Twelve Steps & Biblical Comparisons

We thought in the spirit of the Christmas that we would share the Twelve Steps and their Biblical comparisons provided by the Celebrate Recovery program.   GoForth Recovery supports all pathways to recovery; Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, SMART Recovery, FAVOR and others.  We share in this post Celebrate Recovery’s text on The Problem and The Solution.” ~ GoForth Recovery

The Problem

If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit drinking or using entirely, or if you have little control over the amount you consume, you are probably an alcoholic and/or an addict. If that is the case, you may be suffering from a problem which only a spiritual solution will conquer.

If you are as seriously alcoholic or addicted as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human resources, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best as we could; and the other was to accept Jesus Christ as our Higher Power.

The Solution

By working through the Eight Recovery Principles found in the Beatitudes with Jesus Christ as your Higher Power, you can and will change! You will begin to experience the true peace and serenity you have been seeking, and you will no longer have to rely on your dysfunctional, compulsive, and addictive behaviors as a temporary “fix” for your pain.

By applying the biblical principles of conviction, conversion, surrender, confession, restitution, prayer, quiet time, witnessing, and helping one another, which are found within the Eight Principles and the Christ-centered 12 Steps, you will restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God.

Twelve Steps & Biblical Comparisons

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable.
   (Romans 7:18 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”)
2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 
   (Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”)
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. 
   (Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.”)
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 
   (Lamentations 3:40 “let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”)
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs. 
   (James 5:16a “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”)
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 
   (James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”)
7. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
   (1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”)
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
   (Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”)
9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 
   (Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”)
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
    (1 Corinthians 10:12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”)
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out. 
    (Colossians 3:16a “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.”)
12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs. 
    (Galatians 6:1 ‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”)

Source: Celebrate Recovery, https://www.celebraterecovery.com/