Help for Today’s Pastor, Minister, or Priest
Who. . .
Has experience with
alcoholics and addicts in his church and elsewhere; wants to be of help; has
heard strange things about or has concerns about A.A.; and doesn’t want expensive
or expansive alternative programs? In fact, that servant wants his church
active in a knowledgeable, effective, Christian recovery effort. And, here’s
what he or she can do.
By Dick B.
© 2012 Anonymous. All
rights reserved
Start with the Facts
Here is the early Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship program –
as briefly summarized in A.A.’s own literature – which repeatedly evoked the
comment, “Why this is First Century Christianity! What can we do to help?”
Actual Seven-Point Original Program
Summarized by Frank Amos for Rockefeller
·
An alcoholic must realize that he is an
alcoholic, incurable from a medical viewpoint, and that he must never drink
anything with alcohol in it.
·
He must surrender himself absolutely to God,
realizing that in himself there is no hope.
·
Not only must he want to stop drinking
permanently, he must remove from his life other sins such as hatred, adultery,
and others which frequently accompany alcoholism. Unless he will do this absolutely,
Smith and his associates refuse to work with him.
·
He must have devotions every morning–a “quiet
time” of prayer and some reading from the Bible and other religious literature.
Unless this is faithfully followed, there is grave danger of backsliding.
·
He must be willing to help other alcoholics get
straightened out. This throws up a protective barrier and strengthens his own
willpower and convictions.
·
It is important, but not vital, that he meet
frequently with other reformed alcoholics and form both a social and a
religious comradeship.
·
Important, but not vital, that he attend some
religious service at least once weekly.
[DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (New York, N.Y.: Alcoholics
Anonymous World Services, Inc, 1980), 131.]
Understand
This early program is as applicable
today as the accounts in the Book of Acts, Chapters Two and Four.
This program is compatible with
today’s A.A. and with most of today’s Christian approaches.
The program is published. It is
free. It is contained in A.A.’s own General Service Conference-approved
literature.
The program, as originally
practiced, had a documented 50% success rate, with a probable additional 25%
success rate among the 40 pioneers who really went to any lengths to follow it.
Criticisms of aberrations in today’s A.A. and about the
shortcomings of its founders have had nothing to do with the help that tens of
thousands of present-day Christians in A.A., N.A., and such 12 Step programs
have received. And want to receive!
A Beginning Approach
Select one or more church leaders (perhaps a recovery
pastor) in your church who have personal experience with alcoholism and
addiction, who have personal experience with Alcoholics Anonymous or another 12
Step program, who are born again Christians and fervent Bible students, and who
want to start an inexpensive, small recovery group, free from church “control”
but fully supported, encouraged, and enriched by church leadership and
teaching, and helped with starting costs.
Obtain two of Dick B.’s books:
The Good Book and The
Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.
In the words of Rev. Samuel Shoemaker—cofounder of A.A.: Get Up. Get
Started. Get changed!
The Dick B. Recovery
Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 http://www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml
Contact Dick B., 808 874 4876, or dickb@dickb.com, or PO Box 837, Kihei, HI
96753-0837
With any questions, problems, or suggestions.
Gloria Deo
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