AA Has a Higher Power -- Not the One in the Bible

Even as a child, the notion of "a higher power" offended my sister and me.

There is no power greater than God, there is no greater authority than Christ:

"But this man, [Jesus] because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (Hebrews 7: 24-26)

Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, in the seat of power and authority:

"20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far 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." (Ephesians1: 20-23)

Far above, above the heavens, at the right hand of the Father.

This cannot be understood within our limited intellect. We either believe it, or we do not believe it.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11: 33)

To believe  on Jesus Christ, in fact, is our one work, anyway:

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 28-29)

While the crowd said "works", Jesus gently corrected them: "Here is the work."

To believe is just a nicer way of saying "receive!"

The last thing that we will do is receive from Him, it seems. Yet that is what God our Father wants us to do with His Son.

Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, beyond all power and authority, yet to recognize and respect this authority -- is to receive from Him:

"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 42-45)

Far too many commentators have read this passage as a call to serve with all of our strength.

In reality, the chiefest among us will always be Jesus Christ, and He Himself declared that He has come to serve.

Jesus Christ is not just "a higher power", and while he is the Highest authority in the world, He is the King of Kings who makes us all kings and priests within Him (1 Peter 2: 9)

If we want to give Him his due reverence, we do so by drawing from Him, by casting all our care upon Him, for He cares for us (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

There is no "higher power" like this in human imagination, a King who is magnified to the extent that we allow Him to live and serve us.

AA's "higher power" is nothing, nothing, nothing at all like our God, like Jesus Christ:

"20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 20-21)