September 2017 I dont agree with Rick Warren on a lot of things but this program works and the HolybSpirit uses those scriptures to deal with people. Commentary, stories, and side notes have been added. The concept of God as a Higher Power of our own understanding put forward by Bill Wilson in the Twelve Steps is blasphemy. Over the years we adopted a 12-step model. The Egyptians at the Red Sea believed in Gods existence and power. God taught us this way back in Psalm 51 where David, repenting of his sin with Bathsheba said, Against You [God], You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. God is the first, last, and ultimate object of our sin. Hi Ashley, The reasoning you gave seems very legalistic to me. The indwelling Holy Spirit is a sign, seal, and guarantee of our salvation, and salvation does not take place without the repentance of sin and placing ones faith in Christ. This Good News capital G, capital N? Baker, John, and Richard Warren. (2) Though claiming to be Christian based, its theology often clashes with sound Christian theology. So that you can study what Gods word actually says in comparison to those well known 12 steps. 1 John 4:5, You adulterous people! Notice Johnny Baker (son of founder John Baker) and his wife Jeni start with the typical AA introduction: Johnny: Hi, Im Johnny and (rather than and Im an alcoholic) I struggle with Jeni: Hi Johnny!. Continue reading, 12-step program, Addiction, Alcoholics Anonymous, Beatitudes, Celebrate Recovery, Context, Eisegesis, Eric Davis, Exegesis, Healing, Hermeneutics, John Baker, Matthew 5:3-12, Recovery, Rick Warren, Sin. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to find community and freedom from issues that control us. In 2004, the program was approved by the California Department of Corrections and entered prisons. And am a big believer in Cr and the fellowship that broke the chains that shackled me for so long. 1 Corinthians 15 Print. He said he spent eight days in Beaumont Hospital. page): Another issue made plain in the video is that Celebrate Recovery teaches a false gospel: At 3:24ff, speaking to lost people, Johnny gives an incomplete (and partially false) presentation of the gospel as a means of differentiating secular recovery programs from CR. SERENITY PRAYER. Jesus tells us in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Consciously choose to commit all my life and willto Christs care and control. ! The worship music was embarrassing, to say the very least. September 2016 The Oxford Group was a quasi Christian group that corrupted the gospel and Christian doctrine. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Your comment will be posted after it is approved. Also, we are told in scripture not to add to or take away from God's Word. Anyway, thank you for helping me reach greater clarity about what we did. Fellowship Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36, Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16. Mark 16:15 says,"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." As if man can free someone from the bondage of sin. The Pharisees, who largely set the religious/spiritual tone of the day, would have propagated the photo-negative of the Beatitudes, and, thus, an incorrect understanding of the believer. 5:3) is not a recovery principle, teaching that Im not Godpowerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable (9). Hi Susan, Click here for meetings today (Monday)! Journal of Psychology & Christianity 22.4 (2003). Life The eight principles upon which CR is derived are as follows (the principle is stated, followed by the corresponding Beatitude): Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. I basically drank everyday for 40 years. 1 Founded 25 years ago by pastor Rick Warren and the Saddleback Church in California, it started with just 43 people but now has groups in 29,000 churches all over the globe with more than 3.5 million . [3], Celebrate Recovery is a recovery program aimed at all "hurts, habits, and hang-ups", including but not exclusive to: high anxiety; co-dependency; compulsive behaviors; sex addiction; financial dysfunction; drug and alcohol addictions; and eating disorders. Our service offers engaging live worship and biblical-based teaching relevant to your circumstances. To learn how to forgive themselves , to love themselves as Christ loves them. (The most noticeable difference is that the phrase God, as we understand Him has been changed to simply, God.). Truth document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Celebrate Recovery (CR) was created by John Baker, a member of false teacher Rick Warren's Saddleback "Church". Repentance and faith. And if were walking in obedience to Scripture and preaching and teaching the true biblical gospel the world will hate us, not love us. [13] A study of Celebrate Recovery participants published in 2011 by the Journal of Religion and Health, found that levels of spirituality were associated with greater confidence to resist substance use. June 2015 It is a safe place to overcome your hurts, habits, and hang-ups and find freedom in Jesus Christ. They make merchandise of Gods Word. Sinful Desire To attach 12 Bible verses taken out of context to a secular program is simply erroneous hermeneutics. The gospel is the gospel. Covenant Your objection is most likely answered here. I do not endorse anything on these sites that deviates from Scripture or conflicts with my beliefs as outlined in the Welcome or Statement of Faith tabs in the blue menu bar at the top of this page. No 12-step program needed. Why do so many need a step based recovery program? Romans 7 I have a question for you. At 20:11ff, Johnny quotes Romans 3:23, and then proceeds to define sin as mistakes. Death They may experience sobriety, but they will remain in bondage if they do not learn their identity in Christ and experience the power of Grace to overcome habitual sins. Learn how your comment data is processed. And God is not going to remove their sin without repentance and faith in Christ. Not at all conducive to repentance! Warren would have a man wallow in self pity (be a victim) and call it a boast to his self-esteem rather than point him to the only One who can not only forgive a mans sin, but DELIVER him from the power of those sins (Rom. Spiritual Formation Humility But the lost people hes talking to do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help them because theyre still lost, because CRs gospel doesnt call them to repent and believe. But the ideas in the 8 Principles are very similar to the ideas in the secular 12 steps. The program, created by John Baker and Rick Warren, is supposedly based on biblical principles. But the Scriptures teach that all mans efforts will fail and the result of the failure will be worse for the man that depends upon his own efforts. Sunday. That was enough for both of us!! Idolatry Even Jesus had struggles with the religious leaders in his life. Peace John 4 Jesus commands us to repent. Michael English (born April 12, 1962) is an American Christian singer and record producer. The question is not, Does Celebrate Recovery work?. Get rid of it completely. Other Alcoholics Anonymous Writings and Publications. Eric Davis of The Cripplegate analyzes the popular packaged addiction program, Celebrate Recovery (CR) that many churches have adopted. Who will replace retiring Rick Warren at Saddlebacks Helm? Law If it involves anything Purpose-Driven, you should avoid it like a sexually transmitted disease. by Chad Prigmore. The question we must ask ourselves is, should Christians get involved in a program that stems from A.A.s twelve steps? Sins. No mention is made of personal repentance of sin or placing ones faith in Christ as the Bible defines it anywhere in this video. Freedom From Sin Baker, Celebrate Recovery Leader's Guide, 12). 6:6 and Col. 1:13). [15], The name Celebrate Recovery is a registered trademark of John Baker,[16] and the national Celebrate Recovery organization requires that groups using this name hold closely to a standardized format. As such, CR imposes a meaning other than the authorial intent upon the text. Further, the purpose of this review is not to question whether the 2.5 million participants have felt that they were assisted with enslaving behaviors, nor to doubt the sincerity of individuals seeking to help, but, instead, to examine CRs claim to be biblically based. Heaven If bible verses were added to Hitler's, Is adding to God's word by blending the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with the scriptures as the. [9][10][11][12] In addition to issue non-specific large group gatherings and individual mentoring, Celebrate Recovery encourages participants to form a small group of "accountability partners" who all have the same problem and support one another closely. If you are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, please call: 911 - Emergency or 988 - Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or 1-800-273-8255. While there are many godly and well-meaning people involved at the local Celebrate Recovery, the message has been twisted. Repentance is grieving from the heart that you have sinned against a holy God, wishing you had never done it, and striving never to do it again. The biblical means for helping a saved person who is committing the sin of drunkenness is to follow the steps of church discipline (beginning with a one on one call to repentance and restoration) commanded in Matthew 18, and if he repents, disciple him in obedience to Gods Word. John Baker was called to create Celebrate Recovery because he wanted to be able to give his higher power the name above all names. Needless to say, CR has had a major influence on the church. Living Water God The Father took me in and helped me heal through others that he had waiting on me. The facts Johnny states about Jesus life and that He sent the Holy Spirit are technically correct, but whats missing? A final point to consider, and not a minor one, is the fact that Celebrate Recovery is embraced by the world. Jesus Christ The program, created by John Baker and Rick Warren, is supposedly based on biblical principles. I am not thoroughly familiar with the websites below. Rick Warren: Purpose Driven Deception. Exposing Recovery - THE WAY MINISTRY CHURCH The Truth about Recovery from a Biblical Perspective There is a common assumption and belief in the recovery industry that the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are Christian in origin.