by Steven Gledhill for FREEdom from MEdom Project
It is generally acknowledged that the twelve-step movement is probably the most accepted and practiced form of treatment/support for addictive and compulsive patterns of behavior. The issue to be considered is that the twelve steps have become so secularized that it has neutralized its effectiveness. Programs and groups that claim to be twelve-step groups are committed to an idea of God as a secularized higher power under the banner of spirituality, but are not committed to the person of God. Therefore, if this so-called second step “power greater than myself” is merely based on an idea of God, then the idea is in one’s head, one’s imagination, and there is no more power than that which one can muster on his own. If one’s higher power is in the person of God, then the same God that created the universe and life, and perhaps can even raise the dead, is at work in one’s recovery.
FREEdom from MEdom is centered on a Transformative Model for recovery relying exclusively on the only Higher Power in the universe in the person of God, Jesus Christ. This Transformative Recovery Model is a Biblical model for recovery that is used here acknowledging the effectiveness and wisdom of cognitive-behavioral approaches to confronting the scientific realities of what it is to be human with all of its physiological and psychological complexities. Written some two thousand years prior to best of what is offered by the clinical world of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the Bible is clearly the standard bearer for any CBT model for recovery. No doubt that Motivational Interviewing (W. Miller & S. Rollnick) and other CBT books are excellent viable resources, but the Bible is the reliable written Word of God with the transformative power to be the most effective resource for CBT recovery.
The Transformative Recovery Model returns to the Biblical roots of each of the twelve steps with its focus on the first three steps. Rather than some generic “creation” of a higher power, or of a generic “God” as one’s higher power according to one’s understanding, Transformative Recovery identifies God as the only higher power greater than the power of those in need of recovery.
Secular 12-step treatment organizations and support groups may speak highly of spirituality but how is spirituality actually defined within the context of their therapeutic dynamic and application? The tendency is to define spirituality as human spirituality. Perhaps it is the spirit of the God within each human being that becomes the recovering person’s higher power as it is in some way activated. Is it the same God, or is it a different “God” for each recovering person? How is this “God”, or god, activated? Who activates this higher power? How does one know when it has been activated? When and why was it deactivated to begin with?
Transformative Recovery at its core identifies God as the person of God in the Bible. Transformative Recovery identifies God in the person of the resurrected Christ. It adheres to the belief that Jesus Christ, as God, laid down his position and function as God, became a human being with a flawed human nature, was tempted by human desire to think and behave out of self-centered intentions for 33 years, ministered to the Jewish people for three years, was accused of blasphemy having claimed to be the Son of God, suffered a brutal death crucified on a cross, and arose from the dead on the third day just as he said he would. Transformative Recovery also stipulates that the Spirit of God is in relationship with anyone who desires such a relationship, to empower recovering people to a new life of peace and stability.
While the secularized spirituality occurring in much of today’s addiction treatment is a contradiction in terms, spirituality rooted in a relationship with God is authentically spiritual. It is much less difficult, and much more sensible, to have faith in the person of the living God (Jesus Christ) with all power and authority than it is to consider faith in what merely is an idea of what God might be, according to one’s subjective understanding, or creation, of his “God”. It is not until one truly comes to believe in God as the authentic higher power that it is even worth it to admit that one’s methods to overcoming addiction and overall dissatisfaction are not working. It is not until the recovering person comes to believe in all that is the person of God that he can commit to recovery in the will and care of God. Otherwise, how do the twelve steps make much sense?
You speak a great truth here, of course. My guess is that a large percentage of your regular readership is Christian–claiming Jesus Christ as their Higher Power. I certainly do. Like many Christian’s attending secular 12 Step Groups at one time or another, I’ve been concerned with the Higher Power you discuss here. Many refer to this undefined God as of their understanding; others, of course, claim the group as Higher Power; some are even less specific about it. You clearly note the role of the Holy Spirit as the source of the Power we need to walk free. No question. However, I should note—and I suspect you would concur, Steven, that people DO walk free of their addictions AND maintain a fairly healthy recovering lifestyle without the power of the Holy Spirit (although, of course, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that He assisted for the purpose of future drawing and conversion).
The principles—because they are girded in scripture—work! Practicing these principles in our daily life DOES provide a degree of energy and “power” to live well. Bottom line is I’ve come to rely on a Big Book reading “A Vision For You” where it states we should ask in our morning meditation what we can do for the person who is still sick and that the answers will come if my own house is in order… I’m praying more and humbly asking God to relieve me of the bondage of self and to take away my defects of character “that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of thy love, thy power, and thy way of life.” If my life speaks loudly of transformation, the Truth about the one True God may begin to draw the doubter into that very truth. And THAT is good enough for me—today.
Very well said, Rick. For me, recovery God’s way in the power of the Holy Spirit is not so much a matter of maintaining sobriety, so much as it is God working in me to will (desires and motivations) and to act in the way that allows me to embrace the best of living in the pleasure of God. The context we typically bring to Philippians 2:13 is that God is working in us to bring Him pleasure and to fulfill His purpose as it applies to Him—He does not need that since in Him is already all the pleasure and fulfillment there is. I believe that God is working in me to the extent that I can bask in fulfilling His purpose and the best of His pleasure as it applies to me. That’s what God so desperately wants for you and for me. Hallelujah to that!
Boy oh boy! Did you hit the nail on the head. A HEARTY Amen to that. I’m considering writing a book with the working title of “Higher Power–12 Steps to Recovering Your Heartland and finding the heart of God”. The thought was it would be a compilation of the best things ever written about 12 Steps or that can be applied to the 12 Steps—with the intent being for those (primarily NA types who seem to be more resistant to the God of the Bible) Higher Power folks to gradually be persuaded (thru my writing:-))) lol ) to give God more consideration. When I prayed about this title and this motive, I felt God spoke to me “I’m not as concerned about your book and your audience as I am about your putting into practice each day all these things of which you are gathering information about.” Just like God, eh? Soooo…now I’m thinking of starting my own blog :-))) You are a mentor of sorts to me as I research what’s out there. Take good care!