Resentment, Frustration, and Now Exhilaration

It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. (AA, pg 66)

Of the many lies, distortions, and half-truths which I have read, this passage contains one of the most glaring and damaging.

I cannot write how much and how long this "insight" incited nothing but frustration and anger for me growing up as a child and still struggling as an adult.

People used to make me mad. They really frustrated me.

I never really understood why.

Now I see that this "Big Book" was founded on nothing by "bigger lies", one of which includes the empty notion that "resentment" is a serious issue which we must get rid of, or else we will drink again, or we will cut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.

Yes, this passage is a bold-faced, stereotyped, faulty, foolish, empty, evil lie.

In Christ, we cannot be cut off ever from God:

"Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 55: 13)

and then

"Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 56: 5)

This passages come from the Old Testament, all prophesies of the work that Jesus accomplished on the Cross for all mankind.

The New Testament:

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6: 37)

and

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (Hebrews 10: 29)

and

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)

"Never" there translates the Greek ""Ou me", which means "by no means", "no way at all", "not in the least of the slightest." In short -- we can never be cut off or forsaken or lost of let aside or cast off ever.