"Celebrate Recovery" comes to Donalsonville Pt 2

So, as I take a look at the spread of free literature on the table in the hallway, I notice that "Materialism" is one of the evils that 'Christ' can save us from. I do a quick turnaround to inspect the palatial doings of a modest Baptist church in one of the poorest and least employed counties in the state of Georgia (which is saying a lot.) Okay, we have the elevator....the expensive tile....the Jumbo-tronic flat screens.......all of which of course denounce material worship and assist in bringing lost souls great emotional comfort. Gotcha.

There is an entire sheet on explaining Co-dependence, another Habit that CB claims Christ's love can set you free from. Co-dependence being (this is from their handout!):
* The dreams I have for my future are linked to you.
* My good feelings about who I am stem from being loved by you.
* My good feelings about who I am stem from receiving approval from you.
* My social circle diminishes as i involve myself with you.
* My fear of your anger determines what I say or do.
I find it hilarious that a group that demands such strict adherence to their way of doing things--lest you burn eternally in hellfire and be devoid of your loved ones--is opposing such preexisting thoughts! (Yeah, towards other humans, I know; but if codependency exists, the church's job is halfway done!)

The Newcomers sheet promises that working the "Christ-centered steps.....we become free from our addictive, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviours. This freedom creates peace, serenity, joy, and most importantly, a stronger personal relationship with God and others.

So it's a tent revival. It's a prayer meeting. It's another attempt to build church attendance and raise money. Because, as per usual, it isn't about truly 'helping;' it's about getting everyone to think exactly the same way. They promote it as 'non-denominational', so long as you accept and promote Jesus Christ as the Lord, Savior, yada-yadda ...you know the spiel.

The Newcomer flier goes on to point out what the group is NOT! They are not there to offer any professional clinical advice. Their leaders are not counselors. They will not allow their members to attempt to "fix" one another. ROTFLMAO! Funny how there "aren't" any problems great enough for JC to handle, but legal makes them put those disclaimers in there anyway!

Yes, if you suffer from the real pain and hurt of having been molested, raped, abused by the church (er, maybe not)....it can all be wiped away by JC and this church. But in the event that you are so broken and unworthy, the church never promised to provide the very necessary counseling they disavow. Interesting.

Let's move on to what the group considers itself led to 'assist' with; the Hurts, Habits, and Hang-ups i think they called them. Notice how the line between weaknesses, sins, sufferings, chemical addictions, and thinking automatically blurs.
* Materialism
* Depression
* Divorce
* Alcoholism
* Eating Disorders
* Anger
* Co dependence
* Suicidal thoughts
* Selfishness
and basically just add every 'negative' thing on the planet in the eyes of the church.

Again; basically, the 'cure' for everything is to show up at church and start believing. No treatment center, no therapy, no development of critical thinking. No strength of character. In fact, their first "Principle" in the Road to recovery, as set forth by Rick Warren, is to admit "I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable." Uh...really? Whatever happened to free will? To the ability to choose and distinguish between right and wrong? I thought those were pretexts of the church?

(To be fair; I have the same complaints about the 12 step programs, which are anything but secular. You have to admit there that you're a big steaming pile of shit with no value until something outside of you stepped in and made you whole. Whatever.....but that's a rant for another day.)

A separate sheet identifies the following issues (SEXUAL/PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL ABUSE) as pertaining to the WOMEN'S GROUP.
ERROR! Wrong answer...try again! You just screwed a male survivor up entirely. Let them know that their feelings are invalid. That they must be from another planet if they're a man dealing with such matters. Let them know that this space is not a safe place for them. Teach them to remain silent and repressed and to handle it on their own. GOOD JOB! You're off to a great start!

And I never thought someone could bastardize The Beatitudes, one of the only decent parts of The Judeo-Christian Bible, for my money. But they did. Supposedly, the B's were used as basis for those 8 Principles.....but you could have fooled me.

more to follow......