Errors of Alcoholics Anonyous: Preaching Another Jesus

1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11: 1-4)

My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?" (AA, pg 12)

In fact, Bill Wilson's suggest was neither novel nor worthy. Men have been choosing their own conceptions of God for centuries, with disastrous results.

Isaiah prophesied against such folly:

"They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship." (Isaiah 46: 6)

Yet the LORD could not have been clearer:

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me," (Isaiah 46: 9)

Anyone who claims that they can work a Twelve Step Program with Jesus as the Higher Power has no full understand of Scripture or the devious designs behind Alcoholics Anonymous.

Paul was not subtle in denouncing the subtlety of Satan, how he brings another Jesus, one who expects a few concessions and rule-keeping from believers in order to receive his blessings.

We are not saved by works, we are not kept saved by works, either:

"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."
(Acts 15: 11)

and

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 8)

We are not perfected, either, by works, but we are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

"9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5:" 9-10)

If Jesus died for our sins, all the more we are saved by His life (not our efforts to live the Christian life)

Paul explained to the Galatians how he lived:

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21)

Paul then took a harsher take with the Galatians, who like many Christians in Twelve Step programs, believe that rule-keeping and program-working can make them perfect in Christ:

"2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3: 2-3)

It's not about our doing more, but our seeing more of Jesus, who is our life:

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)

and

"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-3)

Alcoholics Anonymous is just another religious system which informs us that we must do certain things to be saved or to maintain our holiness in Christ.

The Bible could not be clearer. Jesus is simple. He died on the Cross to rescue us from our sin and to grant His life (and all other blessings) through righteousness and grace.