Do 12-step programs actually work, or do I need the church?

The addiction recovery model is based on Christian principles. And so the number one thing that is kind of mind-blowing for people in the West is that addiction is the symptom of spiritual illness. That's what the church fathers and the monastics and the holy elders of the Orthodox Church have been saying forever. So if you treat a person's spiritual illness and recover their relationship with Jesus Christ, the byproduct is, guess what, sins and addictions start to melt away. If you look at twelve step programs and what they're based on, they're based on doing a life confession. They call it the fourth step, I believe. It's based on reconciling with people of the past, making amends, forgiveness. These are all Christian principles. These are all things that people would do naturally within the church. So, are twelve step recovery programs helpful for people? Of course. We're not going to knock anything that helps people to live a more virtuous and spiritually healthy life. But are they complete in and of themselves? Absolutely not. Because you end up with people in twelve step programs who believe in whatever woo-woo imaginary God, that's no God at all. There's no point in that. You need to believe in the triune God. You need to worship Jesus Christ and have an intimate relationship with him, and that will keep sobriety going long term.