Examining Treatment Dynamics at Church and AA Meetings
Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Diverse Paths to Recovery and Spiritual Renewal
The illustration
An alcoholic friend of Philip Yancey supposedly said, “When I’m late to church, people turn around and stare at me with frowns of disapproval. I get the clear message that I’m not as responsible as they are. When I’m late to AA, the meeting comes to a halt, and everyone jumps up to hug and welcome me. They realize my lateness may be a sign that I almost didn’t make it. When I show up, it proves that my desperate need for them won out over my desperate need for alcohol.”1
The idea
No Christian wants the above story to be accurate, but most know it expresses more truth than we would ever want to admit. So consider with me:
Our churches should be more welcoming and inclusive, especially of newcomers.
Let’s not judge anyone who attends, but accept them as they are. When I was a kid, we sang a hymn that said, “Just as I am.” Let’s act like that is true.
Befriend the new person as soon as possible.
We all come to the cross with the same problem as much as any alcoholic ever went to an AA meeting. We were sinners in desperate need of a Savior. I know none of us want to act like the Pharisees.
Let’s acknowledge our problem so we can fix it. We are great at celebrating before and after stories, but struggle with supporting people during their struggles.
Let’s focus not on outward appearance or perceived perfection, but on how we can support and accept people.
Let’s welcome the most poverty-stricken to the sin-stricken to the rich and famous. Make them feel the warmth. Ask them to sit with you and tell them they belong from the beginning.
Reminder
People who go to AA are hurting and vulnerable, so they seek anonymity. They share their struggles, and everyone makes them welcome.
Come on, shouldn’t that be the story in our church?
Let’s break the mold, quit looking for people that conform to our expectations, and be about helping people, reaching lost people, and seeing the good news of Jesus Christ transform their lives.
Let’s be intentional about reaching out. Let’s be more friendly than just welcoming them to church and get involved in their lives. People are already hurting, and the church should be the place they come to heal, not get embarrassed and further hurt.
Let’s open up to people and let them share their struggles, knowing we, too, are vulnerable and available.
Say no to judging.
Be excited to help. Remember, “such were some of you.”
Get Victory over Bitterness
Pain to Praise is not a traditional guide or textbook, but your personal invitation to walk beside me as I navigate my own turbulent journey of personal pain and forgiveness.
After experiencing deep hurt, I became enveloped by my suffering—it shaped my identity and controlled my life. This book, however, focuses on a path of recovery and renewal, guided gently by the Holy Spirit.
Through heartfelt storytelling and open sharing, I offer this book as a companion for anyone confronting their own pain. It's an exploration of how forgiveness can profoundly change our lives by transforming bitterness into a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connections with others.
Here’s what you can expect to gain from our journey together:
Insight into the process of forgiving, learning to let go, and moving forward.
Strategies to reclaim your identity beyond your past hurts.
Encouragement from shared experiences, promoting healing through community and faith.
Clarity and guidance, focusing on the role of the Holy Spirit in the healing process.
Embark with me on this less-traveled road—a path toward forgiving others and, perhaps most crucially, ourselves. As we travel this path together, let this book be a source of comfort and inspiration, reminding you that you are not alone and that true healing is within reach.
Indeed a Christ like soulwinning heart,is kind in care of others. Thank you so much