Most people are familiar with the golden rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” However, many people are unaware that this quote is taken directly from the Bible (Luke 6:27-28, to be exact). Many other important life lessons are offered directly from the Bible as well. Some are recognizable, and others perhaps are not. But regardless of recognition, faith-based guidance can be critical for a successful long-term recovery.
What Is Faith-Based Guidance?
It should be noted that some version of the golden rule can almost certainly be found in other religious and spiritual teachings. That is why it is called faith-based guidance and not religious-based guidance.
Nevertheless, we feel it is important to note that we believe and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Many of us here at Clearview Girls Academy have been affected by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We use this affection to help guide us as we instill values and principles in our students.
Still, we feel it imperative to note that a Christian background or beliefs are not required at Clearview Girls Academy. Spirituality isn’t even a requirement for attendance (which we will get into more later). Ultimately, the only thing that matters to us here at Clearview Girls Academy is that our students are willing to grow and heal.
The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion in Recovery
An understanding of the difference between spirituality and religion can perhaps best be found through the principles of 12-Step recovery. In 12-Step recovery, the second step states that we “came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Notice how it doesn’t specifically say “God.” There is a reason for that.
That reason is that acquiring a spiritual life in recovery does not mean acquiring a religious one. The 12-Step recovery model uses the term “higher power” because it is important to be as inclusive as possible. This helps as many people as possible to find recovery through The Twelve Steps.
Now, it is true that many people’s spirituality comes from a religious foundation. This is why we mentioned our love of Christ earlier. Our faith-based guidance is based on the teachings of Christ. However, you may notice we said “guidance” rather than directives.
Faith-Based Guidance Through Christ
In the Book of John 15:13, it states, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is dramatic, of course, but what can be gleaned from this statement is that it is critical to go to every length to help those around you. This is what we do here at Clearview Girls Academy.
We use the teachings of Christ to show our students that it is critical to love and serve those around us. This is because in doing so, we help ourselves to grow and recover. It is similar to one of the paradoxes offered in 12-Step recovery: “You have to give it away to keep it.” This is certainly a tenet of Christ’s teachings in different words and also a tenet of our faith-based guidance.
We use our love of Christ to help guide our students toward a more positive and healthy path. However, sometimes that guidance leads our students to another form of spirituality. That is okay. A spiritual life can be critical for recovery, whether it is directly associated with Christ or not. We try to convey to our students that there is something out there that loves them and that they can rely on when times get tough. If this message gets through, we feel we have succeeded in our mission of faith-based guidance.
How We Utilize Faith-Based Guidance at Clearview Girls Academy
In the Book of Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus states “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” The passage continues: “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” This is a teaching we follow and commit to. We are here to help all of those seeking to recover, even if that means directing them to another recovery center or treatment facility.
As you can see, we allow the teachings of Christ to work through us as we guide our students. We know that by being humble, open, and honest, our students will reciprocate in time. Many of the students who come to our facility feel alone, unseen, and unable to turn to anyone. We make sure they know that they can always turn to us. What’s more, they can always and forever turn to Christ or a higher power of their choosing.
We here at Clearview Girls Academy are open and upfront about our belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. We use his teachings to guide us every day. We also use his teachings to provide faith-based guidance to our students. However, this doesn’t mean that being devoted to Christ is a requirement at our recovery center. Not at all. Still, we do believe that acquiring a higher power can be a major factor in achieving long-term recovery. We offer access to that higher power through our faith-based guidance. If you feel like your daughter is struggling with issues of mental health, we can help. For more information on faith in recovery, call Clearview Girls Academy at (888) 796-5484.
