Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Errors of Alcholics Anonymous: Reviewing the Past

"Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead. We must take the lead. A remorseful mumbling that we are sorry won't fill the bill at all. We ought to sit down with the family and frankly analyze the past as we now see it, being very careful not to criticize them." (AA, pg. 83)

The Bible, in Old and New Testaments, urges us not to dwell on the past, but rest in the eternal, unmerited favor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old." (Isaiah 43: 18)

In the New Testament, Paul exhorts his fellow believers not to dwell in the past:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

Alcoholics Anonymous does not teach the "New Creation" experience, but treats the spiritual awakening of an alcoholic as a mere transformation of the mind. Man is dead in his trespasses. He needs more than a mere jolt to his brain cells. As New Creatures in Christ, there is no need to rehash the past, nor do we have to live in regret or fearful recrimination of the future:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

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