Is it spiritually safe to attend AA?

What messed me up in my walk with God was the concept of ...."God as I understand Him." I felt God was all Good, only wanted my best, and didnt punish. Well he is the God of the Bible and that is a punishing God. Me and my boyfriend are attending AA daily and I thank God im back in a program, but i dont feel quite right being a born-again believer. Im trying to pursuede my new boyfrind to repent and follow Christ (he is a beleiver, a catholic. He prays and reads the Bible, but i dont believe he is born-again), but thats Gods job right? LOL

Anyhow, any comments on the 12 steps good or bad? I prefer alcoholics for christ and the most excellent way, but for us to remain sober we NEED to go daily! ANd theres just not enough Christian meetings.

THX

There is a lot of freedom in God as we understand Him...the comforting part of this is that it is as YOU understand Him. The God of the Bible is full of Grace and Love and Forgiveness. I pray you worship God as the Spirit leads you, pray for understanding, serve in love and find the serenity you seek in your abstinence from mind altering substances.
AA has many biblical principles in the 12 steps. If you read the older materials, you'll find a lot of scriptural references.

I am praying for you. Remember to take this one day at a time.

Welcome Tracieann


It is very hard to go through the programs with a spouse/ or boyfriend. The key for me is to focus on my own recovery. When I focus on others I tend to miss what I was supposed to hear. You will learn the term ( taking others inventory) this means to not check others out, and the mistakes they are doing. Keep a good check on yourself.
Its ok to support one another, but its important not to step in the way of God, or the spouses/boyfriends own recovery. Al-Anon is a good meeting too, to help set healthy boundaries. When your ready check it out. The meeting everyday was so helpful for me, some go from one to the next all day.. What ever works, right?

The reason it is so important to build your own foundation of recovery is because if one relapses the other has a better chance of standing strong in their recovery.

[QUOTE faithful follower] There is a lot of freedom in God as we understand Him...the comforting part of this is that it is as YOU understand Him. The God of the Bible is full of Grace and Love and Forgiveness. I pray you worship God as the Spirit leads you, pray for understanding, serve in love and find the serenity you seek in your abstinence from mind altering substances.
AA has many biblical principles in the 12 steps. If you read the older materials, you'll find a lot of scriptural references. [/QUOTE]

Very well said Faith!

Please join in with us here at CF recovery. Lots of great people who are supportive.

Go back to the Twelve Traditions. The first: "The only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking." It was important to the founders that AA not be seen as tied to one faith tradition. It's purpose, if you will, is not to bring people to Christ but to see that they're sober when they meet him. The phrase "as we understood Him" was added specifically so that those who might not have accepted a specifically Christian (or Jewish, or Muslim, etc, etc) formulation would at least consider AA.
Most of us you'll meet here and on the Alcohol Abuse threads (which, on behalf of all of us, I'm inviting both you and your boyfriend to join, and to share with us) are both believing and practicing Christians and AAs; and I'm confident in saying that most, indeed probably all of us, have found that they support each other. If you'd like an additional, specifically Christian support group, you might check out Celebrate Recovery.
Again, welcome to this 12 Steps thread, and please consider also joining us on Alcohol Abuse.

I have to say that I disagree with God punishing His children. I differentiate between God's punishment of the wicked, and His discipline of His beloved children.

What I have learned in AA, and from working with a woman who is my spiritual mentor from a church I used to attend, is that God love, grace and forgiveness know no bounds.

I am also learning to redefine myself, and not beat myself up.

I am sharing something my pastor gave to our church after one of his messages.


[SIZE=-1] If you are a Christian, then the statements below are true of you. [/SIZE]
I am accepted... John 1:12 I am God's child. John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 I have been justified. 1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body. Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.


I am secure... Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God. Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven. 2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant... John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God. Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship. Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

My internet connection was off for a week due to a problem with the cable company. I am glad to be back and hope that you have found the security and freedom you need to be able to successfully work your program.

Bob W had a great comment going back to the 12 traditions.

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laminatkungen said:

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I find your experience in AA to be totally different from mine. I have been participating in AA on and off for 20 years and have never felt it was a cult, or that I have not been able to focus on Christ. I also know of little emperical research on AA, because of its anonymous feature. My graduate research in social work was on alcoholism and recovery, and have not seen any research that supports your statements about the relapse/recovery statistics. Given the Anonymity of the members, no solid research could be done on AA.

As for demanding submission to the 12 Steps and sponsors, that is not in keeping with the Big Book. Your experience was obviously with some AAers that are not the norm. The 12 Steps are suggestions for recovery, not demands.

The 12 Steps are rooted in scripture and I have found great peace in studying the scriptures using a Recovery Devotional Bible. I also have great support from my pastor and the people in my church for my participation in AA.

I will say that AA is not for everybody. There are other means by which people can experience victory over alcoholism. I will not trash any means by which a person experiences freedom from alcoholism. It would do you well not to trash talk something that is working for many of us here. I am not a cult member. I am experiencing freedom from alcoholism because I am surrendering to God and learning to live my life free from the emotional twists of alcoholism because of practicing the steps.

Trish

Thanks for putting in a plug for Celebrate Recovery. I belong to it at my church.

BobW188 said:

Go back to the Twelve Traditions. The first: "The only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking." It was important to the founders that AA not be seen as tied to one faith tradition. It's purpose, if you will, is not to bring people to Christ but to see that they're sober when they meet him. The phrase "as we understood Him" was added specifically so that those who might not have accepted a specifically Christian (or Jewish, or Muslim, etc, etc) formulation would at least consider AA.
Most of us you'll meet here and on the Alcohol Abuse threads (which, on behalf of all of us, I'm inviting both you and your boyfriend to join, and to share with us) are both believing and practicing Christians and AAs; and I'm confident in saying that most, indeed probably all of us, have found that they support each other. If you'd like an additional, specifically Christian support group, you might check out Celebrate Recovery.
Again, welcome to this 12 Steps thread, and please consider also joining us on Alcohol Abuse.

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MODHAT:
greetings! i'm dee. i only wanted to remind posters that this area is recovery, and no debating is allowed. this thread looks like it could easily get into an argument. but we can avoid it by responding to the opening poster's questions only; not side topics or other opinions. please continue to help posters seek resources, your support is valuable! xo

I've been sober for 17 years and owe much of my success to AA. God keeps me sober, but I learned some very valuable principles from the AA program. Its a great place to shine as a Christian and attract people to the Christian message by reflecting the spirit of Christ.

Much of what is found in the twelve steps is Christian based and can be traced back to the sermon on the mount.

I would recommend going to AA meetings and working your own program as a Christian. It's worked well for me.

Good luck and God Bless!

tracieann said:

What messed me up in my walk with God was the concept of ...."God as I understand Him." I felt God was all Good, only wanted my best, and didnt punish. Well he is the God of the Bible and that is a punishing God. Me and my boyfriend are attending AA daily and I thank God im back in a program, but i dont feel quite right being a born-again believer. Im trying to pursuede my new boyfrind to repent and follow Christ (he is a beleiver, a catholic. He prays and reads the Bible, but i dont believe he is born-again), but thats Gods job right? LOL

Anyhow, any comments on the 12 steps good or bad? I prefer alcoholics for christ and the most excellent way, but for us to remain sober we NEED to go daily! ANd theres just not enough Christian meetings.

THX

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God disciplines those he loves. Parents discipline their childrent because they love them.

Sounds like you might have a skewed perspective of Yahweh IMHO.

To answer the OP w/o any confusion, YES, it is spirtually safe to attend AA meetings.
I went myself for quite some time and saw nothing that would cause alarm bells.

Also, spirituality resides within each one of us. It's not the responsibilty of the group to make you spiritual.

The original poster of this thread has three posts to her name, all on June 9, 2009 and she's had absolutely no activity on CF since that day.
Take a hint maybe.

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