Many professing Christians are in A.A. or other 12 Step programs. Many churches actually host these meetings.
In The Fall of the Evangelical Nation, author Christine Wicker credits Alcoholics Anonymous with “hastening the fall of the evangelical church.” Wicker notes how A.A. “slowly exposed people to the notion they could get [a god] without the dogma, the doctrine, and the outdated rules. Without the church, in fact.” (pgs. 133-138) (emphasis mine)
While A.A. has been the primary means of changing our cultural understanding of God, A.A. and other 12 Step programs have also weakened the visible church. It has been spiritually harmful to believers.
And to unbelievers. Since the twelve steps have nothing to do with Christ, neither sin nor biblical repentance is addressed. This, of course, is very appealing to the flesh. The Steps address “wrongs,” “making amends,” and “moral inventory,” but one inserts one’s own moral code within the context of these Steps. Because of these Steps, millions believe they are right with “god” and man.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, most Christians experience a transference of faith. The twelve-step experience often becomes an idol. It is not uncommon to speak with Christians who are more concerned with “recovery” than sanctification and who demonstrate a preference for A.A. rather than the fellowship with the saints.
Many Christians who are 12 Step members therefore have a hybrid form of faith. How could it be otherwise? We are warned not to spiritually join with unbelievers. (2 Cor 6:14-17)
Had biblical Christians in the 1930s and 1940s actually known what A.A. co-founders Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith were involved with, it is likely the 12 Steps would never have permeated the Body of Christ.
“[It] might be said for the cofounders at least, A.A. was entangled with spiritualism from the very beginning.” –Matthew J. Raphael, Bill W. and Mr. Wilson, pg. 159
A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson documented a number of his experiences, including the one below:
“The ouija board began moving in earnest. What followed was the fairly usual experience-it was a strange melange of Aristotle, St. Francis, diverse archangels with odd names, deceased friends–some in purgatory and others doing nicely, thank you! There were malign and mischievious ones of all descriptions telling of vices quite beyond my ken, even as former alcoholics. Then, the seemingly virtuous entities would elbow them out with messages of comfort, information, advice—and sometimes just sheer nonsense.” (PASS IT ON, A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson’s official A.A. biography, pg. 278) (emphasis mine)
“There shall not be found among you…a medium or a spiritist or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, 12)
“It is not clear when [Bill Wilson] first became interested in extrasensory phenomena; the field was something that Dr. Bob and Anne Smith were also deeply involved with. Whether or not Bill initially became interested through them, there are references to seances and other psychic events in the letters Bill wrote to Lois [his wife] during that first Akron summer with the Smiths, in 1935.” –PASS IT ON, pg.275 (emphasis mine)
Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them; (Ephesians 5:11)
Alcoholism has destroyed millions. Sadly, A.A. has been portrayed as the only possible way to overcome addiction. This is simply not so. The “higher power” definition of God is far from biblical. (Isaiah 42:8) A.A. has unholy roots, and the tree, spiritually speaking, is rotten. Too many in the church do not want to acknowledge this.
The Word Like Fire 