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. (AA, pg 84)
I have written many times on the post of this blog -- there is no end to our taking inventories, if we are looking at ourselves, our sin, our failings, our whatever.
The moment that Adam and Eve looked at themselves, there was no end to the sense of sin and shame. It is eternal torment for us to remain stuck looking into ourselves, hoping for answers of any kind to shake us free.
That freedom lies outside of us, in a greater revelation of Jesus, not some "Higher Power" whose presence depends on us.
The above passage points out a number of problems which put out the AA cult. Not just the "continue to take personal inventory", but also to grow in "understanding and effectiveness".
Understanding of what?
The whole AA program is based on going in a never-ending circle looking at our faults, striving in the empty business of "doing more".
Doing more what? Effectiveness for what?
If I am a sick, crazy alcoholic, and I am surrounded by a cohort of miscreants who do not even work the program, then what understanding or effectiveness can I offer to anyone else?
The Bible invites us to grow, certainly, but in something else, and in knowledge of Someone else!
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
We are invited to grow not in our actions, not in expanding our resumes or achievements. We are to grow in grace. In grace, not in effort, to see all that Jesus has done for us, rather than learn to do more for Him.
Or for "a Higher Power".
We do grow in knowledge, too, absolutely, but not of ourselves. We do not take inventory of our sins and failures, since Jesus Himself will come back, having nothing to do with sin (Hebrews
By the way, God our Father causes us to grow:
"4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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: 4-5)
and
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1 Corinthians 3: 6)
Growth is not about our efforts, but rather revelation of His efforts, His work in our lives.
We can do all that we want to, but apart from Him, we can do nothing.
Everything that we have, all of that is a gift from God. Where do we get the idea that we serve Him in anything that we do?
I need to see more of how good God is. We are not effective until we see how effective He is in our lives:
"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 6)
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