The Foolishness of AA

Get ready for more hurt feelings.
In which I point out the foolishness of 12 Step Programs and the other Pop Psych Self Esteem philosophy which has taken over Christendom.

Step 1. I admitted I was powerless over alcohol and my life had become unmanageable.

This is followed by the 11 Steps of how I will overcome my addiction and how I will begin to manage my life. The first of these steps being-

Steps 2&3 I turn my life over to a God I create in my own imagination.

Somehow this is believed to be simpler and more powerful than saying, "Stop doing that. Take responsibility for your life and do what is right."

This sounds somewhat like a Biblical theme, "Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning;" (1Cor.15:34) Probably that is why it is not said. Give a sin a different name, tell people it is not their fault, but most of all keep God out of this. (The real God that is.) (Is 45:5)

A god that comes from a man's imagination is merely an image of himself. For there are only two gods in a man's life, Self and Christ. The decision to follow one excludes the other. (Matt 16:24, Mark 8:34) The decision to follow Christ is the way of life (John 14:6).

I say allow the world to have their way. Allow the courts to accept only one method of "treatment" for people with addictions. The courts are of the world, not of the church. But I demand at all times that the world be kept OUT of the church.(James 4:4) And that in the church there be nothing spoken and taught but Christ and Him crucified, risen and coming again. (1 Cor 2:2)

Why is it again they do not use the Gospel? (Rom 1:16-17)

Mother of God?

At some point someone might think, Well, if Mary is the mother of Jesus. And Jesus is God. Doesn't that make Mary the mother of God?" Isn't that logical?

Well, "somebody" has thought of that and the Catholic Church made it a dogma of the (Roman Catholic) faith. Thus Mary was proclaimed theotokos, "Mother of God" at the Ephesus Council in 431 AD.

At what point would you think that real logic would intervene in this fatuous reverie?

How is it remotely possible that the infinite Creator of the universe and all that is in it, The Eternal, could have a mother? When was it The Eternal One was born?

Mary was the mother of Jesus, the Son of Man. God with us, (Immanuel) (Luke 1:30-33) who came and dwelt in human flesh so that He might suffer and die to redeem us from the sin in which we so readily wallow. (Eph. 1:7, Heb. 9:15)

I in no way wish to belittle Mary. For who in the history of (wo)man is like her? And of whom has it been said, by an angel no less, "Greetings favored one. The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) No, indeed Mary stands high enough on her own merit as a human being, and the mother of Jesus.

Yet she was a human being who did not understand what it was her Son was doing. (Luke 2:49-51, John 2:1-4) A human being who desperately needed to be saved, redeemed from the wretched sin nature she posessed as a daughter of Eve. (Gen. 3:17, 20, Rom. 3:10, 3:23)

Bless Mary for her faithfulness by which our Lord came to dwell in human form, for nursing Him and raising Him up to be a man.

And bless your mother for bringing you into this world, for giving you life. Bless her with the gift beyond measure- share with her the love of Jesus Christ which dwells in your heart because you have also been born again. (John 3:4-7)

[note- rollover Scripture references for pop up windows to read verses]

Martin Luther on Romans

For close to 30 years I have been telling people that if they have a question about religion- the answer is most likely going to be found in the book of Romans. It is the defining book on Christianity and is, according to Luther, "a short summary of the whole of Christian and evangelical doctrine" that also provides "an access to the whole of the Old Testament"


See what else Martin Luther has to say in this excerpt from the preface to his commentary on Romans:

This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. Up to now it has been darkened by glosses [explanatory notes and comments which accompany a text] and by many a useless comment, but it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture.(1)

"Memorize it word for word." To make such a statement today would be looked upon as foolishness. "Everyone knows" that is just too much for someone to commit to memory.

How about simply reading the book through? Is that too much? Yet, how many who call themselves "Christian" in this country have read the entire book of Romans? Is it any wonder there is so little understanding of the true gospel?

From the very opening where Luther finally found peace with God and opened the door to what we now know as the Refomation. (Rom.1:16-7) On through the "Roman Road" that has been used to lead thousands to salvation. (Rom.3:23, Rom.6:23, Rom.5:8, Rom.10:9,10) Then giving us the surest promise to save and secure from the judgment we know is coming. (Rom. 8:1) Romans is the truly unique book of knowledge.

Read it yourself. Do yourself a favor.

1 source Christian Classics Ethereal Library