Although not explicitly mentioned in the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous, most adherents to the Twelve Steps will seek out a person with whom they can be accountable, so that they can complete their Fifth step, in which they share their fearless, moral inventory. In a previous post, I pointed out that an individual simply cannot confess every sin, nor can a man make amends for every wrongdoing.
Yet this matter of sponsorship has not just brought people in AA into bondage, but has also reduced many believers in our churches into greater difficult on their walk. To this day, many believers actually think that they must seek out the advice of an elder or another person in church in order what to do, in order to figure out the next step that one should take.
The Bible rejects such man-centered thinking:
"But ye have an
unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2: 20)
and then
"But the anointing
which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)
It could not be clearer than that. Instead of running to the Pastor, instead of begging our parents or friends to fill us in on what we "should" do, we first need to be fully instructed in our righteousness:
"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5: 13)
What does that mean? The writer of Hebrews explains later, outlining:
"For this is
the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:
and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
"And they shall not
teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:
for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
"For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I
remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and therefore the Holy Spirit can now live and dwell in us, the promise to the Patriarchs has become the day-to-day reality for us who trust in Christ and walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit writes God's laws on our hearts and minds, and causes us to know the Lord intimately. We can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16: 13)
The Holy Spirit guides, us comforts us, sustains us, informs us of everything that Jesus Christ has told us, and He leads us in the paths of righteousness!
We let the peace of God within us, peace which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, the third fruit listed in Galatians 5, speaking to its divine origin and mandate within the believer.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3: 15)
It could not be easier for a believer. We do not need a sponsor to advise us. Such advice has a tendency to confuse rather than clarify what we must do!
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