Sorry, sorry, sorry . . .
Friday, August 8th, 2008- (by Martha)
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to go so long between posts. I had another piece in the Chicago Tribune and have been spending my spare moments responding to the many, many interesting e-mails it generated.
Here ’tis. This is part of a larger piece that I’m working on about being in partnership with God. I’d be grateful for any and all feedback. Really, really, really. . .
Knowing that voice within
An atheist father teaches his daughter to do the right thing, and from there she finds God
My father did not shake his fist at God so much as thumb his nose.
Pop was born in North Dakota to dirt-poor farmers: devout, German-speaking Mennonites for whom God’s comfort must have been one of the few. It’s not clear to me when Pop decided God was not for him. His four sisters certainly stuck by the Almighty.
Aunt Ruth became a Baptist missionary in the Congo (newly liberated from Belgium at the time). One evening while studying in my prep school library, I picked up The New York Times and read that both of her hands and feet had been chopped off by her ungrateful native “children.” This later turned out not to be so. While her companion had, indeed, been hacked to death, my aunt was airlifted out safely, dangling from a helicopter rope above her dead friend and a howling mob, which, like Pop, had had it up to here with the Christian religion.
Pop didn’t hack or howl; he simply left. At 19, he stuck out his thumb and began hitching east, ending up a student at Columbia University in New York City. It was there, I suppose, that he transformed himself into my father: handsome, urbane, erudite, the husband of my mother. By the time I got to know him, the only discernible mark left on Pop by his childhood was a visceral antipathy toward religion.
Pop was pure Marxist in this respect. Religion, to him, had been the opium of his people. He had grown up among those who praised the Lord for not sending them enough to eat. Faith, God, religion—they were all the same, and all nonsense, to Pop.
Pop was, however, ethical to the bone. His insistent, loud-mouthed conscience cost him both money and social prestige. When I look back, it seems strange to me that Pop, who was curious about everything else, seemed to have no curiosity at all about the nature or origin of a person’s conscience. His conscience was there, he obeyed its directions to a fault, and that was the end of it. He had no interest in exploring the presence of this mystery inside himself. Either that, or its presence made him nervous.
My parents moved to North Carolina shortly after they married, so I was raised godless in the Bible Belt, becoming such a worrisome heathen by the 2nd grade that my public-school class would pray over me.
Every Monday morning, my teacher would ask anyone who had not been to Sunday school to stand so that the class might intercede with the Almighty on his or her behalf. Every Monday morning, I stood up alone. I asked my father once if I could lie by staying seated, and he said certainly not, that I was always to stand up for what I believed. And he emphasized that “always” part.
Standing up for my beliefs—both literally and figuratively—was hardship duty when I was a 2nd grader, but it was the only way my father knew to operate. For better or worse, we are our fathers’ students.
The experience toughened me in what I think are good ways, and it also contributed mightily to my growing curiosity about the nature and origin of the human conscience—that touchstone against which, according to my family’s tenets, all actions are to be tested.
As I got older, I increasingly felt a need to give this touchstone a name that signified not just what it did, but what it was. So, sorry Pop, but in my early 40s, I decided that this voice embedded in us that didn’t seem to be of us, this voice that drives us to relate to our fellow humans in ways unrelated to surviving as the fittest, this voice that you, Pop, called your conscience, I would now call God.
I don’t mean to imply that I believe God is some mysterious entity somewhere else that speaks through my conscience; I believe God is my conscience. God is whatever it is in me—and was certainly in you, Pop—that constitutes the commonness of my humanity, that tells me clearly what the next right thing to do or think is, urges me to do it or think it (even when it runs counter to my own self-interest), and gives me the capacity to do it with what feels suspiciously like joy. I don’t get to understand why this still, small voice is there, or how it gets there; I just get to accept that it is there.
I am not now, nor—God willing—ever will be, conventionally religious. In this I remain my father’s younger daughter.
I have no desire to participate in any of society’s attempts to corral the Almighty. It has always seemed to me that Yahweh, the great I Am, is the one truly unfathomable mystery of the universe, and as such can best be related to by me through wordless faith, rather than through religion’s limiting show. God is not something I can explain, but something I accept and live with and listen to. Unlike my father, I enjoy the presence of mystery in me.
As for Pop, he has been dead a decade. I sometimes wonder what he would think now that his daughter has come out of our family’s closet as a person of faith. I’m sure he would applaud me for standing up for my beliefs, but I suspect he would go right on thumbing his nose at God.
I don’t for one moment believe that Yahweh—in whatever way Yahweh considers these things—would think any less of Pop because he never called God by name. We are how we do by each other, after all, and my father did just fine.
Martha Woodroof reports for public radio and is the author of “How to Stop Screwing Up: Twelve Steps to a Real Life and a Pretty Good Time.”
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I will be forever grateful that AA lets us choose a Higher Power of our own understanding. Recently, at an AA meeting, people were discussing the many differences in how we have faith and one man said this, “I get my milk from many different places, but I’m the one who churns the butter!” Don’t you love it? Wherelse but in AA……..
your father did just great. it’s a parents responsibility to expose their children to everything, and then stand back and let them make an educated decision when they are able. not forcing your beliefs on your childen is the tricky bit. so is letting them go with their decision once they’ve made it. nice piece!
Martha…Just found your blog for the first time. Delightful. I celebrated 18 years this past June, and can sur relate to your writings.
I have always felt especially blessed to have grown up in a household with no religious orientation. Particularly since getting sober. I live in an area now with lots of God squad-ers, and it’s interesting to watch them in meetings. Here in the midwest is more conservative religions (lots of Lutherans, lol) than when I lived in North Carolina for 10 yeras…serious Bible Belters there. The kind you had in second grade.
Anyway, I love this stuff and am glad I found it.
I hope Martha comes back soon. No posts since August 8th!
HIGHWAY TO HELL
Ya know, I just shake my head. You tell people to read Bill Wilson’s biography and they wont, they don’t want to see the truth I guess. Bill Wilson openly admitted to practicing the occult, he admitted that he got the 12 steps while in a trance speaking to a dead bishop.
He said that his “awakening” came when an angel visited him in his room while detoxing, he saw a “bright white light” Guess what, the colour of the Holy Spirit is amber as described in the word, not white.
Every single believer including myself who has had a vision or an experience involving the Holy Spirit or visitations from angels have all said that any light has been a gold or amber color.
Satan comes as an angel of light. Bill Wilson never once professed Christ, he habitually cheated on his wife. Then you have “Dick B” who comes along and states that Bill was a devout Christian, funny how dicky refused to answer some rather profound questions that I asked him.>
The bible is clear about the occult and speaking to the dead, it’s clear about adultery yet Christians everywhere embrace 12 step recovery programs.
“BUT IT WORKS” They say, could they sound any more programmed. But it works; is that all they’ve got. Then they say,” its a Christ centered programs to help us overcome our hurts habits and hangups”, Yeah okay, how many times have you been told to say that.
Hey, paganism works for some people too, just because something works or looks good doesn’t mean its okay. They are calling steps that came from demons biblical.
WHAT HERESY…Have Christians become so secular that they cant identify the devil when he’s staring right in their face. They refuse to test the spirits. They refuse to weigh doctrine against the word.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
The simple fact that those Christians in 12 step recovery refuse to question it or will even allow it to be questioned and turn their backs on anyone who does question tells me that its bondage and its demonic because the bible tells us to question things.
The fact that they deny that addictions, depression and hang-ups are demonic says a lot as well. They are searching secular methods for healing instead of the word.
It used to be that if a porn or new age shop moved into town the prayer warriors would gather and literally pray them out of town. Now that Rick Warren has moved in they would rather get to know the owner and invite him to church, but don’t tell him that what he’s doing is wrong…GIVE ME A FRIGGEN BREAK.
The beatitudes have NOTHING to do with recovery, its is a serious misuse of the word of God. The scriptures that are used to justify the demonic steps are vague at best.
Scripture has been twisted to fit secular ideas. The use of secular humanistic philosophy permeates celebrate recovery and people think its okay. One thing that I have noticed with ALL 12 STEPPERS.
They talk, sound and act programmed. If you know the big book, if you know celebrate recovery, if you know the 12 steps these people are very easy to identify. I believe that they have taken on a demon.
I’m not sure which one yet, but it will come to me. Something involving Baal I’m sure. I agree that God doesn’t always heal instantly, it is often a process but would Jesus tell people to turn to something that came from demons to achieve that healing.
NO!! He gave us his word and he makes that clear that his word is all we need. The fact that this other garbage has been added to it tells me that they don’t really believe that the word is the infallible word of God. So what are Christians doing?
The fathers of psychology and psychiatry were all atheists who practiced the occult and John Baker seems to think that mixing this with the word is A-okay. The Christian community needs a wake up call. This is definitely the age of the lukewarm church.
Really what Satan has done is brilliant, tell people that Christians cant be demon possessed, then bring in so called biblical recovery, mix demonic inspired 12 steps and psychology, sneak in some new age philosophies, get rid of deliverance ministries, tell people that W.W.J.D. is out dated and “religious”, tell people that you can live however you want and you will be saved, mock righteousness, replace the word with self help books and you have a weak, passive lukewarm church that is open to all sorts of new age ideas.
Go out to the world and bring people to Christ but don’t tell them that heavy metal music and pre marital sex is wrong. I almost fell for it, but if you know the word, obey the word and are willing to weigh questionable doctrine against the word then its becomes easy to identify the false prophets who are out to tickle ears and lead people astray.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believes not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Posted by Esther
Dear Martha,
This is where you are GOING - if you don’t REPENT!!
Do you love me?
I, PATRICK, AM THE HOLY ONE OF GOD.
THE 12 STEPS DOWN TO HELL
12 Step recovery programs are a slow slide into the jaws of Satan. I was involved with the evil “satanic cult” [AA] for over 30 years but was saved through the POWER of JESUS CHRIST.
He directed me to a therapist who was into “real” recovery, not the mind destroying, soul destroying, cult, which is AA. I have met two Steppers recently & I imagine they are completely devoid of any emotion or insight.
I feel pain because both these men are decent human beings but AA has destroyed their “brain structure” & they have no idea how to relate apart from expounding AA propaganda.
I imagine Hell to be a continuous flow of AA meetings without any light at the end of the tunnel because one is never REDEEMED. I beg you, to get out before it is too late.
How is one REDEEMED, when one is handing one’s power over to AA. The 12 Steps were written out of Wilson’s head, he certainly didn’t get his guidance from the Bible. I imagine he was an agent of Satan & he & Smith’s “cult religion” has filled millions of Steppers with their anti - Christ propaganda.
Step Three of AA is “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.” While many in the Oxford Group placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, there was much leeway given.
Shoemaker, a leader of the Oxford Group, says, “The true meaning of faith is self-surrender to God.” He further explains:
Surrender to whatever you know about Him, or believe must be the truth about Him. Surrender to Him, if necessary, in total ignorance of Him.
Far more important that you touch Him than that you understand Him at first. Put yourself in His hands. Whatever He is, as William James said, He is more ideal than we are. Make the leap. Give yourself to Him.
Aside from capitalizing the “H,” which Christians do to refer to the God of the Bible, “Him” could refer to any god of one’s own making [BEDPAN).
Can you see what is happening to you? Ask JESUS to take control of your life, read the Bible & instead of 12 Step groups, go to Church. BURN your BIG BOOK or use it as TOILET PAPER.
Can you see the difference: With The 12 Steps, one is being CONTROLLED by SATAN, but with JOHN 3:16 one is guaranteed ETERNAL SALVATION. The “ball is in your court,”? ?
I, PATRICK, AM A GIFT TO ALL PEOPLE.
TWELVE STEPS AWAY FROM CHRIST
Mr. Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and creator of the twelve-step program. Mr. Wilson was heavily influenced by demons.
Chapter sixteen (p. 275f) of ‘Pass It On’ The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world records Mr. Wilson’s use of the ouija board, participation in séances, psychic events, “spook sessions”, table levitation, and how he would receive “messages” from “discarnate” spirits.
Bill Wilson was clearly in contact with demons, and this is the man who created the deceptive twelve-step program.
Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him. (Step #11. Emphasis added.) The last part of this statement (”as we understood Him”) is enough to damn your soul! God says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5).
This is the exact opposite of “God as we understood Him.” All men, according to Romans 1:18-32, are condemned before God, because they rely upon their own understanding (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18, “having their understanding darkened”), and they create (in their own darkened minds) a god of their own making (Romans 1:23).
To encourage people to turn their “lives over to the care of God as we understood Him”, is to encourage people to “turn their lives over to a god of their own making” (i.e. according to their own understanding).
This promotes nothing more than spiritual death (Revelation 22:15). In addition, these twelve steps are a deceitful attack against the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. they are against Christ, anti-Christ, 2 John 7; Colossians 2:8-10).
The twelve steps are (as Mr. Wilson used them) given as an answer (a way) in which one can overcome sin (with Mr. Wilson’s case, the sin of drunkenness).
Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer for sin. He is the only way (John 14:6). There is only ONE “step”, and that is faith in the Saviour (Ephesians 2:8/Matthew1:21/John 8:36/Romans10: 13!
The above exemplifies the “twelve steps” are what are used to “become free from addictive, compulsive” behaviour (i.e. sin). In other words, the twelve steps are the saviour!
No doubt it is deceptive, because “Biblical principles” are interwoven throughout; but if they weren’t, few (if any) would be deceived. One good question to ask would be, “Where does Scripture talk about any ‘twelve steps’”? The answer? Nowhere!
These twelve steps come from Satan (via Bill Wilson), who is the master deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Remember, SATAN. used Scripture to tempt Christ (Matthew 4:6), and Balaam spoke much truth (Numbers 23-24); but he was a false prophet (2 Peter 2:15-16/Numbers 22).
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus warned, Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus likewise warned in Luke 13:24, Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
I, PATRICK, AM THE TRUTH & BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS THE LORD.