The Beginnings of a Way of Life! (Part 6)

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In this episode I will be speaking about the six basic assumptions. They are listed below: 

The 6 basic assumptions

1. Men are sinners;

2. Men can be changed;

3. Confession is prerequisite to change;

4. The changed soul has direct access to God;

5. The ‘Age of Miracles’ has returned;

6. Those who have been “changed” must “change others.” 

As you can see, although they are in line with the tenets of the 12 step program, I think the language, when compared to today’s spirituality needs a little bit of explaining.

First of all, we are working with the word “sinners”. I need to remember where these words originated, which was the Oxford group of the early 1900s. I actually believe that some of their preaching borders on that “old time religion” format. When I come across the word sinners, it doesn’t bother me. When I think about the word sin, I reference the first step in the 12-step program. There, in that very first step of admitting our powerlessness and unmanageability, it is synonymous with sin. The definition of sin seems to be a transgression against the law of God, or, the breaking down of some moral code which is implanted in us at the time of our creation.

I see sin as allowing our physical selves to act, sometimes in a poor or abusive way, in contrast to what our Spirit, or God, would have us do. Those of us who belong in this group called humanity, have been given this gift of free choice. This, my friends, is what it is all about. I must learn to listen! I must learn to try, to the best of my ability, to try to discern and follow through on the directions of God. In other words, I must choose God! How do I do this? Well, I believe there are two ways. The first is when we say that holy, forever, “yes” to God. I believe when we finally answer our Spirit, and say “yes, God, I will do things your way to the best of my ability, there is no turning back. We are no, w as our Spirit, inextricably linked to God forever as an imperfect human being. This does not, by any stretch of the imagination, meaning that we now are free of any moral dilemma. It means that we are going to try our best, and for us humans this is not exactly the best. It is our best.

Well this is been a lot of time on the first assumption, I hope it is worth it. The second assumption says that humankind can change. Of course in the steps, I believe there are two incidences of change. The first is the third step permit decide to change our lives and to change how we run our lives by turning our very well and our lives over to the care of God and attempting, (as is mentioned above), to follow the direction of our Spirit. The other instance of change in the 12 steps is an steps number six and seven where we humbly ask God to remove all of our defects of character and our shortcomings. I think this may be considered redundant because I believe that as soon as we make connection with our spirit and decide to follow God’s direction our past transgressions are completely erased.

Other things that might be complicated for some or the need for confession, step number five and step number 10, as well as the word, (which I think is usually slightly ambiguous), miracle. The best definition I have seen of the word miracle say that it is something that makes us smile and something that is wondrous. I had to get over the idea that has been planted in my head since I was a child that a miracle needs to be a physical happening such as changing water to wine. As we complete these steps are whole being is in wonder about the changes that have happened to us. These changes are certainly, in my experience anyway, miracles.

So I think I will stop here and get on with the podcast.