God is not
a “chair.” Not in A.A. Not anywhere!
Dear Dave:
Thanks so much for your important points and letter.
Yes. There
certainly is an organization that is seeking to do something
about the
drift away from God. The organization is International Christian
Recovery
Coalition. And participating free in the Coalition is the first step to helping
still further. I am having
my son Ken
forward that information to you right away.
Please look
at the mission statement on www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
If this is
acceptable, please---at no cost to you---send me your listing which
can read
something like this:
“David C. Eanes, Recovered Christian
believer, mail address, city, state, zip, phone, dceanes@gmail.com”
You should
know that the Coalition is a growing world-wide fellowship of Christian
participants who are
“Bible
Friendly, A.A. Friendly, History Friendly, and Recovery Friendly.”
Growing in
participants every day. You can see the names on the website www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.
There is a
strong movement of Christians IN A.A., 12 Step Fellowships, and treatment work
who disdain the idolatry,
appreciate
and serve in A.A. or recovery area, and who believe the early A.A. Christian
Fellowship program and ideas
can be
applied IN A.A. today. We have just completed almost 30 meetings in California , Maui , and
the
Adversary is---as he always is---lurking in the fellowship to blind people to
the power of God. 1 Peter 5:8!
Thanks
again for calling, and don’t hesitate to phone.
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 650 articles on A.A.
History and the Christian Recovery Movement
(808) 874-4876
Ps 118:17 (NJB):
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
Facebook:
DickBmauihistorian
From: Dave
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:31 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God Now!
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:31 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God Now!
Hi Dick,
I just read your “An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God
Now!” on Silkworth.net and I wanted to applaud you for telling it like it is.
As a matter of fact I was in a noon meeting today and after
hearing someone say that ‘Program’ tells him that it’s ok for him to call a
‘chair’ his higher power, I just couldn’t resist commenting. I’ve heard
this kind of thing over and over in meetings and I just couldn’t take any more.
I responded firmly but respectfully: “Nowhere in the Big
Book does it say that a ‘chair’, ‘Good Orderly Direction’ or even ‘The Group’
can be a substitute for God. That philosophy is one that’s evolved in the
fellowship over the years and IMHO it’s not what Bill W. meant when he writes
of the ‘God of Your Understanding’. Of course there was rebuttal.
Fortunately I didn’t get nailed to the cross.
I read recently that the success rate of newcomers staying
clean and sober in A.A. has dropped to an all-time low of 5%. That amazes
me, or more accurately it appalls me. Quite a far cry from the 75% that’s
mentioned in the Big Book. If the 5% is accurate, then what’s the point.
I firmly believe that the decline of the Program is a direct
result of the Fellowship getting away from the roots of the program. And
GOD is at the very center of those roots.
I’m a Born Again Christian and my Savior died on the cross
for the forgiveness of my sins. Jesus Christ is “The Way, the Truth, and
the Life”, “no one comes to the Father but through him”. This belief is
at the very core of my being and the answer to recovery for me. I
struggle not to share that in meetings. Yet, I contain myself and don’t.
But when we take GOD (i.e. The Father, The Creator of Heaven
and Earth) out of the program we have completely lost our way. We have
stepped so far away from what Bill W., Dr. Bob, and the first 100 intended that
we’re in danger of becoming completely ineffective.
It seems to me that it’s way past time that we do something
about this. There must be a significant number of folks in the Program
that believe and agree with what you’ve said in your article. I’m
wondering if there’s any group that is trying to work within A.A. (the key word
being within) to change this trend and move back towards what the Program was
intended to be. If so, I’d like to take an active part in it.
Thanks,
Dave
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