Speak The Truth

Episode Notes: The Imago Dei; we are made in God’s image, and we’re to be imaging(mirroring)who God is in order to bring him glory. There is no Imago Dei in humanistic thought, it's just the id, superego, etc. that there is nothing inherently wrong with man, its just the impact and influence of his environment.  The “S” word; sin isn’t even a category in humanism.  A scenario of adultery would be blamed on something in the brain, some disorder, manic episode of bipolar, etc, but wouldn’t be looked at as sin.  In biblical counseling, we’re to go beyond just reducing sin to behaviors, but we want to acknowledge its a spiritual disease that still has influence on what we’re thinking, feeling, and ultimately act.     Jesus points out the real problem with our hearts, our propensity to try and serve two masters - we will functionally love the one and hate the other. Masters of our flesh and pursuing our desires, or pursuing God and his will.  There are huge differences between these worldview’s; even the category of forgiveness is is lost in translation. Humanism would treat forgiveness as an emotional process, not a moral command like a biblical worldview would treat forgiveness. A biblical worldview would say, forgiveness is the bases to work on my anger verses the humanistic view of process through your emotion and then forgive.   

Episode Notes: Establishing both views; secular worldview on anthropology and a biblical worldview of anthropology.  Humanism began to take an overt stance in psychology by Abraham Maslow, founder of humanistic psychology.  Humanism has man at the center of everything.  Egocentrism unfortunately has crept into the evangelical church with its ear tickling.  Symptom alleviation, better circumstances, etc.  Darwinian evolution had a huge impact on psychology.  The world started from primordial soup, and over billions of years, we evolved from fish to philosophers - being factious.  Freud - psychosexual development - all our human development has a foundation in our sexuality.  Id - darker side, tempted us, superego - our conscience, ego - the mediator  Our view of human nature drives our diagnostic framework.  Carl Rogers believed - non directional approach, given a positive direction, the client would find their potential and flourish.  Our view of human nature not only tells us what’s wrong but also provides a prescription to make things right.  Alfred Kinsey - father of propagating the sexual revolution.  Show Resources: Biblical Counseling Basics - Jeremy Lelek

Show Notes: Resisting big God theology in counseling: Is the Holy Spirit a gentlemen?  Is the Holy Spirit a gentlemen, would he ever impose himself when believers aren’t ready?  Does scripture teach this idea?  Phil. 2The New Testament, Galatians 5 for example, demonstrates that these two natures are against one another. One is of the flesh and one is of the spirit.   The flesh produces flesh, one will not come to god when they’re  ready.   Show Resources: The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich BonhoefferChosen By God - R.C. Sproul The illusion of a gentleman god - monergism article 

Show Notes:The Holy Spirit in counseling.  How does the Holy Spirit apply what Christ accomplished? He is the one who brings change, real change. Not behavioral modification, etc.  John 14:15-17  The Spirit is the one who brings about change, His timing.  Who is the Holy Spirit He regenerates God's people(jn. 3.5; Titus 3.5) He produces conviction of sin(Jn. 16.8) He reveals truth through God’s Word(Jn. 16.13) See the rest: pg. 122 of biblical counseling basics; its roots, beliefs, and future.  The third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit has claimed the terrain of human flourishing. Pg.122  How can we apply this to the local church?  The Holy Spirit is more committed to the process of change for an individual than we can accomplish. In other words, we don’t possess the power to make someone change, that is, and can only be accomplished by the Spirit of God.   God uses three change agents; people, circumstances, and spiritual disciplines.  Be public with our weaknesses  Show Resources Mentioned: When God Weeps - Joni Eareckson TadaJoni's talk from the 2017 Called to Counsel Conference - Video 

Show Summary:Our co-host, Jeremy launches right into a question that speaks to the tensions that exist within the christian community with psychology and theology. Eric provides a robust response that captures the reality of differing worldview’s within psychology, but  provides a persuasive wholistic response for Christians to do their research and take back psychology. Faith and science are not opposed to one another. However, psychology needs to be taken back by rendering it into biblical categories instead of humanistic categories - a must listen!  Jeremy’s question: tensions that exists within the christian community with psychology and theology? Every worldview has a view of psychology. Modern psychology was borne within the naturalistic worldview.  Modern psychology’s naturalism leaves out God (creator) Redemption ( the hope of man) we can’t self-actualize in a way that glorifies God, we’re dependent on him. It’s always going to be truncated and distorted with its conclusions.  As christians, we need to be doing our own research within our worldview. Center of modern therapy Self(anthropocentric) - its the religious system Center of  Biblical counseling Christ is the center (christocentric)  Made in the image of God Created us for himself Human flourishing is dependence on God through Christ by the Spirit.  The topic of autonomy in modern psychology  Autonomy is an illusion - biblically speaking According to a humanistic worldview, autonomy is a goal of leaving the past, forging myself, choosing to be what one wants to be.  Sanctification in his book Soul-brain  Underscores the intimacy of the immaterial and material unity and reality of our soul and brain - neuropsychology.  God working with us the way we are - our need to surrender our body to righteousness.  Biopsychosocial damage Weakness - condition that’s less than God’s design. Whether it’s biologically given, it can be experienced in the implications of living in a fallen world, dysfunctional families, traumatic experiences, etc.  We are made for communal living with God and experiencing his love.  Resources sites in the episode:God & Soul Care - Eric JohnsonFoundations For Soul Care - Eric Johnson 

Show notes:  Cultural view of depression Treats it like a disease, attributing it or reducing it to a chemical imbalance or a genetic disposition. These aren’t invalid, but it causes a quick diagnosis so it can be treated quickly. It can almost promise a remedy, which scripturally speaking, is much deeper, its more of a heart problem that has physiological and emotional implications. Therefore, culture has a very superficial view and resolution to depression, very much consistent with the medical model. This isn’t bad, its just incomplete and a truncated resolution because it doesn’t deal with the heart of a person which is where the root of depression is planted.  Medication implications - they don’t necessarily fix the problem, but ultimately mask the problem and often times creates new symptoms. As biblical counselors, we wouldn’t counsel clients to stop taking meds, but to seek their medical professional.  Placebo testing with depression medications demonstrated that the prospect of hope helped tremendously with those struggling with depression. If a placebo provided hope imagine what real hope can do for those depressed; the gospel provides a living hope to the hopeless.  General & Biblical Notes on Depression:Depression is a progression; when unbelief goes isolated, and it's allowed to reign and nothing else is pressing in on that like community groups, discipleship, etc. its very likely one can slip into a bout of depression.  Paul’s teaching on suffering is helpful. Gal. 6.1-5.   Imagine our community group leaders who respond in a Gal. 6.1-5 way?  Learning from depression - learning to preach the gospel to ourselves and having others in our lives to speak into them.  The gospel gap - gospel truth. Learning to orient our hearts in the place of sorrow.  Learning to abide in Christ Gospel Community is so necessary for those struggling with depression.  Show Resource Notes:Soul Care ConsultingJournal for biblical counseling Martin Lloyd Jones - Spiritual Depression Ed Welch - Stubborn Darkness 

Episode Summary:Curtis takes time to Demystify PTSD by removing the D out of it. It’s not an abnormal reaction to normal life, but it’s really a normal response to really extreme and difficult circumstances. PTSD is severely misunderstood, and in this episode Curtis offers a robust understanding to the nature and scope of PTSD. Episode Notes: How do we demystify PTSD?  With the Counselee, helping them understand what’s going on physiologically and spiritually as far as what they're facing because the body naturally responds to trauma, and the physiological implications of fight or flight that is associated with fear.  This isn’t just a military issue.  First responders experience a lot of trauma, as well as familial experiences and events. People respond to trauma differently, and there are a lot of factors that play into manifestations of trauma. Pre traumatic factors involves a lot around how one grew up, experiences, core beliefs, worldview, etc. All of these factors play into the way someone responds to suffering, hardship, and trauma.  Peri Traumatic - how are you responding to suffering, what was actually going on in the event itself, what happened to me, was it something I did, who was involved, etc.  Where to start with a PTSD case, first develop trust. Going into the time with humility, and ask good questions.  Ways for churches to best minister to those struggling with PTSD Disassociation, removing yourself from reality and entering back into a traumatic scenario.  Show Resource Mentions:Biblical Counseling Coalition 15:14 PodcastMighty Oaks Warrior ProgramDemystifying PTSDGarrett Higbee

Jonathan discusses his heart behind his book, "Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling", and as a pastor and biblical counselor, discusses the need for the local church to have marriage counseling available in the local church. He expresses the urgency for the local church to have a "culture of care" and to promote preventative ministries. This book is unique because it could be used for lay leaders, church leaders, and leadership development....A must have resource! A Few Points: There isn’t really anything available that speaks directly to lay people, church leaders who could use it as a resource., user friendly, helpful as soon as you pick it up. Using this book for leadership development would be extremely useful.Fieldstone grew outside of the church. Pastors move from scripture to life and counselors are trying to move from life to scripture. - For pastors who are preaching week to week;  if you’re trying to move from Scripture to life, all counseling is, is moving from life to scripture.Don’t counsel alone, bring others in with you. Reduplicate yourselves. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Promote  preventative ministries. Resources From Episode" Park Side churchFieldstone CounselingBiblical Counseling CoalitionCounsel for Couples 

Greg Wilson discusses the nature and scope of “Domestic Violence”, defined and explained.  The church hasn’t done well in this category of ministry.  Desecrating the image of God in another person. Where man has perverted the dominion that God gave man to rule and subdue the earth, but in man’s sinful state, he corruptly exerts power through violence.  Definition: the desecration of the image of God  through patterns of intentionally misusing power overtly or covertly in words or actions to gratify self.  We need to engender a little more fear in the church to reveal the reality and frequency of it.  Indicators of possible abuse Broadly, dominates control of emotional liberty, limiting relationships, finances,   elements of control. Gas lighting -  convincing the other spouse that they’re crazy, and thus gaining control over the other person. Colloquially, crazy making.   Triangulating tactics towards the counselor in counseling done through the perpetrator in counseling, so domestic abuse is happening in real time in the counseling session. Covert abuse. In domestic abuse cases, the counselor, if not careful, can sound like the abuser by telling the victim what they need to do.  Safety planing;  Short term plans Long term plans    In counseling, we need to help rescuing the oppressed, God did! In the church, we need to be rescuing the oppressed, not encouraging the them to stay in that situation.  Church; care before you correct on these domestic abuse cases.  Episode References:Soul Care AssociatesBrad HamBrick  Chris MolesDarby StricklandAssociation of Biblical CounselorsThe Village Church 

Show Notes: Paul  Tripp discusses his heart behind his recent book release on suffering, “Suffering: gospel hope when life doesn’t make sense”, which was largely due to his own recent experiences in suffering through acute renal failure. Listen as Paul shares the nature of suffering and our response to it. "Tweetable Tripp one-liners" from the episode  Suffering is spiritual warfare Suffering isn’t neutral, we never come to suffering empty;  we don’t suffer the thing your suffering, you suffer the way your suffering the thing your suffering.  We have a dark ability to trouble our own trouble.   Our bad theology is making a mess of our suffering.  God doesn’t need us to be healthy to use us; that’s a human way of thinking.  The move of grace is not from dependency to independency, but the move of grace is from independence to dependence.   We’re afraid to be honest and transparent because we don’t believe the gospel.  As Christians, we should be able to be the most honest community on the on the earth. As christians we struggle with believing the now-ism of the goepl of Jesus Christ. As christians, we need to stop having cosmetic relationships. God makes his invisible grace visible  by sending people of grace to give grace to people who need grace, that’s how it works, modeling that incarnational  living. Our weakness is God’s workroom. Episode Resource Links:Paul Tripp  Ministries - New Morning Mercies   Paul Tripp App