An Answer to: “Who Are Christian Alcohol
Rehab Centers For?”
Dick B.
Who are Christian alcohol rehab centers for?
It depends upon the Christian.
Many of the early Akron AAs were Christians, just like I
was. But they drank too much, got drunk too much, got in trouble too much, and
just kept doing it like the energizer bunny. Then they formed their daily
Christian Fellowship of pioneer AAs, and they got well!
I went to rehab--after joining AA and having three gran mal
seizures at a meeting and thereafter--because my doctor recommended it. And I'm
very glad I did. I was sick. I was alcoholic. I shook like a leaf. My body hurt
all over. I was confused, fearful, forgetful, and just plain sick. But the
Center wasn't Christian. It detoxed me. It fed me. It chattered on about
denial. And it released me after 30
days. Then. Yes then the trouble started. The wreckage of the past, the higher
powers and nonsense gods of the AA rooms, an inept sponsor, unhelpful talk
about spirituality, and sheer terror.
Finally, after a month of anxiety and shaking, I went to a
VA psych ward. It wasn't Christian. And the anxiety and sickness continued
until I finally turned to God in the fifth week. Life changed. I faced the
music. I helped others. I prayed daily. I read the Bible daily. I tried to
renew my mind daily with a focus on God’s Word and the promises and admonitions
therein. And I dived into A.A. with the attitude that it was God who was my
sufficiency.
Now suppose A.A. had been Christian or the treatment center
had been Christian or the psych ward had been Christian!
Who would they be
for? Someone like me.
But, in my opinion, could only be called Christian if, and in
the sense that, they: (1)
Believed in and taught about God, His Son Jesus Christ, and
the Bible. (2) Believed God can cure alcoholism if sought. (3) Taught about
what God can do for those who seek Him in accordance with His will. (4) Taught
the Christian that there was no condemnation for those who walked by the spirit
and not after the flesh. (5) Taught that the Christian who wanted to prove that
good and perfect and acceptable will of God by renewing his mind to God's Word
and not conforming to the world would achieve vistory, prosperity, and health.
(6) Emphasized the daily Christian walk of the Apostles, the early Akron
Christian AAs, and those who truly yearned
to become new creatures in Christ and put everything in the walk of
love.
Can this be? Our International Christian Recovery Coalition
is devoted to telling that story to clergy, recovery pastors, treatment
programs, physicians, therapists, Christian recovery fellowships, Christian
counselors, Christian intervenors, Christian hospitals, and any 12 Step person
or fellowship that wants God's help.
God Bless, Dick B., Exec Dir of International Christian
Recovery Coalition. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Gloria Deo
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