New Age pioneer praises A.A. cofounder

“Aldous Huxley, author (‘Brave New World’), teacher, philosopher, and pioneer of New Age consciousness, was the man who called [Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson] ”the greatest social architect of the century.” (From PASS IT ON, pg. 368)

Now, many decades later, it is clear Wilson has been used as a “spiritual” architect.

The United States has been saturated with A.A. and other 12 Step groups for more than seven decades. As a direct result our respect, understanding, and desire for the Biblical God has faded. In ‘The Fall of the Evangelical Nation,’ author Christine Wicker credits Alcoholics Anonymous with “hastening the fall of the evangelical church.” The author notes how A.A.  “slowly exposed people to the notion they could get [a god] without the dogma, the doctrine, and the outdated rules. Without the church, in fact.”

 COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE: http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-4489/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

Mary, Queen of Heaven, unites religions?

Are the Mary apparitions the device that will unify the world religions? Don Koening with an interesting take on ‘The Coming One World Religion’ by Jim Simmons.

Is Koenig correct? Read here: http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/2009/02/27/mary-apparitions-may-be-the-deception-that-unifies-world-religions-into-becoming-the-harlot-of-revelation.html

Here is my question: Could these apparitions be connected with the introduction of the Father-goddess of The Shack, the heretical book that has introduced a false trinity to many?

 …thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: ‘As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying ‘We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed , to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.’  (Jeremiah 44:25) 

To read ‘The Shack: Father-goddess Rising’ here: http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/605/

Weeping Prophet/Prophet from the Whale

Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not listen.” (Jeremiah 6:16-18)

Or——

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. (Jonah 3:10)

Missionaries Into Darkest Alcoholics Anonymous

What would it be like for non-American missionaries to attempt to preach Christ in Alcoholics Anonymous? How would they deal not just with the unbelievers, but with the Christians who support this multi-gods system? This article expores this:

Mama and Papa,

We are in America at last. The Lord has sent us into the strangest belief system. The men and women here seem impervious to the Gospel, but the Lord has given us great love for them. 

This religion teaches that virtually anything can be defined as a god. During their meetings these people gather and pray in unity, but the “god” each individual prays to can be as varied and unique as particles of sand in our African desert. It is unsettling watching them join in the Lord’s Prayer, because most do not know Jesus, and therefore cannot know the Father.

 

This religion was founded here in America in the 1930s. It is a very American system of belief and worship. Very democratic, one might say. In this belief system, it is not important what one worships, only that one must worship something. In fact, initiates who come seeking help, but who have trouble inventing or envisioning a god, are often told they can worship a “doorknob,” or even the group itself to begin their spiritual journey.

 

The first time we heard this we thought it was a joke-some form of esoteric humor. But it is not. It truly is not. We have heard the “doorknob-deity” speech a number of times now. It apparently serves as their starter-god. Like the training wheels on a bike-only there until the child is ready for the next big step. Believe in something, newcomers are told; believe in anything; just believe.

FOR REST OF ARTICLE: http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-3574

 

Yep. Another Archives Classic.

A.A. cofounder a freemason

A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob Smith certainly did read the Bible. Yet, as Susan Cheever states, “Bob began every morning with meditation and prayer and twenty minutes of Bible study. Like Bill, Bob believed in paranormal possibility and the two men spent time ‘spooking,’ invoking spirits of the dead.”[2]

 

Early AA member Tom Powers saw the AA cofounders firsthand as they engaged in spiritualistic practices the Lord detests. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) “Now, these people, Bill and Bob, believed vigorously and aggressively. They were working away at the spiritualism; it was not just a hobby.”[3]

 

It is not well known that Dr. Bob was a Mason. Suspended in 1934, he gained reinstatement after being sober for some years.[4] According to John Weldon, “The truth is that Masonry is a distinct religion that espouses teachings incompatible with Christian faith in the areas of God, salvation, and other important doctrines.”[5]

For entire article: http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3537/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

 

An Official Archives Classic

“A.A. and Christianity” by the Bobgans

“Just as every major world religion has moral principles that may sound acceptable to many Christians (if they heard those principals outside the context of that religion), A.A.’s Steps and Traditions sound very acceptable to unsuspecting Christians. Therefore, it is necessary to consider some of the doctrinal differences between A.A. and Christianity,” write Martin and Deidre Bobgan.

This is from Chapter 6 of their book, ‘Twelve Steps To Destruction,’ pg.126. You can read this, and indeed the entire book, here: http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/12steps-ebk.pdf

John MacArthur: Bible, not 12 Steps, psychology etc.

“The fact is that far too many professing Christians live their lives, day in and day out, on the basis of something other than the Bible. As a result, their priorities reflect the world’s priorities, not God’s priorities. Their patterns of behavior and their plans for the future differ only slightly from those of their unsaved friends and neighbors. Their expenditures reveal that their perspective is temporal, and that they are vainly pursuing the elusive American Dream. Their shortcomings, when they admit to them, receive the same fault-free labels that the world ascribes (“mistakes” or “diseases” or “addictions” rather than “sins”), as they search for answers in psychology, medication, or the self-help section of the bookstore. Though they adhere to an external form of traditional Christian moralism, there isn’t anything particularly biblical or Christ-centered about how they live.”

So notes John MacArthur. Here: http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=81017

The Shack 2 page review by De Young

“Who is the author? William P. Young, a man I have known for over a dozen years.  About four years ago [he] embraced ‘Christian universalism,’ and has defended this view on several occasions,” writes Western Professor Seminary Professor James De Young.

Here is De Young’s short, Biblical analysis of this heretical book. http://theshackreview.com/content/TheShackReview2Page.pdf

For the time will come when they not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn awy their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy4:3-4)

The King James refers to “myths” as “fables.” Noting this on Jan Markell’s radio program, Pastor Larry DeBruyn observed, “‘Fables’ means fiction, doesn’t it?”

Yeh, sure does.

Minus the 12 Steps

 

Comment: Just one question that has rattling around in my head for years about this issue. What would be a Godly alternative to these programs for Alcoholics? Our churches never offer any alternatives to these programs, and most Pastors seem truly ignorant when it comes to how to help the Alcoholic and their families? I am only asking because I have never heard anybody talk about what really works.

Thu Sep 25, 12:58:00 PM PDT

carla said…

Hmmmm. Would it be the same solution as to all of us who struggle with sin and temptations of the flesh? By bringing it into submission through the power and authority of Christ and the teaching of His Word, which is active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart? Has He not saved us from the power of sin when we turn from it and surrender to Him?Just a crazy thought, I know, but there’s nothing like a good old fashioned verse by verse study through the Bible to allow God’s Word to do it’s work in our hearts.

(This above response is from Carla the blogger to a common and valid question by a believer who sees the anti-Biblical nature of the 12 Steps and wonders what Christians should do.)

This is what I have been trying to say for some time: The answer is where it has always been. In the church, in sanctification, in fellowship, in His Word, and His power. These comments can be found after this article on http://morebooksandthings.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-celebrate-recovery-same-thing-as-aa.html, which we featured here not too long ago.

 

 

 

 

12 Step gods of Alcoholics Anonymous

In 1941, Jack Alexander of the Saturday Evening Post wrote the article that provided AA its first national publicity. Describing AA’s “higher power,” Alexander noted the alcoholic “may choose to think of his Inner Self, the miracle of growth, a tree, man’s wonderment at the physical universe, the structure of the atom, or mere mathematical infinity. Whatever form is visualized, the neophyte is taught that he must rely on it and, in his own way, to pray to the Power for strength.”

“What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it, Or an image, a teacher of falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork when he fashions speechless idols. Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ‘Awake.’ To a mute stone, ‘Arise!’ And that is your teacher?” (Habakkuk 2:18-19) 

Christians in A.A. tend to worship the A.A. experience–it is very much an idol. Indeed, this is programmed into believer and non-believer alike. This is not meant to aggravate–but please consider.  Has this happened to you?

 From the very first meeting a faith in A.A. is established through testimony, Big Book readings and other means.

The result, for all too many Christians, is a transference of faith. Jesus may be the “higher power” (a tremendous insult, albeit unintentional, to call the Holy One this), but in hearts and minds it is really A.A. that has given sobriety. Christians in A.A. are, in fact, afraid to face sobriety without the 12 Step program.

No one admits this. No one talks about this. But this is a very real thing that happens to many, many believers.  Faith is in A.A. first and faith in  Jesus second. A transference of faith from Christ to A.A. is every bit as offensive to our Lord as those who worship false gods.

And now, incredibly, the onslaught accelerates. The all-gods religion of Alcoholics Anonymous is being held in Bible Believing churches. …they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name to defile it. (Jeremiah  7:30)