Expert: Phillip Senn - 3/2/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello and thankyou for t my question. I am a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. What I am wondering is this: In AA we are taught that we have to believe in a power greater than ourselves to get us sober. I personally believe in Jesus Christ and have stayed sober. What I am wondering why God honors the request to stay sober for people in my group who pray to Allah and gods other than the real God? A friend of mine told me that God is not  honoring their god, but honoring the fact that they at least searching for the truth = even though they are "Stuck," on this lesser truth. Is that the answer or is there some other answer? Thankyou

ANSWER: Pete,

Because AA is a secular organization, it cannot endorse any particular "diety". The process of using a higher power concept can fit into any religion, and therefore, into any religious experience that leads someone to rely upon an inner strength to maintain control of their actions, whether drinking alcohol, or some other addition.

Many trust Christ Jesus to help them "get clean" from vices, but have never trusted Him to ensure their home in Heaven. One of Satan's greaest tools to deceive man, is to cause that person, that has only used Christ to help them get better, to think because he/she is in better shape, they must be okay with God.

Many "gods" can be used to "get clean" outwardly. Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ is capable of "washing away sin". The punishment for sin is not "getting clean". The punishment for sin is death. That is why Jesus had to die on the cross at Calvary. He didn't die to make us better, but to give us life, and to give it more abundantly.

Just because we are "clean" from wrong doings, there is always a possibility that we will return to the wrong doings we once did. Even the one who has trusted Christ for Eternal Life, can still fall into sin. That person who has trusted Christ for Eternal Life is set free from the guilt of sin, yet may fail to honor the Lord in that area of his/her life where they are weakest. They still are secure in Christ, but because they are His children, He works to direct them and bring them again to a point of cleansing. The Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, etc, do not have that. They only have outward cleansing, but Jesus Christ works on the heart, and brings cleansing within. Remember the story Jesus told of the Pharisees, who had the outside of the cup clean, but inwardly were filthy. At least a believer in Christ is able to trust that, despite their failures and sins, God, the Father, because of their faith in Christ, sees them as a holy child of God.

I hope this helps to understand how a person can be clean, but still not have their confidence in the true and living God.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: you had said that people are able to harness an "Inner strength" that helps them get clean. The whole concept of AA is that we are NOT able to do that without the aid of a "Higher Power" A God in other words. I know that these people are not getting clean on the outside from just their unaided will and so it has to be Christ who is helping them - I just dont understand why he would if they  are worshipping false gods

Answer
Pete,

Please accept my apology for not responding earlier. I thought I had responded, but apparently hit the wrong button.

God does help people that are not His children. I know He protected me even when I was not a believer. He does this, according to Scripture, so that his goodness "leadeth to repentance". Men do have an inner strength that God has placed within every man. "A measure of grace" is how the Word of God describes it. It is God's means of expressing Himself through man, even when they are not believers. It is not a saving grace until they place their faith in Him. It may provide escape from many things in life, but it cannot provide escape from Hell. It is God's grace, nonetheless.

I agree that these men and women are not getting clean from their unaided will. God aids them to bring them to repentance. That is where you and I must be witnesses of Him. Many without Christ are able to escape the addictions, but they must hear of Christ to escape the fires of hell. If they reject Him, we must remain faithful to declare Him as God's only means of true salvation.

As I said before, satan is a deceiver, and would have men/women think they are right with God simply because they have overcome a particular addiction. Their greater need is to escape eternal punishment in hell. If satan can convince them that they are okay, they will never see a need to trust Christ. We must be diligent.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn