(Just as a note, I do not claim this to be the final statement on the relationship between AA and the gospel. I approach this humbly knowing that my experience is only one. But, this is my experience, so consider it and refine my thoughts.)
For Christians that have struggled with addiction or who consider themselves alcoholics, AA offers lots of positive resources. First of all, the group support and identification are unmatched. The Christian that is coming off of drugs has likely had many experiences that your average believer will not understand. Regular church-goes will probably be scared by some of the things they learn about the pasts of their addicted friends! Therefore, AA brings together lots of people from different backgrounds that have had the same, terrible relationship with alcohol and can identify with each other. This identification, that the struggler is not alone, is possibly the greatest strength of AA.
The AA’s at the meetings have invaluable experience. Many of those in the halls had been drinking alcoholically for an obscene number of years, and yet they have found a way to put down the drink; in a sense, they have figured out how to cut of the hand that causes them to sin. The AA’s then have amazing practical advice on how to stop drinking that others in the church just will not be equipped with. This helps the Christian that struggles because they realize, “if this guy made it, I can too!” AA’s are also very supportive and make themselves available whenever possible, because they know how difficult it is to break free from addiction.
The number of AA meetings available is another strength of the program. In my city, Portsmouth, there are at least 3 meetings a day that the alcoholic can attend – morning, noon, and night. What church can offer such help? While many churches may have one midweek meeting, AA provides help, encouragement, and support every day of the week, 365 days a year.
One very important part of the upside of AA is it's teaching. Much of the teaching that is from the Big Book (which is like the bible of AA) is from the real bible. When going through "the steps," members go and repent to those that they have hurt, confess their sins to another and to help others along the way. Much of what was originally intended for AA came out of the new testament proverbs in the book of James. While you may hear different perspectives if you go to a meeting that seem anti-christian, the core of practice that is recognized in AA is based on biblical teaching and does not contradict biblical teaching.
One controversial component of AA is that whenever someone speaks, they say their name and then that they are an alcoholic. This has positive and negative effects but I’ll look only at the positives right now. Every Christian knows that they are sinners in need of a Savior. But alcoholics, Christian and not, have a poor memory. After being sober for a certain amount of time, they tend to forget just how bad it had gotten when they were in the midst of their addiction. They put on rose-colored glasses and tend to fall back into their old ways – often into a worse predicament than before. Verbally reminding oneself how broken you really are, how totally corrupt and disobedient they are in their flesh, helps the Christian to draw near to the throne of grace to receive grace and find mercy in times of need.
So should the Christian that struggles with addiction or alcohol look for help in AA? Absolutely. They can find strength and encouragement there and, as we’ll see later, they also have a great opportunity to be salt and light. This was a brief outline of the highlights of positives that can be found in AA. There are many more positives, these were the highlights. Should you recommend your Christian friends to AA if they struggle with alcoholism? Yes. Have no fear about it, God can use AA to help them.
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