Reverend Johnny Dragon

I fully intended to write part 2 of my “How Free Do You Wanna Be?” piece, but this one happened instead.  The next blog will be part 2 for the one of you hanging on every word.  The following is a letter I wrote to my Pastor.  Get from it what you will, and throw the rest of it away.

Dear Pastor Steve,

I wanted to let you know that I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Wed. Night Mens meeting, and got a great deal from it.  I also look forward to continuing the study of the material, and the opportunity to become more involved with the church.

I do have some thoughts on a statement you made last night.  You said in reference to AA that they tell you to believe in whatever you want to, and you followed it up with “Gimme a break.”  The old J.D. probably would have gotten up and left at that juncture, and being full of judgment, probably would not have brought his family back to PCC.  This is a strong statement, but bare with me for a moment, and please understand that I say all of these things out of deep respect and love.  Is it possible that your experience with AA and or 12 Step Recovery is minimal, limited, and based on what society believes to be true?  Is it possible that you may have been passing judgment upon an organization in a generalized fashion, just as society passes judgment on the church based on the Pat Robertsons and the Joel Olsteens of the world?  Just some considerations.

Just to clear up some misconceptions about the 12 Steps, I have heard you say they were developed by a pastor.  Not so.  They were written in 1939 by a Stockbroker and a Physician, based on some premises set forth by what was then known as the Oxford Group.  It started with two men and now has over two million members.  It is based on attraction rather than promotion.  No media blitzes allowed.  They are fully self-supporting accepting no outside contributions.  In 1939 they passed a basket with the expectation of each person contributing a dollar.  In 2009 people still contribute that same dollar.  The singleness of purpose is to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.  That’s it.  They do it not as an outreach to the community, but because their personal recovery is contingent upon it.  They do it because they will drink again if they do not give away what was so freely given.

In reference to your point.  Most people who stumble into AA have no real conception of God, but they have a very real experience with what a life run on self will looks like.  Step one is not the admission of a problem, but the understanding that a life run on self will has no power. Steps 2-12 are nothing but God.  Pastor Steve, more people have come back to the church because of AA, than the church has ever directed to AA.  Take the number of people you have counseled over your career who have struggled with addiction.  I am willing to bet that it is only a fraction of the people that are sitting in an AA meeting right now as you read this email.  It is not about believing anything you want, but coming to grips with the fact that you are powerless and something bigger than you has that power to solve the problem.

God used AA or else I would not be a member of PCC.  God used AA or else I would not have my family.  God used AA or else I would not have a personal relationship with Him.  God used AA or I would not be alive to take issue with your statement.  God is Good!  I work with people every day, not because I get a paycheck, not because I am a people person, not because I am trying to buy a seat into heaven, but because that’s what God tells me to do if I expect to maintain this gift of Recovery.  We talked about accepting the miracles of the Old Testament last night.  I have no problem accepting these stories because if God can give me the strength not to drink, then the parting of the Red Sea seems like an easy accomplishment.  I see God working in the rooms of AA with great power and great magnitude.  I see broken Men and Women come back from the depths of darkness and lead lives based on Gods will for them.  Floating axe handles…no biggie.

I appreciate the fact that I feel comfortable enough to share these things with you and hope that I can be of service in any way for the good of the church.  If you have never read the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, then I encourage you to do so.  I would love a chance to discuss it with you.

J.D.

Tags: communicate, fear, Free, God, grace, judgment, love, meditate, pray, Recovery, resistance

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