This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (NIV)  Galatians 2:4-5

Soon A.A. was beset by these very problems on every side and in every group. But out of this frightening and at first disrupting experience the conviction grew that A.A.’s had to hang together or die separately. We had to unify our Fellowship or pass off the scene. (Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Kindle Locations 97-99, foreword to the second edition.)

Holding on to truth, holding out for purity

staying the course

without apostasy.

Truth wields a mighty sword, impervious, 

indestructible

yet truth can fall to insidious mutation,

to good intentions, to obfuscating clarification.

A good thing, a godly thing, a god thing 

we have here.

God knows how we can keep it!

God, save us from the conviction 

we can always tweak

something for the better.