Dan Roth - Pastor of Disaster

I took someone in crisis to their first 12-step meeting. Although I don't have the drug or alcohol addictions focused on in that meeting, I was impressed much more deeply than ever with how much of what was said is applicable to all of our lives.

Although I am thankful for what such groups have done in helping people over the years, and I've taken people to such meetings before, I have to confess that I've often missed much of the message because I was too busy worrying about what wasn't there.

Today my eyes were opened more than ever to the messages that 12-step groups get right, and which churches often miss.
* Admitting powerlessness is the start of a new life. An addict must admit powerlessness over the addiction before recovery can begin. We must admit powerlessness over sin before forgiveness and working out one's salvation can begin.
* There is greater rejoicing over the one lost one who returns than over the 99 already inside. In the 12-step group, when someone announced they had less than 24 hours sober, the whole meeting stopped as everyone rose to greet him, give him a hug, tell him how happy they were he was there, and tell them how much they hope he returned. When did so many of us stop doing this for people who are seeking to return to God?
* We need to be there for each other. 12-step groups call it having sponsors. That new person had people lining up to give a phone number and say, "If you ever need someone to talk to, just call me. 24-7, I'm there for you." How many of us care enough for those seeking grace to offer themselves up that way?
* We need to keep meeting together and we need to be honest. The folks at this meeting plainly laid out their struggles, their failures, and their pain. They rejoiced over each other's successes. I believe we're all called to meet together, encourage one another, and carry one another's burdens. It's to our own spiritual peril that we stop meeting together, stop opening up to one another, and stop caring for one another.

May God make us a little more like this each day.