What is the Christian perspective of Alcoholics Annonymous?

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What is the Christian perspective of Alcoholics Annonymous?

by Elizabeth G.
(Johnstown, NY)

Is it appropriate for a Christian to participate or serve in an alcoholics annonymous or narcotics annonymous program? They teach to believe in a higher power and a god of your understanding. Christ is not taught, though if you believe in Christ, you can say so and tell your story. AA was started because of the Oxford Group, which was a christian organization and originally Christ was a key element in the program, but then a man named Bill Wilson developed the 12 steps, eleminating Christ, and adopting a god of your understanding. To make a long story short, I guess Bill W. claimed to come to know Christ, but lived an unchristian life, being unfaithful to his wife with many women, practicing seances and Ouiji boards. He is called a Narcissist in many research sites. He wrote the AA 'Big Book' which has many passages contradictory to christianity, and in it is a chapter 'for wives' which he lead others to believe his wife Lois wrote, though research has found that he wrote it himself as he didn't trust his wife to write the right things. In that chapter, there are many degrading things that a wife should do and tolerate in order to help her addict husband to recover. Many research articles I have read (unless written by AA/NA)claim that these programs are a cult. The reason I ask, is that my husband, who is a relatively new christian, follows these teachings faithfully, believes they made him a better person, and that they teach wonderful things that the bible does not teach.When my husband talks about things, he repeats Bill W's words from the 'Big Book'. My husband is a wonderful man, but I think his idea's are all messed up and I think over the last 12 yrs. of practicing NA, he has become brainwashed. He thinks because I don't support these ideas, that I am being disrespectful. I try telling him all we need in order to live a christian life is taught in God's word, the bible. And then he will argue back "Does the Bible teach CPR?" (I'm a nurse) I agree that an addict needs a lot of support, but they need to give their lives to the Lord, not to a god of their understanding that take Christ out of the picture. AA/NA makes Bill W. look like a saint and all of their literature edifies him. My husband won't look at what anyone else has said as he thinks it is made up. He thinks God wants him to serve in NA and through this program help others and lead them to the Lord.
Any thoughts?

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What is the Christian perspective of Alcoholics Annonymous?

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Mar 29, 2010

The Icing on the Cake
by: Anonymous

I have been a born-again Christian since 1977. I immediately obeyed the Lord to work at reconciliation in my marriage (we had been apart for 1.5 years). I went back to my German husband in Germany. He was and still is an atheist and a alcoholic.

The circumstances were the same, but I was not alone. I grew alot in the first year. After a couple years we were transferred to the States. After many miserable years of enduring the stress and shame of his actions, I started going to Alanon. This saved our marriage and gave me many tools to live a quieter and more peaceful life.

After 11 years he left and went back to Germany. I was single and very content for 13 years afterwards. I eventually started dating and married a man from our Church that I had known for 2 years.

He has a daughter that is an addict and I started to go through the same issues with her as I did with my first husband, so back to Alanon I went.

ONLY this time it wasn't about a husband or a step-daughter, but it was about me. I had tried to be a social drinker with my husband, but there were some very deep problems. I attended meetings and began to listen very hard to the recovered alcoholics. I found a very capable sponsor and went through the 12-Steps.

I began to take a serious, very hard look at my own heart and I learned that I was an alcoholic. Once the truth came out into the open I felt freer and more real than ever before. I took a honest look at the people I had sinned against and I repented of my selfish, dishonest ways.

The Scriptures are more real to me that ever before. Now this is really something because I have taught Women's Groups for years on how to study the Bible.

Last weekend I was at a Church retreat for the women. I was honest with them about what I was going through. Now this is a very spiritual, evangelical Church. Turns out that one of the women is drinking to relieve stress from living with a very angry Christian husband, and two of the other women live with Christian husbands who are actively drinking.

What I find so amazing is that at AA the people are very honest and humble about their sins, whereas in the Church there seems to be a big cover up because we are Christians and Christians aren't supposed to have these problems.

The Lord Jesus has delivered me from a lie that had settled so deep in my heart, that I couldn't see it. I will always be indebted to AA for helping me.

Feb 08, 2010

For what its worth
by: Anonymous

My wife is very active in AA and has been for 12 years with 12 years of Sobriety. I do support her and I attend speaker meetings with her. However, being a strong commited Christian I do see somethings that bother me about AA. I have yet to be at a meeting where Jesus's name is mentioned by anyone............I hear a lot about their belief in God but just once I would love to hear about Jesus Christ as their higher power.
My wife is a Christian, but she was caught up in all the things that AA kept telling her........."You will always be in recovery" That bothered me. Does Jesus Christ have the power to deliver us from the bondage of alcohol, according to AA it sounds like she will always be. When my wife introduces her self she gives her name and then say that she is an alcoholic.......Sorry, not according to the Bible. Christ identifies us as his son and daughter not by the sins we have commited. I contiune to tell Jackie that you are not an alcoholic anymore.........your identity is in the fact that you are a daughter of Jesus Christ. She now introduces herself " Im Jackie and im a child of God that does not have the desire to drink" I continue to tell her that she is not in recovery but that she has recovered............AA seems to keep people in bondage to false interpretations of who they are.........True, those that have never come the the Saving Knowlege of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour are still under the bondage of sin and so, yes for them its different. That's exactly where Satan wants us to be .......in bondage to a lie not in the freedom that Christ gives to us through his son. Yes, AA has a lot of good qualities that can help people, but from the word of God.........they have missed the mark.

Oct 28, 2009

Knowing A.A.'s Christian origins and Original program
by: Dick B.

Thanks for your reflections. But I believe you need to be armed with some accurate information about the real origins of A.A.--certainly not the Oxford Group. My titles Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous and The Conversion of Bill W., as well as The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible, will give you a clearer picture of what the Original Christian fellowship program was, where its ideas came from, and the astonishing successes it had in the early years when AAs relied on God, His Son, and the truth of the Bible. Today A.A. is not Christian, but there are hundreds of thousands in the fellowship who are Christian and who need to know where they came from and the power upon which they can still rely--the power of God. Dick B.

Oct 24, 2009

Another wife with hubby in AA, and we're Christian
by: Bethany

Elizabeth,

I will be keeping you and your relationship with your husband in my prayers. I really do feel your pain and know it hurts so badly.

Being married to a person with an addition is very difficult. Being a Christian family, on top of it all, makes it just confusing...I think. At the same time, I am sooo thankful that God IS involved in the process! Can you even imagine trying to be the wife in this scenario and not having God to be your strength and encouragement?! I don't even want to think about it. I believe that God is more of a support to the people who seek His face. For those who are just not in a place in their lives where they are doing this, God is allowing their character and witness to grow.

From what you say, it sounds like character-building is occurring right now in your husband. It also sounds like he will be learning a few lessons the HARD way.

Allow God to guide your actions and reactions with your husband. Seek HIM daily. Ask Him how you should be and pray to him to guard your thoughts towards your husband during these times. AA is correct about one very important fact; and that is if you try to force your husband to do anything with regard to their addiction, it is the worst thing you can do for both him and yourself. It's a letting go and letting God situation. It definitely is one of the toughest things you will ever need to do. Giving up that control is not easy. It is the only way God can help, though.

I encourage you to get a good Christian woman friend or two or three. YOU are the one that needs the support right now! If your husband chooses to do things that are disrespectful to you or your marriage right now, try to allow God to deal with him on that. HE will definitely take care of it much more thoroughly than you ever could. :) Trust me on that. :)

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
A Sister In Christ,
Bethany

Sep 19, 2009

not good,to Elizabeth G.
by: Anonymous

in aa/na they discourage opposite sexes being addict/sponsor,at least that's what I remember.As for your husband's "friendship" with this lady,pardon my language,but there is no way in xxxx I'd tolerate that and I'm a guy.Anyone who has dated then spends more time w this person than his wife....uh,uh!NOT GOOD!You are alone while he spends time w her?READ YOUR OWN WORDS,Elizabeth..................

Sep 17, 2009

It is what it is
by: Karen

Hi Elizabeth,

My goodness, there are some strong opinions about this topic, aren't there?

I think AA and NA and many other organizations that are designed to help somebody beat addiction are a good thing. There may be variations on the terminology about coming to a "higher power" or "god of your understanding" or whatever other term they use.

I think somebody that is addicted needs to use whatever tools God has provided to help them beat the addiction.

Can God do it on His own? Of course. God can do a miracle anytime He chooses. But based on what I know about God's character, more often than not God chooses to let you work through the process of healing rather than doing it for you and all at once.

I believe there is tremendous learning that comes from the process of healing. That's where AA or NA etc. come into the picture.

There are lots of churches that let these organizations come in and use their facilities. AND there are many Christians who have these problems and are getting helped every day.

Do they work for everybody? No, I wish they did. We sure would see a lot less problems, wouldn't we?

Your relationship with God is and always will be separate from the tools He provides. Your relationship needs to be based on the ingredients that make up every great relationship. Spending time together, trust, love...

As that relationship grows, the tools God provides become more and more effective because you are relying first on the true source of healing.

All the best,

Karen

Sep 17, 2009

What is the Christian pespective of alcholics annanymous
by: Anonymous

I would have to agree with you Elizabeth G. The Bible is the only book to follow to guide you. I have never read the Big Book or been an addict but I think that if it goes against God's Holy word then it is wrong. Revelation 22:7 "Behold I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of this book." Romans 10:17 So the Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because "All flesh is as grass,And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever." My husband was addicted to drugs, meth actually, and it was God who got him off of it and God alone. God saved his soul from Eternal Hell. I don't think your husband should be spending so much time with another woman like that. Matthew 19:5 ..."For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what god has joined together let no man separate." Seeing her in secret doesn't sound right to me. God I just pray right now for this couple that you would bring them closer and to You and live by your Holy Word. I just pray that you would open his heart to his wife Lord and see that when he got married that he made a covenant before You God Almighty. Please restore this marriage and their family and I just pray for the other woman involved that you will save her soul and see that she needs you and not someone elses husband. Please bless this family Lord in Jesus Holy name I pray amen.

Sep 16, 2009

My reason for asking
by: Elizabeth G.

I was addicted to coccain years ago and it almost cost me my life. I never stepped foot in a AA/NA meeting, but I prayed to God everyday to help me no matter what it took.I went to a church,learned about the saving grace of Christ accepted him into my life and surrendered my life to him.God delivered me from my addiction.I don't care either how Bill W. lived his life. What I do care about is that my husband, who is very involved with NA follows his teachings, some of which I do not feel are christian. He is helping an old friend now, a woman who he admits to 'sort of dating' in the past. My husband works 12-13 hrs. every night and can't find the time to work on our very new marriage or find time for us,but when this woman called him out of the blue after 5 years, he was more than willing to find the time to help her. I don't have a problem with that so much as how he goes about helping her. He transports her to meetings, and feels it's o.k. for her to ride on the back of his motorcycle, because they both enjoy it. He meets with her secretly at her home, helps her with personal things, goes out to eat with her, buys intimate cards and trinkets for her,a very expensive bible and cover to go with it,they talk on the phone numerous times a day and night,the list goes on and on,and he admits that she was disappointed when she found out he was married.Meanwhile, I moved my daughter out of her school district to live with him after we were married.My daughter is struggling and wants to go live with her unchristian father who has no morals,just so she can go back to her old school. WE need my husband right now.My husband won't include me in any of this other woman's recovery.He says I'm not an addict, based on the fact that I didn't use NA for my recovery, and therefore can't even attend a meeting. My husband feels he has the right to do anything as long as he can justify it with NA. The words in the AA 'Big Book' lead a man to believe they can be manipulative.'A wife should just let her husband do whatever he wants in order to prevent him from relapsing.If his wife says anything against any of his actions it may cause him to relapse.' This idea is in the chapter 'for wives' in the 3rd addition. There are alot more unbiblical ideas in it, too. You might want to read the 'Big Book'.If this is what a christian is being led to believe than it creates issues in a marriage.I'm supposed to smile while he builds a relationship with this other woman and be supportive,and not question anything or I'm being disrespectful.My husband believes NA is the only way.I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone and I am sorry.You stated you didn't need AA anymore.My husband thinks he needs NA the rest of his life.Who is he putting his faith in?God or a program?I believe AA/NA helps some people find Christ,and maybe it helps many others to just be better people.But,when the ideas of these programs makes one deviate from God's word, then that is NOT God's will.

Sep 16, 2009

P.S.
by: Anonymous

I could care less about how Bill W. lived his life or sins he commited as long as the program helps people.Are you against an adulterer,a murderer,an alcoholic,a person who set up asherah poles or high places?If you are then you would be against David,Paul/Saul & Moses,Noah and Solomon!

Sep 16, 2009

Step out of yourself and then JUDGE
by: Anonymous

Each individual involved in AA/NA are there to fight an addiction,these organizations are there for THIS reason!You can take from it what you want and yes it would be great if everyone involved had a relationship with God.BUT,don't you think God is really at work here?That He is working through these organizations to save people?My experiences were varied,no I no longer go,I personally drank alone,I can now be sober alone,I heard alot of talk that was Christian and the twelve step programs they teach,I thought had a Christian basis.I did need AA for a time and I would NEVER discourage anyone from going!Alot of addicts had their social lives built around the bars,friends,people to talk to,going to the meetings helps replace that space,in a good way.I do not like the way you seem to look down on these organizations,how can you be against ANYTHING that helps save a persons soul from the HELL of addiction?I think God gave AA/NA to people to find sobriety and AA/NA helps people to find God!I don't see anything that would make these a cult,if these organizations are then what does that make the many evening organizations where drinking,gambling,etc. are an accepted practice?.....I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE STRENGTH TO QUIT,I thank Him for the help that rehab and AA gave me to break free of my hell in a bottle.I thank Him EVERYDAY for giving me my life back and for my continued sobriety until the day He calls me. Well,for what it's worth,that's my opinion.

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