Helping A Christian To Begin Recovery Today

Helping A Christian To Begin Recovery Today

Dick B.

© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

What is this newcomer like?

The condition of most alcoholics who are being propelled toward recovery today is complex, life-threatening, confusing, frightening, and often misunderstood.

Here are some of the problems he or she may commonly face:

Welcome has been worn out with parents, wives, children, relatives, friends, “significant others,” employers, business associates, clients and customers, physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, treatment programs, clergy, law enforcement agencies, courts, jails, teachers, schools, and just about everyone who has had to face the bizarre, repeated, trouble-making, and disasters.

The classic response of the afflicted person has been to conceal, deny, blame, resent, fear, lie, cheat, steal, rationalize, fight, flight, hide, change course, explain, and refuse or resist help.

Trouble surrounds the person—trouble emanating from crimes, debts, accidents, injuries, loss of job or clients, rejection by family and associates, divorce, legal interventions, tax difficulties, illness, ill-health, suicidal episodes, depression, despair, loneliness, bewilderment.

Ere long, he or she faces the physical and mental consequences of excessive drinking, drugging, and excess—consequences that take the form of physical problems, brain damage, nerve damage, mental incapacity, severe depression, and neglect of bodily needs for nutrition, health care, dental care, exercise, personal hygiene, and loss of self-esteem, honesty, integrity, and care and love of others.

Terror, indecision, confusion, and anger as approaches to recovery are confronted—anger at courts, government, authorities, doctors, clergy, psychiatrists, interventionists, counselors, therapists, and the host of new critics of recovery methods and fellowships. These come from (1) those who don’t believe in God or religion, those who claim A.A. has failed them, (2) those who know little or nothing about A.A.’s roots and program, (3) those who raise all sorts of straw-man criticism of A.A. as spiritualism-influenced, false religion, ineffective, cult-like, and institutionalized pre-occupation with meetings; those attack A.A. on scientific and psychological bases; (4) those who characterize it as too religious, too irreligious, too Christian, too atheistic too humanistic, too anecdotal in his accounts of victory, too unsupported in its statistical records of early A.A.; too religious to be the subject of mandated attendance; too remote from other alleged successful approaches with behavioral change, pharmaceutical aids, nutritional approaches, and just plain abstinence or moderation.

A.A. is one of his potential recovery tools

Some recognize the importance of A.A. as an aid to recovery whether or not its confused religious ideas, its self-help focus, and its non-professional backdrop are acceptable or not. Generally speaking, evangelists like Dwight Moody and Billy Sunday were not professionals, But they helped many alcoholics. The same can be said of the organizers of the rescue missions—including the one where Bill Wilson was born again. The same also for the YMCA lay leaders who had such an impact in Vermont. And the same certainly for the Salvation Army workers who have been helping drunks for more than 100 years—even though there has been a change in approach in some of its ARCs today. The present-day usefulness of A.A. can be likened to the aid provided to alcoholics by non-professionals for decades:

At the very least, Alcoholics Anonymous provides world-wide availability, intense
community availability, 24-hour response action, compassion and understanding, altruistic and free assistance, lack of financial barriers, fellowship with those who do not make judgments about past errors, and an extreme focus on refraining from one drop of alcohol and keeping company with those of like mind and with experience in how to live sober despite oft-repeated years of previous drinking abuse.

In fact, Alcoholics Anonymous arose and gained ascendency when professionals like the expert William Duncan Silkworth, M.D., were stating plainly that alcoholics were “medically incurable.” And many other efforts of a non-Cbristian nature such as Prohibition, the Washingtonians, anti-saloon league groups, mental institutions, hospitals, and jails were having little or no success with the unpredictable alcoholic. This is what prompted the A.A. claim that alcoholics realized that probably no human power could relieve them of their alcoholism, but that God could and would if He were sought. And He did!

How Should Christian Recovery Efforts Begin Today?

First, some caveats concerning what to tell and not to tell a newcomer

Not by claiming that A.A. is “spiritual but not religious.” This argument is meaningless, misleading, and has been thoroughly rejected by most courts which have been called upon to review the evidence and then ruled A.A. is “religious.” If courts, weighing the evidence and relying on reasoned prior rulings, can’t see the distinction, there is no reason to promote it in fellowships of sick, brain damaged, or uniformed newcomers.

Not by telling alcoholics that A.A. is not a Christian Fellowship. It is not, but the context suggests to the unwary newcomer that A.A. is not for Christians—something that begs the question as to whether Christians can be members of A.A. (they can), whether Christians can pursue their religious beliefs and practices (they can), and whether A.A. is some monolithic entity that eschews God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, religion, church, and Christianity (it isn’t).

Not by telling the newcomer he doesn’t need to believe in anything at all—many newcomers don’t; but A.A. literature suggests that they may “come to believe” if they take certain steps. The varied and diverse population of A.A. today, including (as it does) Christians, Jews, atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, humanists, and unbelievers, makes it clear that the original Christian Fellowship no longer exists, that present-day A.A. traditions no longer refuse membership to those who don’t believe in God and accept Jesus Christ, and actually encourages lack of belief in much of the literature its publications promulgate today

Not by telling the newcomer that he cannot believe in, mention, and adhere to the practices and principles of God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Bible, his church, his religion, his Bible fellowship, and his own religious activities (he can).

Not by telling the newcomer he can manufacture his own conception of some god—which can be an higher power, a light bulb, a chair, a tree, the Big Dipper, the Great Pumpkin, a Coke bottle, a radiator, Something, Somebody, Ralph, Gertrude, an A.A. group, or a “Group Of Drunks.” The newcomer can believe any or all of these, but it defies reason to suggest to him that he can pray to any of these and be relieved of his alcoholism. Or even that he can have a “spiritual awakening” of the “educational variety” by relying on the power of a chair or rock.The thought that he can should be removed from the reasoning process of the confused, bewildered, sick, depressed, despairing, and lonely newcomer—a newcomer who, by contrast, was told in “old school” A.A. that he needed to “find God,” to “establish a relationship with God,” to read the Bible, to have a quiet time each day, to participate in prayer meetings, and then t0 “surrender” to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Second, some caveats as to what the Christian sponsor, counselor, clergyman, and professional should expect:

That his newcomer is sick, in trouble, and probably not approaching recovery expecting to be involved in a search for, belief in, or argument over God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and religion.

That his newcomer may need immediate medical, psychiatric, counseling, and nutritional help. To ignore this is to subject the newcomer to dangers of seizures, excruciating withdrawal experiences, hallucinations, severe illness, suicidal tendencies, and even death.

That his newcomer is possibly confused, frightened, timid, lonely, inclined to withdraw from others, depressed, ready to split, concerned about guilt and the opinions of others, and being pelted with all of the psychobabble, nonsense gods, spirituality, and anti-religious chatter that abound in the rooms of A.A. today.

That soup, soap, shelter, friendship, love, understanding, and salvation cannot be tendered too soon to someone wanting God’s help. The facts of history show the value of these approaches.

That the newcomer is far more likely to be challenged about his religious statements, beliefs, principles, practices, church attendance, and reading matter than he is about his past conduct, former drinking episodes, or even his behavior in sobriety.

That the newcomer will seldom, if ever, hear about the Christian origins of A.A., where its
early program ideas came from, what those Christian ideas were, how the first three AAs got sober, the 7 simple points of the original program, what the pioneers actually did in Akron, and the high success rates the pioneers achieved.

That the newcomer needs to be told how the Original A.A. Christian Fellowship members got well by abstaining from drinking; turning to God for help; surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord; obeying God’s will by walking in love and eliminating sinful conduct; growing in understanding and fellowship by studying the Bible, praying, asking God’s guidance, and reading Christian literature and devotionals; and then helping other alcoholics get straightened out by the same means.

That the newcomer will dive into recovery best and most enthusiastically if told to go with the flow in A.A.—go to meetings regularly; participate in and serve at meetings when asked; get and use phone numbers; immediately obtain and start reading the Big Book; get a sponsor; follow instructions on taking the Twelve Steps in accordance with the Big Book; stick with the winners; seek and make friends with those who are living sober and engaging in sober activities; and helping others at every turn—whether by welcoming, offering a hug or a handshake, offering coffee or a seat, communicating, providing rides, urging newcomers to hang out with other sober members, encouraging them to stay away from slippery places and slippery people, and suggest their going to God for help every day with every problem.

Third, what the newcomer needs to learn, be told, and be encouraged to do:

Hear that if he wants God’s help, the newcomer needs to be born again of the spirit of God; thereby to become a child of the living and true God; and acquire the gift of the Holy Spirit so that he can communicate with God—who is spirit, worship God in spirit and in truth, receive revelation from his Father, know and understand spiritual matters, and pray effectively to God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ for healing, forgiveness, mercy, and receipt of the promises of God that are conditioned upon obedience to his Father’s will. These are the promises of the Bible, and they provide hope to the seemingly hopeless who are led to believe they work.

Learn and believe that he need not, and should never, yield to anyone’s opinion that he may not believe in God, speak about God, be a Christian, study the Bible, thank God, pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ, go to a Bible fellowship, go to a church of his choice, ask God’s guidance in every situation, look to God for healing and forgiveness and deliverance, and read Christian literature.

Learn and understand that the sooner he begins fellowshipping with, sponsoring, and keeping company with, like-minded believers, the sooner he will doing what God expects His children to do in order to love, encourage, comfort, support, edify, and help his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Take notice of A.A.’s emphasis on love and service, love and tolerance, honesty, patience, kindness, and love.

Hear positively that there is no service or profit or glory to God in condemning A.A.; condemning AAs; condemning the Twelve Steps; condemning A.A. meetings and speakers; condemning religion and churches; intimidating those who express opinions; finding fault in the founders, pioneers, and servants in A.A.; criticizing their statements and beliefs; resenting their words and actions; attempting to destroy A.A.; urging members and others to stay away from, abandon, or leave A.A.; and fearing the words, and actions of those who openly claim that they will be heretics, cult members, or in danger of condemnation for standing in A.A. for what they believe as Christians.

Be encouraged to repeat the old A.A. saw: “If you don’t like a group, a meeting, a speaker, or a subject, take your resentment and a coffee pot and start a new meeting.”

Specific Suggestions for Your Helping and Training Christians in Recovery

Do some significant homework in A.A.’s own literature, in the origins and history of A.A., in the detours about what “A.A.” is that abound today, and in early A.A.’s basic Bible roots, principles, and practices:

Get the important beginning facts from the important A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature that is positive, informative, and instructive as to the original program, the Big Book program, the origins and content of the Twelve Steps, and as much of the history of A.A. as it has chosen to make available.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed.; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age; The Language of the Heart; “Pass It On;” RHS; The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks.

Avoid passing on, opining about, reading, and quoting undocumented statements about A.A.’s alleged program of higher powers, spirituality, deflation in depth, believing in nothing at all, choosing your own conception of some god, studying supposed “principles” of the program or the Steps that were never spelled out in the early program or the Big Book program.

Avoid wasting time on the supposed contributions and shortcomings of the ideas of the Washingtonians, William James, Carl Jung, the Emmanuel Movement, the Oxford Group, and Dr. Frank N.D. Buchman

Going to God as soon as possible with thanksgiving, praise, requests for guidance and wisdom, requests for forgiveness and deliverance, requests for healing and prosperity, requests for blessings for the newcomer and for others in his circle.

Get into the Bible as soon, as simply, and as relevantly possible.

This means choosing a Bible that you and the newcomer wish to work with. We use the King James Version because that is the version used by “old school” A.A. and its pioneers.

It also means looking at the Dick B. books which tell you the Bible basics of early A.A.: The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible; The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook; The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials; Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.; Dr. Bob and His Library; Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939; The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous; Why Early A.A. Succeeded; and When Early AAs Were Cured and Why

The Starting Point for the Newcomer is Belief in God, Accepting Jesus Christ, and Studying the Bible

Verses where God lays out what he expects of man:

Ecclesiastes 12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear [Revere] God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man

Matthew 22:36-40: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1 John 5:1-3: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Hebrews 11:6: But without faith, it is impossible to please him [God]” for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:10, 12: Be it known you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. . . . Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4: Who [God our Savior] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.

Romans 10:9: 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.

John 17:7: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

In a few words: Man’s duty is to obey God’s commandments. God commands that he that comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Jesus said no man comes to the Father but by him [Jesus]. Those who confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead are saved. And God has two basic commands for man: (1) God wants all men to be saved. (2) God wants all men to come unto the knowledge of the truth. And God’s word (the Bible) is the truth which God wants all men to know.

The early A.A. approach to this was very very simple: (1) Every member was required to confess that he believed in God. (2) Every member was required to confess Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. (3) Every member was required to study the Bible to learn the truth.

The Pioneers Expected All to Study James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13

Once a newcomer has professed his belief in God and confessed Jesus as his Lord, he should be led through a study of the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon (Matthew 5-7), and 1 Corinthians 13.

Dick B.’s Book, The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials, carefully reviews the three essential segments of the Bible and relates each to the relevant ideas found in the A.A. program.

Daily Contact with God Was Achieved by Observing Morning Quiet Time

Daily “prayer and meditation,” as the Big Book later described it, involved the following specific practices: (1) Open with prayer to God, giving thanks in the name of Jesus Christ, and asking God’s guidance as to how to proceed with the observance. (2) Read from the Bible—the most common segments being James, Jesus’ Sermon, and 1 Corinthians 13. (3) Prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, petition, forgiveness, intercession, guidance, and healing were common. (4) Seeking God’s guidance as to how to proceed with the day. (5) Discussion of subjects from Anne Smith’s Journal or Bible devotionals such as The Runner’s Bible, The Upper Room, and My Utmost for His Highest. (6) Closing with the Lord’s Prayer.

Learning to Seek God’s Help through Prayer, Renewing the Mind with Verses from the Bible, Giving thanks, and asking for God’s revelation as to what to do.

The ever-present love, power, wisdom, strength, forgiveness, and deliverance: Much of the importance of becoming a Christian and getting into fellowship with God, His Son Jesus Christ, and other believers is lost if God is not called off the bench throughout the day. There will be problems of sickness, acrimony, troubles, financial and legal difficulties, business and homemaking approaches, domestic and family strife, fear, resentment, frustration, anger, anxiety, stress, destruction, disaster, difficulty, and death. And the believer needs to avoid walking by the flesh and walking in the spirit, putting on the new man with love, peace, gentleness, goodness, patience, kindness, forgiveness, joy, faith, and the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.

The believer-newcomer has a choice. He can walk according to the spirit of God and look to God for wisdom, peace, freedom from fear, joy, happiness, purity, avoidance of temptation, resisting the devil, strength, and guidance. He can renew his mind with what the Word of God says and cast down and away the negatives that the Adversary and the world present. He can claim power, victory, and freedom from bondage in the name of Jesus Christ. And he can, in humility, be lifted up and out of worldly difficulties and concerns by the power and love of God.

Much Needed New Training Approaches for Christians in Recovery

Training helpers to become informed speakers, sponsors, groups, clergy, recovery pastors, therapists, counselors, facilitators, program directors, and programs

There is, and long has been, a need for training those Christians who want to help other Christians in recovery and those in recovery who need to know of the Christian option.

The present counseling field is bloated with models, modules, proposed new therapies, regulations, and certifications that require competence in everything but the history of A.A.; the role of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the early recovery successes; and the propriety of learning from tolerant teachers the way to seek recovery in any atmosphere, among many different models and viewpoints; in a population of diverse and varied religious, irreligious, and unbelieving newcomers and old timers; and virulent critics of God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, Christianity, religion, denominations, sects, 12-Step programs, anonymous fellowships, and Christian recovery groups and programs.

Platforms for Training and Education

Accessible historical recovery resource libraries and collections:

Far too few know of the presently existing libraries and collections

All should know of the Griffith Library at the Wilson House in East Dorset, Vermont; the Dr. Bob Core Library at the North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, Vermont; the Samuel M. Shoemaker collection of Shoemaker books, articles, and papers at the Shoemaker Room in Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the A.A. Library at Dr. Bob’s last church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron, Ohio; the Stepping Stones archives in Bedford Hills, New York; the Shoemaker papers at the Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas; the private collection of Ray Grumney, former archivist at Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron, Ohio, now living in Seminole, Florida; Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron, Ohio; the Seiberling Gate Lodge Museum in Akron, Ohio; the Akron Intergroup Archives in Akron, Ohio; A.A. General Service Office in New York; Hazelden-Pittman Museum in Center City, Minnesota; and university library archives at Brown University, Akron University, Hartford Seminary, Princeton Alumni archives, and others. Some of these are not easily accessed, but the authors have visited, viewed, and often copied valuable materials from all these sources.

Individual collections of historical books and materials

Many historians, teachers, writers, book stores and distributors, and collectors today have assembled many of the important books, articles, and papers that have been the subject of historical writings and conferences since mid-1975.

And now 12-Step groups, recovery programs, churches, para-church organizations, sober living houses and centers, James Clubs, recovery fellowships and programs, and Christian recovery groups need to establish libraries suited to their own particular outreach. Many are now organized or being organized

Examples are Footprints Alcoholics Victorious in Kansas City, Missouri; Rock Recovery Ministries in San Diego; New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc. in Huntington Beach, California; Crossroads Turning Point Fellowship in Livermore, California; CityTeam centers primarily on the West Coast; ABC Sober Living in San Diego; Men’s Step Study Groups in Oahu, Hawaii; Austin Recovery Ministry, the Akronites of Canada and West Virginia, Won Way Out in Delaware, Came to Believe Retreats, and numerous James Clubs that have sprung up around the United States and abroad.

We believe that every recovery-oriented church, pastoral recovery effort, Christian recovery program, Christian counselor program, Christian treatment program, Sober house, Sober Club, prison, jail, homeless shelter or housing facility, half-way house, rescue mission, Salvation Army mission, and 12-Step Christian recovery group should have a basic resource library where materials can be seen and studied, loaned out, and used by groups.

Such libraries should have a liberal supply of Bibles, Big Books, relevant A.A. Conference-approved books and pamphlets, one or more sets of the Dick B. 29 volume reference set, the Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, the Four-part introductory series with DVD’s and workbook, and historically significant Bible devotionals such as The Runner’s Bible, the Upper Room, My Utmost for His Highest, Victorious Living, and Daily Strength for Daily Needs. As well as some fundamental historical books on rescue missions, the YMCA, the Salvation Army, Christian Endeavor, evangelists and revivals, the Oxford Group, and Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.

Study groups with competent teachers, literature, and approaches

Groups that study the Big Book, the Twelve Steps, Early A.A. Origins and practices, the Bible, Christian literature, and Christian recovery history and literature.

We have written a number of Books and Articles on how to do this; and across the world, James Clubs, Big Book/Bible study groups, Christian recovery groups, Step study groups, History Groups, and others are being established and growing.

They are as easy to start as selecting a group, a secretary, a format, a meeting place, and perhaps a name—then diving in, whether into the Bible, our history, the Big Book, the Steps, prayer, Christian practices, or working with newcomers.

Christian Quiet Time Meetings, Bible studies, Prayer Meetings, Teaching Meetings, and Believer Fellowship meetings.

These were daily fare in Early A.A.—particularly with the morning quiet times that
Anne Smith conducted at the Smith Home in Akron. Many are under way today.

Almost as soon as the Dick B. By the Power of God titles was published and endorsed by Ozzie Lepper of Wilson House, the Wilson House began holding morning quiet time meetings each day. Fr. Bill Wigmore has plans for extensive Quiet Time guides and programs emanating from Austin Recovery in Texas. Rock Recovery Ministries and the sober living houses managed by David Powers in San Diego are conducting these meetings. His group also circulates text messages based on the Upper Room. A number of pastors, recovery pastors, and groups regularly conduct studies of the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians. And there are more and more Bible study and prayer meetings to be found around the world that have to do with recovery resembling the “old school” A.A. way.

Scarcely a day passes that the authors don’t receive phone calls, emails, and letters announcing that a person or his pastor or his group or his church or his friends want to start a group within the church that embraces the meetings mentioned here.

These can and should be available for churches, clergy, recovery pastors, counselors, recovery groups, 12-Step groups, healing groups, seminars, lectures, resources, conferences.

Distributing A.A. History Literature as Widely as Possible

For many many years, tracts and literature have been a potent means for spreading the Gospel, bringing people to Jesus Christ, and encouraging church affiliation and attendance.

In our own experience over the past twenty years: Benefactors, conferences, churches, 12 Step fellowships, and individuals have enabled us to distribute free at least a third of the more than 200,00 Dick B. books that have been published.

These books have gone to every prison facility operated by the State of Hawaii, to every Salvation Army ARC in the Southern Territory of the United States, to many prison chaplains, to VA and military facilities, to hospitals and treatment centers, to seminaries, to churches and clergy, to physicians and psychiatrists, to archives, to libraries, to sober clubs, to A.A. offices, to historians and writers, to rescue missions, to the Wilson House, to Dr. Bob’s Home, to the Akron Intergroup, to the Dr. Bob Core Library, to the Shoemaker Room in Pittsburgh, to university scholars, to recovery agencies, and to individuals in recovery or recovered

Using the Capabilities of the Internet

Websites, blogs, articles, forums, chats, face book, twitter, UTube, audio talks, radio broadcasts, podcasts, bookstores, on-line sites, libraries, book reviews, and comments have enabled our A.A. and Biblical roots history materials to be seen and heard around the world and to be listed at the top of most search engines.

Organizing and conducting meetings, groups, local gatherings, regional gatherings, and national gatherings such as those conducted by International Christian Recovery Coalition members, Came to Believe Retreats, Recovery Ministries, and Recovery fellowships.

Producing books, pamphlets, flyers, DVD’s, blogs, newsletters, and websites that promote and support and link Christian recovery efforts.