12 Steps to Holiness

Last Night I went to an NA meeting to support a friend who was celebrating his 1 year anniversary. I have not been to any recovery meeting for some time. As a child i used to attend meetings frequently (just one of the benefits of being an officers kid) in college while working in a homeless shelter i would have to attend a couple of meetings every week as part of my job and eventually i led a Christian 12 step group for a little while.

What i experienced last night made me a little sad.

I walk in with a pair of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt and nobody knew who i was but as i walked in 4 people hugged me. every sing person who walked past me welcomed me in some way and that was happening all over the room Out of respect for the program i will not give a play by play but I will say that this group like most i have been to did more than just welcome each other they truly supported each other in their struggle. and people felt safe talking about their struggles.

That saddens me because i feel more welcomed at most NA/AA groups than i do in most churches. and that is sad. It's also sad that there was a need for such groups because the church should be and should have been a place where someone can be honest about their struggles with sin and its bondage without fear of judgement.

General Tillsey describes The 12 Step Movement as the single greatest American contribution to Holiness. He may be right the 12 steps themselves create a biblical model for wholeness that can be applied to all lives not just those struggling with chemical dependency.