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New Life Center, located at 4201 Stine Road, Bakersfield, CA 93313, claims to be a place of spiritual life, but their claim is a lie (John 8:44). The truth is, they are leading people towards the second death, the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

I. Twelve Steps Away From Christ

New Life Center follows after the deceit created by Mr. Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and creator of the twelve step program. Mr. Wilson was heavily influenced by demons. Chapter sixteen (p. 275f) of 'Pass It On' The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world records Mr. Wilson's use of the ouija board, participation in seances, psychic events, "spook sessions", table levitation, and how he would receive "messages" from "discarnate" spirits. Bill Wilson was clearly in contact with demons, and this is the man who created the deceptive twelve step program.

The most obvious and destructive error in the twelve steps that New Life Center advocates is found in their TWELVE STEPS AND THEIR BIBLICAL COMPARISONS handout. Step number 3 reads,

Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. (step #11. Emphasis added.)

The last part of this statement ("as we understood Him") is enough to damn your soul! God says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

This is the exact opposite of "God as we understood Him." All men, according to Romans 1:18-32, are condemned before God, because they rely upon their own understanding (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18, "having their understanding darkened"), and they create (in their own darkened minds) a god of their own making (Romans 1:23). To encourage people to turn their "lives over to the care of God as we understood Him", is to encourage people to "turn their lives over to a god of their own making" (i.e. according to their own understanding). This promotes nothing more than spiritual death (Revelation 22:15).

In addition, these twelve steps are a deceitful attack against the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. they are against Christ, antichrist, 2 John 7; Colossians 2:8-10). The twelve steps are (as Mr. Wilson used them) given as an answer (a way) in which one can overcome sin (with Mr. Wilson's case, the sin of drunkenness). Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer for sin. He is the only way (John 14:6). There is only ONE "step", and that is faith in the Savior (Ephesians 2:8/Matthew 1:21/John 8:36/Romans10:13)!

In New Life Center's brochure Celebrate Recovery it is evident that N.L.C. advocates these twelve steps as the answer for sin. In this brochure they write,

The purpose of 'Celebrate Recovery' is to build relationships and celebrate God's healing power in our lives through the use of the Twelve Steps.

And,

By working the steps and applying their Biblical principles, we begin to grow spiritually. We become free from addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors caused by ourselves or others. (bold added)

The above exemplifies the "twelve steps" are what are used to "become free from addictive, compulsive" behavior (i.e. sin). In other words, the twelve steps are the savior! No doubt it is deceptive, because "Biblical principles" are interwoven throughout; but if they weren't, few (if any) would be deceived.

One good question to ask would be, "Where does Scripture talk about any 'twelve steps'"? The answer? Nowhere! These twelve steps come from Satan (via Bill Wilson), who is the master deceiver (Revelation 12:9). Remember, Satan used Scripture to tempt Christ (Matthew 4:6), and Balaam spoke much truth (Numbers 23-24); but he was evil (2 Peter 2:15-16/Numbers 22).

Another example of N.L.C.'s spiritual death is their,

II. Broad Way

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus warned,

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus likewise warned in Luke 13:24,

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Jesus' warning in both Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:24 (in context) was to the Jews (the people of God). The warning of the wide gate and broad way is in the context of those who are among the "people of God". And so it is today. Among the "people of God" (i.e. "Christians") there is a broad way that most are following. Most "Christians" are on the "broad way" to hell. New Life Center exemplifies that they are on this broad way by their espousal of Promise Keepers.

Promise Keepers teaches the gate is wide and the way is broad with their Promise # 6. "I will reach beyond . . . denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity." (The Power of a Promise Kept, p. 2). This promise is actually antithetical to biblical unity. Jack Hayfords's statement in Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper on page 19 illustrates this fact. Speaking of "Redeeming Worship" Hayford writes,

Redeeming worship centers on the Lord's Table. Whether your tradition celebrates it as Communion, Eucharist, the Mass, or the Lord's Supper, we are all called to this centerpiece of Christian worship.

Hayford's statement above gives credence to Catholic worship ("Eucharist, the Mass") and calls it "Christian worship". Catholic worship is false Christian worship and leads to hell. The Christ of Catholicism is a false Christ (i.e. "Transubstantiation" which teaches the wafer of the Mass literally becomes the literal body of "Christ", and Catholics literally worship this wafer). Actually, Catholicism is filled with idolatry (praying to Mary and the saints) and false doctrine (Matthew 23:9; 1 Timothy 4:1f). To embrace Catholics (and therefore Catholicism) as brothers in Christ is to embrace a religion that is demonic and leading millions to eternal torment (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). This is no small matter, and this is not biblical unity. It is promotion of the very issue Jesus warned about - - the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14). Promoting that Catholicism is also a way to heaven is not narrow (Matthew 7:13), but broad!

Promise Keepers masks its evil (as the Pharisees of old, Matthew 23:27-28) by promoting good concepts (e.g. sexual purity, personal integrity, etc.), but it's all worthless if you end up in hell! PK's first promise states, "I will honor Jesus Christ through prayer, worship, and obedience to His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit." (The Power of a Promise Kept, p. 2) PK does not fulfill its very first promise by not loving Jesus Christ, the Truth (John 14:6). Pushing aside and ignoring the serious error of Catholicism is not loving the truth. If you don't love the truth (John 14:6/2 Thessalonians 2:10), you will die the second death (Revelation 20:14)!

Finally, another example of N.L.C.'s promotion of spiritual death can be seen by their,

III. Disregard For The Word Of God

N.L.C. (along with their Foursquare denomination) practices the exact opposite of the Word of God in regards to the Biblical role of women (Titus 1:16). N.L.C (along with their denomination) has female pastors and allows women to speak in church. This is completely against the Word of God.

Let a women learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. (1 Corinthians 14:34)

People have good sounding arguments (2 Peter 2:18) against these verses, but the fact remains, THIS IS WHAT GOD SAYS! Those who argue against them are arguing against God (John 8:47).

Anyone who practices such blatant disregard for the word of God promotes spiritual death. Why? Because they encourage people to put their trust, not in the living word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Timothy 4:16), but in the dead opinions of men (Matthew 15:8-9).

May God have mercy on your soul and open your eyes. Psalm 118:22-24 still stands true today. For more information on the "heap" (2 Timothy 4:3), or what we believe, write or call and we will send it free of charge.