One Step

Three or so years ago there was an article in “The Atlantic” debunking Alcoholics Anonymous’ twelve-step program (although it’s success has been obvious for decades) and the problem was deemed to be God. God is mentioned in five of those steps, and the article’s subject was an atheist. Thus begins the destruction of the myth of AA being of help to an alcoholic.

My son-in-law was an alcoholic and at the very least an agnostic. He had worked the AA steps, stepping over the land mines, more than once. Rehab more than once. He spoke of “a higher power”, not of God. Until he moved near the small community of Cottondale. His daughter visited the First Baptist Church of Cottondale with a friend, so he went to the Pastor to discuss Step 5:

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

He was more open to this pastor than to anyone – he said so himself as he gave his testimony over the next twenty years. Pastor has said  “this was the most messed-up guy I’d ever met, or the most honest.” He was the most honest. Pastor responded to these wrongs by saying that he hadn’t worked with the twelve steps, but he knew one. I don’t know the conversation – I’m not certain of the verses – but I do know what changed Saul into Paul as he explained to Agrippa Jesus’ words to him:

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:17-18 KJV)

It was the same message Jesus had given to Nicodemus:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

In many Bibles these verses are printed in red to indicate they were spoken by Jesus. I haven’t done that in my previous posts – simply highlighted them in green and italics. Today I’m using red because of their importance. Believing in these verses changed my son-in-law’s life. One step.

Oh, it was followed by other changes – he read the Bible in a studious manner. Who was this who said we could have eternal life? Why did He say it to “whosoever” instead of specific people? Why was it so inclusive when the world held (and still holds) so much evil?

What did this one step mean to my son-in-law when he was killed last week? Especially when Paul wrote:

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:13-17 KJV)

Jesus Christ is risen. Paul saw Him, heard Him, responded to his call to teach us all.  Mike’s belief in this changed his life and he spoke to everyone about it. From Saudi Arabia to India to Guam to Venezuela to Belize – through all of his travels on his job, he shared the gospel message. Our church shares it on a website, too. Feel free to check it out: http://fbccottondale.com

I believe I will see Mike again. Do you? Or do you still need to take that one step?