This writer has read Neil Anderson’s Bondage breaker twice from cover to cover and referred to it on several other occasions. He was first introduced to the book through a local church about a decade ago. This was before the writer became a full-time missionary. Having grown up in a family that sacrificed to other gods, went to mediums, etc, the writer had much to repent of when he first went through Anderson’s steps the first time, both for himself and his family. He has fully gone through Anderson’s steps to freedom in Christ twice and on numerous occasions has gone through them in part. In addition to Bondage Breaker, this writer has also read several other spiritual warfare books.
Chapter 13 of the Bondage Breaker is titled “Steps to Freedom in Christ”. In that Chapter, Anderson goes through 7 steps intended to help people find freedom in Christ. He includes prayers to be prayed and checklists of sins to jog the reader’s memory so that they can confess any sins they have committed. This writer has found that to be very helpful and has used it both and self and recommends that to students and others.
Without going into too much detail, here is a summary of Anderson’s steps.
Step 1: Counterfeit vs. Real. This encourages the reader to 1). Renounce past or present involvements with occult practices, cult teachings, and rituals, as well as non-christian religions. 2. Renounce wrong priorities.
Step 2: Deception vs. Truth. This encourages the reader to renounce lies. The truth shall set you free.
Step 3: Bitterness vs. Forgiveness. Get rid of unforgiveness and bitterness
Step 4: Rebellion vs. Submission. Submit and pray for delegated authority.
Step 5: Pride vs. Humility. Renounce pride and pursuing humility.
Step 6: Bondage vs. Freedom. Renounce sins and lusts of the flesh: Wrong sexual use of our bodies, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, suicidal tendencies, drivenness, and perfectionism, Eating disorders or self-mutilation, substance abuse, etc.
Step 7: Curses vs. Blessings. Renounce sins of your ancestors and curses which may have been placed on you).
Again, Anderson’s checklists of sins under each of the 7 categories are highly recommended for review as one prays and ask’s God to help search their hearts and minds to see if there is anything unclean that doesn’t glorify God.
In a university course that this writer teaches as well as in his personal practice, he has found that a very good and easy-to-remember alternative to Anderson’s 7 steps is to pray through ten commandments. When interpreted well, the ten commandments cover every variation of the sins mentioned in Anderson’s 7 steps and the helpful detailed lists of associated sins.
This writer likes the idea of using the ten commandments for several reasons. Anderson’s 7 steps, though very thorough and excellent, seem to this writer arbitrary to remember. There is no logical flow to them. The ten commandments are already something that the average believer would benefit from remembering for so many reasons. Using that as the mirror of God’s word that one looks into, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to see their sins and confess them makes it seem easier to this writer to remember and teach.