So far, most of this kind of resistance seems to me to be poorly educated both about the realities of the recovery process and about the distinctively Christian convictions we bring to this process. Of course, even uneducated criticism can hurt. Even when it is rooted in ignorance, it can still discourage and feed our denial systems. For that reason, we need to expect resistance and to plan appropriate responses in advance. Christians are not, of course, the only people who must sustain their recovery in a sometimes hostile environment.
Recovery always takes place in a hostile environment.
No recovering alcoholic can avoid advertisements for alcohol. Nor can recovering sex addicts avoid the sexploitation so common in the media. Recovering codependents will find that people remember fondly the days when they were more 'helpful'. In addition to these difficulties, Christians in recovery will not be able to avoid suggestions from fellow Christians that we don't have enough faith or that we would be better by now if we just prayed about it and trusted God. By far the best response to criticism of recovery is to tell the truth.