Conference yukon::christian_v7

    My ex-husband was alcoholic and has been sober now for 14 months. 
    This sobriety is a direct result of *his* desire to be sober along with
    Alcoholics Anonymous' program.
    
    Alcoholics Anonymous is useless unless the individual is truly read to
    face their own failures.  
    
    But I would suggest that you attend an Al Anon meeting, which is for
    friends and families of alcholics... there are some very good things
    that you can do to help your friend get well.
    
    Love in Him,
    Nancy

>                        <<< Note 669.0 by KENS::KENS >>>
>                      -< Christian Alcoholic in trouble >-

>I'd like to hear about other experiences like this. Does AA help?
>Is there any conflict between AA and Christian faith? I know this
>is potentially a very sensitive topic so if you would rather mail
>me at KENS::KENS I will respect your confidentiality.

    Ken,

    I don't if this will help, but...

    My mother-in-law's husband is a former alcoholic.  There are different
    understandings by Christians as to whether drinking alcoholic beverages
    is a sin or not.  However, he said something to me one time, "I don't
    think that drinking is a sin.  However, for me to take a drink WOULD be
    a sin."  Perhaps this person needs to look at their drinking as a sin
    against God.

    I hope that doesn't open up a can of worms.

    My wife's father was also an alcoholic and I remember visiting him one
    time.  He related to us his experiences with AA at the time.  He was
    attending meetings regularly and was doing quite well in stopping his
    drinking habit.  My problem with AA is that it is approached from a
    very neutral religious perspective.  They speak very freely about a
    higher power, but keep it neutral to the point that the higher power
    could be God or it could be mother nature.  I think that a Christian
    who is struggling with alcohol might be better to find a Christian
    biblically based AA equivalent.

    Ron

    Ken,
    
    I'll be praying for your friend.  My mother is a recovered alcoholic
    and I was personally delivered from drugs when I became a Christian, so
    I can definitely relate.
    
    Note 604 gives some excellent material on "Grace and Addictions".
    
    Love in Him,
    
    Bing

    I double the recommendation on 604! :-)
    
    

    
    Hi Ken,
    
    My best friend is a recovered alcoholic.  We've talked about AA
    quite a bit.  As Ron mentioned there is some issue concerning
    AAs neutral stance on God.  I use to struggle with this.  However,
    AA is founded on christian principles.  I think the key is finding
    a christian sponsor who can be understand not only their alcoholism
    but their faith and where it's placed.  I mean will someone whose
    higher power is a doorknob really be a help your friend.  I would 
    think that a christian counselor would be able to help your friend 
    make that connection if she wants to.  
    
    Also, I think it's important for God to be who is relied on in
    recovery, not the meetings or the sponsor.  My friend has been 
    sober for about 5 years now and hasn't gone to a meeting in 
    probably a year and a half.  He was amazed though at how many 
    people had just swapped the meetings for the drinking.  
    
    My prayers for your friend.
    
    Jill

    Ken,
    
    My mother just celebrated 12 years of sobriety in AA.
    For her, it worked, but she was in AA 8 years before she was
    sober for a whole year.
    
    I personally was delivered from a drinking problem shortly
    after I accepted Jesus.  I didn't use AA - God just changed me!
    

    My mother was an alcolholic and never did recover. She refused help
    from anyone and would find any possible way to get the drink!
    
    She died, in her sleep, after being up all night drinking a mixture of
    gin and vodka straight.. She drank nearly an entire 5th. 
    
    She was involved at the church, but never asked for help....
    
    Bob
    

    Hello Ken.
    
    I could not help reply to the plight of your friend. If ever there was
    a paradox...the Born again Christian with an alcohol problem...
    
    I am a Christian, but that does not make me perfect. I believe all
    Christians will struggle against thier own addictions or skeletons in
    the closet...I believe it is supposed to be that way , like a test, if
    you like of your faith. Your friend is being tested. If she is a
    Christian then she alone knows that she wants to defeat the habit,and
    in that case she needs to pray, and not to give up. She must try not to
    get annoyed with the Lord, because her despair will only deepen her
    plight.
    
    I am not a Christian who abstains from Alcohol. I do not beleive that a
    bottle of wine shared between my Christian wife and I is a sin in
    itself. The abuse of anything at the expense of your faith would be
    sin. Other Christians will disagree with me, and I respect that.
    
    The point I am trying to make here is that your friend has a terrible
    struggle to face. She needs the prayers and gentle support of other
    Christians.
    
    I will pray for her tonight !
    
    regards,
    
    Colin