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NA Message Board -> Narcotics Anonymous Message Board -> The difference between us and Christians
Post Info TOPIC: The difference between us and Christians
BigV


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The difference between us and Christians
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Ok so I dont read the bible except I do get daily bible verse and I read it and try to see the message. I don't go to church, ever, not holidays or special occasions or sundays.

I do TRY to practice spirituality, forgiveness, love thy neighbor, patience, tolerance, acceptance, I try not to brag, envy, i try being kind etc. etc.

I pray daily at least once before I rest my head at night but I usually add in a few during my day, some in gratitude, some requests for needed spirituality, some for others like drivers who get on my nerves, etc.etc.

 

I accept Christ as my savior whom I believe died for us all and took on our sin.

I believe in God the one and only creator.

 

SO whats the difference?

 

To add, not until I turned my life over to God  ( as best  I can) did I begin to stay clean and sober and not until I asked for God to remove my insanity for wanting to use dope I couldn't stop relapsing, I'm now coming up on 7 years soon.



-- Edited by BigV on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 12:19:22 AM



-- Edited by BigV on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 12:20:26 AM

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It's all about spirituality...
Mike M


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The difference between NA and dogmatic religions is huge. NA is a spiritual based program based on the foundation of each individual freely choosing a God of Their understanding. Dogmatic religions fight wars and kill each other attempting to force their beliefs on others.

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MIKEF


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Hey Vin! good to see ya!

For me, as a born again Christian,,with no dogmatic Religion,,(,had one as a growing up Catholic that I left in 65 before entering the Military) I have found a relationship rather than rules run by legalistic  ideology....As far as our program goes I always share from a spiritual perspective respecting others "God of their own understanding" even if that is no God at all..I do share that if you want to know more about my personal faith beliefs to see me after meetings etc and I minister my beliefs...My sponsees know where the God of my understanding is whether it pertains to them or not AS WE INTERVIEW BEFORE WE ACCEPT THE SPONSOR/SPONSEE RELATIONSHIP that seems to help us work better together,one helping another in a loving and caring manner..My faith beliefs are only interjected if directly asked but I try and role model my life acccordingly....Spirituality I found is an internal relationship ,,,religion(dogmatic) is an external ,and each free to choose their own way.. It is interesting that my sponsor also is a born again Christian and 90% of my sponsees are also without prior knowledge...Like our Writings tell us its not WHO or WHAT our God is ,its whatever helps keep us clean...Thats why our 2nd STEP says Came to believe THAT a Power(not in a Power) COULD restore us.....So for each individual to seek their own Higher Powers that help them is important, for me  personally it goes further than that.....:) And I say have a blessed and productive day!!!!     :)



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BigV


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Thanks Mike's :)

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It's all about spirituality...
mikah


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BigV wrote:

 I accept Christ as my savior whom I believe died for us all and took on our sin.

I believe in God the one and only creator............SO whats the difference?

  

 ........there's -many- interpretations of the 'G' word,,,,and what a Higher Power can actually be!

..personally,,I consider the bible's words more symbolically than literally,,,,and especially am 'tentative' about anything that is translated and prescribed by mere humansblankstare

......I tend to trust the concept that seems to ring true among the various faiths-----be good to yourself and others,,,be of service.

 ..it also feels good to have -something- to surrender my will to....whether it be the group conscious,,,my sponsor,,,collective subconscious,,,,a 'creator',,,,or some form of collective energy that is positive

 

 

 



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...gawd,,,please don't let me -ever- forget why I came here in the first place!!(my 'senility' prayer)
cdbuckberry


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Whatever our Higher Power maybe we learn to use it in our recovery .

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Dean


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all truths meet in the middle. take what you need and leave the rest

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Dean
Davethewave


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I am a member of Unity on biscayne Bay... and listen... sometimes, to sermons on line. You would enjoy Rev Chris' message!

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Dave
Davethewave


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Btw I could just tell from the things he said.... that he knew the program. He admitted that like a year ago. Another revelation, he dedicated his congregation to Byron Katie for a long period of time. Her message is about recovery.

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Dave
Angell


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As an atheist, I am grateful the doors of NA were open wide enough for me.

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mikah


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Angell wrote:

As an atheist, I am grateful the doors of NA were open wide enough for me.

 .......yes,,it warms the heart that all we need is a -desire- to stop using,,and the doors of NA are open!

 

              I have no idea -what- I am,,other than a gratefully recovering addict.

........I certainly don't believe in a supernatural,omnipotent 'god' ,,so much as there being some sort of collective, creative, positive 'energy' amongst us all......for convenience I call it gawd,,some might call it the force blankstare  ,,but for simplicity I prefer to focus on this 'thing' that helps me each day,,,and I have respect for anyone who decides to live a life where they think and care for themselves and others equally. 

..certainly there's a collective,creative,consciousness in the rooms of recovery,,I found that a good place to start biggrin

....I recently heard that 'faith' is to have hope in something beyond -rational- understanding,,a belief that is not based on proof....I 'like' that idea wink 

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deity In religious belief, a deity 1] is a supernatural being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred. 

 

 



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...gawd,,,please don't let me -ever- forget why I came here in the first place!!(my 'senility' prayer)
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