A Response to a Disciple of Alcoholics Anonymous

By Chad Prigmore

I recently received a couple of emails from a disciple of Alcoholics Anonymous claiming to be Christian, yet defending AA in spite of scriptural refutation exposing it's heresy. I hope this dialogue will prove beneficial for those engaged in exposing the heresy of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps.
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His original email text:

​people in aa or various 12 step groups do not follow bill Wilson....they use the 12 steps...which were written by the first 100 people ...not exclusively bill Wilson are based on SURRENDER TO GOD ...CONFESSION...RESTITUTION...PRAYER...HELPING OTHERS....there is no profit motive...no paid proffessionals....no Ouija boards at the meetings which I have attended for almost 30 years...I am ashamed to say that the honesty and love I have experienced has been more than any evangelical church has given me ....WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME/ 

My response:

​Hi xxxxxx,

I'm curious; how is exposing the heresy of Alcoholics Anonymous persecuting you?
 
As you will see if you read through the posts and articles on our website, AA contradicts the gospel message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. From a biblical perspective AA is blatant heresy and leads millions to a false idea of salvation. That is not persecution towards you, it is just the facts of the matter.
 
I was trapped in the AA cult for over thirteen years and then the Lord opened my eyes to the truth. That was well over eleven years ago and I have learned that I am not diseased and am no longer an alcoholic. I have been set free from the sin of alcoholism.
 
I hope you come to see the truth as well.
 
God Bless,

His response back:

​sir with all due respect....the epistle of james says that faith without works is dead....when I say I am an alcoholic I am saying I am a sinner who is never beyond temptation....interesting you are not opposed to using pharmaceuticals but refer to aa as satanic....the American medical association states that alcoholism is a disease...are you a doctor? the truth may be that the religious establishment may be jealous of aa na ca oa and the millions of people who have been helped.....aa is not a religion but does not oppose anyone from believing in the gospel....no theology .....your message of grace implies we don't have to do anything but believe but what about preach, baptize and make disciples ..is this works?.....the reason the churches let them rent space is because aa is self supporting and pays rent.....aa is not involved in politics and does not pander for money and donations.....maybe some churches could learn from that.....I believe there is a recovery reformation but it is the recovery movement that is reforming the church ..we are everywhere.....aa is not for everyone and  does not oppose  your religious beliefs. Lets not forget youre views on the gospel is your denominational teaching....youre posts sound like medieval inquisitions and are not the views of my Baptist denomination, nor the views of many prominent Christian leaders so who are you speaking for?? ive met many Christians with unresolved addiction issues in aa and have become better Christians after taking the steps. The concepts of one day at a time, amends, forgiveness are in the sermon on the mount but you only talk of grace .....aa also says but for the grace of God.....ive been in chuches and aa since 1988 and have never seen so much support for 12 groups as today......saved by Christ alone ....Christ is the Word and we are to obey His commandments....acts 5 38 should be considered and Gamaliels words have much wisdom for us.

My final response:

In what way does the Epistle of James refer to this issue? Our works are the fruit of our faith which is born of God's grace - but how would that justify the heresy of Alcoholics Anonymous?
 
The way that you explain your identifying yourself as an alcoholic in saying that you are "a sinner who is never beyond temptation" is confusing because you contradict yourself by also pointing out that the American Medical Association states that alcoholism is a disease. According to God's Word drunkenness (alcoholism) is sin, so obviously it is not a disease. Which do you believe - the Bible or the AMA?
 
You claim that I am not opposed to using pharmaceuticals - what gave you that idea? I actually just wrote an article to the contrary: Demonic Oppression Causes - Breaking Through Recovery. 
 
You claim that I refer to AA as Satanic - that is true because I and others who have researched Alcoholics Anonymous and it's teachings and held them up to the light of scripture have come to see that AA is indeed Satanic/demonically inspired and directly contradicts the gospel message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
 
Your claim that the religious establishment may be jealous of AA, NA, CA. OA is so absurd I'm not wasting time addressing it. I will admit that many modern Christian Churches have wondered so far from the gospel that heresies like AA and other twelve step programs are allowed within Church walls without even being questioned. But that does not justify attacking the entire Christian Church which such a generalized unfounded opinion.
 
You make the claim that "aa is not a religion but does not oppose anyone from believing in the gospel...no theology". Then how would you explain the following false gospel claims of forgiveness and salvation from Alcoholics Anonymous' own literature?

On page 58 of "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" a direct insult to and denial of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is made. The claim is made that, "Our moral inventory had persuaded us that all-round forgiveness was desirable, but it was only when we resolutely tackled Step Five that we inwardly knew we'd be able to receive forgiveness and give it, too." 

The Bible says in Acts 4:12,  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The Bible also says in Matthew 26:28, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Bill Wilson and the AA/12 step program insult Jesus Christ by rejecting the truth that Jesus taught in John 14:6 and instead claiming on page 98 of "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" that, "Now and then we may be granted a glimpse of that ultimate reality which is God's kingdom. And we will be comforted and assured that our own destiny in that realm will be secure for so long as we try, however falteringly, to find and do the will of our own Creator."

John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Just how do you reconcile the above contradictions between heresy's from AA's own literature and the Holy Bible?
 
You also state that "your message of grace implies we don't have to do anything but believe but what about preach, baptize and make disciples". Why do you attack me with this claim? What gave you this idea? This accusation has no grounds and is in fact a lie.
 
You claim that AA does not oppose my religious beliefs. Actually, because I am a Christian Alcoholics Anonymous opposes my beliefs directly as is exhibited in their own writings of which two I have listed above. However, there are hundreds of direct contradictions against the Christian gospel in AA's literature.
 
You attack me with the statement, "Lets not forget youre views on the gospel is your denominational teaching". To which denomination are you referring? I happen to be the Pastor of a conservative, evangelical, non-denominational Christian Church. Did you do any research whatsoever before deciding to attack me and my ministry?
 
You also state that, "Christ is the Word and we are to obey His commandments". That is true and is verified in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments". However, if you truly believe that then how do you justify disobeying the command to flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14) yet participate in and actually defend the false religion of Alcoholics Anonymous which teaches it's adherents to worship "A God of their own understanding"? That is blatant idolatry - and that is only one example of many more in AA literature that promotes idolatry. Also, how do you justify disobeying the command to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14) while you attend meetings of AA in which the Lord's prayer is recited in meetings of mostly un-believers as you practice a heretical pagan religion together? In order to be in Alcoholics Anonymous you must disobey the commands of Christ - there is no getting around it.
 
You defend Alcoholics Anonymous as if you worship it as so many others do who have been deceived by it's heresy. 
 
I pray that you will see that I have not offered you opinion but scriptural refutation against the heresy of AA. Now you must decide; will you adhere to Christ and repent of participation in a false religion or continue down a road of error, lies, and destruction? Because AA's heresy ends in eternal destruction.
 
Sincerely,

​Chad Prigmore