The Scriptural Basis of the Twelve Steps

The Twelve Steps were divinely inspired and based on scriptural principles. Bill Wilson, one of the
founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, where the Twelve Steps originated, was heavily influenced by Dr.
Frank Buchman, the founder of a Christian group called the Oxford Group. Dr. Buchman, a recovering
alcoholic and minister, worked with alcoholics using many of the principles upon which the Twelve Steps are based. Bill Wilson experienced a spiritual conversion while working with the Oxford Group. He eventually broke away from them, as he wanted to appeal to people of all faiths and persuasions. The biblical principles he learned while working with the Oxford Group appear in the Twelve Steps.

Here are the Twelve Steps of Love Addicts Anonymous with their scriptural basis:

1. We admitted we were powerless over love, romance, fantasies and relationships, that our lives had become unmanageable.
Powerlessness: I can't do it and my attempts have messed up my life.
"And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t."  (Romans 7:18)

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Hope: God can help me.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (Philippians 2:13)

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Surrender: I will let God work in my life.
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him."  (Romans 12:1)

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Self-examination: I will be open to having God show me my sins.
"Instead, let us test and examine our ways.  Let us turn back to the Lord."  (Lamentations 3:40)

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our
wrongs.
Confession: I will admit my faults to God, myself, and another safe person.
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."  (James 5:16)

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Willingness: I am willing to change.
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."  (1 John 1:8-9)

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Humility: I recognize I can’t do it alone. I need God’s help.
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."  (James 4:10)

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them
all.
Accountability: I am willing to take responsibility for what I have done wrong.
"Do to others as you would like them to do to you."  (Luke 6:31)

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure
them or others.
Restitution: I am willing to make restitution to the people I have harmed.
"So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."  (Matthew 5:23-24)

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Sanctification: I am committed to continued self-evaluation and righteousness.
"If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall."  (1 Corinthians 10:12)

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Fellowship: I commit to working on my relationship with God daily.
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."  (Philippians 4:6)

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all areas of our lives.
Restoration: Once I am restored, I am willing to share my encouragement, strength and hope with others.
"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."(Galatians 6:1)

As you can see, the Twelve Steps are based on biblical principles. They are an effective God-given tool to help you change patterns of behavior that are causing problems in your life and relationships.

Adapted from www.changemyrelationship.com
Scriptures from New Living Translation.  One of the Bibles I like to use is "The Life Recovery Bible" published by Tyndale, with all the commentaries etc., based on the 12 Step Programme of Recovery.  So much useful information and material for reflection.