Twenty-eight Oxford Group Principles

TAKEN FROM:
Anne Smiths Journal 1933-1939
A.A.’s Principles of Success
Pages 141-147
Third Edition
by Dick B.

Paradise Research Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 837,
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
dickb@dickb.com

Twenty-eight Oxford Group Principles

Appendix

Twenty-eight Oxford Group Principles That Influenced A.A.

See Chapter Four for Anne's discussion of the twenty-eight Oxford Group principles. Here, our footnotes identify the places in the Bible, in Oxford Group books, in Shoemaker's writings, and in A.A. literature where the ideas can be found:

The Twenty-eight Oxford Group Ideas

In the beginning, God.

1. God - Biblical descriptions of Him as Creator, Maker, Father, Spirit, Love, Living God.1

2. God has a plan - His will for man-and provides definite, accurate information for the individual who wants the plan fulfilled. 2

3. Man's chief end - To do God's Will, thereby receiving the blessings God promises to those who align their lives with His Will. 3

4. Belief - We must start with the belief that God IS. 4


Sin-Estrangement from God-The Barrier of Self.

5. Sin is a reality - The selfishness and self-centeredness that blocks man from God and from others.5

6. Surrender - The turning point which makes it possible for man to have a relationship with God by surrendering his will, ego, and sins to God. 6

7. Soul - Surgery- The "art" or way which enables man through the steps of Confidence,
Confession, Conviction, Conversion, and Conservation (the Five C's) to have the sin or spiritual disease cured. 7

8. Life-change - The result in which man, through a spiritual experience, becomes God-centered instead of self-centered and focuses on helping others. 8


The Path They Followed to Establish a Relationship with God.

9. Decision - The action by which man verbalizes his surrender and gives in to God, saying, essentially, "Thy will be done." 9

10. Self-examination - A "moral" inventory in which man takes stock of his sins and their consequences. 10

11. Confession - Sharing with God and another person the inventory results. 11

12. Conviction - Readiness to change resulting from man's conviction that he has sinned and that Christ miraculously can cure.12

13. Conversion - The New Birth, Change, namely, that which occurs when man gives himself to God, is regenerated, has part of God's nature imparted to him, and finds the barrier of sin gone.13

14. Restitution - Righting the wrongs and enabling man to cut the cord of sin that binds him to the past.14


Jesus Christ

15. Jesus Christ - The source of power as the Divine Redeemer and Way-Shower by whose transforming power man can be changed. 15


Spiritual Growth-Continuance.

16. Conservation - Continuance as an idea, by which man maintains and grows in his life of grace. 16

17. Daily Surrender - A process in which man engages in daily self-examination and surrender to get rid of newly accumulated sin and selfishness.17

18. Guidance - The walk by faith in which the Holy Spirit gives Divine Guidance to a life that is changed from sin to God.18

19. The Four Absolutes - Christ's standards, the standards of absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love, by which man's life can be tested for harmony with God's will.19

20. Quiet Time - A period in which man can receive Divine Guidance and be sensitive to the sway of the Spirit.20

21. Bible study - Meditation which enables man daily to feed his soul on God's revelation of His Universal Will in the written Word.21

22. Prayer - Talking to God.22

23. Listening to God for Leading Thoughts and Writing Down Guidance Received - The means of receiving revelation of God's Particular or Private Will for a man.23

24. Checking-Testing thoughts to be sure they represent God's Guidance and not just self-
deception.24


The Spiritual Experience or A wakening.

25. Knowledge of God's will - Attaining, with the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, a knowledge of God's Universal Will as revealed in the Bible, and receiving knowledge of His particular Will through obedience to His Universal Will.25

26. God-consciousness - The total change resulting from the experience of God when His will is known, lived, and witnessed.26


Fellowship with God and Believers and Witness by Life and Word.

27. Fellowship - The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit in which believers maintain fellowship with God and mutually sacrifice to win others to the fellowship of the love of God revealed by Jesus Christ.27

28. Witness by Life and Word - Sharing with others by personal evangelism the fruits of the life changed and the proof of God's forgiveness and power. 28


FOOT NOTES:


1 In this, and in each succeeding, footnote, we identify the four categories where the Oxford Group ideas can be found: a) Bible: "Creator" (Isaiah 40:28); "Maker" (Psalm 95:6); "Father" (Matthew 5:45); "Spirit" (John 4:24); "Love" (1 John 4:8); "Living God" (Acts 14:15). b) Oxford Group writings (henceforth, "Oxford Group"): Philip M. Brown, The Venture of Belief (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1935), pp. 24-25; Geoffrey Allen, He That Cometh (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1933), pp. 222- 23; Clarence I Benson, The Eight Points of the Oxford Group (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1936), p. 73; Frank Buchman, Remaking the World (London: Blandford Press, 1961), p. 13. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1932), pp. 33, 49, 50, 51, 124; National Awakening (New York: Harper &Brothers, 1936), pp. 48, 55, 97, 107, 108; Confident Faith (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1932), pp. 38, 54, 59, 74, 83, 96, 106, 107, 152, 183; Realizing Religion (New York: Association Press, 1921), p. 35; Children of the Second Birth (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1927), p. 42; Christ's Words from the Cross (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1933), p. 43. d) In A.A. (henceforth, "A.A."), see in the Big Book: Creator (p. 13), Maker (p. 57), Father (p. 62), Spirit (p. 84); Living God (An early draft of the Big Book contained this phrase, which was later modified to "God" at page 29). See also DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1980), pp. 117, 110; Pass It On (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1984), p. 121.

2 a) Bible: Jeremiah 7:23; Isaiah 14:5; Proverbs 3:5-6. b) Oxford Group: Buchman, Remaking the World, pp. 8, 48; Horace Bushnell, The New Life (London: Strahan &Co., 1868), pp. iii, I; Henry B. Wright, The Will of God (New York: Y.M.C.A. Press, 1909), p. 3; Brown, The Venture of Belief, p. 40. c) Shoemaker: Children of the Second Birth, p. 27; Religion That Works (N.Y.: Fleming H. Revell, 1928), p. 19; National Awakening, pp. 41, 83, 89-98. d) A.A.: DR. BOB, p. 45; cf. Lois Remembers (N.Y.: AI-Anon Family Group Headquarters, 1987), p. 100; Big Book, pp. 208-09; 302-03.

3 a) Bible: Acts 13:22; Matthew 6:32-33. b) Oxford Group: Henry Drummond, The Ideal Life (N.Y.: Hodder &Stoughton, 1897), pp. 227-43; Wright, The Will of God, p. 9; Benson, The Eight Points, pp. 12-13; B. H. Streeter, The God Who Speaks (London: Macmillan, 1943), p. 11. c) Shoemaker: National Awakening, pp. 42, 47; Christ's Words from the Cross, p. 50. d) A.A.: Big Book, Step Eleven, and pp. 164, 77.

4 a) Bible: Hebrews 11 :6. b) Oxford Group: Brown, The Venture of Belief, p. 24; Philip Leon, The Philosophy of Courage (N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1939), p. 19; The Layman with a Notebook, What Is The Oxford Group? (N. Y .: Oxford University Press, 1933), Foreword. c) Shoemaker: National Awakening, pp. 40-41; Children of the Second Birth, p. 40; Religion That Works, p. 55; Confident Faith, p. 187. d) A.A.: Big Book, p. 53-a virtual quote of Shoemaker's Confident Faith language.

5 a) Bible: Romans 3:23. b) Oxford Group: A. J. Russell, For Sinners Only (London: Hodder &Stoughton, 1932), p. 61. c) Shoemaker: They're on the Way (New York: E.P Dutton &Co., 1951), p. 154. d) A.A.: Pass It On, p. 197; Big Book, pp. 60- 64,66,71,76.

6 a) Bible: Acts 3:19. b) Oxford Group: Benson, The Eight Points, p. 5. c) Shoemaker: The Church Can Save the World (New York: Harper &Brothers, 1938), pp. 113-14. d) A.A.: Big Book, p. 59.

7 b) Oxford Group: Howard A. Walter, Soul Surgery: Some Thoughts on Incisive Personal Work (Calcutta, India: Association Press, 1919). c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, p. 12; Realizing Religion, pp. 79-80. d) A.A.: DR. BOB, p. 54; Ernest Kurtz, Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, expo ed. (MN: Hazelden, 1991), pp. 48-49, 228; Richmond Walker, For Drunks Only: One Man's Reaction to Alcoholics Anonymous (1945; reprint, MN: Hazelden, n.d.), pp. 45-46.

8 a) Bible: John 3:3. b) Oxford Group: Harold Begbie, Life Changers (New York: G. P. Putnam, 1927). c) Shoemaker: The Church Can Save the World, p. 153. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 63, 569-70.

9 a) Bible: Matthew 6:10. b) Oxford Group: What Is The Oxford Group?, pp. 46- 48. c)
Shoemaker: Children of the Second Birth, pp. 58, 175-87. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 60, 63.

10 a) Bible: Matthew 7:3-5. b) Oxford Group: Buchman, Remaking the World, pp. 3,24,28,38,46; Walter, Soul Surgery, pp. 41-48, 69; Benson, The Eight Points, pp. 44, 162, 18, 7; Cecil Rose, When Man Listens (New York: Oxford University Press, 1937), pp. 17-19. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, pp. 30-34; Twice-Born Ministers (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1929), p. 182; How to Become a Christian (New York: Harper &Brothers, 1953), pp. 56-67; God's Control (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1939), pp. 104-05. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. xvi; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1957), p. 39.

11 a) Bible: James 5:16. b) Oxford Group: J. P. Thornton-Duesbury, Sharing (Pamphlet of the Oxford Group, published at Oxford University, n.d.), p. 5; Benson, The Eight Points, p. 18. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, p. 35. d) A.A.: Pass It On, p. 128; Big Book, Step 5.

12 a) Bible: Psalm 65:3. b) Oxford Group: Walter, Soul Surgery, pp. 64-78. c) Shoemaker: Realizing Religion, p. 81. d) A.A.: See Mel B., New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle (MN: Hazelden, 1991), pp. 34-35; Big Book, Step 6.

13 a) Bible: John 3:3-4. b) Oxford Group: Allen, He That Cometh, pp. 19-43. c) Shoemaker: National Awakening, pp. 55, 57-58. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 63, 76; Pass It On, pp. 381-86.

14 a) Bible: Numbers 5:6-7; Matthew 5:23-24. b) Oxford Group: Russell, For Sinners Only, p. 119. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, pp. 47-48. d) A.A.: Big Book, Steps 8 and 9.

15 a) Bible: John 14:6. b) Oxford Group: Brown, The Venture of Belief, p. 49. c)

Shoemaker: With the Holy Spirit and with Fire (New York: Harper &Brothers, 1960), pp. 29-33. d) A.A.: Compare Kurtz, Not-God, p. 50; Dick B., The Oxford Group &Alcoholics Anonymous (WA: Glen Abbey, 1992), pp. 197-98; Dr. Bob's Library (WV: The Bishop of Books, 1992), pp. ix, 12, 37, 39-42; and DR. BOB, pp. 53-54, 141, 148, 163,183.

16a) Bible: Galatians 2:20; Romans 12:1-2. b) Oxford Group: Walter, Soul Surgery, pp. 89-100; Howard J. Rose, The Quiet Time (NY: The Oxford Group, 61 Gramercy Park North, n.d.), p. 2. c) Shoemaker: Realizing Religion, p. 80; Religion That Works, pp. 14 15. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 83-85.

17 a) Bible: Matthew 26:41; John 16:13-16. b) Oxford Group: Benson, The Eight Points, pp. 45-46; H. Rose, The Quiet Time, p. 3. c) Shoemaker: The Gospel According to You (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1934), pp. 81-91. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 84-88.

18 a) Bible: Psalm 32:8. b) Oxford Group: Benson, The Eight Points, p. 80. c) Shoemaker: With the Holy Spirit and with Fire, pp. 30-31; The Conversion of the Church, p. 86; Twice-Born Ministers, pp. 184-85. d) A.A.: Big Book, Step Eleven.

19 a) Bible: John 8:44; Matthew 5:5; Luke 14:33; John 13:34. b) Oxford Group: Robert E. Speer, The Principles of Jesus (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1902), pp. 33- 34; Garth Lean, On the Tail of a Comet (Colorado Springs: Helmers &Howard, 1988), p. 76. c) Shoemaker: Twice-Born Ministers, p. 150; The Church Can Save the World, p. 110; How to Become a Christian, p. 57. d) A.A.: DR. BOB, pp. 54, 163; Pass It On, pp. 114, 172; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pp. 68,161; The Language of the Heart, pp. 198-200; The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1972), pp. 13-14; Mel B., New Wine, pp. 76, 138; Kurtz, Not-God, pp. 242-43.

20 a) Bible: Psalm 46:10. b) Oxford Group: Benson, The Eight Points, pp. 58-73. c) Shoemaker: Realizing Religion, pp. 65-66. d) A.A.: Big Book, p. 86.

21 a) Bible: 2 Timothy 2:15. b) Oxford Group: Streeter, The God Who Speaks; Russell, For Sinners Only, p. 94. c) Shoemaker: Realizing Religion, pp. 58-62; The Conversion of the Church, pp. 49, 60, 79; Children of the Second Birth, p. 97; Twice- Born Ministers, p. 184. d) A.A.: DR. BOB, pp. 71, 96-97, 102, Ill, 116, 136, 139, 140,144,148,151,162,183,187,198,218,224,228,252, 261, 276, 306, 308, 310, 311,314.

22 a) Bible: James 5:16. b) Oxford Group: What Is The Oxford Group?, p. 69. c) Shoemaker: Realizing Religion, pp. 63-65; National Awakening, p. 53; Children of the Second Birth, p. 149. d) A.A.: Big Book, p. 85.

23 a) Bible: Jeremiah 30:1-2; 1 Samuel 3:9. b) Oxford Group: Buchman, Remaking the World, p. 36; H. Rose, The Quiet Time. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, pp. 60-66; Children of the Second Birth, p. 47. d) A.A.: Big Book, pp. 86-87.

24 a) Bible: John 16:13. b) Oxford Group: Russell, For Sinners Only, p. 94. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, pp. 51-57; Twice-Born Ministers, p. 125. d) A.A.: Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 74; Pass It On, p. 172; Co-Founders, pp. 12-13.

25 a) Bible: John 7: 17; Acts 9:6. b) Oxford Group: Wright, The Will of God, p. 137. c) Shoemaker: The Conversion of the Church, pp. 49-50; Twice-Born Ministers, pp. 184-85; A Young Man's View of the Ministry (New York: Association Press, 1923), pp. 78, 80; Religion That Works, p. 36. d) A.A.: Big Book, Step Eleven.

26 a) Bible: John 3:7; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 6:33; Acts 2:1,4. b) Oxford Group: Dick B., The Oxford Group, pp. 265-78. c) Shoemaker: Dick B., The Oxford Group, pp. 265-78. d) A.A.: Big Book, Step Twelve, pp. 569-70.

27a) Bible: 1 John 1:3; Ephesians 2:1-22. b) Oxford Group: Benson, The Eight Points, pp. 102-13; c) Shoemaker: Religion That Works, pp. 66-76. d) A.A.: Big Book, p.164.

28 a) Bible: Acts 5:32; 26:22-23. b) Oxford Group: What Is the Oxford Group?, pp. 36,26. c) Shoemaker: One Boy's Influence (New York: Association Press, 1925), p. 15; They're on the Way, p. 159; How to Become a Christian, p. 80. d)
 

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