AA was birthed out of what was known as the Oxford Group in the 1930s. Admission of powerlessness is the first step in liberation. 3525. nph When I was very young in my faith and had little discernment into things and practices I was doing, I had gone to get a different kind of massage called a chakra massage. Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and substance use conditions or the co-occurring of the two. We must be a willing vessel to share the truth with others, even at the cost of suffering, for if we dont, then we are not picking up our cross. Ive experienced His amazing grace and mercy through both programs. Ive seen Gods fruit in AA and CR as anything Good comes from God. And Sobriety in any sense is not just for the addict but also for the many afflicted by the addict, such as the one that died in an accident. He instead, as is mentioned in the Big Book(pgs 12-13), made his own god, professed this god to be the Father of Lights and was led by this god-consciousness from within, and insisted that all he had to do was believe in a power higher than himself, and nothing else was required. I dont agree with that. I have yet to meet an alcoholic who can not relate to Proverbs 23:29-35 no matter what they believe in; its a great introduction for a drunk to the Word of God. Initially when I went through rehab, now over 13 years ago, I went briefly through AA(Alcoholics Anonymous) as it was a requirement of the rehabilitation program I was part of. Roughly in 2014, I was going through some books in our bookshelf, and my eyes came upon the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous), and an Alateen book that I had for quite a long time. (KJV), Isaiah 8:19And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? 23No one who denies the Son can have the Father; whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Dangers of Celebratory Occasions in Recovery Most people in recovery will be prepared for their sobriety to be tested when times are hard. There are many who have either themselves or known someone to have gone through AA, NA, Alanon, etc. Wow. My grandfather passed before I was born, so while I did not know him, I was told he was an alcoholic and was involved in AA. We believe in spreading the gospel throughout the whole world. The Scriptures and the true gospel of salvation are very different then an all inclusive faith, of which all ways are acceptable. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. Being a light, means exposing the darkness, not partaking in it, otherwise that light itself would become dark: Luke 11:33No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. I dont doubt that God is using those willing, to draw people away from this into the truth. You said, Why do we need 12 steps when the only step our Saviour has told us to do is repent and turn away from sin/evil. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? John was a great leader, and he will be greatly missed, but the impact of his faithful obedience will go on for generations, Ackerman wrote in tribute. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? While also providing a witness and a rebuke to the women leaders or the womens group, as it was preaching different gospel, and a different Jesus/Yeshua. There were many practices/beliefs that I was led to not partake in. The program addresses not just alcoholism and drug addiction, but codependency, depression, eating disorders, gambling, sexual addiction and sexual abuse. The Bible tells us to hate sin and evil, to cut it out of our life. I fully agree! Dangers of self-sufficiency. Leviticus 19:31Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD(YHWH) your God. We all need to be encouraged from time to time, and I am thankful that this has helped you to be able to make some difficult decisions. So, if you are sharing the truth about Gods Word, and how it contradicts the doctrine and spiritual application within AA, then great, but I am not sure how they would allow that to continue if the leaders of AA became known you were speaking out against the program. Download Celebrate Recovery and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Ive been attending CR (and volunteering on the welcome team ) for about a year. Both were heavily involved in the occult, and many of the practices that were endorsed in Oxford Group, continued on with the establishment of AA. For those who would like more resources here are some links: http://www.anti-antichrist.com/soap/lanagan.html, http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/aaroots.html, https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/ (Search for AA). 4 The actual definition given to Sober-minded means to abstain from wine. There is a good, acceptable and perfect will of God. 314-267-4456. So far this year we have raised over $20,000.00 for missions. Once we have knowledge of the truth, then we are held accountable to that truth. Anxiety causes us to waste precious energy dealing with past hurts hiding stuff and fear of being found inept kept me from present Hiding kept me Change can only happen in the present . During the worship time, I sat in the back reading my Word. Celebrate Recovery is just another type ofSyncretism, as mixes Gods ways with heathen ways. Show me the Buddha worshiper or the person whos higher power is a rock, and I can pray that God will use me and give me the wisdom through His Spirit to share Gods Word and the Good News with that person. St Boniface Church-Franciscans. It means that the individual is returning to old ineffective coping strategies for dealing with life. III. Is Celebrate Recovery a biblically sound program? This program is not something that you complete and then all of sudden, Hey, Im better. Action its keyword. It was not until a few years ago that I really started to know the truth about AA, as well as other recovery groups with a foundation in AA, that even profess to be Christian alternatives. So, below I have steps 1-3, and 12, all of which were quoted directly from 12-Steps and 12-Traditions. Manny blessings, and I will be praying for you! Sign up for our newsletter: 1 Cor 6:9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? They didnt attend any program, they just hit their rock bottom which is only decided by the individual suffering addiction. I also believe in the deliverence of it. I read this and the Spirit of God prompted to reply. This is a good read and that is what God has laid in my heart over the years of my addiction and recovery. I know, for me, it wasn't hard to recite the 12 steps in solidarity at a . So much in Christianity today is not based on Christ's teachings as much as it's based upon the ideas and theories of mankind. Go and see for yourself. If you chose to eat ten candy bars every day and to never brush your teeth, they would start rotting out. Celebrate Recovery (CR) meets at 6 p.m. Saturdays at Good Shepherd Church, 2341 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, featuring dinner, a big meeting and small open share groups. He delivered me completely of alcohol, and a great many of other things. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gender-specific Groups meet for issues with anger, co-dependency, chemical addiction food addictions, sexual integrity, survivors of abuse, grief, and life issues. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. The Celebrate Recovery Bible has been designed to work with the resources developed and tested in the national and international ministry of Celebrate Recovery. So, it is important to keep ourselves pure from false doctrines and teachers. From that point on, I cannot recall all that I spoke, however, I remember the power of the Holy Spirit was so strong, that not only did I literally believe that time was stopped for me to speak, but I could feel all the demons around me being held back and I was engulfed in this protective shell. If you are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, please call: 911 - Emergency or 988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or 1-800-273-8255 HELP IS AVAILABLE. Recovery is a term that primarily denotes a process of physical healing. Most people cannot stay sober or clean or free from any perversion for more than six months on average, only to "go back out". While your experiences, are your experiences, they should never override that of sound doctrine. Philippians 2:13. First Unitarian Universalist Church & Center. In such ways we want them to get sober in any way that works for them so not to affect others. When I was in CR (Celebrate Recovery) which I talk on within most of my post and testimony, is that God used me to bring His Light and truth to the darkness that both AA/CR have as a foundation. If you are a Christian in recovery and currently attending a twelve step program whether it be Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, Hunger for Healing or any of the other assortment of spin off programs, please take the time to consider the following information. 1 Peter 1:13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Sam, thank you for commenting. Creation of C.R. Having said that, this review (completed largely with the help of Matthew Mumma) will demonstrate that CR contains two major problems: (1) Though claiming to be biblically based, its teachings are often constructed from a misuse of Scripture and an erroneous hermeneutic. Through much prayer, and acquiring the Fathers will, the Spirit instructed me when I needed to go back, to finish what He had begun in me. The Participant Guides are designed to create movement through the steps as each person is on a healing journey that creates new understanding and hope through the work of the Holy Spirit, and not . Other than that they all denied Him, and His Word, and praised the 12-step program, based upon AA. Just as those in Acts burned their magic arts, so should the Alateen/Alanon and AA books be destroyed. It is strongly advised that they remain focused on themselves until their sobriety is strong. 3. Are extremely loyal, remaining in harmful situations too long. A new state of consciousness and being is received as a free gift. His whole purpose of me going there was to gain insight into these areas, help those who He placed across my path, and then expose and confront the lies of it. I lived at AA and Alanon meetings for years and was helped tremendously and then almost completely stopped. Jesus must be rescued from a pedestrian and parochial orthodoxy that demands he monopolize the deity.. A.A. teaches that alcoholism is a disease for which there is no ultimate cure. Readiness to receive free gift lies in practice of Twelve Steps. I had provided her some more truth concerning Rick Warren, but ultimately she did not understand what my purpose was there, and told me that I could not come back to Celebrate Recovery. His efforts to make amends to his wife, Cheryl, as part of the 12 steps led to him attending Saddleback Church with her, hearing Rick Warren preach, and renewing their marriage vows in a span of months. There is simply no way to put into words how I love John and will miss this kind, creative, brilliant and faithful man., Evangelical leader Johnnie Moore, whose family previously belonged to Saddleback Church when living in California, remembered Bakers commitment to saving the lives of the people whom God loves., He became a doctor of hope for those whose lives were caught in vicious cycles of guilt, shame, and failure. Eventually Baker considered himself a functioning alcoholic, turning his back on God and separating from his wife. Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, NOR DRUNKARDS, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Blessings! When we have the fear of the Lord, we fear less of how others might react, and more on doing what is right before Him. I dont go to CR meetings like I used to but at times I still go. None of these women, spoke to me again, nor did I ever go back to Celebrate Recovery, as my assignment there was done. Celebrate Recovery is for adults 18 years and older. Quoting from my blog: Many seem to believe that as long as something appears good, and that someone is helped that it must be of God, when this is simply not true; while He can draw His own creation to Him, in whatever circumstance they are in, this does not mean that it is His perfect will for them to continue on in what they are doing or involved in. I was at that time still in Active Duty military, and completing rehab was essential for me to continue to have a career at that time. Even the very symbol that is used on the AA book is very occultic, as seen from the pictures provided. Judge everything you think, say, or do harshly, as never "good enough." Are a perfectionist. A. It can come as a shock to many individuals to discover that the good times can also be a test as well. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! You often find this within eastern religions and practices such as yoga and achieving a higher self or Christ-consciousness. The ministry, started at Saddleback Church in the 1990s, announced the news of his death Tuesday (Feb. 23) on social media. Daly City Celebrate Recovery. 20:2). Email vriggins@graceclarksville.com. Forty years sober in AA.Yes,I believe everything you said about both programs.I Am a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. The most common reason why people relapse after a period of sobriety is that they become stuck in recovery. Elena, yes, thank you. Contemplative prayer, and other eastern meditation practices were, and are still very much part of AA. Continued on with my story above, I started to attend Celebrate Recovery(CR), as prompted by the Spirit, even with the knowledge that it was a program that was directly tied to Rick Warren and Saddleback church: John Baker was an alcoholic and staff member of Saddleback Church who began healing through Alcoholics Anonymous. I am a new creation in Christ and have left a lot behind, but this program keeps digging it back up and putting it in my face. Thank you for sharing, and I am glad that you have had your eyes opened to the deceptiveness of this program. Self-righteousness. Staff was great, attentive to our needs and" more. Modesty of the HeartWhere is your Treasure? (KJV), When we choose the difficult path, which often leads to affliction, we are choosing to partake in the sufferings of Christ, and this is part of what it means to pick up our cross daily. This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. I understand that people, even those like myself, have been helped through these programs, however, the ultimate purpose of these programs are to lead people to dependency on the program itself, which is why in the 12th step of the AA program it teaches to: 12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Joy of living is the theme of the Twelfth Step. Baker went on to study at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary and serve at Saddleback as volunteer, staff member, pastor, and elder as Celebrate Recovery grew across denominations and ministry networks. Promote your Celebrate Recovery Chapter with a Full Color Vinyl Banner! His moral teaching-most excellent. It was still a deep tissue massage, which helped me to relax, and relive my sore muscles, however, I was engaging in a practice that is contrary to biblical practices.