Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
This psychotherapy launched a thousand lawsuits. Numerous individuals, some I have known personally, have falsely remembered and relived horrendous experiences that never happened. However, these memories take a terrible toll on the patient, as they keep reaching into the past for answers.
The source of many recovered memories are the therapist’s leading questions. When combined with drugs, hypnosis and/or suggestive dream interpretation, therapists can easily produce false memories that seem quite real to their patients. Even though this therapy is dangerous, has been debunked and has been the cause of thousands of lawsuits against recovered memory therapists, many Christian counselors are still practicing it.
The gospel teaches us to unconditionally forgive all the real and imagined offences against us. There is not a single suggestion in the New Testament that we should go back to our childhood for healing. Rather, remember what Paul said:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
-
1st Philippians 3:13-14
Dr. Robert Epstein, speaking against venting anger, says,
“The idea behind catharsis is that current psychological pain is the result of pent-up energy left over from unresolved trauma. Like a fluid trapped under high pressure, energy is vented when someone relives an old experience while expressing intense emotion.”
Many still believe that anger is some sort of force that you can bottle up, and that it is healthy to vent or let go. However, research has demonstrated just the opposite: when you express anger, it increases. When children, for instance, are encouraged to act out their anger, they become more aggressive and belligerent in their subsequent behavior. While people may initially feel relieved to "get it all out”, their anger does not go away. It actually (like an addiction) continues to grow and cause further problems.
The understanding that venting anger causes more anger does make sense, as all sin is addictive. The longer you practice any sin, the harder it will be to stop. However, with his help, God expects us to control our anger.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:
but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Proverbs 14:29
AND
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. - Ephesians 2:3
AND
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: - Ephesians 4:31
AND
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. - Colossians 3:8
As we go to the Lord, asking for forgiveness and learning to forgive, He will replace our frustration with peace.
Modern Psychology is not scientific; Yahoo News shared what it thought was the abuse of a psychologist. The psychologist however, claimed the therapy was within ethical guidelines, which is it?
For an example of variations and integration, search Google for 12 step programs. You will find hundreds of them; many of these therapies plainly contradict each other. Actually, there are hundreds of different psychotherapies of all kinds. Some are simply ineffective; some are dangerous. With integrationists, as well as with other psychologists, truth is contradictory and changeable. New truth replaces old truth as new truth is theorized, conceived or discovered. Are you willing to depend upon a truth that is changeable?
Step 1. Go out and find someone you can help; minister to them freely
and sacrificially.
Steps 2-12 Repeat step one. If this 12-step program does not help you with your depression, go through the program again.
Christians have preached the Gospel of Jesus for nearly 2000 years. Countless people have been healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, uncontrollable anger and depression. This Gospel never changes.
When you go to a counselor week after week, what do you talk about? Since none of the founders of modern psychology were Christian, you probably did not talk much about Jesus.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. - Romans 8:7
It is unfortunate that today many Christian leaders have tried to integrate this atheistic philosophy into their gospel.
When you become a disciple of Jesus, what do you talk about?
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. - 2nd Corinthians 5:15
AND
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. - Mark 12:30
To be always thinking on your dysfunction or on an overwhelming problem would have to be depressing, and at the least cause some sort of neurosis. To focus on God and His will, replaces depression with purpose.
There are Christian counselors who have rejected many of the tenants of modern psychology. However, there are still some major problems with problem-centered counseling.
The number one can describe six errors of problem-centered counseling. Therefore, I call them the one-errorisms. If problem-centered counseling did not have any other problems, these six alone would make it questionable for Christian use.
The one-hour restriction in a counseling session is for the counselor, not the patient. Supposing the counselor's patient is having a crisis and needs him while he is in the middle of counseling another patient? What if the patient is desperate and needs more time when it is three minutes before the next patient’s appointment?
It is not possible to have an intimate caring relationship with someone when you are seeing one patient after another, day after day, week after week, month after month. These relationships are always superficial, and seldom extend outside the counseling room.
Is this enough for someone in deep depression? Is the once a week schedule for the patient, or for the counselor? Do you think the counselor will be glad if his patient showed up at his house in the evening or on the weekend? This, like the structuring One patient after another, is because counseling is a business before it is a ministry.
This sets a pattern for long-term care. In time, this can develop into a dependency on the counselor instead of on the Lord. Compare this to a relationship of mutual care and encouragement by believers as they are growing together in Christ.
Most counselors charge the same amount per hour no matter what the particular illness is. However, nowhere in Scripture do we see the saints charge money to help the hurting. Nor did Jesus authorize charging fixed rates for delivering people from sin (the counselor may call it addiction, illness or some other name).
One may argue that you pay a pastor; why not pay a counselor? This will become a problem when the pastor starts charging a fee in order to attend his church.
This is the counselor-patient relationship. The counselor looks down on the patient because of all his knowledge and training, while the patient looks up to the counselor in complete submission.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. - Matthew 23:10 -12
AND
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. - James 3:1-2
As disciples, we are the patient and Jesus alone is the wonderful Counselor. It is wrong to esteem men too highly: when we do, their failings cause others to stumble.
How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only - John 5:44
How do you know that your counselor is not suffering from depression, substance abuse or some other criminal or self-destructive behavior? If you do not believe this is a problem check out www.psychsearch.net to learn how serious the criminal behavior really is.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. - Psalms 119:11
AND
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. - Hebrews 13:9
Paul shared the following admonitions in his letters to Timothy:
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, - 1st Timothy 6:3-4
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- 2nd Timothy 1:7
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2nd Timothy 3:15-17
For nearly two thousand years, the Gospel of Jesus has delivered people from addictions and illnesses. He has given them sound minds. He has delivered countless believers, like myself, from mental illness. Finally, even in our trials He has given meaning and purpose.
You have a young women suffering from postpartum depression in your church. You can either
In order to see how you did on the test. Which of these options you would want done for you?
Written by Jeff Barnes
Thank you Martin & Deidre Bobgan for your ministry psychoheresy-aware.orgRecommended reading: Christ Centered Ministry or Problem Centered Counseling, by Martin & Deidre Bobgan.
