THE TWELVE STEPS OF AA COMPARED TO THE BIBLE
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol— that our lives had become unmanageable.
As Christians: we admit we are powerless over sin, that our lives had become unmanageable – Romans 7:24; wretched man that I am….
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
As Christians – we believe a power greater than ourselves, God, is able to restore us to a relationship with Him – John 3:16; for God so loved the world
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God – Higher power as we understood Him.
As Christians – we made the decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understand Him – John 14:6; I am the way the truth and the life…
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
As Christians – we counted the cost by examining ourselves, to see if we could be what God calls us to be – Luke 14:26-27; does not hate…cannot be…
5. Admitted to God, to self, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
As Christians – we confessed to ourselves and to another Christian the exact nature of our sins – James 5:16; confess your sins to one another…
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove ‘all’ these defects of character.
As Christians we were entirely ready to repent of all our sins – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Luke 9:62; Acts 19:19
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
As Christians – we humbly asked Him to forgive us – 1 Peter 3:21; baptism
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
As Christians – we took into account all those we had sinned against and we’re willing to make amends – Luke 3:8; bear fruit in keeping…
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
As Christians – we made direct amends wherever possible – Luke 19:8-9
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
As Christians – we continue to examine ourselves and admit and correct what needs attention – 1 Corinthians 11:27-31; let a man examine…
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
As Christians – Through prayer and meditation we seek to improve our relationship with God, praying for a greater knowledge of His will and power to carry it out – Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:17
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
As Christians – Being made spiritually alive, we try to carry this message to sinner and obey the word always – Colossians 3:17; Matthew 29:18-20
The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity – 1 Corinthians 1:10
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern – Ephesians 4:4-6,11-13; Matthew 23:10-11
3. Only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking/sinning – Acts 2:38,47
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole – Acts 15:28-29
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers – 1 Thessalonians 1:8
6. An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose – James 2:5-7
7. Every AA group ought to be fully self supporting, declining outside contributions – 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
8. AA should remain forever non professional, but our service centers may employ special workers – 1 Corinthians 14:26
9. AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve – 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Elders
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
In Conclusion:
When I first attended an AA meeting, I thought I would feel out of place but I was so wrong. It’s a fellowship similar to ours and one to learn a few things from. They never ask for your last name, not necessary, don’t see it in the Bible. Freely they state the truth – Hi my name is Rob and I’m an Alcoholic, This so makes visitors feel welcome and not alone.
They don’t ask, what do you do for a living? Who cares? What is important is how can I help? Can I get you a coffee? Are we more impressed with a person’s job or with the fact they came to the meeting? Are we doing all we can to make them feel welcome?
I don’t judge the people I see at AA meetings, I admire all of them because they are human beings trying to break a wicked habit and that alone takes more courage than we may think we have. They encourage one another to get out meetings because they know when you start to miss meetings, you start to lose your resolve to quit the habit. The same is for us. They’re not claiming to be religious They’re just claiming to help their fellow man. What about us?
We are claiming to be religious. But are we claiming to help our fellow man?
May the world know us for being a fellowship that helps our fellow man!
I hope this lesson accomplishes Hebrews 10:24