Is AA for Christians??

[serina]

As some of you know I have been on here for awhile talking about my struggle to put the past behind me. I began drinking in my late teens through late twenties. I went to rehab and was "around" AA for a couple of years but never "worked the steps". I stayed sober on my own but have been depressed all that time. I am now in my mid-30's. I have struggle to ever find a place in a church b/c of my past and my very legalistic religious upbringing in "christian" schools and churches....which I rebelled against.

I started seeing a christian counselor earlier this year. I can't say that it has really helped a great deal. I have been debating going back to AA to see if that could help me move on from the past. I went to AA all this week then met with my counselor today.

It seemed obvious to me that she has issues with the AA way. Last week she proposed to me that it didn't sound liek I was/had been alcohol dependent but more "abuse". however, we had not talked about my drinking days in detail in previous sessions.

This week when I told her i had been going she said she wondered if i was trying to find something to hang my depression on. She said she thinks the 12 steps are a good thing and she knows they work for alot of people. She doesn't agree with labeling yourself as an "alcoholic" for the rest of your life and letting that be the identity that you build your life on. She said some people make that their whole identity. She said that at some point you have to either allow Jesus to remove that from you or not. She said that he removes everything from us and we don't have to identify ourselves that way.

Now im just even more confused. i didn't go to the meeting tonight, even though i told my sponsor i was probably going. im still back and forth on this. i hesitate to let myself really embrace AA and make that my whole life if you know what i mean. i see people that have years of recovery and go every night....like my sponsor and her husband. on the other hand i can't seem to find a place where i belong and have been able to make friends. i struggle so much with depression. im just so tired and wanting desperately to find solutions. i know some of you go to AA and are christians as well so i wanted to get your input on this matter. do you feel comfortable being a Christian and a member of AA? How do you keep from letting AA become your identity. Do you believe God removes "alcoholism" from you when you become a Christian.

I have prayed the sinners prayer to ask God to forgive me and live in me. I just still feel so much depression, anxiety, and fear....I still feel so much unworthiness and guilt over my past and things I did during those drinking years. Am I doing something wrong? Do I feel this way b/c I just won't let go of it myself? I pray for God to show me a sign of the right thing to do and how to relieve this depression and guilt/fear but unless I'm overlooking something I don't know what to do.

Have others struggled with this? I know I should go to church as well but have felt so out of place when visiting...but I'm going to visit again. i had hoped my christian counselor was going to give me more tangible things to do like prayers or scripture but she just explained the concept of "grace" and like move on.....but i still wake to the depression and guilt.

[best]

Any Christian or any person for that matter can return to a sin from their past by making a wrong choice. I am no longer under a burden of alcohol. I have no desires to drink but I also know that if I make a choice to drink again I would return to my old ways might fast. I don't label myself as an alcoholic for my benefit, I will label myself as an alcoholic so others may better understand that I have been there and done that and know what is what from what I have experienced.
Her opinion of AA... What would she say about Celebrate Recovery or Alcoholics Victorious? Both groups are Christian based step programs.
In my opinion... AA or any other program that helps me grow is worth putting in my tool box for getting and staying sober.
Fully rely on God daily and use what ever tools are available that work is how I do things. God can have me be a tool that helps another and He can have another be His tool that helps me. Such support can be found both inside and outside the church walls. I can adjust what is found so it will match up with what I find in God's word and thus use it to bring God glory. Yes AA can be for Christians.

[caileesnana]

AA is actually based on biblical principals. Proverbs 29, I think, preacher spoke on it Sunday. To get others involved, they call it the HP or "of your understanding". I still prefer to call him by name, God.

[GlassPrisoner]

Asking God to remove the alcoholism would be presuming His will.

In the seventh step, we ask God to remove "every single defect of character that stands in the way of (me) being of service to God and to my fellow man". He doesn't remove them all.....

Besides, if your not an alcoholic, how are you going to help other alcoholics ?

AA is a very spiritual program, it's principles were derived in part from a very hard core traditional Christian bunch called The Oxford Group. There is nothing in the 12 steps that counter Christianity, quite the opposite, they compliment each other quite nicely.

Surrender, Faith, Confession, Repentance, Service....Do these sound familiar ?

[cmc]

serina,
What qualifications does your Christian counselor have? I would not feel comfortable with a 'counselor' who has such a limited and frankly unscientific view of the disease of alcoholism.
I would hope you would seek out a licensed individual who has training in addictions and alcoholism rehabilitation. If I had a drinking problem I would dive into AA head first, gung ho...why?...because it works and IS based on Christian principles.
I'm a codependent but often got more help by attending open AA meetings than I did from my Alanon meetings. (Not that I don't love Alanon)
I've had 'counseling' in church by some very nice people, who love the Lord, mean well and know the Bible...but they did not have the proper training. I have also had counsel by people with degrees in mental health and psychology...who really helped me and my family. I would rather have a professional when it comes to my life and well being, for the same reason that I don't hire a Christian who knows a little bit about plumbing to fix my sink, even if the counseling is free.. especially when it: 1. doesn't help you 2. causes harm 3. prevents you from seeking real help
btw...I don't need to know your reasons for seeking counseling in the first place but there are plenty of people in AA who get sober without it.

[Grasshopper]

Hi,no need to be confused.You say--i cant say that it has really helped a great deal.
Go with what you know,deep inside.Pray and ask for Gods Will.You have a drive inside to go to AA,,simply go.Counselors guide,offer suggestions,.Your counselors--beliefs--are not in harmony with your own.You have nothing to lose by attending AA.If this doesnt work out for you,you can try another path.Your free to make decisions,.
My prayers are with you.