Anonymous Conversation

Anonymous:

Anonymity [secrecy] frees us.

My rebuttal: (The final authority/ the word)

Uhhh, wait a minute; this is not what the word of God says. How can we be freed from this stronghold of addiction by way of secrecy? We can’t because it says in John 8:31-32 ^“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the TRUTH shall make you free.” We must continue in God’s word and apply the truth to our lives; not some spiritual principle that man comes up with, which is rooted in foolishness. For it says in 1 Corinthians3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with god. For it is written: He catches the wise in their own craftiness.” If a man lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and ungrudgingly, without faultfinding and it will be given you. So, it seems obvious that many people in this organization desperately need to seek the wisdom of God, through Christ. Time out for leaning on our own understanding and taking on the ways of this world.

Anonymous:

If God is guiding my actions, and I truly respect the other folks, then I honor the anonymous God that stands behind 17 years clean. Actions always speak louder than words.

My rebuttal: (The final authority/ the word)

This statement almost floored me as I read it. I sympathize with this persons attempt to be humble concerning the guidance of his actions, which should be confidently lead by God, and not hesitantly. Now as far as this anonymous God goes, I am in total awe of this mindset, because it has the potential to render a person powerless in all that they do. In Matthew 10:33 it says, “But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my father who is in heaven.” When you have been set free from such an affliction as Drug addiction, there is no way you can keep it to yourself. Personally, I have every intention of sharing my journey and the God of my journey with everyone who will listen. I believe the word when it says, “Seek Him while he may be found.” Our lives and the lives of others depend on it!!! So this anonymous god that is spoken of in this conversation brings to mind 2 Corinthians 4:4 (the message version), “If our message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.”

Anonymous:

I sponsor folks with many different spiritual backgrounds from different parts of the world. My God wants me to accept them as they are, and I have been a student of spirituality as soon as I got out of God's way.

My Rebuttal: (The final authority/the word)

My response to this had to be carefully addressed and rooted in God’s word. Because of the second statement made concerning God accepting people as they are, I had to first focus on the first statement, which indicates that this person backs up or rather supports various spiritual backgrounds. In spite of the many different types of information and beliefs concerning spirituality, we can only base or rather pull from what the Word of God says. In Romans 6:11, it says, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Being a student of Spirituality and having a relationship with Christ are two different concepts. I say this because of the different beliefs that exist in the rooms of NA. Anything can be your God in the rooms, as was told to me in a previous conversation; Even a door knob!!!! Go figure! So what does spirituality profit us without Christ? For it says in Ephesians 2:12, “In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship [residency] among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.” So in reality, this person has yet to get out of God’s way, not to mention out of his or her own way. If you’re going to be effective while sponsoring another person’s life concerning pulling down the stronghold of addiction, you must beware of deceitful practices. As it says in, Colossians 2:8-10, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

This introduces us to Spiritual Discernment through Christ!!!!

Anonymous:

I love my God to much then try to shove him down someone’s throat at a meeting. This is why we have so many problems in the fellowship (only does NA), but it is always about saying I am right and you are wrong. I love all of you, whether you like me or not. I will keep coming back, because I learn through your experience, judgments, and problems just like you learn through mine. God brought me to recovery, why do you think that I have outgrown the addicts that he has chosen to teach me? Keep coming. Addicts love to isolate from our tribe and die being right. That is what I did before my last relapse. I will keep coming back because I owe it to God, the old-timers, newcomers and my kids.

My Rebuttal: (The final authority/ the word)

Granted, I have no problem with an individual loving God, but to be honest, this individual thinks, that by me sharing an article I wrote concerning our identities being determined by birth and not performance, I am somehow shoving God down people’s throat. Well, I can say this much, when people have been exposed to Narcotics anonymous literature, along with the 12 steps and principles, I have found that any other belief that contradicts what they have conceived as truth is automatically smacked down and considered an attack to them. Whenever an individual shares what the Truth of God’s word says it will cause conflict and separation. According to Matthew 10:34-35; Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Jesus’ statement clearly depicts his agenda, which is to separate the Truth from the Lie, and not only that, but to cause the ones He has called and purposed to stand against the evil practices of this world. So the problem comes not because I or any other Christians needs to be right, It comes when people solely believe in human wisdom and knowledge in efforts to deem themselves as righteous and good on their own. I was really floored by the comment that stated, “God brought me to recovery, why do you think that I have outgrown the addicts that he has chosen to teach me?” What is that about???? Do I sense pride? The word of God clearly says in Romans 12:3, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” And it also says in Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” I am in no way attacking this person, but I am however, standing against the mindset/stronghold that is displayed in this person response. It sounds to me as if this individual has experienced a lot in their process of recovery concerning others experiences, judgments and problems, but that is no reason to hold yourself at a higher or rather lofty place. Excessive pride and being boastful about personal ones abilities is not Godly wisdom, as it says in Romans 12:3. What absolutely gave me great concern was what I read at the end of their comment. [Addicts love isolating from our tribe and die being right] Now what sort of nonsense is that to say? This comment was clearly directed at me as if I was supposed to succumb to the identification of being an addict nonetheless. This individual adamantly wants to put me in the same closed box that I am trying to help people get out of and is obviously assuming that I isolate myself away from fellowshipping and I will eventually die as a result of that isolation. But again, the word of God tells me in Ephesians 5:8-11, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” By posting my article, “IDENTITY IS DETERMINED BY BIRTH, NOT PERFORMANCE” caused this person to show just how much this organization lacks Godly Wisdom. After reading that I noticed the next statement says, [That is what I did before my last relapse.] It sounds to me as if this individual has had many previous relapses. So because this person relapsed, they are actually saying that the reason for it was because they isolated themselves trying to be right…And they are implying that I am doing the same. To be honest I believe the relapse may have occurred because he or she CHANGED THEIR MIND and gave into the temptation. As for me, I have not relapsed since I was delivered from addiction because the relationship and knowledge I have comes from Christ. [And I’ve been separated from the TRIBE of NA for 5 years] To be honest, I can only take credit for applying the Truth of God’s word, not creating it. After all that was said and done, this person clearly has no clue that they have been deceived with half truths and flat out lies. Then the person had the nerve to say  “Keep coming back.” I sure will, but it won’t be to stroke your egos, or to gratify their flesh or compromise the truth. When people stop relapsing and dying from the stronghold of Drug Addiction, I’ll shut up, but until then I will endure hardship as a good soldier.

WHERE THE BATTLE RAGES

Satan fights to maintain control of the kingdoms of the world.  He does not want them to come under God's authority.  The battle also rages within the hearts, minds, and souls of men and women.  Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and attacks believers in the areas of worship, the Word, their daily walk, and their work for God.

With that being said, any believer [In recovery] who knows that we are in a spiritual battle and knows or even assumes that the enemy does not want others to come under God's Authority, in my opinion, should use any open opportunity to minister to individuals about the Love and Power of Jesus Christ. We are Ministers of Reconciliation, as if God were pleading through us to unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Whenever and wherever strongholds are evident, believe me there is some sort of spiritual battle going on that causes that individual to see there circumstances as unchangeable, impossible and hopeless. I have come to realize that just because I can see in a realm where I  identify these certain spirits at work, doesn't mean others can see it or will even agree with me about it, because spiritual things are not carnally discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

In the book of Roman 12:2, it says, "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed but the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what  is that good, ACCEPTABLE, and perfect will of God. Notice the word acceptable is in bold italic form. This passage says to me, now that I have given my life to Christ, I now have to present myself as a living sacrifice unto God and that I must not fashion or form myself  to the worlds way of thinking, but I am to pattern and change myself by applying the Word of God to my mind, heart and spirit. In saying that, I want to share Ephesians 5:8-11, which says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is ACCEPTABLE to the Lord. And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful WORKS of darkness, but rather expose THEM. Please notice how these two passage accent and complement one another. We are told to be transformed by renewing our minds, which means the old mindset has to go and the new mindset has to enter. Then we are reminded in Ephesians 5:8-11 that we were previously walking in darkness (without Christ). We are told to walk according to WHO we are and the writer goes on to tell us the characteristics of who we are and what it produces; and by these characteristics we find out what is acceptable to the Lord. But verse 11 is what most people have a problem with or would rather not touch when is come to fellowshipping with unfruitful works of darkness. For what does light have to do with darkness (2Cor.6:11-16)

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful WORKS of darkness, but instead, we should expose them...Well let's focus on the word "THEM"  I believe the word them in this  passage means "the unfruitful works". 

Most of the time people relate the word 'THEM" with people, but because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, this is not the case. So I understand why I have been misunderstood in my assignment to "EXPOSE THE ENEMY IN RECOVERY" Nevertheless it will not stop what the Lord has called me to do in the Kingdom. As quoted by Bishop T.D. Jakes, "Some of the things the Lord has called you to do; people are not going to accept it. Some of the things you're saying to people that you're about to do can't be perceive by them because they haven't stepped into the shift YET." 

My main concern is the double mindedness of believers exposing themselves to the unfruitful works of darkness, the lies of the enemy, which tells people that they are what they have done (Addicts) and tells them that your God is Anonymous. "So keep it simple stupid", is what is said. But if your not going to be a light in a dark place and plead with others to come out from among them, then what is your purpose for fellowship in that particular place? These are my concerns and I will serve in the capacity in which God has predestined me to do, by the AUTHORITY he has given me...

Be Blessed and have a Powerful Day!!! 

The Inclusion of AA & NA literature in The Body of Christ

After being bound by the stronghold of addiction for 17 years, I was freed by the Power of the Holy Spirit when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. In the beginning of my recovery process, after being discharged from inpatient rehabilitation I attended many Narcotics Anonymous meetings for at least 7 months. Most of the meetings I attended were held in the basement of churches where the rooms were filled with people desiring to be free from what the NA book calls, “The Disease of Addiction”. In no way did I feel comfortable standing up confessing my past affliction as my identity in Christ and I couldn’t understand why others did so. After experiencing being shut down by others when sharing my story, I decided not to attend these meeting anymore. People seemed to be brainwashed and led astray by the literature of this program. Now I was the newcomer in these meetings and all I heard was, “Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth.” In other words, “Sit down, shut up and listen, because you don’t know nothing.” Now what kind of thing is that to say to a person who is fresh in recovery? Well, I may not have known what they have learned in their 1 to 20 years in the program of NA, but I knew one thing they didn’t know, and His name is “JESUS” I could clearly see that this was going to be a challenge for me because I wanted to share about Christ, but others would say, “This is an anonymous program and people have different religions and beliefs in these rooms.” Anything can be your Higher Power. After experiencing this rejection from some of its members I decided to forsake the fellowship of NA and stick with Church fellowship with people who could lead me closer to Christ and teach me how to maintain my deliverance in Christ. Because surely, in my mind, no one in the rooms could help me…If your blind to the truth about your identity, then how are you suppose to lead me and show me how to stay clean and live life without the use of drugs? This is my story people! I believe I was set apart from the madness, lies and deceit that could have become a part of my mindset as a result of being a part of this fellowship. I now know that all I had to go through was nothing but a divine set up in which God purposely set aside His purpose and calling for my life. Others may say that I'm making too much of this program because it has helped so many people in the past. But to be honest with you, when has the enemy ever directly come into the midst of anything or any situation as himself. He’s not going to show up and tell you his agenda. It’s in disguise! 2 Cor. 11-14 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” But my concern is, “Why has the Body of Christ adopted the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous and does the church know the dangers of allowing this type of spirit inside it’s walls. So much of its literature contradicts the word of God when you consider the foundation and origin of its beliefs. In one of my most recent articles, I shared what one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous spoke of as an experience. His name was Bill Wilson and his words still ring in my ears as a deceptive spirit, “If you are an alcoholic, you have an obsession that condemns you to drink; an allergy that condemns you to die. Your only resource is a spiritual experience. If there is a God, will he show himself! And then came the miracle. The room instantly lit up, in a blinding glare of white, white light. I was seized by an ecstasy such as I have never known. It seemed to me that I then stood on a mountain top, where a great clean wind was blowing. I thought to myself, but this is not air; this is spirit. This is the God of the preachers. I felt myself filled with the consciousness of the presence of spirits, of God.”  What!!!!!  This sounds to me like an all out deceptive, seducing spirit and of course it also sounds like some sort of bad trip from using a hallucinogen. From a Christian point of view, I can better explain why we should be careful when adapting these worldly traditions as our own; without discernment no one can tell if this is the spirit of God in operation or a demonic spirit in operation. His experiences sound as if they are valid, but let’s look at the fruit of it. Matthew 7:15-16 says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” Now let’s look at the fruit of AA’s program, which was partially developed by a man named Jimmy Kinnon who was considered one of the founders of Narcotics Anonymous. Although he was never considered a founder he wrote several parts of the Little Whit Booklet, which formed the basis or foundation of NA’s basic text. Here is just a portion of the fruit of their literature, “Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Many of us ended up in jail or sought help through medicine, religion, and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until in desperation we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous. After coming to NA we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure.”  This statement comes from the “Who, What, How and Why” booklet. Notice they are speaking in past tense, but in this same booklet it defines who an addict is, which states, “Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. We know! Our whole life and thinking was centered in drugs in one form or another—the getting and using and finding ways and means to get more. We lived [past tense] to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict is a man or woman whose life is [present tense] controlled by drugs. We are [present tense] people in the grip of a continuing and progressive illness whose ends are always the same: jails, institutions, and death.” The Word of God, however, refutes this by saying in Galatians 5:1 which says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Why come out of one bondage, and go straight into another form of bondage, by claiming your past performance as who you are (your identity). In spite of the lack of this program distinguishing the past tense from the present tense, lets look solely at what the word of God says. In Matthew 11:29 it says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” In other words, Jesus is saying receive in you, what I have already suffered and learn from me and in doing this we will find rest in our minds, our will and our emotions. There is no need for us to live in fear of using again, living in fear of suffering from an incurable disease, because Christ was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM and with his stripes we are healed.
Still the question in my mind is, “Why adapt the 12 steps if it opposes the truth in God’s word?” How can one adapt part of it without the foundation being a hindrance to the Body of Christ? We cannot mix and match the truth of God’s word with the traditions of men. Scripture says in     James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” We must not appear to the world or to unbelievers that we, as the church, need to borrow from the world’s ways and traditions as if the “Word of God” alone is inadequate. In my opinion, that’s what we are implying when we adopt and subscribe to Narcotic Anonymous literature. Many disagree with me and will probably fight me to the ends of the earth, but I know that all will not embrace the Truth in God’s word because some people have the mindset of “What’s true for you, is not necessarily true for me.” It all comes down to this, if we, as the body of Christ continue to adopt the 12 steps of NA, we have then validated their literature and beliefs in having a God of your own understanding. Anyway you get to God is fine, since we have subscribed to the steps, why not go all the way with it. That’s like picking out certain parts of scripture that suits you and profits your agenda, but cutting out the rest that you don’t want to apply. This bothers me to no end and my voice will be heard through whatever means the Lord sees fit for me to use. Because Narcotics Anonymous is such a large organization and is evidently thriving in our communities, and taking the message of recovery to the still suffering addict, what manner of spirit is behind promoting Anonymity and a God of your own understanding? Ephesians 6:2 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” So it’s not people we’re fighting against, but 4 specific things in the spirit realm. Principalities is defined as that by which anything begins to be, the origin, and the active cause. Another translation is the territory or jurisdiction of a prince. Powers is defined as the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed) (universally) or (authority over mankind). After much study and prayer concerning what or who is behind the influence of this organization set of principles and guidelines, It was revealed to me that this is a territorial spirit with it’s own agenda which by the way opposes Jesus Christ. It’s a universal program that welcomes all beliefs, not just one. So what does this mean, you might ask. First let me tell you that there is not a single instance in the Bible where someone actively sought out a demon in order to engage it. My intentions are to expose the lies of the enemy with the Truth of God’s word and Prayerfully hoping that the light of God’s word will open the hearts and minds of those who are called by His name (Jesus). As quoted by Pastor Monica Vaaltyn, “Territorial spirits” is a term some Christians use to identify demonic occupation of a specific geographic location. Interestingly enough, and perhaps ironically, it is also a term pagans use to describe an otherworldly presence believed to be residing in a specific geographical location. The Christian concept of territorial spirits comes from passages such as Daniel 10; John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Mark 5:10; and Ephesians 6:12. All of these passages imply that fallen angels have been given some type of responsibility over a certain area. Thus, they seem to be territorial. However, we need to remember that this is by inference; the Bible never explicitly defines a hierarchy of demonic authority and control in the world. What the Bible is clear about is that demons are definitely at work in the spiritual realm and that believers are very much involved in a battle against them.” All of what Pastor Vaaltyn shared in her article intrigued me, so I had to look up those scripture references for myself just to make sure. From my own research I have found that seducing spirits afflict the mind, soul, and spirit of man, influencing him to believe false doctrines as indicated in 1Timothy 4:1. These spirits seduce people to believe a lie and be damned to eternal punishment. They are spirits of false doctrine, cults, false Christ’s, and false teachers; However evil or unclean spirits are responsible for immoral acts, unclean thoughts, oppression, possession, depression, and other strategies of Satan. They also afflict the mind and the soulish nature of man. (Matthew 10:1; 12:43; Mark1:23-26) Both unclean spirits and seducing spirits fall under the category of Principalities, Powers and rulers of darkness of this world.  In saying all of that, I want to further share with you something Bishop David G. Evans shared in his teaching, “Failure and Success are both systems.” Bishop Evans says, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." If you are failing continually, you have adopted a system of failure, which includes an attitude, which includes an opinion, which includes a mindset, which includes experience. An experience is a collection of events. So if you have a collection of events that have led you to fail, then you’re STUCK in a system of Failure. But the system of failure exists and you don’t have to participate in it. So how many times do my sisters and brothers have to fail, relapse, get clean, go into inpatient, come out again, do some meetings, quote NA lingo and then relapse again before we all get the BIG picture.  

Why am I so concerned about who a person believes in and how they recover. Well, I’ll be more than happy to tell you. I just want others to experience the freedom in Christ that I have experienced and it’s available to them as well. God is no respecter of person; he doesn’t have picks or favorites. God shows us favor because we are His children, but as it says in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? All persons who have been reconciled to God through Christ are ministers as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  My focus and concerns are based on what the Father has given me to do, which to expose the lies of the enemy and reveal the Truth of God’s Kingdom. I however will not allow the enemy to creep in our sanctuaries in disguise, trying to push his views, his agenda or his thoughts on the people of God.