Thursday, April 24, 2008
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"eagles youth" blogger slams me for supporting "unbiblical" Christian 12-step programs
I just got assaulted in a blogging sort of way by another Xanga blogger eagles_youth. He was a member of the "Christians struggling with homosexuality" blogring, and had written only a handful of posts until he decided to send me several extremely long messages trying to tear apart my support for Christian support groups like Celebrate Recovery that made any reference to the 12 steps. I'd post them here for reference if they weren't so long and the fact that he already shut down his site before I even had a chance to respond. He had never dialogued with me about Celebrate Recovery or about the 12 steps or Exodus which he was also addressing in his messages. But apparently my blog posts about Celebrate Recovery and various references I've made to the 12 steps have been offensive to him, and he labeled me a stumbling block to any Christians who may be trying to change addictive and compulsive behaviors through Celebrate Recovery or Exodus-associated ministries.
His approach is pretty much to read the Bible and pray more and rely on church fellowship. Fine if it works for him, and God bless him if it does. But I've met too many people to know that isn't enough for people in some churches dealing with addiction and life-dominating sin and behavior, as much as I'd like it to be, and it wasn't enough for me during my years in a fundamentalist church where I was told by certain individuals that AA wasn't necessary and that I just needed to be a stronger Christian. (Several people from that same church have attended our Celebrate Recovery program over the past five years, dealing with porn, alcohol, codependency.) In a faith sort of way the Bible and Christ ARE sufficient for salvation and transformation, but I find that for everyday living and dealing with addiction, fellowship and support and encouragement come through other people, and a program like Celebrate Recovery has done remarkable things for thousands and thousands of Christians struggling with addiction and compulsive behaviors.
"Eagle's Youth" sent me a link to a 14-page article titled "A Response to the 12 Steps in a Christian Setting" at http://www.christiandiscernment.com/Christian%20Discernment/CD%20PDF/Book%20pdf/07%20%20Response%20to%2012%20Steps%20Christian%20Setting.pdf Read it if you want, but I don't agree with it in regard to Celebrate Recovery. I'd invite anyone who agrees with it to attend our Celebrate Recovery meetings to see how off-base most of this article is and how encouraged people are in their Christian faith through CR and how their lives have been changed.
Enough said. I probably shouldn't have even devoted any attention to "Eagle's Youth" after slamming me with such long messages and pushing this article on me and then disappearing. I'll wish him well, and say that I still intend to be here to support and encourage others when they feel shut out or rejected by their church or other Christians who just tell them to read their Bible and pray more to make it go away.
Peace,
Jeff
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Comments (6)
i do believe people should just live and let live. everyone is different, ya know?
not to say i also believe in relativism...
a few things:
-first, i received your gift in the mail today. many thanks, friend; the encouragement is wonderful in this tumultuous time in my life.
-second, what you're involved with is an important part of many people's lives. yeah, i could have done a lot of praying and reading the bible, but what i needed to get past in my life a few years ago was the anger that God would give me something so intense and not want me to act on it. the kindness we show each other is vital; it supports us and invites others in. i don't know how you're feeling about what he sent you (discouraged, angry, flabbergasted, whichever), but i hope you keep in mind the important work you're doing. you're important, and you're following Christ's leading and, in doing so, being Christ to others.
-third, i got an email from the school in seoul. looks like I'LL BE GOING TO KOREA IN SEPTEMBER!!!
While I'm big on the one step program...to the cross....12 step programs lead people to build something addicts of every stripe lack: DISCIPLINE. A huge part of getting, being, and remaining free is living a disciplined life. Discipline is not the only end of 12 step programs, but that and boundaries are of great importance. If a person can do what 12 step programs do, within their walk with Christ, that's great. Unfortunately, not everyone seems able to do that.
The one thing I'm not crazy about 12 step programs and Christians is a lifelong confession of connections with one's former sins, i.e. "Hi my name is Bob and I'm an alcoholic." Then Bob says, "I haven't had a drink in 30 years." If Bob is born again, then He is free by the grace of God working in his life. I can tell you right now I wouldn't stand before God and say "Hi, I'm so and so, and I'm an alcoholic, sexaholic, or any other kind of "....holic". God seems to be of the impression that His Son's death on a Roman cross is what did the trick, and since He's the judge I wouldn't do anything to contradict Him. I also don't believe one must or should always continue to be part of 12 step groups. Get free by grace and stay free by grace, through 12 step programs if need be. But some folks can and should move on at some point. Recovery, for Christians is not the end of things. There are other things God would like to get us to, so sometimes we need to grow past the need for a program.
A Christian will certainly grow with generic prayer, but I honestly doubt freedom from bondage comes from "generic" expressions of faith. Go to Church, hang out with Christians, study the Bible, pray, but also seek God as to How to apply His word to your particular struggle. God's word really is sharper than any 2 edged sword, and will cut away the sins we suffer from. But like everything else it takes time guidance and practice.
From what little you've said I can't see that what this guy does will in the end be as effective as Celebrate Recovery. He may do well, he may not in the end. Sorry he gave you a headache with his bellyaching.
Lonnie
@Such_Were_You - Good points. Generally I only identify my past struggle with alcoholism when I am talking to people in recovery as a means to connect, or talking to someone with a family member dealing with alcoholism or addiction, somewhat akin to identifying as a cancer survivor, to relate and be able to encourage someone struggling with the same thing. Our Celebrate Recovery program has been a place for people to turn to for the past five years when they are dealing with addiction, alcoholism, either themselves or family memebers, and even if they only come once or twice, it gives them a message of hope for when they are ready to deal with it. I also agree that one can and should move on from 12-step groups or any other type of support group when they are ready, as I did for many years when I just became more involved in church and Christian community.
Thanks for the input, Lonnie.
I hate that people are so closed minded....different things work for different people, there isn't just one right answer.