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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
About Alcoholics Anonymous
Available in Tract Form. Contact the Editor.
PREFACE
We wish to thank Raymond Blanton for the development of this article, and the Berean Baptist Church for allowing us to redistribute it.
We are living in a day that is equaled by very few moments in the past. The evidence of our nation’s degradation is easily noted when we observe a sampling of two "present day" conditions:
1) Government "sanctioned" acts of man while influenced by liquor, such as: suicide, divorce, rape, teen pregnancies, abortions, unattended children, uncontrolled gambling, loss of employment, death or dismemberment due to drunken brawls or drunk driving, and, of course, poverty - all in the name of "Business" and "Pleasure."
2) Man not only craves this "uninhibited state," but looks with disdain upon those who wish to give liquor NO place in their own lives.
It is because of these observations that we at Bible Baptist Church commend, applaud, and thank God for those who put forth any effort to deal with the atrocities of liquor. The fact that "NO MAN IS AN ISLAND," is best proven when we see the suffering and anguish of those surrounding the "problem drinker". May God bless any who desire to help another in trouble! The sobering of an individual so that they might be able to realize the condition of their life is essential if any future reformation is going to be realized.
However, we at Bible Baptist Church are gravely concerned about the consequences for any who would implement the name of the Living God, and propose to believe in the truths of God, and then teach contrary to the very hope that God has laboured to give to man. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:3-4)
Only through Biblical truth may man enjoy a RIGHT relationship with God, and it is because of the awful consequences of rejecting these truths that we have endeavoured to set forth the facts that are found in this little booklet.
It is our desire that you would consider the end of such teachings as have come forth from the individuals who first founded the organization so dearly known as ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
CLIMBING UP SOME OTHER WAY
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1)
1) AA offers a spiritual experience to drunkards with no mention of the name of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2) You may search their writings for a verse of Scripture, a mention of the Bible, or of the Saviour, but it will be to no avail. They have chosen another way.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
THE BEGINNING OF AA
1) In 1935, two men who were drunkards began what later became known as Alcoholics Anonymous or AA. One man was Bill Wilson, a lawyer in New York; the other, Robert Smith, a medical doctor in Akron, Ohio.
2) Bill Wilson was drinking in his kitchen when his phone rang. Ebby, an old drinking buddy, wanted to come over for a visit. When he arrived, he was sober and very different from the man Bill remembered. Ebby explained he had gone to the "Oxford Group" and got religion.
3) Bill asked, “What religion?”
"Oh," Ebby answered,
"I don't think it has got any special brand name. I just fell in with a group of people, the Oxford Groups....Now I know you are going to gag on this, but they taught me to pray to whatever God I thought there was for the power to carry out these simple precepts. And if I did not believe there was any God, then I had better try the experiment of praying to whatever God there might be. And you know Bill...even before I had done all this, just as soon as I decided that I would try with an open mind, it seemed to me that my drinking problem was lifted right out of me. It wasn't like the water wagon business at all. This time I felt completely released of the desire, and I have not had a drink for months."(A.A. Unmasked, Burns)
4) Ebby left it at that. Bill continued drinking, and after several days, he went to the hospital to get sobered up.
5) Bill's Spiritual Experience:
He was deeply depressed and considered himself to be at his end. Although nauseated by the thoughts of a "Power" greater than himself, he cried out, "If there is a God, let Him show Himself! I am ready to do anything!”
“Suddenly the room lit up with a great light. I was caught up into an ecstasy which there are no words to describe. It seemed to me, in the mind's eye, that I was on a mountain and that a wind, not of air, but of spirit, was blowing. And then it burst upon me that I was a free man. Slowly the ecstasy subsided. I lay upon the bed, but now for a time I was in another world, a new world of consciousness. All about me, and through me, there was a wonderful feeling of Presence."(ibid)
6) Bill and Bob both began working through the Oxford Groups, trying to help other drunkards.
7) The Oxford Groups:
In 1921, Frank Buchman; a convert of a Keswick Conference, founded the First Century Christian Fellowship. The name was changed to the Oxford Group in 1929. A group of Buchmanites, students at Oxford, some being Rhodes Scholars, were travelling in South Africa. A railway porter marked their reserved compartments 'Oxford Group.' The name stuck with them. In 1938 they became known as Moral Rearmament (MRA).
The Oxford Groups that Bill and Bob worked through were psychic channelers - "...no churches and no pastors. It is not a denomination, but a world-wide spiritual fellowship. Buchman taught that a man could begin quietly each day with pen and paper and write down the impressions and instructions from 'God,' whomever that may be for the individual. This was called Quiet Time. The tenets of the group rest on four absolutes: Absolute Honesty, Absolute Purity, Absolute Unselfishness, and Absolute Love." (ibid)
"Evidently, it wasn't ‘God’ alone who always visited Buchman's disciples. Word began to spread that members of the various Oxford Group chapters that had sprung up in Britain, the United States, and elsewhere, were getting together for Quiet Time ‘Spook Parties’, and that bizarre spirits from beyond made their presence known." (Texe Marrs)
In 1937, the New York AA's separated from the Oxford Groups.
THE RELIGION OF AA
I. New Age - Occult - Pantheism
"The first and cardinal rule in the New Age is simply this: 'Believe in any god and in anything, but do not claim that your god, or your belief is exclusive.' That is, as long as you accept that all is one and that your religion is no better than the next person's, then you qualify to be a New Ager. It does not matter whether you worship a Hindu guru, your own Higher Self, or a pagan deity from ancient Rome, Greece, or Babylon.
“Indeed, the second, unyielding rule of all New Age cults and religions is simply this: "God is what or whom you personally wish him (or her) to be." This is also THE SAME RULE so vigorously enforced by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Indeed, AA can certainly be classified as a New Age cult based on its occultic origins and its rejection of biblical Christianity." (ibid)
II. The Higher Power and the Occult
"Bill Wilson and Bob Smith, the co-founders of AA, embraced and promoted a variety of spiritual experiences. Both men practiced spiritualism and believed in the validity and importance of contacting and conversing with the dead (necromancy, which the Bible forbids). The AA biography of Wilson says:
"’It is not clear when he first became interested in extrasensory phenomena; the field was something that Dr. Bob and Anne Smith were also deeply involved with. Whether or not Bill initially became interested through them, there are references to séances and other psychic events in the letters Bill wrote to Lois [Wilson's wife] during that first Akron summer with the Smiths, in 1935.
“’Wilson and his wife were also conducting regular séances in their own home as early as 1941. They were engaging in other psychic activities as well, such as using an Ouija board.’
“Wilson also acted as a medium, or what is now referred to as a 'channeler'. He would lie on a couch in a passive receptive manner and 'receive' messages (in a manner similar to that of the occultist Edgar Cayce) while another person would write them down. His wife described it this way:
“'Bill would lie down on the couch. He would "get" these things. He kept doing it every week or so. Each time, certain people would "come in." Sometimes, it would be new ones and they'd carry on some story. There would be long sentences; word by word they would come through.'
"It is interesting to note that in 1938, between the séances at the Smiths', and Wilson receiving messages while in a prone position in the '40s, Wilson wrote the AA's Twelve Steps. He was lying in bed thinking. The official AA biography of Wilson describes it this way:
"’As he started to write, he asked for guidance. And he relaxed. The words began tumbling out with astonishing speed. He completed the first draft in about half an hour, then kept on writing until he felt he should stop and review what he had written. Numbering the new steps, he found that they added up to twelve - a symbolic number; he thought of the Twelve Apostles, and soon became convinced that the Society should have twelve steps.’” (PsychoHeresy Update)
III. Carl Jung's Influence
"Recognizing the closeness of some New Age ties with the AA may fall more into place if we look at Carl Jung, another important influence on AA's spirituality. One catalog advertising a small book entitled, AA's Godparents: Three Early Influences on Alcoholics Anonymous, by Igor I. Sikorsky, Jr., says this:
'This fascinating readable book explores the early days of AA and the influence of three non-alcoholics: psychiatrist Carl Jung; theologian Emmet Fox; and writer Jack Alexander - on its founding philosophy, spiritual direction, and growth.'
"Carl Jung taught a spiritual experience essential for drunkards' deliverance." (AA Unmasked)
IV. The Twelve Steps
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching, and fearless, moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
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.
V. The god of AA
This is the same god as: "the Innate" of the chiropractics; "the Great Architect of the universe" of the Mason; "the Nature god" of herbalists; Mother Earth; worship of trees, rats, tadpoles, owls…Pantheism. Just DESIGN YOUR OWN GOD.
“A Power greater than ourselves. Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?
“Well, that's exactly what this is about. Its main object is to enable you to find A Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem.
“Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach, and to effect a contact with Him. As soon we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality things, we began to be possessed of new sense of power and direction provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive, or forbidding, to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.
“When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God, as we understood Him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things, which then seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth, but if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So we used our own conception, however limited it was.
“We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. ‘Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?’ As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone, a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.” (The Basic Text of AA)
DRUNKENNESS - A SICKNESS?
1) AA's False Claims -
"If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.” (ibid)
“Alcoholism is an illness! The first thing for you to acknowledge, believe, accept, is that the alcoholic suffers from a real sickness. And it afflicts his family and friends with anxiety and confusion.
“So remind yourself, over and over again, until you have firmly accepted this idea: The American Medical Association, and many other authorities the world over, declare the alcoholic suffers from an illness over which he has no control. Alcoholism is not caused by weakness of will, immorality, or a desire to hurt others.
“Recent scientific advances in the understanding of this disease have overthrown all the age-old ideas based on superstition, ignorance and prejudice. The success of the new approach is proved by the powerful evidence of many thousands of recoveries in Alcoholics Anonymous.
"Once you have accepted the idea that alcoholism is a sickness from which the compulsive drinker can find release, you will have no reason to be ashamed of alcoholism - no reason to condemn it.” (Al-Anon Family Groups Brochure)
AA is allowing drunkards to go to hell by the millions because of this lie. The Bible says drunkards go to Hell - "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, no abusers of themselves with mankind, No thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, no revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
It matters not what AA says. The American Medical Association, scientific advances, and whatever else we may convince ourselves of, WILL NOT CHANGE THE WORD OF GOD.
2) Sicknesses don't send people to Hell. Sin does!
"For the wages of sin is death:" (Rom. 6:23)
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one." (Job 14:4)
Let's analyze this assessment. Can alcoholism really strike "at random", making anyone an alcoholic? Of course not! The only way alcoholism can strike, and the only way that someone can become an alcoholic, is by drinking alcoholic beverages.
IF YOU DO NOT DRINK,
YOU HAVE NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER
OF DEVELOPING ALCOHOLISM.
Though now it's called a disease
Somewhat akin to colic.
It still takes alcohol
To make an alcoholic.
If alcoholism is a disease ... then:
1. It is the only disease that contracted by an act of the will;
2. It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it;
3. It is the only disease that is bottled and sold;
4. It is the only disease that requires outlets to spread it;
5. It is the only disease that produces a revenue for the government;
6. It is the only disease that provokes crime;
7. It is the only disease that is habit-forming;
8. It is the only disease that brings violent death on the highways;
9. It is the only disease that is spread by advertising;
10. It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause, and for which there is no human corrective medicine;
11. It is the only disease which we are penalized for contracting;
12. And last, but not least, it is the only disease that bars the patient from heaven, for no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10) (AA Unmasked)
CONCLUSION
1) The twelve steps of AA only blind the individual to the truths of the Bible that he may be delivered from Hell.
2) Drinking must be confessed as sin, and forsaken - not glossed over as an illness - "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
3) Sin must be confessed to God, not another sinner - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
4) You must turn from any manmade efforts - "Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
5) NO forgiveness is offered without faith in Jesus Christ; GOD the Son - "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for i fye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
6) I have not seen one Bible verse or one mention of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in their writings - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD." (Rom. 10:17)
7) AA is misleading many that they may never be delivered from Hell....the end of THEIR way! - "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
8) The Bible says they are thieves and robbers. They are stealing the Word God from poor lost drunkards. They are robbing them of heaven and life everlasting.
9) Because of AA.'s philosophy there is never true deliverance from the fear of liquor. The only future that one with “the disease” of Alcoholism may have is a hope for control. But NOT SO WITH GOD'S WAY! - "He sent his word, and healed them and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)
"Who hath delivered us fro, the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption, through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Col. 1:13-15)
10) If you are a drunkard, don't let them keep the truth from you. - "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16)
"... and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21)
Turn to the Lord God of the Bible, Jesus Christ, NOW!
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," (John 1:14)
"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." (John 5:23)
"…and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Rom. 5:8-9)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace:" (Eph. 1:7)
The Lord will deliver you from the bottle, AND FROM HELL.
"And thinkest thou this, O man, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee…Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." (Psalms 119:9-11)
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." (Psalms 32:5)
"But what saith it?...That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom.10:8a, 9, 10)
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power TO BECOME the sons of God" (John 1:12)
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: THE WORD that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)