liadanslyre

the 12s and Church
the benefits from the bylaws (and steps) of the 12 step movement to the Church

preface:
these are just my opinions. that’s why these comments are on my blog. take them with a grain of salt. i could definitely be wrong.

my hope is that, i am increasingly able to share my point of view with respect and gentility. if you think I could say these things in a more loving way- please teach me. email me and let me know.

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1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon *our* unity.

i don’t have this all ironed out.

Unity within the Church is a concrete apologetic. Without it, we are easy to marginalize and are not distinctly different than a social club. This is a goal worth tabling our differences for and focusing on the things we agree on.

2. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

i like that the program is clear that it’s mission is life and death. That’s it. Drunkenness and sobriety. in the program there are reminders that our destiny outside of sobriety is institutions, correctional facilities or death. The primary purpose is to take the message of hope to those who suffer.

The Church could benefit greatly from revisiting, and soaking up the basics. Jesus is not a hobby that we dabble in on Sunday’s or whenever. The Revolution is not something we philosophize about to pass the day. We are to live and do. Love and restore. My choice to submit to the Lord and say yes in the moment is that important. is that too dramatic?

There’s a lot of bullshit out there that is simply superfluous. i’m sure plenty of good folks disagree with me (that side arguments are superfluous); that’s ok. Hopefully, we can agree that the message of Jesus is revolutionary and asks for our whole lives. And that this fact is worth rallying around and focusing on.

8. the program should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

(i know that there are situations that may be better served with professional clergy roles.)

What would this look like if applied to more situations in the church? i think it would break a cycle that can stunt the growth of believers. The cycle as i see it is that it is someone else’s responsibility to show Jesus to your friends. This is not true.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, and TV.

i don’t know how this could happen- and i don’t mean to sound like i have a bad case of black/white thinking; but i think it would be a great thing for Disciples to reclaim the responsibility of talking about Jesus to their friends rather than referring them to a book or website.

This would also instill that my life is the main source for people to know more about the God that i serve, rather than referring out.

Yes, there are probably plenty of people of people who have their appetite wetted for Jesus through Christian radio, books, or whatever. But it seems like the press that these types of things receive are balanced between (on one side) people who have had their interest peaked; and critics (both non Christians; and Christians). Christians have been given fair warning that we (or the stuff we 'produce') will not be welcomed w/ open arms by the larger society; and i'm not sure that i'm right about this or not- i'm kinda just floating the idea.

Yes, there is beauty in discourse and democracy- but it is hard to listen to Christians making fun of others in the body of Christ under the guise of being more intellectual astute- or not as susceptible to a trend/ consumerist mentality. i guess i think it’s fine to critique stuff- but remember Eph 4.30 for pete’s sake (where does this phrase come from) and don’t put it on the internet or talk to Larry King about it.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.

anonymity

This is when you here people in 12 step programs respond to your question, ‘how do you know that guy- what’s his last name?’ and they reply, ‘i just know him as tom’.

The application for the church is not that our faith is private and to be kept anonymous- but instead a reminder that our faith is not just about me as an individual. Our words and actions reflect on the larger whole. Our faith is not simply about the individual or their recovery from sin.

i love this tradition. it reminds me that my taste does not matter. My taste in people is not something that is held in high regard. it is not the point of why i am at a meeting. i am not here to follow the teachings of a person. it prevents hero worship or personality driven dynamics over-riding the Principle i should be focused on.

How does this translate? i think of the persecuted church, or a country where christianity is a newer introduction to the society. While i lived in Albania, i went to a church that was Brethren and i had to wear a head covering. While i didn’t agree with the doctrine of covering your head- the Principle of being tied w/ the larger Body was more important.

American Christians are at risk of resembling spoiled children who assume that the variety that is a luxury has become a right that we demand.

The Principle- in this case- The Revolution of the Kingdom of God, the advancement of Gospel Shalom- trumps preferences of expression and should silence even productive sounding discourse (at the level of press radio and film- see comments on Tradition 11).