http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-8k 11-18-14- Me Teaching at NeWay
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-Y Radio show 705- have to
listen with Internet explorer browser only [it’s a Wave file]
WEDNESDAY-
The video
for this week was one of the ‘spur of the moment’ teachings- that I said I
would do every so often.
There was a
new guy in the group- he’s from Canada and said he was here in Texas doing
street ministry.
I don’t doubt
him- not 100% at least.
He said he
has studied the bible in its original languages for many years- and seemed to
know some stuff.
After I shut
the video off- I took questions- it seems as if the brother had some
questionable stuff- which is ok- that’s why I’m there.
I did my
best to try and get some of his beliefs on track- and did some church history-
ways we understand scripture.
He kept
asking me what the original sin was- I did talk about the creation story
somewhat.
I said they
disobeyed God [don’t eat from the tree of knowledge] and the bible says sin is
the transgression of the law- meaning- they disobeyed what God told them
[simple?]
I did my
best- he had a few other questions- sort of along the lines of a test.
If I may be
so bold- I do know this stuff- and he seemed a bit off.
I found out
later that he believed- from the original ‘languages’- that the sin was Eve had
sex with the Serpent.
Ok- after I
left the meeting I went to visit another friend- he also is involved with
ministry- good guy- don’t get me wrong- I like these brothers.
Sure enough-
he ‘taught’ the same thing.
When I was
in North Bergen- yeah- this same question came up.
Ok- do the
‘original languages’ say this?
No- that’s
the problem.
This belief
does exist- like many others- in some other writings- but these were rejected
by the church early on- as a matter of fact a guy at Timons had some questions
about the ‘DaVinci code’- again- I taught the same thing.
Saying ‘just
because a belief has been around- for a while- and you might find it in some
very early documents [2nd, 3rd century Gnostic writings] - yet- this
does not mean they are valid’.
The Canadian
‘preacher’ was at the mission today with a few other friends.
Normally I
would take the guys with me- spend the day doing stuff- but to be honest- I
stopped doing that- they saw.
What’s the
problem here?
All 3 of
these friends should be working- and in the old days I did do stuff with them-
but no more.
I’m a
retired fire fighter- I can- with a clear conscience- spend the day doing
ministry.
But- if you
are on the streets- doing ministry- and bumming cigarettes [yes- when I first
met the brother- he is in the meeting on this week’s video- I told him ‘hope you’re
not offended- but I smoke’- sure enough- he bummed one from me]!
The point-
all the guys I was with today- yes- doing some ministry stuff- yet- they should
have all been working- not looking for a day to just hang out.
This is
indeed one of the changes I have made- and I think it’s best for all of us.
NOTE- In
scripture- stealing- lying- ‘sinning’ in general- well- is bad.
Now- I’m no
‘saint’ [well actually I am- in the bible this word refers to all believers- it
means ‘sanctified ones’].
But I
noticed a funny thing- since I made some changes.
At the Coffee
shop- sometimes I leave the laptop inside- and go out to smoke- a nice sitting
area.
I always
felt uncomfortable doing it- because if I did this with some of the ‘old crew’
it would be gone.
So- I have
had to ‘learn’ not being around people who will steal- again- and again- and
ag…
The other
day- just as I was getting comfortable with it- I walked back inside and went
to my chair- sure enough- my stuff was gone!
I asked Alex
‘I think someone stole my stuff’- does that happen?
He went up
to the cashier- and before he could ask- I realized I was at the wrong chair-
my stuff was at another spot.
I never
realized how this affected me- and how it affects everybody.
Today at the
mission a friend said someone stole the keys to his car- his wife was upset
[they live on the streets].
He told his
wife ‘look- what do you expect- we all do it to each other’.
It’s sad- I
love all my friends- but I have felt for a while that things needed to change.
The friend
who stole 2 packs of cigarettes from my glove compartment one day- I had him in
the car a few weeks later.
I asked him
to get something out of my glove compartment [I started locking it- but it was unlocked
this day].
He opened it
up- I forgot I had a pack in there.
As soon as
he saw it- jokingly- he grabbed it and- without even realizing he was actually
doing it as a joke- but I could see it was a ‘natural reflex’-
He acted
like he was going to steal it.
I don’t
think many of these friends realize that unless this lifestyle changes- they
will never get anywhere in life.
THURSDAY-
I’m going to do something right now- that I never planned on doing again.
What’s that?
Write a bit more
about AA/NA.
The main
reason I did not want to write on this subject anymore- is because I never was
really ‘in the program’- in the sense that I never did a step.
I never had
a sponsor- but only attended some meetings early on- and did read the big book.
Now- why
write then?
Good
question.
One of the
changes that I felt needed to be made- in my ‘transition’ season that I have
been writing about- was I felt in all good conscience that I can’t be
affiliated with previous ministries- for a few reasons- but one is they are
strong in AA- to the point where at times I see many ‘cultic’ signs in some of
the people I associate with.
What do you
mean Cultic?
Since I’ve
been back in Texas- I have had friend’s relapse- again- and they start the
whole routine over ‘John- I called my sponsor and…’.
Ok- if
that’s the track you feel you need to be on- fine.
But if after
30 years- and the track never lead to anywhere [in around 90% of the cases-
this is true. The latest statistic I read was the success rate is about 10%-
many in the movement do not know this- because they do not read the most up to
date data on addiction- many feel it is in a way wrong to be informed about the
issue].
So- even
though I am now clean for almost 2 years- yet- in a sense- when I run into some
old friends still in the movement- and not clean themselves [many are addicted
to prescription pills- and some use pills that are not prescribed to them- yet
they still count their clean date from the last time they drank a beer].
It’s almost
like trying to escape a cult- they view all of life thru the paradigm of AA/NA-
which is a danger sign.
These are
all good people- and when I first started writing on AA I did not want to side
track those who are finding help thru it- the 7-10 % of success stories.
But- there
are the other 90 %- who still need help- and often times the relapse is indeed
because they are in a legalistic bondage to AA/NA.
I’ve taught
on this a lot- and this is the basis of Christianity [many of the videos I’m making
deal with this- the freedom from a system- the law- and having a new life in
Christ- not focused on some system- that’s the heart of the New Covenant].
So- even
though I have determined to try and cut all ties with the movement- in some
ways those who are in it- however well intended- seem to take a cultic
approach.
If you
attempt to keep a relationship- with others in the movement- you are viewed as
needing to ‘get with the program’.
I fear many
of the well meaning people in the movement do not see the danger.
When I was
in N.J.- not this last time- but about 2 years ago.
The last
meeting I went to there was a speaker [note- I do realize you are not supposed
to talk about what was said in the meetings- let me say- I am not in AA- and I
am trying my best to not step on too many toes here- one of the aspects of a
cult is you do not talk about what’s going on in their meetings- so- when I
share the things I learned- it’s so we can all benefit- I also realize the
reason people do not share is so they can be anonymous- which is ok- I get it].
So- one of
the last meetings I went to- there was a guest speaker.
As he spoke-
he said he wished he could live his life without being in a never ending
process of depending upon meetings- sponsors- the whole thing.
He described
it as a sort of bondage-
But he said
because he was an addict- he can never have a normal life- being free from addiction-
unless he did this- for the rest of his life.
I didn’t say
anything- and maybe he was having a bad day.
But his own
testimony- from his mouth- was what I already began seeing at the time.
The fact is-
the free gift of grace- does indeed free us from focusing our lives around overcoming
addiction- that was indeed the great break thru of the Cross- that God would
set us free- for FREE [meaning you do not have to focus your life around a
system to be free- Paul the apostle taught in Romans 7 that if you do try
harder to keep the law [any program that you think you need to follow to be
free] that it actually strengthens the sin [addiction]. This is what is indeed
happening in many of the 90% of those who are relapsing].
NOTE- When I
read other literature on addiction recovery- just to broaden my understanding-
I did not realize that there were many others who saw major flaws with AA/NA-
many of these alternative approaches were developed because of some of the
stuff I mentioned above.
Any movement-
must in time be open to new things- and I have had people tell me that AA/NA
was given by God to Bill W- and because it was given- by God- that’s why it
‘rarely’ fails for those who do it.
But it does
fail- often-
And it’s ok
to say this- it needs to be said-
But if your
view is because it is a God given program- that man never had before- then you
become a defender of a movement- much like a cult defends their beliefs- this
is happening with many in the movement.
Some of the
teaching that I did recently dealt with the SEX issue- how in the bible
adultery [any sex outside marriage- even Porn addiction] is considered very
serious.
The bible
says ‘drunkards- adulterers- etc.’ will not inherit the kingdom.
Now- if you’re
in AA/NA just to try and get free from a substance- that’s your prerogative.
But- in the
biblical teaching- if you are ‘under’ [meaning sponsor type thing] people who
do practice sexual sin- then those under you will never get free- from the
thing the leader is in bondage to.
That’s a biblical principle.
[I have had
many friends tell me that the porn/sex problem is one they cannot overcome- yet
they stopped using substances- they do not realize the biblical principle I am
writing about now- they need to know this- or the train will never stop]
I was
invited to an AA celebration last year- I was told ‘you might not want to go-
they are all renting rooms already- to sleep with each other’.
The person
knew I would have a problem with that.
I said ‘what
you have is hedonism- without the alcohol’.
Now- if
that’s what you want- fine.
But Christians
in the movement are submitting to sponsors- if they are involved in this- that
the bible teaches you should not submit to.
Because the
sex issue- in scripture- is just as bad [or worse] if done outside of marriage-
as the substance.
The biblical
principle is you can’t help others- if you’re in bondage yourself.
I often tell
people ‘look- if you want help quitting smoking- I can’t help you’.
Why?
Because I
smoke.
I wrote in the past that I felt the underlying
issue to most addicts is lust- The BIBLE says ‘we have escaped the corruption that
is in the world THRU LUST’.
If you are
in a fellowship- that actively practices lust- you will never get free from it-
and many of the people who have overcome drugs and drink thru the program- do
indeed struggle with lust- porn- adultery.
Why?
Because of
what I just told you- the bible is a higher authority than man- and any
movement that allows you to develop your own conscience on sex- leads to a
bondage- if at the end of your ‘sex inventory’ you come to a conclusion that is
not compatible with scripture- which is God given.
This past month
those of you who have followed my journey- you’ll notice some of the verses and
old radio quotes dealt with the issue of how should believers relate to those
living in sin.
I tried to
strike a balance between being ‘in the world’ yet not of it.
I mentioned
that in the letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul did say to have no
fellowship with the brother who was in sexual sin- because his sin was open-
and accepted.
Yet- in the
‘world’ you will have people who are living in all types of situations- and
it’s ok to have ‘friends’ that are sinners.
Jesus was
called ‘a friend of sinners’.
Now- the problem
with joining with a group/fellowship that practices sexual sin [not all- but
many- and I covered in previous posts that the movement has decided to take no
stand against adultery- in the big book I gave you the section that left that
open-and I have known people in the movement that said when they did their
sexual inventory that their conscience permitted various sexual sins that
scripture forbids].
Now- I’m not
nit-picking here- the point I’m making is if a believer puts himself under the
authority of a movement/sponsor- that permits sexual sin [which is very
different then someone who struggles with sin- yet does not condone it].
Then they
are violating the mandate to not be unequally yoked together- meaning when you
voluntarily submit to the leadership of a person- or movement- that permits
this- you are indeed violating scripture- in this area.
I read a
book from some pastors who were pro AA.
At the time
I too was ‘pro’ AA- until I saw some of these things.
In my time
in AA- there was more than one occasion that I knew of younger kids- struggling
with porn- who were getting advice/sponsorship from men who themselves permitted
it- they told me that to them it was not a sin.
Yet- the
younger ones they sponsored did not know they were under the ‘covering’ of men
who practiced the same thing [as far as I know].
There was a
very respected older man- in his 70’s- who is well known around the country for
having brought many to sobriety thru AA.
One day I was working with a person from the
streets- and I mentioned how I thought the sex issue- being openly practiced-
was a problem.
I later
found out that this highly respected older man- well did the same thing [I
can’t explain it all- but the girl knew the man].
I said ‘I
can’t believe it’!
The person
told me that he’s just a leader in AA- and it’s not ministry.
Now- that
might be ‘ok’ if your not a Christian- but if churches and pastors are
‘partaking’ of a movement that permits a very serious sin- bondage- and many
young men in the movement are seeking deliverance from this very thing [lust-
porn- etc.].
Then the
church leaders need to re-examine their support- because if they are
recommending to join a ‘fellowship’ that permits this- then in my view they are
violating the scripture in the area of not associating [or at least
recommending] a movement that permits this.
Now- this is
not a critique of others who are just in the movement to get free from
drugs/alcohol- this is a Christian based view that I feel is scriptural.
In essence-
church leaders are telling their people to submit to leadership- that is in
violation of the scripture willingly- openly- and not ‘repenting’- like the
Corinthian brother.
And many of
the younger [older] leaders in the movement practice sexual sin- because they
permit it.
This is much
different than working with people struggling to overcome sin- but know it is
wrong.
The sinning
brother at the church of Corinth was engaged in sexual sin- and was open about
it- he saw nothing wrong with it.
That indeed
is the position of many in the movement- those they sponsor WILL NEVER GET FREE
from a lifestyle that the leadership condones- Do you now see?
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