Is Alcoholics Anonymous Harmful To My Identity In Christ?

Q: I have started going to AA, but I'm being told by people in the church that I shouldn't go because they identify as alcoholic. I personally don't feel it hurts my identity in Christ. Is that bad for my faith or is there something harmful to my faith walk?

A: I think it's okay for you to go to AA. You understand your identity in Christ and you're zealously guarding it. I believe that not only may AA do you some good, which I think is indisputable, but it has also done some good for a lot of people.

God may really use you as an instrument to minister to other people there. You're around a lot of other people who are aware of their need. That's one of the great things about AA; it starts off with that basic premise: we know we're needy. Many other people never get to that place, so I think that's a good thing.

There are lots of Christian groups that seek to take the place of AA, like Celebrate Recovery or other recovery programs. I have no problem with those groups, and if they can do it better than AA, great. But I don't have an immediately bad reaction to you going to the meetings, especially since you know who you are in Christ and you don't accept the label of 'alcoholic' uncritically.