Genesis: What is it?
Just finished the second Genesis program by Michael Dye and after 80 hours of instruction, I am finally able to understand the process. What is Genesis? The best way to describe it is that it gives structure to inner healing. It produces change in people that are stuck for years in their spiritual growth. It shows you how to move out of spiritual stagnation. Genesis is not the wide road it is the narrow road that leads to salvation.
At quote from his book, “The Genesis process is an attempt to provide the necessary understanding, as well as practical tools, for real and permanent change. It is a blend of biblical principles, understanding of the brain, and proven recovery strategies for not only freedom from self destructive behaviors, but also addressingt the underlying issues that drive them..How long have you been stuck in your marriage? How long have you been stuck with a wieght issue? How long have you struggled with sexual issues? How long have you struggled with addictions to alcohol, drugs, caffine? How long have you been addicted to anger and worry? They are addictions.
The Genesis process is designed for those who are willing to do what is necessary to change. For those whose addictions have caused them to cease functioning, it is easty to identify their problem. But recovery can be difficult for people who have not come to a crisis(hit a bottom) and are still functioning at a socially acceptable level. You will need to identify something about yourself that you want to change. You will be a draining rather than an energizing influence for the group if you are not there to change or don’t know of anything that is wrong. The more mature we become as Christians, the more subtle yet deeper our issues can be. As a recovering Pharisee, my recovery will probably never be over. It’s not durgs, lying, or lust that I struggle with. It’s being judgmental, critical, self-righteous and religious that hurts me, my relationship with God, and others. So if you can’t think of what you want to change about yourself, you might join in as a recovering Pharisee.
What is an addiction? Continuing to repeat a behavior that you know is harmful to both yourself and others, in spite of negative consequences. Addiction is a loss of control. Using this definition, basically everyone has an addiction to something, from caffeine to cocaine, from sugar to heroin, from anxiety to anger, and so on. It is what you do to cope. We will mostly use the term coping behavior rather than addiction.
What is recovery? Literally means to return to a formerly health state, ie., to return to the person you were before you were wounded, betrayed, experienced pain, and built walls of defense and distrust. The result of pain is fear. Jesus tells us we are to be like children, who in their most innocent role trust, believe all things, love, and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit. Recovery is a process of identiying your fears and moving toward resolving them. That process restores your ablity to trust and love. Rocovery is more than abstaining- recovery is healing.
Matthew 18:2-4 (AMP) ” And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent(change, turn about) and become like little children(trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving), you can never enter the kingdom of heaven(at all). Whoever will humlbe himself therefore and become like this little child(trusting, lowly,loving, and forgiving) is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.