John Ortberg applies the 12 Steps to Christians

How is Christianity like Alcoholics Anonymous?

According to John Ortberg, in twelve important ways. In Steps (Tyndale), Ortberg offers a practical and engaging guide to the “Twelve Steps” that have helped many find hope and new life after addiction. 

While most AA books are aimed at alcoholics, this one is written for Christians. Without adding (or subtracting!) anything from the well-known Gospel message, Ortberg translates it into the Twelve Steps in a way that helps 21st century readers grasp Jesus’ message of salvation afresh. 

You don’t have to be an alcoholic to benefit from this book, but you do have to recognise that you’re in need of a saviour. Jesus did not come to save the righteous, after all, but sinners (Luke 5:31). 

In the first few chapters of Steps, Ortberg makes it clear that if we want God to change our lives we need to acknowledge that we can’t change alone - we need to recognise that he can do it, decide to step back, surrender our self-control, and let him take charge. “Nobody’s life is manageable”, Ortberg says, and if we don’t admit that then we’re kidding ourselves. He then kindly but firmly provides techniques to help identify our weaknesses and what needs to change. Drawing on examples from the Bible, movies, television and other Christian living focused books, he explains what it looks like to surrender your life to God and how to make an “inventory” of the problems, fears and resentments that are holding us down and making life difficult. 

Though Steps has a clear structure and is accessible in style, it is a frustratingly difficult book at times. The steps suggested for change involve making hard decisions and following through on them. Just because these steps are simple to explain doesn’t mean that they are easy to carry out. Confessing faults aloud takes courage, as does finding someone trustworthy for accountability. Naming those we’ve hurt, making amends, and forgiving others all demands vulnerability and wholehearted trust in God. But they are also completely necessary because if we believe our sin isn’t serious enough to require radical action, we fail to grasp the true depth of our need. Thankfully, Ortberg provides a number of anecdotes and personal stories from his long ministry as a pastor that give us the courage to take the plunge into the sort of radical Christian life that he advocates for.

This is not a path that is impossible to walk by any means. God has been working through these sorts of steps in the lives of Christians for 2,000 years, and there are groups of recovering alcoholics in every neighbourhood all over the world, who will testify that they work. But putting one foot in front of another still feels like a leap of faith.

Once we’re over the hurdle of acknowledging and confronting our sin and doing something about it, the final steps involve turning these actions into a lifestyle. The last chapters of the book explore how to build healthy habits, making sure that we don’t fall back into old ways, how to connect with God on a regular basis; what prayer and meditation actually looks like, and how to share God’s love with others. Unless we embed these practices in our everyday lives it is entirely possible that the difficult early steps completed, were done in vain. Jesus calls disciples, not people looking for a quick fix.

At its core, Ortberg preaches the same gospel taught by Jesus, Paul, and countless Christian teachers. But the strength of the book lies in its ability to break down the gospel into a series of small, practical steps. These steps lay outline what giving one’s life to God actually looks like and as such is invaluable for anyone thinking about becoming a Christian. They are also useful for seasoned churchgoers who perhaps feel like they are missing out on everything that God has in store for them. As the psalmist says, “Taste and see” - the true value of this will only come when one puts it into practice.

Steps by John Ortberg is out now