| Author | Post |
|---|
keithterrill
Member
|
Posted: Fri Jul 16th, 2010 02:57 pm |
|
Hi, I want to start a group in our church.
I am a local pastor with our church.
I have been a participating member of a 12 step program (SA).
I have no problem sending sex addicts to the SA program, but it is an hours drive one way. Also the format is not exactly where I am at any longer. I no longer believe that the opening lines are correct to use. For example:
"Hi, I am Keith, a sexaholic. My forms of acting out have consisted of, but not limited to, compulsive masturbation, reading pornography, fantasy of all kinds, acting out with self and others. I have been sober for 3 months. Thank you."
The confession is proper.
But the truth is: I am saved, redeemed, and forgiven... washed in the Blood. My list of forms of acting out have been greatly reduced. God has been telling me that I need to stop reinforcing the lie that my identity is SEXAHOLIC and instead it is SAVED, FORGIVEN, CLEAN... by JESUS THE CHRIST! I AM A CHRISTIAN.
amen
Well, in any case, I have found the handout and flier to advertise for the group. But, is there any guides on how to conduct the group meeting itself?
Thank you
Keith L Terrill
____________________
KLT
|
TM2
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 8th, 2009 |
| Location: | Rural Midwest, USA |
| Posts: | 473 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |    |
|
Posted: Sat Jul 17th, 2010 12:43 am |
|
Keith,
I know nothing about Strength in Numbers, but I have a couple of thoughts if you don't mind.
In a pinch, you could presumably work with material from other fellowships and modify it for your own use. I know SAA has good material on their web site about starting a group. You could, I suppose, alter it to fit your needs.
I, too, have a bit of a drive to get to meetings. I try to do 2 a week, an SLAA meeting that's about an hour from here and an SAA meeting that's about an hour and a quarter. It's a bother to go so far, but it's less time than I used to spend acting out. It's also possible to spend the time in transit praying or meditation or listening to recovery-related audio, which can make the drive a quiet time for useful reflection. Much of that drive is on quiet country roads, though. An hour through a big city would have a very different feel.
Personally I don't find identifying as a sex addict troubling. Yes, I'm other things, too, but I am a sex addict. That's something it can be unpleasant to admit, but the more I can make it not a mark of shame but simply a true descriptor, the healthier and more unified I think I am. Obviously if you feel you're being led by God away from SA, then go. I just personally feel OK about saying something true about myself, even if it's not the only true thing O could say.
Sorry if none of that is what you asked for. I'm just trying to offer what I can.
Tim M.
|
mike
Administrator
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12th, 2010 07:46 pm |
|
When one first gets into recovery, I think that confessing a struggle with sex addiction/being a sex addict is okay, even necessary. Most who struggle with this also have a problem justifying their sin vs. owning up to it.
Having said this, once the lying, justification and denial are truly dealt with, part of the healing process comes in stepping into the truth of who we really are in Christ. Jesus didn't die for us so that we would be "sex addicts" for all of our time on this earth, otherwise, how mighty would His power really be? The Jesus I read of in the gospels radically changed the lives of broken men and women. He came to set captives free.
To continue in the mud of an identity of "sex addict" is to say "there is no hope - you'll be like this for life." That's a lie from hell of a defeated life. I am stuck with this miserable flesh that could easily turn to sin (Romans 6-7), but I'm also called a saint in Scripture, beloved of the Lord, and other things like this. My primary identity, by the blood of Christ, is always God's son.
|
Current time is 04:13 am | |
|
|
|
RSS