AA Christian/Biblical Roots

[vja4Him]

I'm looking for anyone interested in studying and discussing the Christian/Biblical roots of AA.

 

[LoG]

I'm looking for anyone interested in studying and discussing the Christian/Biblical roots of AA.

Sounds good. Where would you like to start?

 

[vja4Him]

Sounds good. Where would you like to start?

Hello Lion of God -- Thanks for your reply!! I'm still new at this. I've only started delving into the early roots of AA. I've heard for a long time that from the beginning, AA was grouded in the Bible, Christianity, and openly expressing sincere faith in Christ, prayer, reading from the scriptures, and daily devotions.

I am open to suggestions, but what is really on my heart is to start off with a similar program that the early AAs had going. Perhaps we could share from our daily devotions, and something from the scriptures ....

I am thinking that we could begin with sharing from our gratitude list (something that we are thankful for), perhaps a prayer request/praise, then share a scripture(s), and something from a devotion, or from historical AA documents (Big Book, Grapevine, As Bill Sees It, Daily Reflections ...)

I try and read two or three different devotions each day, some days I will read more, or less, and at least one chapter from the Bible. I've been going through the book of James, which was one of the Bible books the early AAs used frequently. Also, I'm going through the Beautitudes (over and over), which is another favorite scripture reading the early AAs referred to often.

My boys and I started attending Celebrate Recovery at our home church, Big Valley Grace, almost two years ago. Shortly thereafter we began attending Celebrate Recovery at Shelter Cove, a sister church. I was brand new to recovery, thinking that I wasn't like all those other drunks and stoners. I didn't need recovery. I was already recovered! I didn't need any help. I could simply continue to do life all by myself .....

I wasn't in denial .... Other people were ... but not me!! Well, I've learned so much about recovery since then, and I'm still learning daily. It didn't take me very long to realize that I had been in denial most of my life!! And I did need recovery, just as much as anyone else!!

Praise God for His grace, mercy, love, patience .... I listened to a dear brother "M" who invited me to try out Celebrate Recovery. I already knew several people who were going to Celebrate, but told them I wasn't sure if I would fit in, or where I would fit in. They gently kept assuring me that I would find a group to fit in with.

Well, actually, I could probably fit in with any of the groups. I've been attending the Chemical Dependency men's small group, which sometimes isn't that small (35 guys). I've been able to open up, take off the mask that I've been wearing for so many years, and also I've learned (and still learning) to be a better listener.

Today I celebrate 9830 days clean and sober, and on September 1, 2007, I will celebrate 27 years clean and sober! I'll be getting my 27-year chip from a local AA group, and also a chip from God's Way Out (similar to Celebrate Recovery).

I thought that once I was clean and sober, that was it. The end. Healed. No more hurt, pain, trauma, suffering, etc.

I also work with Nirvana, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, and I've noticed that people who stick with a Christ-centered program, are doing much better with their recovery.

From my gratitude list: I am thankful for another day that I am clean and sober, and that I can spend quality time with boys. Actually, my oldest boy is camping with the YMCA for one week, and will return this Friday. So I've had more time to spend with my little one, "B" who is 10. I also have two roommates, who are helping with rent, which is a tremendous blessing! I am so thankful to my Higher Power, Jesus Christ.

Anyways, enough rambling .... One of my devotions for today is from My Utmost For His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. The devotion is talking about going through trials, and enduring the strains of life, and that God will give us the strength we need to overcome.

From the scriptures I was reading James, chapter one again -- verse 12, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial .... " 19, "... everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."

I'll take a back seat for awhile and let someone else jump in and share. God bless

 

[Dralan]

Yea alot of people in AA dont recognize that fact. I know Bill W. got alot of the ideas for AA from the Oxford group which was a biblical based group.

 

[Solidlyhere]

I have pasted-in a quote from the AA website (alcoholics-anonymous.org).
These are 3 books about the history of AA, and its spiritual background.

I read the AA Comes of Age book, and others have read the other 2.
This will tell you ALL that you want to know about its spiritual foundations.



Essential Readings About A.A. History
Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers (B-8). The life story of the Fellowship’s co-founder, interwoven with recollections of early A.A. in the Midwest.

Pass It On (B-9). The Story of Bill W. and How the A.A. Message Reached the World.

A.A. Comes of Age (B-3). Bill W. tells how A.A. started, how the Steps and Traditions evolved, and how the A.A. Fellowship grew and spread overseas.

 

[Dralan]

Thansk for sharing that. I need to read those other books about the history of AA. Ive read the BB and 12X12 and a few others but not those you mentioned.

 

[footprints1973]

I am interested in this as well. I have been AA for awhile and have also attended Celebrate Recovery Meethings.

I know that AA oringinated in the "Oxford Group" which was Christian-Based. I read somewhere on line that some of the earliest principles were traced back to their studying of the book of James and the Sermon on the Mount. I wish I remember where I read this!

Laura
Footprints(1973)

 

[Solidlyhere]

Footprints said: "some of the earliest principles were traced back to their studying of the book of James and the Sermon on the Mount."

Just read the A.A. Comes of Age .

 

[DRL]

I just found this thread. I am a member of a 12 step program but have not read how it all started in detail.
I write on CARM-Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. There is a general theology forum and under that forum a person was writing that AA is not based on the Bible and therefore Christians should have nothing to do with it.
He also blasted CR. I belong to CR also.
So, I have to get AA Comes of Age tomorrow at my meeting at the AA club and read about its Christian roots. Thanks for the info.
Diana

 

[vja4Him]

Hello -- Check out this website:

< http://dickb.com/index.shtml > (AA History)

< http://recoverymodesto.com/ (Celebrate Recovery at Big Valley Grace)

< http://www.cometosheltercove.org/celebraterecovery.asp > (Celebrate Recovery at Shelter Cove)

You must check out the testimonies ..... You can listen to the testimonies online, or download for future listening. People's stories at Celebrate Recovery testify to the power of God, and that a Christ-centered recovery program is the answer -- not just recovery from drugs or alcohol, but from many other hurts, habits and hangups.

Dick Burns has a very good webiste with lots of great information on the history of AA, with lots of materials you can obtain for further reading and research. I spoke with my great-great aunt Ruth, who was born in early 1920 (she is still living!!), and she remembers the Christian organizations that contributed to the early beginnings of AA, before it was offically called AA.

AA began as a group of dedicated Christians, devoted to daily Bible readings, prayer, meditation, witnessing to people about Jesus Christ, and praying with alcoholics to recieve Jesus Christ as their savior, and to get involved with reading God's word, and trusting God for deliverance from alcohol.

The early AA program had a very high percentage of success -- much higher than any of the present-day secular programs can claim!! I worked with a well-known recovery program that has a very low success rate, probably somewhere around 5%!!! Not so good ....

Anyone who is blasting Celebrate Recovery does not have an accurate understanding of the Christ-centered program. My two boys and myself have been involved with Celebrate Recovery at my home church, Big Valley Grace, and another church, Shelter Cove, for almost three years.

We are going to Celebrate Recovery again tonight. We begin the program with dinner, and felowship, then worship. Next, there is teaching from the 12 steps aligned with with Bible, or testimony (alternates each week). Then we break up into small groups, which begin and end with prayer.

At Celebrate Recovery we name our Higher Power, Jesus Christ, and make no apologies for openly naming our Higher Power as Jesus Christ, and using the Bible.

I would encourage anyone who doubts that Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered program, using the 12-steps aligned with the Bible, to check it out, and see for themselves.

Celebrate Recovery has been a life saver for myself and my children. I am a single father, struggling in many ways to live, one day at a time .... Going through a terrible divorce, physical abuse from the boys' mother, suffering trauma .....

We have found a safe haven at Celebrate Recovery, where we get support from God-fearing people, who are also on the road to recovery, who practice the fruit of the Holy Spirit -- love, peace, joy, patience, forgiveness ...... and who are not judgemental, but are ready to listen, share the grace of God, and help us learn to use the tools of recovery to gain back our sanity, and strength in the Lord!!

Celebrate Recovery provides support for the children as well -- teaching them how to deal with their problems, and to lean on God for their strength. The program for the older kids is called, "Life Hurts God Heals," little kids is "Rock Solid."

Hope that helps to explain a little about Celebrate Recovery, and encourage somebody to attend Celebrate Recovery. God is good!!

-- vja4Him (one day at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace ...)
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I just found this thread. I am a member of a 12 step program but have not read how it all started in detail.
I write on CARM-Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. There is a general theology forum and under that forum a person was writing that AA is not based on the Bible and therefore Christians should have nothing to do with it.
He also blasted CR. I belong to CR also.
So, I have to get AA Comes of Age tomorrow at my meeting at the AA club and read about its Christian roots. Thanks for the info.
Diana

 

[DRL]

Thanks vja4Him, for your info. I will follow through on it tomorrow. Then, with God's help, I will think of something to put on the CARM forum thread about AA. No matter what I tell this person about 12 step programs/CR, he does not believe me. I have a friend who writes on their also and he defends AA and CR. I have told him about them both and his wife is a mental health counselor, so he has learned from his wife as well.
Again, thanks much.
Diana

 

[vja4Him]

Hello DRL -- You probably know by now that we can't fix anyone. I've tried until I'm blue in the face to convince people of many things, but if they are closed minded, they will not change.

Focus on those who will go with you, or on their own, to church, Celebrate Recovery, AA ..... I wish that your friend who doesn't like Celebrate Recovery could have been at Shelter Cove last weekend when about 30 of us stood up in front of the church (all three services: Saturday evening, both morning services on Sunday) with our cardboard testimonies. The event was so emotional that I was crying when reading many of the testimonies. Many people were blessed by our brief testimonies. One lady who is the wife of a pastor told our recovery pastor that she could not fit her testimony on a cardboard, and even if she could, she would be too ashamed to stand up in front of the church!

I've seen so many lives changed, some starting with AA/NA, then as they move into a Christ-centered program, God works even more miracles in their lives. Broken families are healed, people addicted to drugs and alcohol and many other hurts, hangups and habits, are set free!! Hallelujah!!

When you have written something, please send me the link to your stories. Thanks. I will pass the stories on to others ......

-- vja4Him (living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace -- James 1:2,3; Isaiah 26:3)
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Thanks vja4Him, for your info. I will follow through on it tomorrow. Then, with God's help, I will think of something to put on the CARM forum thread about AA. No matter what I tell this person about 12 step programs/CR, he does not believe me. I have a friend who writes on their also and he defends AA and CR. I have told him about them both and his wife is a mental health counselor, so he has learned from his wife as well.
Again, thanks much.
Diana

 

[DRL]

vja4Him,
Thanks for all your information. I do appreciate it.
Diana

 

[devonian]

I've seen so many lives changed, some starting with AA/NA, then as they move into a Christ-centered program, God works even more miracles in their lives. Broken families are healed, people addicted to drugs and alcohol and many other hurts, hangups and habits, are set free!! Hallelujah!!

I have recovered with the AA program, but continue to struggle with the concept of people recovering by calling on a higher power that is in direct opposition to Christ. I have reconciled this by believing that God has given a "General Revelation" to all people and they can recover by following the "perfect law" as written in James 1:25 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." But that "Specific Revelation" and eternal salvation is reserved for those who worship Christ as the only true higher power. (This is not intended to be doctrinally accurate, it is only my attempt to reconcile the Bible with the AA text.)

I would like to work with other christians who struggle with addiction. Do the christ centered programs like celebrate recovery have their own text, or do they use the AA book?

 

[vja4Him]

Hello -- There are materials specifically for Celebrate Recovery. I have The Recovery Bible, and the four-part serious of booklets, based on the Eight Principles from the Beatitudes. I also use several devotionals, including "My Utmost For His Highest," by Oswald Chambers.

Here are some links to materials for Celebrate Recovery:

1) http://www.celebraterecovery-sw.org/Resources.htm (Start here)

2) http://www.saddlebackresources.com/en-US/CELEBRATERECOVERY/CelebrateRecoveryResources.htm

3) http://www.bigvalleygrace.org/content/view/202/109/ (My home church)

4) http://www.biblehousesupply.com/ser...TUDY-GUIDES-cln-Celebrate-Recovery/Categories

5) http://www.christianbook.com/Christ...RC&p=1018818&gclid=CIykkJW0wpQCFREUiQodCDSpGA

-- vja4Him (living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace -- James 1:2,3; Isaiah 26:3)
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I have recovered with the AA program, but continue to struggle with the concept of people recovering by calling on a higher power that is in direct opposition to Christ. I have reconciled this by believing that God has given a "General Revelation" to all people and they can recover by following the "perfect law" as written in James 1:25 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." But that "Specific Revelation" and eternal salvation is reserved for those who worship Christ as the only true higher power. (This is not intended to be doctrinally accurate, it is only my attempt to reconcile the Bible with the AA text.)

I would like to work with other christians who struggle with addiction. Do the christ centered programs like celebrate recovery have their own text, or do they use the AA book?

 

[DRL]

My take on the 12 step programs is that no matter what the person calls their higher power it is God giving them the recovery, only they do not know it.
Diana

 

[MyHeroIsJesus]

"My take on the 12 step programs is that no matter what the person calls their higher power it is God giving them the recovery, only they do not know it."

That is 12 Step jargon, Scripture clearly says that we should be careful who we call God. I do not know what meetings you guys are going to, but try to bring up the Bible or talk about Jesus Christ in any meetings I've attended and you would be asked to leave. Allowing individuals to choose their own God, even to go as far as to use yourself as your higher power, dangerous territory. Any church involved with Alcoholics/Addicts should use the Bible as their book. Alcoholism and drug addiction is sin, the sooner we realize this for what it is, the sooner we can get to the one solution for it. Read (study) the greatest love story ever written.(The Bible)

 

[vja4Him]

Here is a web page with a link to the James Club. Scroll down to near the bottom the page, then click on the link, "James Club." Open the pdf file, and start reading on page #10 for a history about the James Club (early beginnings of AA).

-- vja4Him (living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace -- James 1:2,3; Isaiah 26:3)
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Footprints said: "some of the earliest principles were traced back to their studying of the book of James and the Sermon on the Mount."

Just read the A.A. Comes of Age .

 

[devonian]

"My take on the 12 step programs is that no matter what the person calls their higher power it is God giving them the recovery, only they do not know it."

That is 12 Step jargon, Scripture clearly says that we should be careful who we call God. ... Allowing individuals to choose their own God, even to go as far as to use yourself as your higher power, dangerous territory.

Is God the creator of all things? - yes
If someone calls on the creator of all things, and that creator helps him recover, he has called on God, and God has helped him.

Is God the ruler of the universe? - yes
If someone calls on the ruler of the universe, and that ruler helps him recover, he has called on God, and God has helped him.

Is Jesus God? - yes
If someone calls on Jesus, and Jesus helps him recover, he has called on God, and God has helped him.

Just because someone does not completely understand who God is, does not mean that God cannot help him. Be thankful that you have the Bible to understand God - it is a gift - it is not something that you have earned. But, in agreement with you, satan is called the deceiver, and we should be careful about thinking that any higher power is actually God - it may be the deceiver, working for his own purposes.

I do not know what meetings you guys are going to, but try to bring up the Bible or talk about Jesus Christ in any meetings I've attended and you would be asked to leave.

I am fortunate that the AA group I attend is tolerant of christians, I understand that this is the exception, not the rule.

Any church involved with Alcoholics/Addicts should use the Bible as their book. Alcoholism and drug addiction is sin, the sooner we realize this for what it is, the sooner we can get to the one solution for it. Read (study) the greatest love story ever written.(The Bible)

As a christian, I certainly rely on the bible as the final authority. However, that does not mean that I do not take advantage of bible studies written by talented people, listen to sermons at my local church, and accept advice from trusted christian friends. While the "Big Book" was not written by christians, it does incorporate christian principles, and can be of benefit to the suffering alcoholic.

 

[MyHeroIsJesus]

God hates sin. Addiction is sin. No matter who you call God there is no salvation without knowledge of Christ Jesus. God would have us recognize our total depravity, turn to Him in faith, and be transformed (Eph. 2:1-10; 2 Cor. 5:17). This is why so many in these programs have some success abstaining but nothing changes. I do not have any of the answers, our Lord Jesus Christ does. I will not give up hope that one day 12 Step programs might become Christ centered programs. 12 years of abstinence in the rooms is my result of going to meetings, honestly working the steps and helping others. God's saving Grace is my free gift for accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. My chains are gone! I pray everyone in the rooms could experience Him.