thoughts about the "12 steps"

but first... from the Holman Bible Dictionary...
Religion:
"Relationship of devotion... to God... or gods (of your understanding)..."
Church:
"an assembly, local body of believers (in redemption thru Jesus only), or the universal body of all believers"
"The Church and the World"
"The Bible presents the church as sharply distinct from the world. The church is to be composed of regenerate believers called out of a world hostile to the gospel of Christ. As such, the church is called to confront with the reality of coming judgement and the gospel of redemption through Christ (only). The Bible presents the church as an alternative society, called to countercultural life in The Spirit."

my thoughts:
As I witness "the church" embracing worldly organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and the 12 steps- which will be forever inextricably linked to A.A... I am perplexed as to how one can match up the formation of the 12 steps with the teachings of Jesus. I watch people suggest that it (A.A.) is not a religion... then hear them base their sole sufficiency in "the god of their understanding"... thus the practice of religion (according to the Holman dictionary). I am confused as to how we can be "called out of a hostile world" yet adopt their practices as equal to that of the church. How can we be "yoked" to the practices of the world and at the same time be "separated". Are we so desperate to coerce people to look to Jesus that we have to massage their view of a Holy God? Throuout history people have tried to make God and the church more palatable for those who need Christ... yet my observation is that it only leads to "easy beliveism" (which really only hurts the one who thinks now they are ok with God) and a blurred line of demarcation between true believers and the world. (see above "The Church and the World")
The further attempt to integrate the 12 steps of A.A. with the Bible I find to be nothing more than offensive to the Gospel of Jesus.
I strongly encourage anyone who is involved with, or entertaining involvment with, worldly practice, and attempting to integrate it into their Christian life to heed the words of the Bible instead! I could recite verse after verse... but my challenge is not to hastily write a rebuttal, but to spend your own time investigating the very word itself!

please download this e-book and read:
http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/12stepsbk_online.html