Episode 1131: Should Christians Hang Out In A.A. Meetings?

Episode 1131: Should Christians Hang Out In A.A. Meetings?

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For many Christians, that question comes with an extra layer: is it okay to sit in an A.A. meeting and still be faithful to Christ? Take 12 Recovery Radio tackles this head-on as host Monty Dale Meyer (the Monty’man) and co-host Roger McDiarmid chat through the question, “Should Christians hang out in A.A.

meetings?” With their usual mix of humour, music and straight talk, they speak to believers in recovery, churchgoers who are unsure about A.A., and anyone caught between church culture and the rooms. You’ll hear a clip from Pastor John Piper responding to an email from “Tanya”, a born-again believer who says, “I am five years sober from alcohol because I went to A.A.

and was miraculously delivered from the desire to drink.” Piper thanks God for her sobriety through A.A., but points out what he sees as “the most serious omission” in the programme: “The cross is missing. The atonement for sin is missing.” Monty and Roger partly agree, while also stressing that this gap is often in the fellowship, not the original literature.

Along the way, they keep things light with Monty’s “weekly whine” about modern buzzwords like “pivot” and “sus”, before shifting back to the serious question of how Christians can bring their faith into recovery spaces without turning meetings into a preaching platform. Key ideas keep coming back to love, service and honesty.

“Christians don’t need to choose between Christ and loving people and Alcoholics Anonymous,” Monty says, arguing that believers can attend A.A., stay grounded in scripture, and quietly carry hope to broken people who may never step inside a church. If you’ve ever wondered whether faith and the 12 Steps can sit side by side, this conversation might help you think about where you’re called to show up next.