Because He freed me of my sins, including drunkenness. you cant help catching alcoholism (the sin of drunkenness) any more than you can help catching the flu. I would never recommend CR to a fellow believer, no matter how popular it is. [6][7] Leaders seek to normalize substance abuse as similar to other personal problems common to all people. No sound theologian would tell you that is proper. Rick Warren: Purpose Driven Deception. 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. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.". The father never disowned his fallen son. The prophets of Baal all believed in Gods existence and power (right before Elijah slaughtered them all). The Oxford Group was a quasi Christian group that corrupted the gospel and Christian doctrine. 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. August 2020 Michael English (born April 12, 1962) is an American Christian singer and record producer. Access our library of updated, exclusive material that will strengthen both individuals and local ministries. Spriggs, J. David, and Eric Sloter. Not by a long shot. And God is not going to remove their sin without repentance and faith in Christ. Starting a Celebrate Recovery is an exciting step for your church! Further, he understands that, having rebelliously and flagrantly violated Gods holy law, he deserves to endure the righteous wrath of God in hell for eternity. A man invited me to it, and some things I liked about it. Our staff is up-to-date and knowledgeable, and we are standing by to help you on your road to recovery. Growth would be stunted. When Christ preached the Beatitudes, he did not intend for them to be a protocol for recovery. But the ideas in the 8 Principles are very similar to the ideas in the secular 12 steps. Finally, I will tell you this: I have never met a single CR leader or attendee who understood the Gospel, the New Covenant Gospel of Grace. The word of God is all we need. Psalms Spiritualism Come join us in the home of Celebrate Recovery, and let's make this event a one-of-a-kind experience that you will never forget. Baker, John. Romans 7 These types of Christians that like to point their fingers at others and label are the very ones whove made a profession of Christ but do NOT possess Him. Click here for meetings today (Monday)! b) The pastor, teacher, ministry, or trend cannot currently and unrepentantly be partnering with, yoked to, or frequently appearing with false teachers. Scripture Covenant (If you absolutely cant find a doctrinally sound church in your area, you could seek out an ACBC certified biblical counselor.). The sinner simply asked Jesus to save him and Jesus said your faith has made you whole. December 2014 "Substitute anything for Christ, and the Gospel is totally spoiled! That is out and out heresy. Forgiveness Rather the terminology he uses is hurts, hang-ups, and habits (instead of sin) and healing from your hurts (instead of repentance). Jesus tells us in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Marriage "Counselor-Clergy Collaboration in a Church-based Counseling Ministry." What program should be recommended? The Egyptians at the Red Sea believed in Gods existence and power. (LogOut/ Website. As I said above, the first half isnt bad. Because Celebrate Recovery is based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and practiced in thousands of Christian churches without ever being questioned or held up to the light of scripture it is one of the most damaging forms of apostasy in the modern Christian church. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 10. Celebrate Recovery (CR) was created by John Baker, a member of false teacher Rick Warrens Saddleback Church. Clever readers will notice that the first letter from each of the eight steps forms the acronym, recovery. CRs approach takes each of the eight principles and expoundsthem with a few lessons, forming the 25 lessons in which participants are guided through how to deal with their hurts, hang-ups, and habits (the oft-used phrase in CR to describe our problems which need recovery). Humility 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. ALL sin is a bondage, including addictions. Only a omnipotent, omniscient God has the power to free the sinner. Actually, we judge Celebrate Recovery by what it is based on and what it teaches - the teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps which directly contradict the gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. (LogOut/ [9][10] They may not use resources outside of the Bible and authorized Celebrate Recovery curriculum materials. [8], Celebrate Recovery uses both the 12 steps developed by Alcoholics Anonymous and a very similar set of eight sequential principles that are understood as a lesson of Jesus' Beatitudes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 5:48). 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. Additionally, the Beatitudes were never intended to be a recovery program. Its called fellowship!!! As if man can free someone from the bondage of sin. Where in scripture is Jesus referred to as a generic "Higher Power"? ), Is Celebrate Recovery Biblical? Those who are saved know these things from day one of their regeneration. c) The pastor, teacher, or ministry cannot currently and unrepentantly be teaching false doctrine. Scary, how many people we know that are full on CRs. Thats not the same thing as a mistake or hurting/being hurt by others or hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Thank you for this. In response, various efforts have been made to deal with the problem. Any CR program should teach that only Jesus can heal someone from addiction or any other sin. Your words are so wise Alison Jones: I am a Christian living in South Wales, UK, and ha Annie G.: It is not wrong to consecrate a day for the Lord, Greg: I agree. We go to Sunday school class to learn and share what God has taught us. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! These findings barely scratch the surface of Celebrate Recoverys means, methods, and philosophy, but I think Christians who value sound doctrine will agree that this information is more than sufficient to warn people away from this unbiblical ministry. Husband and I were drawn in by this CR group by someone in our old church both of us being recovered alcoholics, and saved, we went to one session. To state that addictions have been brought under control is utter foolishness. WALLACE, N.C. , Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Focused Addiction Recovery (FAR), a behavioral health treatment center in Wallace, North Carolina, has officially opened its doors and is now . As such, CR imposes a meaning other than the authorial intent upon the text. If we believers are already dead to sin and freed from it (as Paul tells us in Romans 6), then how can you work a program to accomplish what Jesus already has?! If someone is involved in Celebrate Recovery they cannot proclaim the authority and sufficiency of scripture without be hypocritical. This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 00:14. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. An Analysis of Celebrate Recovery Addictions Program Part 1 and Part 2 at The Cripplegate. The good news is that the familiar twelve steps remain intact under the Celebrate Recovery model, except that the vague language about a Higher Power gets specific, focusing in on the one and only true Higher Power, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Futurism/Transhumanism And if were walking in obedience to Scripture and preaching and teaching the true biblical gospel the world will hate us, not love us. This is not the same thing as adding to Gods word. John 15:18-19, Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Your objection is most likely answered here. Matthew 7:13 says, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it." But the steps that are put together still have biblical basis, though the Gospel and the delivering power of Christ would need to be much more emphasized. This Good News capital G, capital N? I recommend against any teacher, ministry, or evangelical trend that violates one or more of these biblical tenets. Trinity Did God forget something in His Word so that we humans had to come up with a program to help people instead? How do you reconcile using the heretical Twelve Steps of AA instead of the gospel with this command? 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. Most do not read their Bibles, and so these two programs become their false gospel. Jesus begins this great sermon by turning the common understanding of those in Gods favor on its head. Wouldnt it be wise for these people to attend meetings like CR and have a program to help them learn how to live a life free of sins that destroy lives and familys ? In August 2004, Celebrate Recovery was announced as Californias state-approved substance abuse program for prisonsWe are part of a movement that God is blessing.. John Baker is the one who organized celebrate recovery with the overseer being Rick Warren. Holy Spirit Get help and get the past out of the dark and let Gods light shine. Further, Warren claims that CR is more effective in helping people change than anything else Ive seen or heard of (12). Hope others read this and become aware of this organization. Generally speaking, in order for me to recommend a teacher, speaker, author, or ministry, he/she/it has to meet three criteria: a)A female teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly preach to or teach men in violation of 1 Timothy 2:12. Homosexual Agenda in the 80s and 90s, I worked as a correspondence counselor for an ex-gay ministry. Instead, the Beatitudes are descriptions of kingdom citizens; of individuals having been saved by Gods grace. Addictions are not an easy thing to overcome. Charles Spurgeon . They defend this unbiblical nonsense because they have no discernment. Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kind. Christians should have faith in the power of the gospel through God's word in scripture and should never rely on anything other than the gospel to reach those lost in the sin of addiction (which by the way you label as disease which is contrary to scripture - Galatians 5:19-21 clearly defines alcoholism and addiction as sin, not disease). Below are the biblical criteria I use when deciding whether or not to recommend a teacher, ministry, etc. ! The worship music was embarrassing, to say the very least. A Way Which Seemeth Right at The Berean Call (This link is not a blanket endorsement of this blog or author, only this particular article. Are we to avoid all womens bible studies and Christian book studies as well? Out of 8. Celebrate Recovery does not convey the gospel of Jesus Christ and is not needed. Sobriety Thats pragmatism. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Angels, Demons, Spiritual Warfare I basically drank everyday for 40 years. There simply is no way to justify the need for anything else - especially something as far from the Christian gospel message as the Twelve Steps. Alcoholics Anonymous Those that are pretenders have no clue. In 2004, the program was approved by the California Department of Corrections and entered prisons. September 2016 Celebrate Recovery Summit 2023 For the first time in years, we will be hosting the Celebrate Recovery 2023 Summit at Saddleback Church, CA. Word of Faith They will hear Gods word and the gospel will be shared with them. Grace Sin is breaking Gods law and rebelling against the holy God of the universe. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. And that is what makes RW and all his co-hearts the consummate Pharisees of our day, hypocrites, pretenders, and frauds. Faults are not equivalent to sins. During the past 25 years, some 20,000 churches in the United States have reportedly used CR, with some 2.5 million people having completed the program. ; The ability to have face-to-face conversations and . Sermons We made far too many compromises with the world, and very few people experienced true freedom from homosexuality. Dec 27 2016. Our service offers engaging live worship and biblical-based teaching relevant to your circumstances. Go preach the gospel - not go introduce the addicted to a Twelve Step program and then if all goes well try to get the gospel message in somewhere. If anything is to be labeled as demonic it should be addiction itself. March 2015 The bottom line / Get help from other Christians / Jesus told us to help others find the narrow way. Its utter hypocrisy.) Hi Ashley, [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. SERENITY PRAYER. People who are lost and involved in an AA program can step over to CR and meet Jesus. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. Scripture Alone And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. One that walked the walk and one that fell to sin. Rick Warren's statement above is completely false and it is irresponsible for any Christian Pastor to make such claims. Below is a comprehensive directory of AA meetings in Wallace, North Carolina. How does adding to God's Word, blending the heretical teachings of AA with God's word, labeling the sin of addiction as disease, and focusing on supposed humanistic needs rather than the un-compromised gospel of Jesus Christ in any way bring glory and honor to Him? There is no way that the Twelve Steps were "based upon the scriptures" or that their "basis is God's word" as he claims. These kind of statements turn away so many non believers. Obeying the commands of scripture is not legalism - it's a major aspect of the Christian faith. July 2016 But not to the point where it is unpleaseing to our lord. Law Principle Y takes us back into false gospel territory: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others,both by my example and my words. New Mexico was the first state to adopt Celebrate Recovery into its state prison system and now has Celebrate Recovery pods in all its state prisons. 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. This review is based upon the programs teaching as stated in the CR Leadership Guide only (pages cited are from this guide) and is not a critique of every person who has participated in the program. Being morally filthy, the sinner depends entirely on Gods mercy if he is going to be acceptable to God. Gods Sovereignty Get rid of it completely. Sin is always immoral and frequently intentional. Since CR claims to be Christian in nature, biblical (13), grounded in Gods word (12), and[b]ased on the actual words of Jesus rather than on psychological theory (12), it deserves to be evaluated as such. June 2015 The Good News of Celebrate Recovery? The twelve steps referred to in the above excerpt are the demonically inspired twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous which directly contradict the gospel of Jesus Christ. LISTEN to our Hospitality: Part 2 episode on @awordfitlyspoken! Over the years we adopted a 12-step model. False Teaching It is very easy to hide behind sanctimonious pomp and Pharisiac hearts and judge programs and people but why not tell what you are doing to help. No one can judge who is saved and who isnt because the person has fallen in life or the person is attending a program that others interpret as not biblical. A final point to consider, and not a minor one, is the fact that Celebrate Recovery is embraced by the world. The son repented and the father ran to meet his son and helped him heal. Fellowship The issue here is that the unbeliever is not indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist and flee from sin. How do I know? Testimonies If you are considering commenting or sending me an e-mail objecting to the fact that I warn against certain teachers or ministries, please click here and read this article first. I am involved in CR and I am not relying on the 12 steps. Ive been six months dry today. Your First Step to Celebrate Recovery: How God Can Heal Your Life. During his solo career, he recorded eight studio albums. Hope So similar, in fact that each Principle is followed by a notation as to which of the 12 steps it corresponds to. Peace Sinful Desire John Baker and Rick Warren of Saddleback Church created the program in 1991 to help people with various addictions. Also, we are told in scripture not to add to or take away from God's Word. Celebrate Recovery Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. I desperately tried to find Jesus in the recovery steps but could not find him. Johnny goes on to say that that [the indwelling Holy Spirit] is what gives us the power to find healing from our hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Is there an alternative that is more Biblically based version of Celebrate Recovery? No 12-step program needed. A local Celebrate Recovery ministry should follow the policies of their local church and continue to be grateful for their continued support. Christianty is about a relationship with The Savior Jesus Christ and some people affected by the disease of addiction have been ostracized by the religious people using the version false humility that uses scripture to judge and condemn the addict. How very sad I feel for them (RW and co-authors). RW does speak of repentance, and the Jesus is the only higher power. Truth "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." The question is, Is Celebrate Recovery biblical?. If the Gospel of Christ is left out of any program you can be assured that program DID NOT originate with God, nor will it be blessed by Him. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Emergent Church Taking an Honest and Spiritual Inventory: Participant's Guide 2: A Recovery Program Based on Eight Principles from the Beatitudes. John 4 Celebrate Recovery's 12-steps, are AA's 12-steps, but with a "biblical comparison" to each one. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Gods Sovereignty January 2018 Is His gospel in His Word not enough? It is common knowledge in AA that the co-founder Bill Wilson was involved in the occult and claimed openly to have communed with spirits. Biblically, theres no such animal. CR Official Podcast. God have mercy on America, a nation seeped in false religiosity where everybody is a Christian because they say they are! You don't have to face alcohol addiction alone, so give us a call today to get started at 888-448-0302. Bill Wilson simply switched from booze to cigarettes, and died from emphysema. CRs stated purpose is to encourage fellowship and to celebrate Gods healing power in our lives as we work our way along the road to recovery (21). 1 John 3:13, They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Thus, he comes to God, as nothing more than a head down, hand out, moral beggar, with zero moral/spiritual contribution to God except sin.