Gospel in 12 steps, step 2 God is real

God is real

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Those in AA often call this higher power God, as in the serenity prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

By definition this higher power must be greater than the self, because the self has been unable to stop the drinking or whatever other sin or addiction is involved.   The self is too weak and someone, or something greater is required.

Similarly in Hebrews 11:6 we read:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

At this point many Christians say "The don't believe in Jesus!  The bible says there is no other name under heaven by which man may be saved!" Acts 4:12.  I say to such people, did Abraham, or David know the name of Jesus?

These people remind me of the Pharisees in John 7:52 "They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”  In other words God must come on their terms.  In my introduction I spoke of actions speaking louder than words.  A dry drunk is a daily miracle.  Finally I would say, can our puny minds comprehend the Almighty?  Of course not!   Every one of us fails to grasp the eternal one, so if God grants them sobriety or overcomes some other addiction let us rejoice with them.  

Everyone's perception of God is in some way deficient, and so we are all in the same boat.  God understands our weakness, our need for a saviour, someone bigger and stronger than us to stand up for us, a cosmic big brother.  God is pleased when we take our emptiness and failure to him and say, I have tried and failed, I can't do this on my own.