There is nothing worse than thinking that everything depends on you.
The Alcoholics Anonymous program gives the impression that every member chooses his or her own conception of God, but the truth is that every person must submit to the Twelve Steps and the god which requires individuals to work that terrible program in order to stay sober.
The Twelve Steps do not work.
Furthermore, they impress on individuals the terrible lie that everything ultimately depends on them.
How is this the case?
Why should I trust in some "Higher Power" which I have come up with, as if my thoughts and feelings alone can manifest the fulness of this higher power?
In effect, this higher power is just the power of my imagination, and our ability to picture the future is always flawed, and our emotions merely reflect what we are thinking.
Who would have thought that my conception of God would merely point me back to myself?
The Bible indicates that will happen:
"18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." (Romans 1: 18-21)
If we esteem anything but the one true God as God, then we walk in darkness.
This darkness of self is very deadening, indeed.
What good is a Higher Power that you can carry, when we need a God who will carry us?
What good is a Higher Power if the death and destruction around us still escapes a ready answer?
AA inevitably makes us self-centered because the very Higher Power we claim to depend on is no higher than our own thinking, than our muddled experience.
Like a mouse becoming a rat, so too any member of Alcoholics Anonymous tries to implement this "God concept", only to crash and burn in a program which puts all the pressure on the person to work a priogram which no one can work, let alone succeed.
AA makes you self-centered, focusing on what you must do, on the service which you must bring, on the program which you must work.
Yet Jesus has done all the work for us:
"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." (John 17: 4)
Jesus cried out on the Cross:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)
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