Has Alcoholics Anonymous Lost its way?
HAS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS LOST ITS WAY?
I have been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 28 years. AA has become a worldwide and an American Institution. Treatment centers throughout the United States tout the 12 steps and Christian Churches in the USA provide meeting places for Alcoholics Anonymous. It is not polite to criticize AA. But countless American depend on AA and its teachings, so it is legitimate to ask “Has AA lost its Way ? ” I say it has.Its not that there is anything wrong with the 12 steps. AA’s founder, Bill Wilson, rightly said that the principles of the 12 steps came from the bible. Consider what one early AA member had to say years ago:One morning, after a sleepless night worrying over what I could do to straighten myself out, I went to my room alone-took my Bible in hand and asked Him, the One Power, that I might open to a good place to read-and I read. "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?" That was enough for me-I started to understand. Here were the words of Paul a great teacher. What then if I had slipped? Now, I could understand. From that day years ago, I gave, still give and always will give time everyday to read the word of God and let Him do all the caring. Who am I to try to run myself or anyone else?*Times have changed since then. All references to the Holy Bible have been taken out of the later editions of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and not by accident. But that’s not all.AA has a tradition which states:“No AA group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate AA, express any opinion on outside controversial issues”Despite this fact, AA has taken a position of subtly and not so subtly endorsing homosexuality. There are many examples but one will suffice. Contrast that previous statement by an early AA with this statement by a modern AA:In A.A. today, I know sober leather fans, transvestites, and members of every other sexual group there is. But the only important thing here is that we are all human beings, all alcoholics, and all in A.A. together.*The sad fact is that the Gay Rights movement has infiltrated Alcoholics Anonymous and its literature. Being Gay is equated with being Jewish, Black, or Native American on the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Website: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/english/E_Pamphlets/P-13_d1.htmlDon’t get me wrong, I don’t think Gays and Lesbians out to be excluded from AA, but only told that sin is sin. Anything less is a disservice to everyone, and contrary to the will of the Creator whose blessing we all seek.AA has lost its way, and should promptly admit its wrong.*The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, First edition**My name is Padric, and I'm and Alcoholic (gay)
©2004 Christianrecovery.blogspot.com
6 Comments:
You are a hate-filled bigot. Jesus never Judged - who are you to? I will pray for you.
2:42 PM
I'll leave the comment about being a hate-filled bigot here. Im not. If you read my site, you will see that what I am trying to do is tell people that HATE IS THE PROBLEM. I hate no one.
To see that someone is wrong and in need of repentance is not Judgement. Judgement is when you add resentment and hostility to your observations. I have links on my site to help Gays, but the first thing they have to do is admit they are wrong. No change is possible until that happens.
3:19 PM
I dont have time now for an extensive comment on what they wrote. Most of it is true, some is not. There is evidence that Dr. Bob (one of the founders) believed in Christ and pointed people to the Holy Scriptures as a source of guidance and teaching.
Modern AA is a horse of a different color. I dont recommend that people go to Alcholics Anonymous. It is true that a rare searching person starts in AA and comes to a belief in Christ and repentance, but Im afraid that is the exception and not the rule.
Over the years more and more of the early Christian testimonies have been excised from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I would recommend your friend to a Christian organization whether or not he is a Christian or not. After all, all Christians were at one time non-believers lost in sin. The question is which Christian organization to refer him to. Some of the so-called Christian organizations are as bad if not worse than AA.
The 2 Christian organizations I like are:
WWW.FHU.COM
AND
WWW.BONDINFO.ORG
They are on my links.
5:31 PM
The beauty of AA, is that it allowed myself (very sensitive self) to open up to a higher power.
And that higher power would reveal itself to me.
A process of giving up old ideas for new by relationship with this higher power.
It is every human's right to develop their own personal relationship with the almighty.
In my experience, if I'm doing something wrong... I find out about it.
Also, AA's common bond is each member's alcoholism and treatment of it. There is nothing in any of the guidelines or steps to exclude people based on anything.
"The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking"
Also, I firmly believe that each member finds the freedom to "come to believe in a power greater than themselves".
Peace.
6:00 AM
I never said AA should exclude anyone.
All I have said is AA should stop approving of the homosexual life style.
Its hard for people in denial to find out what they are doing is wrong when everyone arond them assures them wrong is right.
Your typical of the AA member who can not see anything wrong with how AA conducts itself. And you make it all sound so right and good.
I'll post a comment from a former hoomsexual who was harmed by how AA conducts itself.
9:49 AM
Here is an excerpt from a former homosexual about how AA contributed to his spiritual decline. It appeared in Christianity Today.
http://ctlibrary.com/6408
"After 10 years in AA, I became a gay activist, believing homosexuality to be God's will. AA affirmed that for me through its many gay special interest group meetings. Bitter and humiliating political defeat, coupled with the realization of my living a sinful life in "sobriety," helped bring me to Christ.
I've been homeless for several years now as a Christian, due to political retribution for my previous actions, and from those persecuting me for my change in beliefs (I wear a target on front and back). Apparently these are the consequences of sin I must learn to live with, meanwhile counting my blessings that they're not far worse. But I would say AA holds at least a small degree of responsibility for my slide into heresy. Thank God I was shown a way out from AA's teachings. Many remain lost.
CHRIS DEILE"
That sounds like AA is harming people to me.
10:25 AM
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