new identity in Christ, not one of "sinner", but saint:
"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1: 7)
This new identity comes to us because of our new standing in Christ:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3)
We have an intimate relationship with God, because He has adopted us:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
and
"6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:6-7)
One of the most profound passages in Scripture, which outlines the New Covenant, also sheds light on our new identity, or "new heart":
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:" (Ezekiel 11:19)
"The heart of stone" represents the law, or a judgment/condemnation mindset. The "heart of flesh" has been also rendered a "soft heart." Another translation of the Hebrew word "basar" would read "Glad tidings" or "Good News". In effect, the Holy Spirit now lives in every one of us, convicting us of our new standing in Jesus, that we are no longer judged as sinners, but can rejoice in a new standing of everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9: 24) and life (John 3: 16)
God loves you.
These are timeless truths.
Yet how do I know that I can take God at His Word?
He gave His own Son for us, even while we were still sinners (Romans 5: 8).
God gave us the best that He had, His Son, so how can we assume that He will not also give us all things with His Son? (Romans 8: 31-32)
In fact, we receive a new identity in Christ, not one of "sinner", but saint:
"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1: 7)
This new identity comes to us because of our new standing in Christ:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3)
We have an intimate relationship with God, because He has adopted us:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
and
"6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:6-7)
One of the most profound passages in Scripture, which outlines the New Covenant, also sheds light on our new identity, or "new heart":
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:" (Ezekiel 11:19)
"The heart of stone" represents the law, or a judgment/condemnation mindset. The "heart of flesh" has been also rendered a "soft heart." Another translation of the Hebrew word "basar" would read "Glad tidings" or "Good News". In effect, the Holy Spirit now lives in every one of us, convicting us of our new standing in Jesus, that we are no longer judged as sinners, but can rejoice in a new standing of everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9: 24) and life (John 3: 16)
AA: Lies and Distracting Distortions
I cannot believe that I had gone in with so many of the silly lies and distortions in AA.
I was taught for many years that the "Big Book" would help me to make the precepts of the Bible practical.
The missing element, then and now, was that the Christian Life is not just difficult, but downright impossible. Only Christ Jesus can live this life in us, and He wants us to rest and receive His life and love and lavish goodness through His Spirit
I spent so much time nursing my flesh, trying to feel better, trying to think better, trying to make everything work out as long as I could maintain some sort of mood.
How much of God's grace do we need? All of it, and more:
"10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
and
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2: 11-12)
I was taught this nonsense because the Big Book makes a Big Deal about our feelings.
Feelings just respond to our thinking, and if men and women are thinking about themselves, taking their inventories, and mired in the wicked notion that they are defined forever by an incurable disease, it will be a matter of time before fears, resentments, and self-centeredness take over.
How can anyone break free if they are on call 24-7 to live out a "spiritual program" riddled with twists, turns, and contradictions?
Can anyone break free if they are plagued by the chronic feeling that they may or may not be separated from God because of how they feel, or what they are thinking?
Nothing could be more distant form the truth. AA teaches people to go in circles, trying to fix something that can never be fixed, distracting people from the truth that sets them free.
I was taught for many years that the "Big Book" would help me to make the precepts of the Bible practical.
The missing element, then and now, was that the Christian Life is not just difficult, but downright impossible. Only Christ Jesus can live this life in us, and He wants us to rest and receive His life and love and lavish goodness through His Spirit
I spent so much time nursing my flesh, trying to feel better, trying to think better, trying to make everything work out as long as I could maintain some sort of mood.
How much of God's grace do we need? All of it, and more:
"10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
and
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2: 11-12)
I was taught this nonsense because the Big Book makes a Big Deal about our feelings.
Feelings just respond to our thinking, and if men and women are thinking about themselves, taking their inventories, and mired in the wicked notion that they are defined forever by an incurable disease, it will be a matter of time before fears, resentments, and self-centeredness take over.
How can anyone break free if they are on call 24-7 to live out a "spiritual program" riddled with twists, turns, and contradictions?
Can anyone break free if they are plagued by the chronic feeling that they may or may not be separated from God because of how they feel, or what they are thinking?
Nothing could be more distant form the truth. AA teaches people to go in circles, trying to fix something that can never be fixed, distracting people from the truth that sets them free.
Don't Wrestle with Resentments -- Rest in Your Righteousness
Resentment is the "number one" offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry. (AA, pg 64)
Both resentment and anger are not some strange emotions which emerge out of nowhere, but are manifestations of the flesh of man, whether saved or unsaved, trying to live out their lives in their own strength:
"9Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians5: 19-21)
"Hatred",variance, emulations, strifes" -- all of these are "works of the flesh."
People cannot make us mad. As I learn moreabout who I am in Christ, I rewalize that God has not called us to strife but to peace. Instead of trying more, he wants us to believe on Him more.
God wants us to labor on only one thing: resting in His Finished Work:
"For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 8-11)
This rest in righteousness, that everything is done, does not mean that men and women sit and do nothing. On the contrary, when we understand the lavish and flowing river of grace that God rolls out in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we cannot help but get up and get out there.
When we receive the growing revelation that God is on our side, regardless of what we think or feel, no matter what we do or have done, we find ourselves transformed from glory to glory by the Power of the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the ways and will of God (Galatians 5: 16-18)
We do not wrestle with resentments, but the fight brings us into conflit with agents of the Enemy:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
What does God want us to do, while these enemies are thrashing about? First, he reminds us where Christ Jesus is now:
"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 21-23)
Then he tells the Ephesians (and all Christians) where they are:
"And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 6)
We are in Christ, and God has placed everything under his feet. We are the Body of Christ, and thus we can trust that God is bringing all of our enemies under our feet:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
Resentments, like fears and tumults, sources of strife and other inner conflicts, all touch the flesh of man, the "Old Adam" fallen nature which has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2: 20; 5: 24) who has been crucified for every person. Satan cannot bring us down from our heavenly seat in Christ, but he can lie to us, and we can either believe or rebuke his lies.
The greatest weapon we have is the Word of God, which declares who we are in Christ, that He has made us righteous, that through Him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3), full accepted in God's grace (Ephesians 1: 6)
God wants us to believe that He sent His Son to die for us (John 6: 29) and the He lives for us (Matthew 11:28; Colossians 1: 27).
We do not wrestle with resentments, but instead we rely on the Word of God to bring into captivity every thought which seeks to exalt itself against Christ in our lives.
Both resentment and anger are not some strange emotions which emerge out of nowhere, but are manifestations of the flesh of man, whether saved or unsaved, trying to live out their lives in their own strength:
"9Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians5: 19-21)
"Hatred",variance, emulations, strifes" -- all of these are "works of the flesh."
People cannot make us mad. As I learn moreabout who I am in Christ, I rewalize that God has not called us to strife but to peace. Instead of trying more, he wants us to believe on Him more.
God wants us to labor on only one thing: resting in His Finished Work:
"For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 8-11)
This rest in righteousness, that everything is done, does not mean that men and women sit and do nothing. On the contrary, when we understand the lavish and flowing river of grace that God rolls out in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we cannot help but get up and get out there.
When we receive the growing revelation that God is on our side, regardless of what we think or feel, no matter what we do or have done, we find ourselves transformed from glory to glory by the Power of the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the ways and will of God (Galatians 5: 16-18)
We do not wrestle with resentments, but the fight brings us into conflit with agents of the Enemy:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
What does God want us to do, while these enemies are thrashing about? First, he reminds us where Christ Jesus is now:
"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 21-23)
Then he tells the Ephesians (and all Christians) where they are:
"And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 6)
We are in Christ, and God has placed everything under his feet. We are the Body of Christ, and thus we can trust that God is bringing all of our enemies under our feet:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
Resentments, like fears and tumults, sources of strife and other inner conflicts, all touch the flesh of man, the "Old Adam" fallen nature which has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2: 20; 5: 24) who has been crucified for every person. Satan cannot bring us down from our heavenly seat in Christ, but he can lie to us, and we can either believe or rebuke his lies.
The greatest weapon we have is the Word of God, which declares who we are in Christ, that He has made us righteous, that through Him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3), full accepted in God's grace (Ephesians 1: 6)
God wants us to believe that He sent His Son to die for us (John 6: 29) and the He lives for us (Matthew 11:28; Colossians 1: 27).
We do not wrestle with resentments, but instead we rely on the Word of God to bring into captivity every thought which seeks to exalt itself against Christ in our lives.
Let Go. . . of the Twelve Steps, the Let God Bless You
"Let Go and Let God" -- almost every AA meeting has this cliche clutching the walls and binding the minds of selected members.
Let Go and Let God - - I loved the sound of this statement.
Just let go, and everything will be just fine.
The problem for me, along with another man in an AA meeting which I had attended, was that I just sat and did nothing, and nothing happened in my life.
This piece of advice is the most annoying and distorted, misconstrued and contorted that I remember from the meetings.
How does "God" do anything?
What am I supposed to do, exactly? These questions bounced through my mind constantly. The doubt and fear which would push me to do nothing, then to do something, nearly brought me to mad wranglings.
The Holy Spirit provides a better way:
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
God places His laws in our hearts and minds, so that He can lead us from within by the power of His Holy Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
The Twelve Steps, like any other system of merit or achievement, will frustrate the work of God's graceful Spirit in our lives.
How can we let go when we are expected to work Twelve Steps, a "program of action" which creates a conundrum of inaction or incapacity, with contradictions confusing and abounding.
He empowers us from within. When we rest in our identity in Christ, that He had done all things for us, from saving us from death, hell and the grave, to promoting us seated in heavenly places in Christ, this grace then quickens us from within, that we may do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), for God the Father promises us all things in Him (Romans 8: 31-32)
Instead of working the Twelve Steps, every believer should let go of the Twelve Steps, and rest in the growing grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let Go and Let God - - I loved the sound of this statement.
Just let go, and everything will be just fine.
The problem for me, along with another man in an AA meeting which I had attended, was that I just sat and did nothing, and nothing happened in my life.
This piece of advice is the most annoying and distorted, misconstrued and contorted that I remember from the meetings.
How does "God" do anything?
What am I supposed to do, exactly? These questions bounced through my mind constantly. The doubt and fear which would push me to do nothing, then to do something, nearly brought me to mad wranglings.
The Holy Spirit provides a better way:
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
God places His laws in our hearts and minds, so that He can lead us from within by the power of His Holy Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
The Twelve Steps, like any other system of merit or achievement, will frustrate the work of God's graceful Spirit in our lives.
How can we let go when we are expected to work Twelve Steps, a "program of action" which creates a conundrum of inaction or incapacity, with contradictions confusing and abounding.
He empowers us from within. When we rest in our identity in Christ, that He had done all things for us, from saving us from death, hell and the grave, to promoting us seated in heavenly places in Christ, this grace then quickens us from within, that we may do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), for God the Father promises us all things in Him (Romans 8: 31-32)
Instead of working the Twelve Steps, every believer should let go of the Twelve Steps, and rest in the growing grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Not Progress in Self, But Pefected in Christ
Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. (AA, pg 60)
We cannot claim any progress through anything that we do in our flesh, in our own efforts:
"21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7: 21-25)
This war brings us into defeat, while the war which Christ win give us victory:
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, we do not claim progress, but victory:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
More than conquerors! Not just conquering, not just "Winning!" but "Hyper-victors", because the Victory is won for us through Christ, and is given to us thourgh His Holy Spirit living in us, granting us the glory of God.
Paul describes the standing that every believer has in Christ:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
We are blessed with all blessings in Christ. We are chosen, beloved of God because we are filled with Christ's grace, given to us to justify us fully from all sin. We are adopted as children, brought into the family of God.
Yet if that is not enough:
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
We are perfected in relation to our conscience, the sense of "wrong" which plagues every person born a son of Adam into this fallen world (Romans 7: 14, 24-25)
We do not "claim" progress, but in Christ we receive preeminence through the riches of God's grace.
Our part is not to stand, but rather to receive our seated status in Christ:
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
We can make no progress on our own, but in Christ, we can do all things:
"5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
and
"13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. " (Philippians 4: 13)
Forget "progress", receiving God's perfection through your perfected standing in Christ.
We cannot claim any progress through anything that we do in our flesh, in our own efforts:
"21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7: 21-25)
This war brings us into defeat, while the war which Christ win give us victory:
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, we do not claim progress, but victory:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
More than conquerors! Not just conquering, not just "Winning!" but "Hyper-victors", because the Victory is won for us through Christ, and is given to us thourgh His Holy Spirit living in us, granting us the glory of God.
Paul describes the standing that every believer has in Christ:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
We are blessed with all blessings in Christ. We are chosen, beloved of God because we are filled with Christ's grace, given to us to justify us fully from all sin. We are adopted as children, brought into the family of God.
Yet if that is not enough:
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
We are perfected in relation to our conscience, the sense of "wrong" which plagues every person born a son of Adam into this fallen world (Romans 7: 14, 24-25)
We do not "claim" progress, but in Christ we receive preeminence through the riches of God's grace.
Our part is not to stand, but rather to receive our seated status in Christ:
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
We can make no progress on our own, but in Christ, we can do all things:
"5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
and
"13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. " (Philippians 4: 13)
Forget "progress", receiving God's perfection through your perfected standing in Christ.
Freedom from the Flesh, not "Self"
Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.
So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help. (AA, pg 62)
The "Big Book" claims that man's biggest problem, that the source of greatest concern for the "alcoholic" is "self"
When I was first working these steps, when I was learning to live the "AA way of life", I had a hard time understanding this issue of "Self", or what it meant to turn my "will and life" over to a power greater than myself, one which I may as well never be able to understand, let alone trust.
I have a better question that I would press to any die-hard defender of AA: how do I get rid of myself? I walk around in this body, and I have this mind which thinks certain thoughts. How am I supposed to live, exactly, if I have to get rid of this "self"?
The "Third Step Prayer" offers even less assistance.
We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee-to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!" We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him. (AA, pg 63)
"Abandon ourselves utterly to Him." These phrases may work their magic on just about anyone, especially a person who is desperate to break free of alcohol addiction. Once a member gets sober, gets the drink out of his system, he ought to spend more time looking over some of these cumbersome and confusing prayers. How am I supposed to know "what this will" is? Do I wait for an angel to come down from heaven, or some demon from the pit of the earth, to tell me what to do? More likely, though not plainly stated, the "sponsor" would take the lead in managing the life of the new member. The cult of AA creates a culture of dependence and ultimately despair and despondency. Men and women go from trying to break free of alcohol to finding themselves in bondage to a "sponsor" who tells them what to do, where to go, how to work the steps, and the other follies which create more of the same problems which likely cause the member to drink in the first place.
The Bible gives a better diagnosis of what ails man:
"14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (Romans 7: 14-20)
The dynamic of man is divided into flesh (carnal) and spirit. God places His Holy Spirit in man, so that God may once again dwell in us, as He had intended with Adam and Eve before they ate of the Forbidden Fruit.
Man is born in sin, that is separation from God, and thus he is dead in his tresspasses (Ephesians 2: 1). In effect, he sins because he is a sinner:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." (Romans 5: 15-16)
The contrast starts with Adam, by whom we are dead, judged and condemned because we are born into this world as descendants of Adam, in his likeness (Genesis 5: 1-2).
Yet through Christ, everyone of us can be born again, brought into life and sonship though the adoption of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 15-17)
So, man is a spirit (Genesis 2: 7), possesses a soul (Luke 21:19), and lives in a body (Romans 7: 24-25). We are called to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), not in the flesh, moving in his grace, not through works of our own flesh (1 Corinthians 15: 10) .
Therefore, believers in the Body of Christ are not supposed to identify with their bodies at all:
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)
The sin is in our bodies, not in our spirit. This distinction is crucial, because unless we learn to identify with who we are in Christ (1 John4: 17), we will find ourselves over and over again struggling to figure out who we are, what we are supposed to be doing, and thus we struggle with trying to fix our thoughts and our feelings, instead of resting in our new identity in Christ:
"Herein is our love
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he
is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
We do not find freedom in breaking away from ourselves, but by resting in our new identity in Christ:
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 36)
Our new "Self" is in Christ, and our "Old Man" is the flesh, the realm of self-effort, the realm of trying to keep God's law, or work Twelve Steps, for that matter.
So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help. (AA, pg 62)
The "Big Book" claims that man's biggest problem, that the source of greatest concern for the "alcoholic" is "self"
When I was first working these steps, when I was learning to live the "AA way of life", I had a hard time understanding this issue of "Self", or what it meant to turn my "will and life" over to a power greater than myself, one which I may as well never be able to understand, let alone trust.
I have a better question that I would press to any die-hard defender of AA: how do I get rid of myself? I walk around in this body, and I have this mind which thinks certain thoughts. How am I supposed to live, exactly, if I have to get rid of this "self"?
The "Third Step Prayer" offers even less assistance.
We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee-to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!" We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him. (AA, pg 63)
"Abandon ourselves utterly to Him." These phrases may work their magic on just about anyone, especially a person who is desperate to break free of alcohol addiction. Once a member gets sober, gets the drink out of his system, he ought to spend more time looking over some of these cumbersome and confusing prayers. How am I supposed to know "what this will" is? Do I wait for an angel to come down from heaven, or some demon from the pit of the earth, to tell me what to do? More likely, though not plainly stated, the "sponsor" would take the lead in managing the life of the new member. The cult of AA creates a culture of dependence and ultimately despair and despondency. Men and women go from trying to break free of alcohol to finding themselves in bondage to a "sponsor" who tells them what to do, where to go, how to work the steps, and the other follies which create more of the same problems which likely cause the member to drink in the first place.
The Bible gives a better diagnosis of what ails man:
"14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (Romans 7: 14-20)
The dynamic of man is divided into flesh (carnal) and spirit. God places His Holy Spirit in man, so that God may once again dwell in us, as He had intended with Adam and Eve before they ate of the Forbidden Fruit.
Man is born in sin, that is separation from God, and thus he is dead in his tresspasses (Ephesians 2: 1). In effect, he sins because he is a sinner:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." (Romans 5: 15-16)
The contrast starts with Adam, by whom we are dead, judged and condemned because we are born into this world as descendants of Adam, in his likeness (Genesis 5: 1-2).
Yet through Christ, everyone of us can be born again, brought into life and sonship though the adoption of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 15-17)
So, man is a spirit (Genesis 2: 7), possesses a soul (Luke 21:19), and lives in a body (Romans 7: 24-25). We are called to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), not in the flesh, moving in his grace, not through works of our own flesh (1 Corinthians 15: 10) .
Therefore, believers in the Body of Christ are not supposed to identify with their bodies at all:
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)
The sin is in our bodies, not in our spirit. This distinction is crucial, because unless we learn to identify with who we are in Christ (1 John4: 17), we will find ourselves over and over again struggling to figure out who we are, what we are supposed to be doing, and thus we struggle with trying to fix our thoughts and our feelings, instead of resting in our new identity in Christ:
We do not find freedom in breaking away from ourselves, but by resting in our new identity in Christ:
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 36)
Our new "Self" is in Christ, and our "Old Man" is the flesh, the realm of self-effort, the realm of trying to keep God's law, or work Twelve Steps, for that matter.
Inspiration Comes from the Holy Spirit
What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it. (AA, pg 87)
This piece of advice gives rise to some of the damaging effects that the program can have on "more mystical" types. One of the most frustrating aspects of trying to live according to the "Twelve Step Program" centered on this passage. How was I supposed to know that any "inspiration" which I received from within was something that I could trust, that I could act upon?
God works within us, both to will and to do for our good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)
This God works in us through His Word, which is both Spirit and Truth:
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17: 17)
and
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6: 63)
The Holy Spirit gives us knowledge and wisdom:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2:20)
and
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not
that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,
and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in
him." (1 John 2: 27)
As we abide in Christ, we receive Himself, who is made through God to every believer Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). Through Christ in us and around us, we receive the power which works within us to do all things:
"I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
We abide in Christ though His Holy Spirit, which brings to us righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14: 17)
As we walk in peace with God, because we have been fully justified from all sin (Romans 5:1), the Holy Spirit works within every believer, intimately intimating to him the will of God. Inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, whom every Christian receives not through working Twelve Steps, but by believing on Him whom the Father has sent (John 6: 29).
Not "Hitting Bottom" -- But Getting to the Bottom of Things
"Hitting Bottom" is a classic phrase which floats around in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Basically, men and women will not be ready for the Twelve Steps until they "Hit Bottom", until they realize that their alcoholic condition is hopeless, that they cannot drink without drinking to excess.
The only problem with this concept, however, is actually an immense problem.
What is "the bottom" for most people? The nature of the term is nebulous at best, dangerous at its worst. There are drunken bums in the street who have not "hit bottom", in that they keep running to the alcohol, since they have nothing else to run to.
There are the recurrent "slippers", the men and women who go into AA meetings, and frequently drink again, only to return so that they can have their "thirty day" chip, or otherwise. They do not seem to have a bottom, at all.
Then there are the growing number of men and women who stop drinking because they do not want to drink excessively, anymore. They did not hit a bottom of "incomprehensible demoralization", as the "Big Book" suggests.
In truth, the fallen flesh of man can never be fixed, can never end.
Paul's struggle with sin and the law illustrates the nature of the conflict for any other perversion:
"14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (Romans 7: 14-20)
Then Paul exclaims:
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7: 24)
This cry springs from a hopeless fight, one which he, or any other man, can never hope to win.
"I want to do X, but I end up doing Y. Why?" describes the gist of this painful struggle in the mind and flesh of fallen man. So goes the same ups and downs of every person who wants to break free of drink on his own, through his own resolve:
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (1 Corinthians 15: 56).
When man compells even himself to do something, he will oftentimes engender the very opposite effect. The nature of man, dead in his trespasses, will not permit him to live up to any standard or code of conduct which he develops or envelopes. He must either submit to allowing the life of Christ Jesus to live through Him, or continue to struggle against the shame and condemnation of frustration and failure endemic to man's flesh.
The more that people realize the truth of their condition, not merely as alcoholics, but creatures of God who are dead in their trespasses, then the greater their freedom to break away from sin by embracing the new life, based on righteousness and grace, which people receive through Christ:
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8: 1)
None, not one bit. Why is that? Paul explains in a previous chapter:
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 14)
The grace of God, the unmerited favor which flows from God to all men, teaches us to say "No!" to sin, and "Yes!" to living godly lives in righteousness (Titus 2:11-12).
Not rules and regulations, not steps and self-imposed codes of conduct, but God's grace moves us and makes us sons of light:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Instead of "hitting bottom", men and women need to invest in getting to the bottom of things, that the grace of God moves in men through His Spirit, and this truth sets us free:
"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)
Not "hitting bottom", but getting to the bottom of things, getting to the truth of the matter, that sets people free.
Basically, men and women will not be ready for the Twelve Steps until they "Hit Bottom", until they realize that their alcoholic condition is hopeless, that they cannot drink without drinking to excess.
The only problem with this concept, however, is actually an immense problem.
What is "the bottom" for most people? The nature of the term is nebulous at best, dangerous at its worst. There are drunken bums in the street who have not "hit bottom", in that they keep running to the alcohol, since they have nothing else to run to.
There are the recurrent "slippers", the men and women who go into AA meetings, and frequently drink again, only to return so that they can have their "thirty day" chip, or otherwise. They do not seem to have a bottom, at all.
Then there are the growing number of men and women who stop drinking because they do not want to drink excessively, anymore. They did not hit a bottom of "incomprehensible demoralization", as the "Big Book" suggests.
In truth, the fallen flesh of man can never be fixed, can never end.
Paul's struggle with sin and the law illustrates the nature of the conflict for any other perversion:
"14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (Romans 7: 14-20)
Then Paul exclaims:
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7: 24)
This cry springs from a hopeless fight, one which he, or any other man, can never hope to win.
"I want to do X, but I end up doing Y. Why?" describes the gist of this painful struggle in the mind and flesh of fallen man. So goes the same ups and downs of every person who wants to break free of drink on his own, through his own resolve:
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (1 Corinthians 15: 56).
When man compells even himself to do something, he will oftentimes engender the very opposite effect. The nature of man, dead in his trespasses, will not permit him to live up to any standard or code of conduct which he develops or envelopes. He must either submit to allowing the life of Christ Jesus to live through Him, or continue to struggle against the shame and condemnation of frustration and failure endemic to man's flesh.
The more that people realize the truth of their condition, not merely as alcoholics, but creatures of God who are dead in their trespasses, then the greater their freedom to break away from sin by embracing the new life, based on righteousness and grace, which people receive through Christ:
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8: 1)
None, not one bit. Why is that? Paul explains in a previous chapter:
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 14)
The grace of God, the unmerited favor which flows from God to all men, teaches us to say "No!" to sin, and "Yes!" to living godly lives in righteousness (Titus 2:11-12).
Not rules and regulations, not steps and self-imposed codes of conduct, but God's grace moves us and makes us sons of light:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Instead of "hitting bottom", men and women need to invest in getting to the bottom of things, that the grace of God moves in men through His Spirit, and this truth sets us free:
"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)
Not "hitting bottom", but getting to the bottom of things, getting to the truth of the matter, that sets people free.
Friday, February 22, 2013
No Therapist but Christ the Truth
Now about health: A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative. We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. But we have seen remarkable transformations in our bodies. Hardly one of our crowd now shows any mark of dissipation.
But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and in following his case afterward. (AA, pg 133)
You can be set free from death into life by believing on Him whom the Father has sent (John 6: 29).
Depression has nothing to do with our circumstances and everything to do with ourselves, to the extent that man is a descendant of Adam, dead in his trespasses, with no hope of life unless he receives the gift of no condemnation found in Christ:
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, NIV)
No condemnation, no matter what wrong thing you may have done, may do, or may think about doing in the future.
The satisfaction which man seeks, he finds in the grace of God:
"O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90: 14)
The starting point of all things, and the end of every matter, is Jesus Christ:
"Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
and
"Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 8)
and
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
freely." (Revelation 21: 6)
But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and in following his case afterward.
This line of thinking runs contrary to the true and faithful counsel of the Holy Spirit alive in every believer:
"But ye have an
unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John2: 20)
and
"But the anointing
which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)
We do not need to run to experts, for Christ is made through God to every one of us "Wisdom" among all other gifts (1 Corinthians 1: 30).
The problem for everyone of us, whether young or old, has nothing to do with how we feel, but what we know, and whether the things we know are so:
"Then said Jesus to
those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye
my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)
The Truth is based on the Word, Jesus is the Word made flesh, and every verse of the Bible testifies to Jesus Christ, not ourselves, not our feelings, not our limited view on things.
Many of the "therapists" who are supposed to "help" in fact hinder recovery for many "clients" because the very relationship creates an identity of sickness and failure, just like the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Therapists, oftentimes, tell men and women struggling with alcohol to go to meetings, which causes them to drink more of the very poison which leads people to drink: too much self, nothing but self, and self identified with lies instead of the truth.
No therapist is need but the Truth that sets us free, and if the Son sets you free, then you are free indeed (John 8:36)
"Cordially Hate"?
The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly relations with his children. Their young minds were impressionable while he was drinking. Without saying so, they may cordially hate him for what he has done to them and to their mother. The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. They cannot seem to forgive and forget. This may hang on for months, long after their mother has accepted dad's new way of living and thinking.
In time they will see that he is a new man and in their own way they will let him know it. When this happens, they can be invited to join in morning meditation and then they can take part in the daily discussion without rancor or bias. From that point on, progress will be rapid. Marvelous results often follow such a reunion. (AA, pg 134)
More often than not, the "alcoholic" cannot establish relationships to begin with because the program teaches members that they are forever-victims of a disease, and the only cure is to go to "meeting", pour out their woes to some woeful stranger, and go to drunk tanks and look for new recruits.
What kind of a parent can a man or woman be if they are "working" this program every day?
Without saying so, they may cordially hate him for what he has done to them and to their mother.
"Cordially hate him" -- are you kidding me? "Cordial" and "hate" make about as much sense as "legitimate rape". One of many disjunctive phrases in the "Big Book", including "spiritual program" or "fearless, moral inventory", demonstrate how twisted and empty the rhetoric and reasoning of Alcoholics Anonymous was, is, and always will be.
The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. They cannot seem to forgive and forget. This may hang on for months, long after their mother has accepted dad's new way of living and thinking.
Such an arrogant appraisal of family hurt and suffering is both sickening and frightening. There is nothing at all pathetic about spouses and children being hurt and angry because of the damage which alcoholism does to a family. Such condescension exposes the inherent narcissism of the "Founder", Bill Wilson, and the early ilk who pushed this program of destruction and inaction on others.
This may hang on for months, long after their mother has accepted dad's new way of living and thinking.
What is this "new way of living and thinking", exactly? Point of fat,m it is the same line of thinking that belongs to many cults, and specifically to the Oxford Group. There is nothing "new" in the line of disturbing dependence which Alcoholics Anonymous forces on new members.
From that point on, progress will be rapid. Marvelous results often follow such a reunion.
No evidence exists that AA gives rise to "marvelous results." Clinical studies have established that 95% - 95%! -- of people who enter the rooms do not get sober, do not stay. The only marvel is that such a lie has persisted for so long."Repeat a lie often enough . . ." Adolph Hitler would have been amazed at the cult-like condition of AA.
I "cordially hate" AA.
"Big Book" is a Big Fraud
I was raised to believe that men and women should take the "Big Book" seriously, like a holy book on the same level as the Bible.
My sister and I rejected that nonsense when we were younger, but since we learned nothing apart from viewing it through the distorted lens of "Alcoholics Anonymous", the Bible made little sense to us.
The Big Book is open conflict, in open rebellion with the Bible, and takes scriptures so out of context, that the "Big Book" ends up being a "Big Fraud".
Despite the unique perception which develops in this respect, the "Big Book" should be treated as a Big Fraud, much like the "Book of Mormon" or any of "Christian Science" writer Mary Baker Eddy's books.
Better yet, people should think of Alcoholics Anonymous like the Hale Bob cult, which led to the mass suicide of seventy people.
Except that at least those people killed themselves drinking the kool-aid. The members of AA drink nothing intoxicating, and they die more slowly.
My sister and I rejected that nonsense when we were younger, but since we learned nothing apart from viewing it through the distorted lens of "Alcoholics Anonymous", the Bible made little sense to us.
The Big Book is open conflict, in open rebellion with the Bible, and takes scriptures so out of context, that the "Big Book" ends up being a "Big Fraud".
Despite the unique perception which develops in this respect, the "Big Book" should be treated as a Big Fraud, much like the "Book of Mormon" or any of "Christian Science" writer Mary Baker Eddy's books.
Better yet, people should think of Alcoholics Anonymous like the Hale Bob cult, which led to the mass suicide of seventy people.
Except that at least those people killed themselves drinking the kool-aid. The members of AA drink nothing intoxicating, and they die more slowly.
Not a "Daily Reprieve", but Eternal Life and Everlasting Righteousness
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. (AA, pg 85)
This passage alone accounts for much of the unrest in members who frequent the meetings.
The Bible does not promise a "daily reprieve", but eternal life:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
then
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5: 11)
God "has given" us this new life. Not something that we have to hold onto through our own efforts, but a gift:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 4-8)
Even the Old Testament promises more than "a daily reprieve":
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9: 24)
Go to the very beginning, and the "Sabbath rest" which God instituted was never supposed to have an end. The first six days of Creation had "morning and evening." Consider the seventh day:
"1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3)
There is no mention of "morning and evening." God instituted this "Sabbath rest" to never end, and thus man and woman, Adam and Eve would live in Holy Communion with God forever.
Today, every believer is not called to "take his inventory", or rehearse his sins, but rather to "labor" to enter the rest" (Hebrews 4: 9-11), a rest in which we keep in receiving His gift of righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17) so that all things are added unto to us in Christ (Romans 8: 31-32)
This passage alone accounts for much of the unrest in members who frequent the meetings.
The Bible does not promise a "daily reprieve", but eternal life:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
then
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5: 11)
God "has given" us this new life. Not something that we have to hold onto through our own efforts, but a gift:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 4-8)
Even the Old Testament promises more than "a daily reprieve":
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9: 24)
Go to the very beginning, and the "Sabbath rest" which God instituted was never supposed to have an end. The first six days of Creation had "morning and evening." Consider the seventh day:
"1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3)
There is no mention of "morning and evening." God instituted this "Sabbath rest" to never end, and thus man and woman, Adam and Eve would live in Holy Communion with God forever.
Today, every believer is not called to "take his inventory", or rehearse his sins, but rather to "labor" to enter the rest" (Hebrews 4: 9-11), a rest in which we keep in receiving His gift of righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17) so that all things are added unto to us in Christ (Romans 8: 31-32)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
More on the "Lying Identity" of AA
We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones. Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men. We have tried every imaginable remedy. In some instances there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse. Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic. Science may one day accomplish this, but it hasn't done so yet. (AA, pg 30-31)
Having a drinking problem does not mean that you have lost your legs.
What a terrible message to send people.
There is no clinical evidence that alcoholism is a disease, either. None.
"Science may one day accomplish this". . .
Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that AA makes men and women confirmed addicts, not men and women living happy, sober lives.
The book crams on people the hollow falsehoods that "alcoholics" are a certain type of person, one who cannot understand things the way that "normal" people understand reality.
This logical falsehood creates a host of problems for people, one of which centers on identity and reality, both of which founder when the proper premise of truth falls away.
"We" are like "men who have lost their legs".
What does having a drinking problem have to do with "not being able to walk"?
What do you say to the members of AA who have no legs from day one?
What do you say to the men and women who overcome their handicaps by getting prosthetic legs?
AA is wrong on all counts.
More "Lies" About AA
At the beginning of AA "Chapter 3", the Big Book tells us"
Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics.
Of course most people are unwilling to admit this. "Alcoholic" means nothing.
No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows.
People are not mentally different from their fellows because they are struggling with alcohol addiction.
Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people.
The issue with drinking, as with any other abuse or perversion or addiction, is a desire to end the pain of self-loathing self-preoccupation.
The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.
Not so. Many "alcoholics" have broken free of the addiction, and they never died or went insane.
We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.
"Concede to our innermost selves" leads to people identifying with something both evil and wrong. Give me a break!
We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking.
What does it mean "control"? Gina Petralli outlines that neuro-chemical problems within a person which leads individuals to obsess on any substance, and how the proper treatment, based on truth, helps people break free.
We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.
What is this control that the "Big Book" is talking about? I find in strange and disturbing that the "control" mentioned in this statement is not qualified by anything. So, certain people have no control over anything?
All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals - usually brief - were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.
The issue of control has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with resting in the loving arms of Him who has everything taken care of for us -- past, present, and future. This "God" is not whatever "Higher Power" that Bill W. concocted, but the Lord revealed in the Word of God.
We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.
"Progressive" illness is the biggest whopper I have read yet. "Illnesses" are never "progressive", but rather they are regressive, are they not?
Genita Petralli -- Cult Buster
http://the101program.com/
Thank you, Ms. Petralli.
Your clinical work on this topic is gold and silver, a sure foundation.
If only my parents had known this.
If only I had learned about this sooner.
The real illusion that persists begins and ends with the lie that AA is a program of recovery.
It's a cult of dependence and despondency.
Ms. Petralli emphasizes the following revelations about the AA program:
1. The program prescribes relapse, that is, the program actually causes people to relapse.
2. The program invites members to engage in behaviors and habits which inhibit recovery, like eating sugar and ice cream.
3. There is no credible evidence which suggests that AA works.
4.Contrary to urban legends, AA does not have a high success rate, but only a telling 3% actually recover.
5. The 3% in AA meetings who do stay sober are also using anti-depressants. Those drugs do not permit people to live life to its fullest.
6. 30% of deeply addicted people get sober on their own, which suggests that the slim margin of recovery in AA comes from this group, who would have gotten sober anyway, with or without AA.
Thank you, Ms. Petralli.
Your clinical work on this topic is gold and silver, a sure foundation.
If only my parents had known this.
If only I had learned about this sooner.
The real illusion that persists begins and ends with the lie that AA is a program of recovery.
It's a cult of dependence and despondency.
Ms. Petralli emphasizes the following revelations about the AA program:
1. The program prescribes relapse, that is, the program actually causes people to relapse.
2. The program invites members to engage in behaviors and habits which inhibit recovery, like eating sugar and ice cream.
3. There is no credible evidence which suggests that AA works.
4.Contrary to urban legends, AA does not have a high success rate, but only a telling 3% actually recover.
5. The 3% in AA meetings who do stay sober are also using anti-depressants. Those drugs do not permit people to live life to its fullest.
6. 30% of deeply addicted people get sober on their own, which suggests that the slim margin of recovery in AA comes from this group, who would have gotten sober anyway, with or without AA.
AA Prescribes Relapse!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uZ_6flmLysc
Could it be any clearer?
AA prescribes relapse! This lady gives the impression that AA inadvertently subverts an individual's capacity to break an addiction to alcohol.
I now know and believe that Bill W. and his ill ilk created a cult which claimed to help people, but in reality it keeps people sick and dependent, so that they will "keep coming back."
The whole program works on reframing a person's identity. Imagine that, waking up every day, and hearing in your mind that you are "an alcoholic", and there is no hope for you to escape this terrible disease.
30% of chronically addicted individuals do break free on their own, so no wonder about 3-5% who use the program get sober, because they would have gotten sober, anyway. The program has no evidence whatsoever that it works
The program creates a culture of chemically depressed people who give their chemically depressed stories so that they will live on in their chemically depressed lives.
No wonder I was having so much troubles as a kid.
No wonder lie on life's terms was not all that it is cracked up to be.
No wonder so many things were not working out in my life.
"It's not the things you don't know, it's the things you know that just ain't so." -- Will Rogers.
I had believed that AA was a program that worked -- that was something that I "knew" that wasn't so.
Could it be any clearer?
AA prescribes relapse! This lady gives the impression that AA inadvertently subverts an individual's capacity to break an addiction to alcohol.
I now know and believe that Bill W. and his ill ilk created a cult which claimed to help people, but in reality it keeps people sick and dependent, so that they will "keep coming back."
The whole program works on reframing a person's identity. Imagine that, waking up every day, and hearing in your mind that you are "an alcoholic", and there is no hope for you to escape this terrible disease.
30% of chronically addicted individuals do break free on their own, so no wonder about 3-5% who use the program get sober, because they would have gotten sober, anyway. The program has no evidence whatsoever that it works
The program creates a culture of chemically depressed people who give their chemically depressed stories so that they will live on in their chemically depressed lives.
No wonder I was having so much troubles as a kid.
No wonder lie on life's terms was not all that it is cracked up to be.
No wonder so many things were not working out in my life.
"It's not the things you don't know, it's the things you know that just ain't so." -- Will Rogers.
I had believed that AA was a program that worked -- that was something that I "knew" that wasn't so.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Drunk-A-Logue that we Needed to Hear from Bill W.
 |
| AA Cult leader Bill W. with his partner in crime, Lois |
In Alcoholics Anonymous, there are "Speaker Meetings", in which one featured "old-timer" shares his "drunk-a-logue": what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now.
More often than not, members show up for an hour and a half to "share" their own testimonies (in truth, divulge their self-aggrandized self-loathing). These "shares" often range from five minutes to twenty, depending on the undisciplined nature of the group or cowardice of the meeting's leader. When I sat in, or rather "endured" those terrible meetings of men and women whining about their lives instead of celebrating their sobriety, I often wondered: "Where's the recovery in all of this?"
Of course, I have learned from the Truth -- God's Word -- and much research and assistance from people out and about and here and there, that Alcoholics Anonymous is a C-U-L-T. The founder lived anything but an honorable life, and his co-conspirator con-men took advantage of frustrated men and women who do need help, and instead of relief they gave them more bondage.
I will never forget one lady whom I met in an AA meeting, Dorothy. She was a calm person, if ever there was one. A few months later, I met her out and about, and learned that she had stopped going to meetings. She go so fed up with the members there, who would admit to committing all kinds of crimes, but then they boast in the fact that they did not drink that day.
Give me a break!
The more I learn the truth, that I am a child of God first, unconditionally loved regardless of how I feel, the more that I see the "Lie and the lies" which define AA.
Just for fun, I began wondering what it would be like if Bill W., the "Floundering Founder", had given a true "drunk-a-logue"? What would it sound like?
If Bill W., the founder of AA, had been "rigorously honest" (please, try to stifle your laughter), I imagine that his drunk-a-logue would sound something like the following. This little parody is for all of you out there who ran from AA, and not only lived, but laughed to tell about it:
My name is Bill W. Actually, my name is Bill Wilson, and I want everyone to know who I am, as htis admission is the the first of many times when I never practiced what I preached, including anonymity. Anyway, my name is Bill Wilsonand I am a narcissistic, self-righteous puritanical busybody who wants to make himself the center of your life. And You - that's right, You! -- are all alcoholics.
Hi, Bill!
I have never really been a member, because I have never really been sober. I never had a desire to be sober. In fact, even after I started AA, I dabbled in LSD, and I never quit smoking, and I want whiskey, now! In fact, toward the end of my life, when I have to choose between my oxygen tank and another drag on a cigarette, I smoke.
What it was like?
I never really had a "religious" experience. I was merely battered into submission by a bunch of crazy "Oxford Group" reigious fanatics, and I was so "thrilled" with the experience, that I just had to share it with everyone else. I saw a chance to be awesome, to be better than other people, to be "Jesus Christ" for all of you sick people who need a savior.
As you know, misery loves company, so I found some reprobate doctor named conveniently enough Robert Smith, and roped into my little scheme.
What happened?
Really, I am a depressed, repressed, supressed pressure-cooker of self-righteous indignation, and I need people to know and love me, so I decided to dedicate my life to create this "fellowship" where I could be surrounded by self-loathing losers.
To make sure that every one of you are losers and remain so, I have people commit to identifying themselves with their failing. Every member must confess that he or she is an "alcoholic", and that you will never be anything more, er less, than that.
You do not share your name, since I want to reduce any sense of self-respect in your life. You are an alcoholic, because that is what I say that you are. Like another well-know cult leader taught me, "Repeat a lie often enough. . ."
To make sure that you never shake that sense of shame, you will always identify yourself as an alcoholic. You will then make an exact, "painstaking" inventory of all your shortcomings, although the criteria for this list is never presented to you, so you walk around forever wondering and wandering whether you have done a thorough "house cleaning". The sense of guilt will never go away, so you will keep coming back because if it's not working, it must be your fault! See how my sick mind works?
What it's like now?
Well, you're all here listening to me vent, aren't you? I guess my scam worked. No one ever gets sober in an AA meeting. People get sober because they stop trying to fix themselves and let go of their "self-preoccupation", but in the meetings, I want you forever fixated on yourself, since that way you will never get better.
No one is really sober, anyway, since the cigarettes and the coffee are available in full and running supply. All of those old-timers, like me, love our coffee, and we love to smoke cigarettes! I can't breathe on my own any more *cough* *hack* *spew*, but I still smoke.
The government makes you come, since that's the easiest way to keep the numbers up. 95% of people who enter the meetings never stay, you know, and so many of you keep killing yourselves!
Where's my whiskey?!
Anyway, my name is Bill Wilson, and I am a narcissistic, self-righteous puritanical busybody who wants to make himself the center of your life. And You - that's right, You! -- are all alcoholics.
So ends the "Drunk-a-logue" that we needed to hear from Bill "the swill" W.
I hope you liked it.
Thanks for letting me share!
More often than not, members show up for an hour and a half to "share" their own testimonies (in truth, divulge their self-aggrandized self-loathing). These "shares" often range from five minutes to twenty, depending on the undisciplined nature of the group or cowardice of the meeting's leader. When I sat in, or rather "endured" those terrible meetings of men and women whining about their lives instead of celebrating their sobriety, I often wondered: "Where's the recovery in all of this?"
Of course, I have learned from the Truth -- God's Word -- and much research and assistance from people out and about and here and there, that Alcoholics Anonymous is a C-U-L-T. The founder lived anything but an honorable life, and his co-conspirator con-men took advantage of frustrated men and women who do need help, and instead of relief they gave them more bondage.
I will never forget one lady whom I met in an AA meeting, Dorothy. She was a calm person, if ever there was one. A few months later, I met her out and about, and learned that she had stopped going to meetings. She go so fed up with the members there, who would admit to committing all kinds of crimes, but then they boast in the fact that they did not drink that day.
Give me a break!
The more I learn the truth, that I am a child of God first, unconditionally loved regardless of how I feel, the more that I see the "Lie and the lies" which define AA.
Just for fun, I began wondering what it would be like if Bill W., the "Floundering Founder", had given a true "drunk-a-logue"? What would it sound like?
If Bill W., the founder of AA, had been "rigorously honest" (please, try to stifle your laughter), I imagine that his drunk-a-logue would sound something like the following. This little parody is for all of you out there who ran from AA, and not only lived, but laughed to tell about it:
My name is Bill W. Actually, my name is Bill Wilson, and I want everyone to know who I am, as htis admission is the the first of many times when I never practiced what I preached, including anonymity. Anyway, my name is Bill Wilsonand I am a narcissistic, self-righteous puritanical busybody who wants to make himself the center of your life. And You - that's right, You! -- are all alcoholics.
Hi, Bill!
I have never really been a member, because I have never really been sober. I never had a desire to be sober. In fact, even after I started AA, I dabbled in LSD, and I never quit smoking, and I want whiskey, now! In fact, toward the end of my life, when I have to choose between my oxygen tank and another drag on a cigarette, I smoke.
What it was like?
I never really had a "religious" experience. I was merely battered into submission by a bunch of crazy "Oxford Group" reigious fanatics, and I was so "thrilled" with the experience, that I just had to share it with everyone else. I saw a chance to be awesome, to be better than other people, to be "Jesus Christ" for all of you sick people who need a savior.
As you know, misery loves company, so I found some reprobate doctor named conveniently enough Robert Smith, and roped into my little scheme.
What happened?
Really, I am a depressed, repressed, supressed pressure-cooker of self-righteous indignation, and I need people to know and love me, so I decided to dedicate my life to create this "fellowship" where I could be surrounded by self-loathing losers.
To make sure that every one of you are losers and remain so, I have people commit to identifying themselves with their failing. Every member must confess that he or she is an "alcoholic", and that you will never be anything more, er less, than that.
You do not share your name, since I want to reduce any sense of self-respect in your life. You are an alcoholic, because that is what I say that you are. Like another well-know cult leader taught me, "Repeat a lie often enough. . ."
To make sure that you never shake that sense of shame, you will always identify yourself as an alcoholic. You will then make an exact, "painstaking" inventory of all your shortcomings, although the criteria for this list is never presented to you, so you walk around forever wondering and wandering whether you have done a thorough "house cleaning". The sense of guilt will never go away, so you will keep coming back because if it's not working, it must be your fault! See how my sick mind works?
What it's like now?
Well, you're all here listening to me vent, aren't you? I guess my scam worked. No one ever gets sober in an AA meeting. People get sober because they stop trying to fix themselves and let go of their "self-preoccupation", but in the meetings, I want you forever fixated on yourself, since that way you will never get better.
No one is really sober, anyway, since the cigarettes and the coffee are available in full and running supply. All of those old-timers, like me, love our coffee, and we love to smoke cigarettes! I can't breathe on my own any more *cough* *hack* *spew*, but I still smoke.
The government makes you come, since that's the easiest way to keep the numbers up. 95% of people who enter the meetings never stay, you know, and so many of you keep killing yourselves!
Where's my whiskey?!
Anyway, my name is Bill Wilson, and I am a narcissistic, self-righteous puritanical busybody who wants to make himself the center of your life. And You - that's right, You! -- are all alcoholics.
So ends the "Drunk-a-logue" that we needed to hear from Bill "the swill" W.
I hope you liked it.
Thanks for letting me share!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
There is No Rest in AA
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4: 9)
In AA, there is no rest:
In AA, there is no rest:
This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. (AA, pg84)
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear.
To continue to watch for anything in our lives means that we are not resting, but still at work, hypervigilant to the extreme.
There is no rest for anyone as long as man thinks that he can grow in "understanding and effectiveness".
All of this talk about self-improvement is just fleshly will-worship. There is no improving our flesh, there is no living this life in our own strength, either:
"Likewise reckon ye
also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)
and
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who
is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 3-4)
and
"I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
While Jesus was on the earth, he typified the life that every believer would live with Christ living in us:
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that
I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works." (John 14: 10)
We do nothing of ourselves (John 15: 5). The work is all of Christ, and none of us.
AA does not offer anything but a pretense of God dependence, yet the Twelve Steps and the consistent insistence of looking at ourselves, taking our inventory, confessing our sins, and working with others in order to maintain sobriety, creates a new hell for men and women in the Body of Christ.
Jesus offers us Himself, and He is our rest (Matthew 11:28-30). He wants to work within us, not just with us (Philippians 2:12-13).
There is no rest in AA. There is rest in Jesus.
Friday, February 1, 2013
AA: A Reflection of Bill W. Failed Self-Discovery
The sentiment that alcoholics should expect sobriety to be marked by long periods of struggle with their personal shortcomings is a reflection of Bill’s own struggles with depression. His decreased expectations for the quality of his own sobriety lead him to lower his expectations for others as well. Bill’s experiences with seeking help from psychiatrist lead him to a new understanding of the inventory process that is more psychological in nature. Also, in Bill’s mind, the method of substitution is adequate because he does not have the same faith in the ability of spiritual experience to address all of the alcoholic’s troubles.
This new version of Stepwork is no longer insists on spiritual experience as the answer to the problems of the alcoholic. Instead, it offers a solution that is social and psychological in nature. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and its brand of Stepwork effects the nature of the Twelve Steps within AA, and will also affect the practice of the Steps in all future Twelve Step fellowships.(StepStudy.org)
The Twelve Step Programs were all about Bill W.
It was a very self-centered program, one in which Bill W. wanted everyone to be just like him.
He struggled with the Twelve Steps, none of which helped relieve him of his depression.
Of course it never relieved him of his depression: the program forces people to look at themselves, to dwell on themselves, to try and fix something in their lives which can never be fixed: their flesh, their self-effort, the death within them that can never be taken away.
"Long periods of struggled with personal short-comings" describe every person who tries to make himself better. The task is just hopeless. Man does not need to be made better, but rather he needs to be given life, and that more abundantly. This crucial distinction mars the splendid life of grace and righteousness which God wishes every person to have in this life (Romans 5: 17)
This new version of Stepwork is no longer insists on spiritual experience as the answer to the problems of the alcoholic. Instead, it offers a solution that is social and psychological in nature.
In the "Big Book", Bill W. claimed that alcoholism was a spiritual problem. If alcohol abuse is a social and a psychological problem, then there is no need for a "Higher Power".
Of course Bill W. was a depressed.
Any life built on "not drinking" is not life at all.
The high incidence of suicide in AA should not surprise anyone, then, since even the "founder" of the program still plunged into severe bouts of depression.
Nothing will make a man sadder than focusing on himself.
StepStudy.org admits on its own website that the emphasis of "The Twelve and Twelve" differs considerably from the "Big Book". Why has no one in the meetings currently identify this outrageous disjunction?
This new version of Stepwork is no longer insists on spiritual experience as the answer to the problems of the alcoholic. Instead, it offers a solution that is social and psychological in nature. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and its brand of Stepwork effects the nature of the Twelve Steps within AA, and will also affect the practice of the Steps in all future Twelve Step fellowships.(StepStudy.org)
The Twelve Step Programs were all about Bill W.
It was a very self-centered program, one in which Bill W. wanted everyone to be just like him.
He struggled with the Twelve Steps, none of which helped relieve him of his depression.
Of course it never relieved him of his depression: the program forces people to look at themselves, to dwell on themselves, to try and fix something in their lives which can never be fixed: their flesh, their self-effort, the death within them that can never be taken away.
"Long periods of struggled with personal short-comings" describe every person who tries to make himself better. The task is just hopeless. Man does not need to be made better, but rather he needs to be given life, and that more abundantly. This crucial distinction mars the splendid life of grace and righteousness which God wishes every person to have in this life (Romans 5: 17)
This new version of Stepwork is no longer insists on spiritual experience as the answer to the problems of the alcoholic. Instead, it offers a solution that is social and psychological in nature.
In the "Big Book", Bill W. claimed that alcoholism was a spiritual problem. If alcohol abuse is a social and a psychological problem, then there is no need for a "Higher Power".
Of course Bill W. was a depressed.
Any life built on "not drinking" is not life at all.
The high incidence of suicide in AA should not surprise anyone, then, since even the "founder" of the program still plunged into severe bouts of depression.
Nothing will make a man sadder than focusing on himself.
StepStudy.org admits on its own website that the emphasis of "The Twelve and Twelve" differs considerably from the "Big Book". Why has no one in the meetings currently identify this outrageous disjunction?
Bill W's True Mission -- Making AA the Higher Power
I found some revealing passages from a website called "StepStudy.org", a website which is sympathetic with Twelve Steps, Bill W., and similar programs of recovery. The clash of visions, and the transition of the program from the foundation principles in the "Big Book" to the "Twelve and Twelve" are quite revealing.
[Writing about the Twelve and Twelve] In order to address the needs of this population, Bill “widens the hoop” that members have to jump through in order to feel that they are actively working the AA program. He accomplishes this primarily by introducing the “method of substitution” in his Third Step instructions, and making major changes to the inventory process.
"Widening the hoop" is just another way of saying that Bill W. lowered the standards. If the program requires "rigorous honesty", then why reduce the expectations required of members in order to get involved and profit from the program in the first place?
Bill W. wanted to get as many people into his program as possible. More likely, it was almost impossible for "bottom hitting" drunks to stay in the program, since they were so lost in their drunkenness, that the Twelve Steps simply did not take.
Of course, this blog has expounded a number of times that AA does not work at all as a program of recovery. Not one bit.
In speaking of the trouble that many AA’s have with turning their will and life over to the care of God, Bill says this:
Bill clearly expects that alcoholics who use AA as their higher power will eventually adopt a more spiritual outlook. However, Bill’s method of substitution also makes it possible for AA members to feel that they are honestly working the Steps without ever turning their lives over to the care of God.
Making people feel that they are working the Twelve Steps. What a bunch of folly. I thought that "alcohol was a subtle foe".
Could it be any clearer than this?
Bill W. was never interested in bringing people into a closer concious contact with God. If men and women get caught up in celebrating "the group" and abide by "the group conscience", then why should anyone go any further than that?
Bill was exclusively interested in getting people to identify with the new cult that he had established.
How anyone can look at a group of people who identify with each other because of a human failing is beyond ludicrous. If people are looking for a "Higher Power", why would they identify and answer to a bunch of people who are just like them, who have the same faults and failings as everyone else?
Let's refer once again to the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" (Hebrews 8:10)
God places His laws in our hearts and minds, and through His Spirit living within us, He directs us in the way that He wants us to live. We do not need to run our lives by other people, not do we need toseek the advice, consent, or even validation of other people.
"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. " (Hebrews 8: 11)
There are no steps, no groups, no extras required to know the Lord, and this knowledge is the most passionate, the most intimate that one can hope to receive.
Bill’s new instructions for the Fourth Step are another significant development. The Big Book outlines an inventory process that sees selfishness as the root of the alcoholic’s problems. In Bill’s new version, however, the root of the alcoholic’s problems is not selfishness, but rather instincts that are out of balance. (StepStudy.org)
More likely, Bill W. changed the format because no one wants to admit that he or she is selfish, but more than that, the "selfishness" which plagues people is based on condemnation, a knowledge of right and wrong which more often than not convicts them of being wrong. "Balancing" instincts takes the responsibility all the more away from the member, and puts it on "something else".
From the outset, it becomes clearer and clearer that Bill W. was never interested in people stepping out into a new life, but remaining tied down and identifying with AA as their new life, their new purpose, and just about everything else.
By the way, for anyone to identify with a "group conscience" just escapes any sense of reality or hope. Would members have to go out of their way calling different members just to get some wisdom about what they need to do in their lives?
[Writing about the Twelve and Twelve] In order to address the needs of this population, Bill “widens the hoop” that members have to jump through in order to feel that they are actively working the AA program. He accomplishes this primarily by introducing the “method of substitution” in his Third Step instructions, and making major changes to the inventory process.
"Widening the hoop" is just another way of saying that Bill W. lowered the standards. If the program requires "rigorous honesty", then why reduce the expectations required of members in order to get involved and profit from the program in the first place?
Bill W. wanted to get as many people into his program as possible. More likely, it was almost impossible for "bottom hitting" drunks to stay in the program, since they were so lost in their drunkenness, that the Twelve Steps simply did not take.
Of course, this blog has expounded a number of times that AA does not work at all as a program of recovery. Not one bit.
In speaking of the trouble that many AA’s have with turning their will and life over to the care of God, Bill says this:
| [Many people] begin to solve the problem by the method of substitution. You can, if you wish, make A.A. itself your “higher power”…many members…have crossed the threshold just this way…most of them began to talk of God.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
|
Making people feel that they are working the Twelve Steps. What a bunch of folly. I thought that "alcohol was a subtle foe".
Could it be any clearer than this?
Bill W. was never interested in bringing people into a closer concious contact with God. If men and women get caught up in celebrating "the group" and abide by "the group conscience", then why should anyone go any further than that?
Bill was exclusively interested in getting people to identify with the new cult that he had established.
How anyone can look at a group of people who identify with each other because of a human failing is beyond ludicrous. If people are looking for a "Higher Power", why would they identify and answer to a bunch of people who are just like them, who have the same faults and failings as everyone else?
Let's refer once again to the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" (Hebrews 8:10)
God places His laws in our hearts and minds, and through His Spirit living within us, He directs us in the way that He wants us to live. We do not need to run our lives by other people, not do we need toseek the advice, consent, or even validation of other people.
"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. " (Hebrews 8: 11)
There are no steps, no groups, no extras required to know the Lord, and this knowledge is the most passionate, the most intimate that one can hope to receive.
Bill’s new instructions for the Fourth Step are another significant development. The Big Book outlines an inventory process that sees selfishness as the root of the alcoholic’s problems. In Bill’s new version, however, the root of the alcoholic’s problems is not selfishness, but rather instincts that are out of balance. (StepStudy.org)
More likely, Bill W. changed the format because no one wants to admit that he or she is selfish, but more than that, the "selfishness" which plagues people is based on condemnation, a knowledge of right and wrong which more often than not convicts them of being wrong. "Balancing" instincts takes the responsibility all the more away from the member, and puts it on "something else".
From the outset, it becomes clearer and clearer that Bill W. was never interested in people stepping out into a new life, but remaining tied down and identifying with AA as their new life, their new purpose, and just about everything else.
By the way, for anyone to identify with a "group conscience" just escapes any sense of reality or hope. Would members have to go out of their way calling different members just to get some wisdom about what they need to do in their lives?
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