H&T
Are you someone who has struggled to free yourself from an addiction? Then you know that it isn’t as easy as just making a decision. You may be perfectly willing, and totally done with the problems that their addiction is causing, but you relapse over and over again. You have gone to church, read a ton of self-help books, and joined the gym, but you keep on using. What gives?
For almost 100 years now AA has helped people walk away from alcoholism. They use a method called the 12 steps to learn how to live a life of sobriety, and clean up some of the mess of the past. Similar groups help with dozens of other addictions. Whatever your drug of choice (D.O.C.), there’s a 12-step group for you.
Him & Them has identified a couple of issues with the current “Anonymous” programs. First is the fact that they haven’t improved the program since the 1930’s. The fact that science has spent decades studying how best to help someone walk away from addiction doesn’t seem to matter to them. They like their programs the way they are, and resist any improvements. Having that perspective is fine if it works for you, but there are simple changes which can be easily done. Unfortunately, they seem to only be done in clinical settings with professionals.
AA views addiction as a spiritual malady, and treats it as such. The creators were Christian, but in an attempt to be less offensive to peoples of other religions, and those who had a serious grudge against the church of their childhood, they used phrases such as “higher power” and “god of your understanding”. This brings us to a second identified problem. Many Christians are uncomfortable with a vague god that is created by each individual. They wish to unashamedly claim that their Creator is God and His son Christ is Lord of their lives.
What currently exists is a medical community that follows the science, but relies on various “anonymous” groups to provide the spirituality. At the same time, 12 step groups follow a spiritual course, but many of their members seek out medical care on the side from professionals if they have good insurance or the resources to pay for it out of pocket. Him & Them wishes to merge these two viewpoints and use 12-step principals, along with 21st century science, and a bold declaration that Christ is King. Professionals are quite helpful when needed, and members of Him & Them are encouraged to get medical care and psychological screening early on in their sobriety quest.
There should be no animosity inferred toward AA or any of the D.O.C. specific 12 groups. The view of Him & Them is that anything that helps an addict to walk away from their bondage, and doesn’t directly conflict with God’s word, is a good thing. There can be no true relationship with the Creator of the universe as long as addiction and self-will run riot dominates your life. Get Sober! H & T is simply another tool available to anyone seeking a transformed life.
Peace,
Don
