Christ Centered Ministry
not
Problem Centered Counseling
Beth-haran is not a psychiatric facility. Modern psychology is not based on, and
indeed often contradicts the basic teachings of Jesus Christ. Lets look at a few
of the differences.
On Personal Suffering
Modern Psychology
Removing personal suffering is the goal. Trying to build
you up by telling you how good you are (high self-esteem) is supposed to make
you feel good. Often, when counseling fails to help the patient, he is medicated
to deal with depression. While this may deaden the pain, problems obviously
increase as the result of being drugged.
The Scriptures
Our suffering is meant to bring us to Christ. Suffering
often leads us to repentance. It is the hard times that build character in our
lives if we let them.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
[temptation here means struggles against sin or adversity] knowing this, that
the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1st Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:28 And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.
Suffering is neither inevitable nor forever. Some may say that they cannot
forgive, however Jesus heals through forgiveness. Teaching us, and empowering us
to forgive, as he forgave, us removes the bitterness that is a major cause of
depression. Moreover, the realization that Jesus has forgiven us is healing,
where self justification and self-esteem is not.
Jesus heals by giving us a reason to live. Many of our young people are finding
out that living for pleasure is not enough. For those who find it, serving the
Most High God, Who created heaven and earth, gives real meaning to life.
Jesus gives us the power to overcome sin in our lives. Often our suffering is a
direct result of our sinning. Jesus defines right and wrong, then gives one the
power to overcome.
Psychology
Sin is often called by other words such as 'addiction' or
'disease'. This often places the responsibility of sin on someone or something
else. Modern psychology offers about 400 different and ever changing types of
psychotherapy, many of which are contradictory one to another. While a few
therapies, like the 12 step program, may allow religion, most of those that do
(I don't know of an exception) will let you appeal to any God or force in your
life as a source for healing.
The Scriptures
It grieved Paul (Act 28:27) that the people refused to be
healed. Quoting Isaiah he said:
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with
their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them.
In 2nd Timothy 1:7 Paul said:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I have personally experienced this
healing in my own life.
Psychology
Modern psychology teaches that we should love ourselves.
Often we hear the question asked, "How can we love others as ourselves if we do
not love ourselves first?". The way this teaching has permeated Christianity one
might think that this was Jesus' central theme, however it is solely a product
of modern psychology.
The Scriptures
As a matter of fact, Jesus teaches us quite differently. In
Matthew 16:24-25 we read:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for
my sake shall find it.
Paul couldn’t have made it any clearer in 2nd Timothy 3:1-2:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
As clear as Paul's teaching is on self-love is, some still prefer man's fallible
and ever-changing wisdom to that of God's unchanging Word.
Psychology
Most psychologists, even Christian ones, teach that
self-esteem is essential to a healthy mind. However, since psychology is
contradictory, what is good to one counselor is bad to another.
Recently the headlines of a news article went something
like this: "Students in the US may have some of the lowest grades in the
industrialized world, but they do feel good about themselves.”
Some recent studies suggest that self-esteem training may
be harmful. It leads many students to overestimate their abilities. Our jails
are full of people with high self-esteem. One study even shows that people with
high self-esteem are more likely to be violent or racist.
Scientific American reports that teenagers "with high
self-esteem are less inhibited, more willing to disregard risks and more prone
to engage in sex." ("Exploding the Self-Esteem Myth," Jan. 2005; www.sciam.com).
In spite of the above, many psychologists believe that high
self-esteem is essential to mental health.
The Scriptures
The Gospel teaches us humility:
Paul urged:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the centurion answered Jesus:
Lord, I am not worthy
that thou shouldest come under my roof
John the Baptist said:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
Paul said, speaking of himself:
O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
In Luke 17:10 Jesus said:
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are
commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done
that which was our duty to do.
If Jesus really did die a horrible death for our sins, we
have nothing of ourselves to be proud about. If one gets his belief system from
the New Testament teachings of Jesus, he will know to take his mind off of
himself.
Psychology
Since its early days, psychotherapy
often centers on past problems. Somewhere in the past
is the key that will unlock the … well, I do not know, but
for $85 and one hour with a psychologist I am sure you can
find out.
The Scriptures
The Gospel teaches to forget those
things which are past, especially the problems.
Paul said in 1st Philippians
3:13-14
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.
Philippians 4:8: Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things.
We must forgive others for past wrongs
and then move on. If someone needs to forgive you, reconcile
and then move on. Do not keep revisiting these wrongs.
Recovered Memories
Psychology
This is the psychotherapy that 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 law suits against recovered memory therapists,
many Christian counselors are still practicing it.
The Scriptures
The gospel teaches us to
unconditionally forgive all real and imagined offences
against us. There is not the remotest suggestion in the
Gospel that we should go back to our childhood for healing.
Rather, as Paul said in 1st Philippians 3:13-14,
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.
Venting Your Anger
Psychology
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.”
Most people still believe that anger is
some sort of force that can be bottled up, and that it is
healthy to vent or let go. However, research has
demonstrated just the opposite: when anger is expressed 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 continues to grow and
cause further problems.
The Scriptures
The understanding that venting anger
causes more anger makes sense, as all sin is addictive. The
longer you practice any sin, the harder it will be to stop.
With his help however, God expects us to control our anger.
Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great
understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth
folly.
Ephesians 2:3 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 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
As we go to the Lord with our anger and
seek His will, He replaces our frustration with peace.
There are Hundreds of Different
Psychotherapies
For a news article on a case of abuse by a Psychologist click here for an
article From Yahoo News.
Psychology’s 12-step program.
For an example of variations and
integration search
Google
for the 12 step program. You will find hundreds of different
12 step programs; 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?
Christ’s 12-step program for healing depression.
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 doesn’t help you with your
depression, repeat the program again.
There is one Gospel of Jesus that has
been preached for nearly 2000 years. Countless people have
been healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, uncontrollable
anger, and depression. This Gospel never changes.
The Center of Our Focus
Psychology
Week after week, when you go to a
counselor, what do you talk about? Since none of the
founders of modern psychology were Christian men, they
probably didn't think it was important to talk about the
Gospel of Jesus.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be.
It is unfortunate that
today many Christian leaders have tried to integrate this
philosophy into their gospel.
The Scriptures
When you become a disciple of Jesus
what do you talk about.
2nd Corinthians 5:15
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.
Mark 12:30 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.
To always be 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 the incredible God and on His will replaces
depression with wonder and purpose.
One-Errorisms of Problem Centered
Counseling
There are Christian counselors who have
rejected many tenants of modern psychology. However, there
are still some major problems with problem centered
counseling. At first this accusation may seem strange, so do
not judge until you have heard me out.
There are six errors of problem
centered counseling that can be described using the number
one. 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.
One-hour
The one-hour restriction of a
counseling session is for the counselor, not the patient.
Supposing the counselor's patient is having a crises 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?
One-patient after another
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.
One-day a week
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.
One-week after another
This sets a pattern for long-term care.
This can in time 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.
One-fixed price
Most counselors charge the same amount
per hour no mater 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.
One-up one-down
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.
Matthew 23:10 -12
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.
Jam 3:1-2 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.
The truth is that, as disciples, we are
all '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.
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which
receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that
cometh from God only?
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.
The Bibles Sufficiency:
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against thee.
Hebrews 13:9 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.
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,
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind. 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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 depression.
Finally, even in our trials He has given meaning and
purpose.
One Question Test:
You have a young women suffering from
postpartum depression in your church. You can either
-
Recommend that she go see a counselor. Assure
her that after a few therapy sessions she will feel better.
-
Send some of the ladies in the church over to
go visit her (or go yourself). Bring some prepared meals
over. Make pleasure out of tidying up the place. In some
cases you can take her kids out to the park or run errands
for her. Or maybe just visit, but do not judge her for being
tired and depressed (as Job's comforters did).
In order to see how you did on the
test, ask yourself which of these options you would want
your church to do for you?
My Thanks to Martin & Deidre Bobgan for their
research and ministry!
Recommended reading: Christ
Centered Ministry or Problem Centered Counseling by
Martin & Deidre Bobgan.
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