Carla’s A.A. ‘Diseased Ones’ Tale

In the 1920’s, a man named Frederick Banting discovered a way to keep dogs with diabetes alive with his experimental extract. When it was discovered the experiment worked on humans, insulin was put into mass production. Today, this disease that leads to blindness and death has now been put on hold for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. There is still no cure for diabetes. Insulin simply helps people with diabetes live.

The first person who commented on this very long thread referred to this discovery, as well as the discovery or penicillin, and compared these to AA, saying:

“Frederick Banting did not run around giving verbal glory to Jesus Christ yet many christians and non-christians alike use the insulin he discovered to treat their diabetes…neither will I ever know, nor will it even matter, if their discoverers were “Christian””

That said, imagine this…

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Once upon a time in a land far away, all the people in the kingdom had disease. They were called The Diseased Ones, and all were born with it. It was unavoidable. Each one went blind and succumbed to the effects of their disease at an early age. Their only hope so far was to stay in the dark, and to wrap themselves in bandages in order to delay death, since the light of the sun made their disease progress faster. This treatment had been discovered long ago, and it worked to a degree, but was only a temporary measure to enable them to live with their disease.

One day a Visitor came from a faraway land. He told them he had paid a great price to find a cure for their disease. Amazingly, the people could be completely, instantly, and permanently healed. They would no longer be in danger of going blind or dying early from the complications of the disease, and they could once again come outside during the day and enjoy the warmth and light of the sun. The cure was available to all who no longer wished to be barely kept alive in their dark and dreary caves. All they would need to do to be cured was to take one pill, allow the Visitor to unwrap and throw away their dirty bandages, and their disease would be gone forever. They would no longer need to label themselves as one of The Diseased Ones. The good news was that this cure was absolutely FREE!!!

Some of The Diseased Ones took up the offer of the Visitor, and were freed from the bondage of their disease. They came out of their caves with much rejoicing and entered the land of sun and warmth, and experienced fellowship and wholeness in the light. They were now known as The Healed Ones.

Others from the caves were not so sure the cure would work. One man accepted his pill, but instead of swallowing it, he kept it in a pretty jar which he named The Cure, and placed on a prominent shelf in one of the larger caves which he called The Room. The other people who had stayed hiding in their caves, too skeptical to simply receive and take their cure pill, continued to rely on their bandages and live in darkness to keep the disease at bay. In fact, they liked their cozy bandages, and thought they would be uncomfortable without them. And so the man with the jar invited these ones to his small support group in The Room. There they were taught that they needed to meet in The Room every day, sometimes even twice a day, and talk about The Cure, but never the Visitor. They so wanted to be like the Healed Ones. Soon the group grew in numbers, as they began to believe that if they always met and talked about The Cure and their disease, they would find community, wholeness and fellowship, just like The Healed Ones had. But never were they allowed to mention ‘the Visitor’ who had purchased this cure. Every meeting began with each one confessing to eachother that they were a Diseased One, but were now on the right path to The Cure. Then they would take 12 baby steps toward the jar on the shelf before returning to their caves until the next meeting in The Room. This common bond between The Diseased Ones was so strong, and the owner of the jar was so revered, that they decided to spread their hope through all the cave dwelling kingdom. It soon became so popular to be part of this group that, sadly, some of The Healed Ones ventured back into the caves and began attending the meetings in The Room. Understandably, they didn’t feel right about putting the bandages back on and starting each meeting by saying “I am a Diseased One” when they knew they were actually one of The Healed Ones, but they did it anways. It was expected once they were in the meetings. And if ever a Healed One happened to mention ‘the Visitor’, they would be scorned and mocked.

Meanwhile, the Visitor and The Healed Ones who watched from outside in the sunshine, called daily to The Diseased Ones to come out and take their free pill. Every once in a while, a Diseased One would come out, take a pill, and rejoice in the light as the bandages were removed, never to return to the dark caves again. But most of them just poked their heads out and said, “No thank you, as we understand, we have already found our own pathway to The Cure.”

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Just a silly story?

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(Carla of  http://morebooksandthings.blogspot.com is referring to the “long thread” of comments which you can read by clicking on the link just below. Scroll down. Thanks, Carla.)

A.A.’s cofounders were not Christians-response

Some time ago I wrote an article called ‘Alcoholics Anonymous cofounders were not Christians.’ I set up a link to it a week ago, and the comments by believers, non-believers, and members of the  A.A. religion have been strong.

Please read some of these comments if you have time.

http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/aa-cofounders-were-not-christians/

A.A. cofounder’s further spiritualistic adventures

“Bill [Wilson] sought light from Father Ed [Dowling] as he plunged into the darkness of the psychic world. How does a person discern voices from the other side? Is it the voice of God or an evil spirit?” (‘The Soul of Sponsorship’ by Robert Fitzgerald, S.J., pg. 24)

“As for the person who turns to mediums and spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My Face against that person and will cut him off from his people.” (Leviticus 20:6)

Don Koenig: Total Surveillance Society

All those science-fiction books you used to read? It is incredible how many of them are no longer “fiction.” Unfortunately, we may not be far from the time when “they” know everything you read, and everything else about you.

Here is what Don Koenig has to say: http://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/2009/04/22/total-surveillance-society-being-developed-on-schedule-for-satans-2030-antichrist.html

A.A. endorsed in 1939 by Universalist-Unitarian

Perhaps you don’t want to see it. Nevertheless, it was there all along. On November 26, 1939 Dilworth Lupton of the First Unitarian Church (Universalist-Unitarian) preached a sermon recommending Alcoholics Anonymous. The sermon was titled, ‘Mr. X and Alcoholics Anonymous.’

Lupton made several interesting comments. He noted that A.A. demonstrated the “principle of universality.” Lupton declared, “We are beginning to recognize the substantial unity of all religious faiths. Back of all religions is religion itself. Religion appears in differing types, but they are all expressions of one great impulse to live nobly and to adore the highest.”

According to Lupton, “This universality of religion is recognized by the Alcoholics Anonymous.” (Italics mine)

Why was this man whose religion denies Christ as Savior in such alignment with A.A.? Because Alcoholics Anonymous, like Unitarians and universalists, does not believe it particularly matters WHO (or what) one prays to, only that one worships something.

Lupton’s religion believes Salvation is universal.

At the end of his sermon, he gave this advice. “One final word to the members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Go back to your synagogues and churches; they need you and you need them. Preserve your principle of Universality, your faith that all religion is one.” (Bold and Italics mine)

Alcoholics Anonymous is full of  hurting people who are doing the best they can with the heresy that they have been taught. A.A. is not of Christ, and was never of Christ. The connection with the swiss-cheese theology of the pseudo-Christian Oxford Group does not change this. Using the Bible for general spiritual principles does not change this.

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us.; but they went out, so it would be shown that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19)

As we shall see in future articles, the Oxford Group, which is so often used as proof of A.A.’s “Christian” origin, also “went out” and, like A.A., adapted an any-and-all-gods approach.

According to PASS IT ON, the official A.A. biography of A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson, “He felt AA.’s usefulness was worldwide, and contained spiritual principles that members of any and every religion could accept, including the Easten religions.” (PASS IT ON, pg. 283)

Why do Christians feel need to defend AA?

May I ask this? Why is it Christians feel the need to defend AA? Do you understand how unbiblical it is to call others to a ‘god of their understanding’? Or to insist on a 12 step program, and continually meet with others who are not saved by His grace, expecting them to somehow help you through?
I also must ask, if you are truly free from this sin, then why do you continue to lean upon AA?
It appears many professing Christians live in fear of falling back into their sins…this goes against what God’s word teaches. It does not matter if your sin is addiction, greed, pride, sexual immorality, etc…Christ is sufficient.
I say to you what I’ve said to Chaz, step out of the boat. Let go of your fears and trust in Him.
Our trust and faith in Christ will never grow or mature if we continually hinder that growth. Christ calls us to lean solely upon Him, drawing from the Vine the strength we need.
Just because AA has a few guidelines from the book of James does NOT make them ‘Christian’. The Roman Catholic Church also professes to be ‘Christian’, but their doctrine is based on tradition, not the grace of God. I give you this example to point out that not everything that claims to be of God truly is.
Hear the word of the Lord, ‘”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Notice Christ does NOT say ‘apart from me and AA, or any other man-made program’, He clearly states , Apart from Me, you can do nothing’. He is the ONLY source of strength and power over the bondage of sin.
Freedom from sin comes to all who confess and repent of their sins. The grace of God saves lost sinners; He re-births them, changing them from the inside out. All who are born again have freedom from sin, and than includes the fear of the bondage of addictions.
God hasn’t called us to continually meet and profess our former sins {hi I’m ___ ____ and I’m an alcoholic}, you are going against what God’s word teaches when you say this!

Read over and over this powerful passage…

”Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” John 8:36

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The above is from Lyn, whose testimony is here on her blog:

http://iamhis-lyn.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-testimony-up-until-fall-of-2003-i.html

Sadness for “Gay Christians” by Pastor Ken Silva

Time is short. But please take the time to read this article by Pastor Silva:

SADNESS FOR “GAY CHRISTIANS”

How involved were A.A.’s cofounders in spiritualism?

The men who cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous were Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. Although neither was a Christian, they were men who cared deeply about helping alcoholics.

It is this continued portrayal of Dr. Bob Smith, and now Bill Wilson, as Christians, that has confused and deceived so many.

Both Wilson and Smith approved of and used a book called ‘Sermon on the Mount.’ This was written by New Thought adherent Emmet Fox, and was used as a mainstay in Alcoholics Anonymous until the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book was written.

It is not possible for men who follow and serve Christ to use this book. Why? The book denies that Christ is Savior, and in fact states that “Christ” is simply a title for Absolute Spiritual Truth.

And, of course, there was the spiritualism. Bill Wilson was immersed in it. Here is what early A.A. member Tom Powers says about the A.A. cofounders and their participation in this Biblically forbidden activity:

“Now these people, Bill and Dr. Bob, believed vigorously and aggressively. They were working away at the spiritualism; it was not just a hobby.” (PASS IT ON, pg. 280, Bold mine)

Were these men Christians? No. Are the 12 Steps of Christ? No. Are the 12 Steps necessary for sobriety? No. It has become increasing clear, however, that these Steps are necessary for the coming religious system.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (Galatians 1:8)

Lyn’s Testimony Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:11)

John – I praise Almighty God for this powerful testimony of yours for Christ, and the power of God to transform a life. We MUST speak the truth about sin, no matter what others may think or say. I understand your shame and embarrassment of your former way of life. I too felt this embarrassment and preferred not to talk about it. But, God would have none of it! A while back {during our Sunday night praise service}, my pastor asked if I’d give my testimony. I prayed about it, and asked for prayer from others. The testimony the Holy Spirit gave me is the one I’ve made available on my blog. When I finished speaking, tears and all, I looked out and people were crying, clapping, standing…the Lord received the glory due Him! I was so overwhelmed, I sat behind the pulpit for a few minutes before heading back to my seat. I have never been so humbled and yet felt so close to Christ as I did at that precise moment. To be used by the Most High God is indescribable. When Paul said this in 1 Timothy 1:15, I know EXACTLY what he meant, – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.”

Our society does enjoy ‘labeling’ sin, as if adultery is less offensive to God than homosexuality. But, the very fact that Christ has freed us from this horrendous sin that is so entangling is why we must proclaim His Gospel. He is the only hope the lost sinner has. May we boldly profess His truth to a world that grows darker by the minute.

God bless you, my brother in Christ!

Scroll down for three related posts below. Here, again, is Lyn’s testimony:

http://iamhis-lyn.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-testimony-up-until-fall-of-2003-i.html

Ken Silva: Brian McLaren’s homo-waffling

Listen, I could testify all day about being delivered from heroin and alcohol addiction. I could drop your jaw with tales of life on the streets. God has been so good to me. This thing, though, I still don’t talk about too much.

But my fear is gone. My shame is gone. The Lord has used my wife. She is like honey to me. He has used  people like Brannon Howse, Carla of  http://morebooksandthings.blogspot.com and Pastor Ken Silva to help me overcome my fear of what other people may think. Even, perhaps especially, God’s people.

But, I’ve got to tell you, it is this woman’s testimony that makes me shake my head in wonder.  Lyn cannot wait to testify what the Lord has done for her.

http://iamhis-lyn.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-testimony-up-until-fall-of-2003-i.html

In light of all this, here is Pastor Ken Silva on the heresy brewing in the Emergence movement. Included is my testimony. May the Lord pour me out as a drink offering.

http://apprising.org/2009/04/brian-mclaren-with-good-news-concerning-the-homosexual-question/