Bringing Thoughts to Christ, not to Twelve Steps

"5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 5-6)

I never understood this verse as much as I understand it today.

We are not trying to eliminate from our heads every thought except thoughts about God.

We are subduing every attack of the enemy against us to what Christ Jesus did for us at the Cross.

In AA, members are taught that they have to confess their upsets, their resentments, and other emotional setbacks in order to remain emotionally balanced.

The truth remains that in Christ all our sins are forgiven, including every sin in our bodies and in our mines, and the sin in our very flesh has also been condemned (Romans 8: 3)

We are now children of God (1 John 3: 1), and this Spirit within us transforms us from glory to glory into the image of the very One who died for us, who lives in  us, and who will come for us in the last days.

So, what's all of this talk about bring thoughts into captivity?

The verses before the ones quoted above talk about the weapons of our warfare, which are "mighty through God". God is at work around us, and He prepares us a table of victory before our enemies (Psalm 23: 5). He causes us always to triumph (2 Corinthians 2: 14), and because of His death on the Cross, Jesus made an open display of our enemies (Colossians 2: 15)

Instead of trying to force our thoughts into a box, we focus on Christ, and we allow His Spirit to bring our thoughts in line with His will for us.

Now, what's all of this about bringing thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ?

Notice that it's the obedience of Christ, not our obedience, and certainly has nothing to do with any obedience of ours. There is not one thing that we do of ourselves, for we are dead in our trespasses, we have absolutely nothing of ourselves. Without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15: 5), for in Him alone are we complete (Colossians 2: 10), and His perfection is so good (Hebrews 10: 14), that we can rest assured that He will remember our sins no more (Hebrews 10: 17)

Any thoughts of shame, guilt, or accusation must be brought into captivity to the truth that in Christ, all things have been paid for, provided for, and taken care of forever.

Now, imagine the terrible frustrations and pain which Christians endure who insist on working Twelve Steps to perfect themselves? In effect, they are rearming the Devil and his hordes, and giving them ammo and permission to keep attacking the Body of Christ.

Bring every thought, every accusation to the obedience of Christ, that His obedience justifies you at the right hand of God the Father, and that you are seated with Christ, in Christ, and that every blessing you have, you have these blessings because of Jesus (Ephesians 1: 3)

Do not allow any tradition of men, including Twelve Steps, bring you into bondage again!