Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
In the Alcoholics Anonymous theology there is no need to accept Christ in order to gain peace with the Father. Christ the mediator has been eliminated.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
The Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book,” contradicts this:
“As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed by a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of the Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.” (Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book”, pg.46) (bold mine)
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. (Matthew 7:13)
Because of fear and/or idolatry, Christians in Alcoholics Anonymous continue to defend this anti-biblical organization.***
Alcoholics Anonymous is a ripe mission field–or should be. Unfortunately, the worst missionaries to people in A.A. are often those Christians who attend A.A. and have absorbed the twelve step philosophy. There is much timidity, and much syncretism. There are exceptions to this, but it is a mistake to believe the Christians in A.A. are effectively and boldly delivering the Word of God.
Of course, Christians should not be there in the first place–just as we should remain spiritually separate from Mormons, Jehovahs Witness, etc. (2 Cor 6:14-17)
A.A.’s spiritual emphasis is not on eternity, but on “recovery,” a word that many A.A. Christians now confuse with “sanctification.”
How devious this all is. The twelve steps do not address sin, or repentance, but rather put such things in generic terms: wrongs, making amends, etc. Incredibly, A.A. teaches there is no “easier, softer way” (Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book,” pg. 58), meaning there are no other alternatives, and this means “church” in particular.
That is correct: Negative comments about “church” are frequently made in A.A. meetings. This can even come from members identifying themselves as “Christian.” And so, in this way, alcoholics are further discouraged from going where they could hear about Christ.
Another lie propagated is that alcoholics are too angry to hear about Christ, and so it is better to tell them to seek a “higher power.” Again, incredibly, this seems to be accepted by numerous Christians in Alcoholics Anonymous. I have even heard this from an A.A. Christian in a pastor’s office!
Being in bondage to alcohol is no light thing. Of course, neither is eternal damnation. Alcoholics Anonymous was created to corral people into A.A. to ostensibly deal with alcohol addiction–with life long meetings!–in order to steer them away from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:12)
Understandably, such a statement angers many. Yet, after decades of twelve step spirituality, we have a weakening church, and a powerful twelve step religion. There is a connection between the two. Secular author Christine Wicker accurately credits Alcoholics Anonymous with “hastening the fall of the evangelical church.” (Fall of the Evangelical Nation, pg. 134-138)
What do alcoholics need to hear? That Christ can save them from eternity in hell, and that Christ can deliver them from bondage to alcohol.
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:4)
We are sinners by nature (Original Sin), and by our actions. We are guilty before Him. We cannot measure up to God’s holy standards, and indeed our sins are an offense to Him.
For I delivered to you of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Ask His forgiveness and turn from your sins in your actions and thinking–turn to Him.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” (Romans 10:11)
Let us approach alcoholics in love, and with the truth. Be sensitive to the Spirit. This is not about beating someone over the head with the Bible–but it is absolutely NOT about avoiding the gospel message–because we are not ashamed of the gospel, right? We can say “sin,” right? We can explain repentance. We can also share how much He loves us–so much He died for us while we were yet sinners.
If you are in A.A., please understand there are many of us free of drugs and alc0hol who do not attend A.A. or Celebrate Recovery.
Christ may deliver someone instantaneously. I have a number of friends who have been freed like this. So too have many benefited from Teen Challenge, Setting Captives Free, and other Bible-based approaches.
The Lord is fierce; the Lord is holy; and the Lord is kind. He loves us–and may He show us how to reach alcoholics and drug addicts with the Good News.
***
*** It is a fearful thing, leaving AA. The Big Book (the AA “bible”) states, “We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not.”[1] Because this passage of AA “scripture” is taken literally, alcoholics rarely look elsewhere for help. Christians continue to jam their God, the Ancient of Days, into AA’s chameleon theology.
“Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11-12)
It is not just fear that keeps us bound to this all-gods religion. The 12 Step experience becomes an idol–long term involvement almost always results in a transference of faith. Bluntly stated, when it comes to sobriety, many Christians end up with more faith in the power of the 12 Step program than in Jesus Christ. (From the article Alcoholics Anonymous co-founders were not Christians) Read article: http://mywordlikefire.com/2012/02/19/a-a-s-co-founders-were-not-christians/
Dick B., in AA anything can be “god.” Please don’t waste your time (or mine) if you cannot report accurately. But then, you do not report accurately, or you would have repented long ago for portraying the AA/12 Step roots as biblical or Christian.
You wanted AA to have Christian roots so you ignored the truth about the Oxford Group back when you first started your “AA is really, really Christian in origin” campaign. You were blind to it. When you finally figured out that the Oxford Group was not Christian, you moved on to other “roots.”
You are still moving. Now you are placing your emphasis on Clarence S. The cottage industry continues, and people continue to be lured into an anti-biblical religion.
I’d be very interested in having the January 13th writer cite one single case where a “Christian AA member” or anyone in A.A. said, “You can pray to a chest of drawers if you like.” In fact, I’d like to see some demented alcoholic or addict get down on his knees and pray to his chest of drawers. Because demented he’s have to be. Where do these absurd statements come from–not from A.A., not from reason, not from a born again Christian. Ever! The writer ought to read Clarence Snyder’s “My Higher Power The Light Bulb” and get with the facts
Amen. We need Him to lead us when we are used to reach these tormented people. Speaking from personal experience, bondage to drugs and alcohol is a torment.
Outstanding Awesome Truths every Christian in addiction recovery needs to hear and apply in their lives.
Thank you, Julie. I really appreciate the encouragement. I do not feel alone, and there are other believers calling out a warning. There are also non-believers who suffered emotional and spiritual abuse at the hands of AA and are dedicated to exposing its ineffectiveness and hypocrisy. For us (believers), however, there will always be the issue of Salvation. Our time on this earth is short–but heaven or hell are forever.
Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. (Psalm 39:5)
Your website is so true and yet you must feel like avoice in the wilderness. I have a family member who has been in AA for years who thinks they are born again. They may be, but there is no biblical fruit. They were overheard talking to someone in bondage to drugs about AA. The person in bondage to drugs is an atheist. They didn’t want AA’s help because they said don’t you have to believe in God? The Christian AA member said, oh you just need a higher power – could be your chest of drawers if you like! I just about fell out of my chair. Your DRESSER can be your higher power??? Yet, this is what is taught, as you have rightly pointed out.