This article (click_to_read) continues to have an impact in a very challenging battle–warning Christians about Alcoholics Anonymous. Some have chosen to portray A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson’s drunken trip to an altar as “proof” of conversion to Christ. Yet Wilson communed for decades with unclean spirits, experimented with LSD to help the “influx of God’s grace,” and designated a portion of royalties from his A.A. books to his last mistress. [1]
Francis Hartigan was the secretary for Lois Wilson, Bill’s wife, for thirteen years. He had many conversations with Lois about Bill. He writes, “[A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson's] belief in God might have become unshakeable, but he could never embrace any theology or even the divinity of Jesus, and he went to his grave unable to give his own personal idea of God much definition. In this sense, he was never very far removed from the unbelievers.” [2] (Bold mine)
Christians who rationalize that it is okay to participate in A.A., or pastors who allow A.A. to hold meeting in churches, are in disobedience to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17, Galatians 1:6-9, Isaiah 42:8)
There are many myths protecting A.A.–not the least of which is the program’s alleged effectiveness. Portrayed as something that works, if a person will simply “work the program,” Alcoholics Anonymous discourages development of treatment alternatives, and continues to point millions away from Jesus Christ.
Did A.A. co-founders Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith care about alcoholics? Absolutely. But A.A. and the Twelve Steps came from an unholy place, and many of us do not want to face this.
Here, if you haven’t read it, is the article: click_here_to_read
Endnotes:
1. http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/if-a-a-co-founder-was-christian-why-so-much-adultery/
2. Francis Hartigan, Bill W., pg. 123
No obligation, glad you are testifying.
okay, thank you I’m just glad nothing is wrong-Phew. It’s your blog though so I didn’t mean to make you feel obligated.
http://jehovahmekoddishkem7.blogspot.com/2011/11/hi-my-name-is-linda-and-i-want-to-share_19.html
Oh no, not at all, Linda. I kind of impulsively put it up, and kind of impulsively took it down. But I didn’t take into account that your testimony was there as well. Can you send me the link to your testimony.
God bless you, my friend,
John
I was just checking your blog today. Is something wrong?? I didn’t see the blog from yesterday.
Did I say or do something wrong to offend anyone?
Your comment has also been posted on the blog.
I know you are not going to publish this blog comment, because I know you are not interested in open discussion. The bottom line is this: Working the AA program, as written in the Big Book is the most effective way for an alcoholic to get sober, stay sober, and have a way of living that has serenity and happiness.
Every time you post your drivel on an open discussion board (even a board that strongly censors people, like Rapture Ready), people point out that AA really does work and really gives people a new way of living that works.
I know why you are such an angry and bitter person. It has nothing to do with AA, though I should point out that a lot of the stuff you heard in rooms and hate came from people who were not working the program as written in the big book.
You are very similar to a family member who I have who is very resentful: Like you, he is a gay person. I can understand that many gay people from your generation are very angry because you grew up in a world that hated who you were and you now hate yourself and the world. It is ironic that you became one of the haters; it is usually the abused that become abusers themselves.
I pray for you, John, that you can come to accept your gay nature and find true happiness with a gay lover. While I am straight, I work with groups that are working very hard to create a world that does not have the same hatred of gay people like you that you grew up with.
They say “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, John, and it is sad that you will probably never let go of this hatred and die a very bitter person.