How Early AA's Used the Bible to Achieve Recovery
Posted: Sunday, October 25, 2009
by Richard Burns, J.D.
Dick B.
Alcoholics Anonymous, the Bible, and the Akron A.A. Pioneers - Bible Brief Three
Here's an Alcoholics Anonymous-Bible refresher that highlights the regular study and use of the Bible in the Original A.A. by its pioneer members. Most of the material came from tapes and transcripts provided to me at the A.A. General Service Office by its archivist. They are recorded in more detail in Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, Newton ed. ( Kihei , HI : Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 1998.
Alex M. said: "Doc talked much at regular meetings. He would come just at a regular meeting and speak. About 40 minutes, and he was a simple talker. He had the Bible in front of him and wasn't afraid to read from it. It [the Bible] was at King School . It was always on the podium," The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 189.
Wally G. said, "I remember the first meeting I attended was led by Dick S. He opened the meeting with a short prayer, read a passage from the Bible which I do not recall, and talked about that in its relationship to the everyday life of those present," The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 189.
Earl T. said, "I remember most distinctly the first meeting that I attended-Bill D. [A.A. Number Three Bill Dotson] sat with the Holy Bible in his lap. The meeting had been opened with a prayer. Bill read excerpts from the Bible and translated them into everyday life. After half an hour of this, the meeting was thrown open to everyone in the room and they in turn picked up some of these passages from the Bible that he had discussed and gave their interpretation," The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 190.
"Member after member of the early meetings confirmed the importance and use of the Bible devotionals, particularly The Upper Room," The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 191.
William V. H. said: "This Upper Room' was a little daily reading booklet that I've used every since. . . . I continued reading the Upper Room' and the references in the Good Book. . . The Bible, I figured, was my statute now," The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 205-06.
Dr. Bob said: "When we started in on Bill D. [A.A. Number Three], we had no Twelve Steps, either, we had no Traditions. But we were convinced that the answer to our problems was in the Good Book. To some of us older ones, the parts we found absolutely essential were the Sermon on the Mount, the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians, and the Book of James," The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous [P-53], p. 13.
Even Jim B., A.A.'s "first self-proclaimed atheist," who wrote the Evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous, and whose personal story was published in the Second Edition of the Big Book, was finally published in the A.A. Grapevine Article in 1968, with the title, "Sober for Thirty Years." On page 3, Jim B., of San Diego , California , said: "So the early meetings were quite religious, in both New York and Akron . There was always a Bible on hand, and the concept of God was all biblical."
In DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers: A Biography with recollections of early A.A. in the Midwest (NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1980) [This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature], the following is reported:
"The Bible was stressed as reading material, of course," p. 151
"As the Akron group began gathering at the King School , a definite style evolved. . . . When the time came, the speaker would go up front, wait for quiet, introduced himself. He opened with a prayer of his own choosing, then gave a five-minute lead.' Usually, it would be on a specific subject-a passage from The Upper Room or a verse from the Bible," p. 221.
"He [the alcoholic] must have devotions every morning-a quiet time' of prayer and some reading from the Bible and other religious literature," p. 131.
For complete discussions of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Bible, and how the early A.A. pioneers used it in their original program, see Dick B., The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible, Bridge Builders ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc. 1997); The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 2d ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, 1998); Good Morning: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A., 2d ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 1998); The James Club and the Original AA. Program's Absolute Essentials, 3 rd ed.( Kihei , HI : Paradise Research Publications, Inc, 2005).
Gloria Deo
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More commentsThis is a good article. Well written. I personally have been to a few meetings with someone else and found it to be interesting. For people who need help it still is one of the best programs out there. Good Luck!Thank you Carolee. I came into Alcoholics Anonymous despairing, seemingly hopeless, and very very sick. When I realized that A.A. welcomed those who had an understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible, I was able to move ahead to a new life in Christ in the rooms of A.A. Dick B.
It is so good to know that AA members (or leaders) knew that the best help they could get would be from God and his words. The Bible has helped so many through troubled times. I hope they continue this practice today.thanks for sharing and Welcome to SearchWarp, Richard.I am delighted that you many commentators on SearchWarp have responded with an understanding that alcoholics, addicts, and those with life-controlling problems need to know how successful early Alcoholics Anonymous was in the period when belief in God was required, the early pioneers were required to come to Him through Jesus Chrisrt, and so much help was received. It's still available today. Dick B.
Hi Richard. Welcome to Searchwarp. Great article and full of insights. Thanks for sharing this to us. ~Nenita~
Wow. What a great series of welcomes. Our mission has been to report the Christian origins, history, and program of early A.A. founded in 1935. Also to suggest to the tens of thousands of Christians in recovery that they should learn where they came from and how applicable to their plight is the love and power of God today. God Bless, Dick B.
Hello Richard,There is nothing like drawing God's power down from heaven into a difficult situation, when you are in one. His love never fails.I had not realised how the AA started. Thank you for sharing this.Your comments are heart-warming. And, while there is much diversity in A.A. today, Christians in recovery need to know where they came from and that they are not alone in the recovery arena. God Bless, Dick B.
Hi Richard. Your article is a recommended reading through the Reader's club, so here I am commenting on how good it is for a group such as the AA to incorporate Bible readings during their meetings.Dear Nenita: I don't believe I know what the "Reader's club" is; but I certainly encourage people in Twelve Step fellowships to learn their Christian origins, history, early Christian fellowship, and its successes and then choose for themselves if they need and want God's help. Dick B.
Thanks for this piece giving us some AA history. I was an alcoholic and the Lord Jesus pulled me feet first out of the bottle. That was 35 years ago and I have been delightfully clean and sober ever since. Have not been to an AA meeting so do not know how what you wrote contrasts with the current meeting format. Marijo (pronounced Mary Jo)Dear Marijo: Congratulations on your sobriety. Meeting formats vary widely today, but there are hundreds of thousands of Christians in A.A., along with many of other beliefs or of no belief.
The bible seems to help AA members... it gives them hope, and lets them know or think that someone out there does care about them, and that there is hope.
Thank you. God Bless, Dick B.
To see the A.A. picture past and present, check out our The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 2d ed., 2009
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