Life's Healing Choices: Rick Warren's Dance With Demons?

From the book, 12 STEPS TO DESTRUCTION: Codependency/Recovery Heresies by Martin & Deidre Bobgan

Serious Problems with Problem Solutions.

People are attempting to address serious problems. Some are suffering in relationships that have little or no resemblance to the kind of love demonstrated and taught in the Bible. Numerous people are entangled in their own destructive sinful habits and in the life-dominating sins of those around them. Relationships that are supposed to reflect the love relationship of Christ and His church may indeed more resemble a macabre dance of death.

Yes, there are serious problems. However, we question the diagnoses, answers, formulas and systems that are being offered in the name of help, in the name of love, and even in the name of Christ. Beneath many programs that purport to be Christian lurk ideas, philosophies, psychologies, and religious notions that are antithetical to biblical Christianity.

Codependency/recovery books, groups, programs, and therapists attempt to rescue people from what they believe to be unhealthy relationships. They give so-called codependents strategies to empower the self, build self-esteem, emotionally separate from others, and focus on their own
feelings, ideas and desires. Most systems of codependency and addiction recovery are based upon various psychological counseling theories and therapies and upon the religious and philosophical teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In short, such programs are based upon the wisdom of man and the worship of false gods.

While the Bible may be used, it is not used in its fullness nor as solely sufficient for all matters of life and conduct. Instead, the Bible is placed in a subservient role to support popular psychological theories, therapies, and techniques. Furthermore, God is repeatedly redefined according to the limited understanding of human beings.

Besides serious theological problems inherent in the codependency and addiction recovery movement, there are many questions about the effectiveness of such programs and about the high rate of recidivism. We will be citing research which shows that faith in recovery programs is misplaced because of their lack of proven effectiveness. There is no scientific reason to add the philosophies and psychologies of the recovery movement to the principles and promises in the Bible. And there are strong theological reasons not to.

In voicing our concerns we are not minimizing the problems being addressed. Instead, we believe the problems are even more serious than any of the propagators of popular programs and systems of help realize. While such programs aim at helping a person solve certain problems and unsatisfactory patterns of living, we must remember that there are eternal consequences.

In this book we will look at relationships in dire need of repair, at habitual attitudes and behaviors that characterize those who are now calling themselves “codependent,” and at the remedies and religious ideas offered through Twelve-Step recovery programs, therapy, and self-help books. And we will contrast them with what the Bible says. The purpose of this book is to point out the dangers of popular codependency and addiction recovery programs in order to encourage both Christians and nonChristians to turn to the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of problems. Our hope is that those caught in the riptide of habitual, life-dominating sin might find Jesus Himself sufficient for overcoming the power of sin. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

See related articles:

Life's Healing Choices: Rick Warren's Imitation Sanctification

Rick Warren's Life's Healing Choices: The Non-Addicted Version of Celebrate Recovery

Life's Healing Choices: Rick Warren Bends The Beatitudes For A Better Life

Life's Healing Choices: Rick Warren's Psychology Driven Therapy