Stan, When you are dealing with people from different cultures, it is sometimes difficult to relay a message in the words that you, and I, are used to.
One of the major precepts of AA, is that the alcoholic realize that there is a power greater than themselves. Although it is not a church, many AA meetings are held in rooms in churches of all faiths. There is no AA administration, per se. There are a few suggestions in the Big Book, which were put together by the two founders of AA, but other than that, each group has it's own way of handling the meetings. Maybe I didn't make it clear, but I do not attempt to preach to anyone, anywhere. The point I was making, that I do not call the Higher Power by any of the ordinary names for Him. If I said that they must believe in God as their higher power, most of them would dismiss me, like they would any preacher. Most practicing alcoholics are too embarassed to go to any church, and fear rejection. Sometimes, when a person is working, one on one, they have to take different tacks to reach the alcoholic, without making him, or her, leery of what you have to say.
What many Christians, and I guess you, don't think another person can believe in the deity called God, and the savior called Jesus, but cannot be a Christian because they don't believe in the bible. Why not? Even the bible says that all is required is to worship Jesus as their Lord, and Savior, to be a Christian. It also says that "the" church is the entire body of persons that believe in Jesus, and says nothing about building fancy, elaborate, huge, buildings, and calling them churches. Instead of those buildings being a monument to God, they are monuments to men. |
