Church Discipline at our Local Church | ACBC Exam Question #50

28. Does your church presently practice church discipline? If not, would you be willing to graciously encourage them toward this position?

                Yes, South End Fellowship Baptist Church of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada of which my husband and I have been members of for 10+ years practices church discipline.  They clearly follow Scripture (Matthew 18:15-20, Titus 3:9-11, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, 1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 6:1).  We met together with our Senior Pastor and his wife casually at our place last week to hear his heart and discuss this important Biblical mandate.  I requested he write a little “blurb” for me to include that reflected our churches doctrine and his personal convictions on this issue.  His response was;

“Church discipline is clearly mandated in scripture. So, to ignore it in a local church setting would not only be unhealthy, but unbiblical. A home without discipline is dysfunctional. A church that is unwilling to discipline is likewise dysfunctional. Someone once said to me, “I would far rather have my mother discipline me than my father. My mother used a spatula. My father used a belt and he was stronger!” I believe church discipline is like the mother disciplining. It is God’s way of softening the blow He Himself could levy if we left it up to Him. Carrying out church discipline is never easy. Some will think you are too soft, others too harsh. But if done properly, it will hopefully yield the fruits of repentance and restoration.”

                It is clearly the heart of South End Fellowship Baptist, the Pastoral staff, and members that restoration as outlined in James 5:19-20 is the goal of church discipline. “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (ESV) 

I am so thankful for our local church, it as an independent identity, our Pastoral staff, deacons and members are very much devoted to upholding Biblical truth in preaching, teaching, worship, outreach, ministry and all the faucets of the church.  If you would like to contact them their contact is information is; 

South End Fellowship Baptist Church

400 2nd Ave SE, Owen Sound, ON N4K 5T1       Phone # (519) 376-1550

Senior Pastor: Mark Lowrie

Associate Pastor: Chad Gordon

Worship Ministry: Tim Chambers

Church Administrator: Fiona Evison

Website: http://www.southendchurch.com/  includes under Contact/Staff pages opportunity to e-mail staff directly.  

Counselors I would Agree with | ACBC Exam Question #49

27. With which Christian counselors - if any - do you agree?  On which points do you agree with them and why?  Be specific and concrete with names and concepts.  Use two or three counselors as examples.

There are more and more truly “Biblical” counselors appearing on the scene, and being Canadian I’m sure many I've never heard of.  I am so encouraged and grateful that this movement is taking off as it is so needed in our culture and around the world.

 I would have to say, Dr. Steve Viars is a counselor I respect and appreciate, and would align with theologically and in practice.  Dr. Steve taught Biblical Counseling as a one week course at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, New York when my husband and I were students there in 2002.  This was my first real introduction to Biblical Counseling, it wet my appetite, gave me a foundation to build on, and having attended the Track #1, and #2 of the Counseling Conference at Faith in Indiana, I value his teaching, and highly respect his counseling and the leadership he has given in this growing movement.  The why and how of my counseling principles would be an outflow of his teaching.      

I have personally grown and deeply value Elyse Fitzpatrick as a speaker, writer, and though I have never been personally counselled by her, I respect and would agree with her counsel.  “Idols of the Heart” and “Counsel from the Cross” have been instrumental books in my own walk with God, and very practical as I minister truth in counseling.  I have heard her speak as well, and as an endometriosis patient, her session on “Sex and Sexual Problems in Marriage (Ladies only session)” was tremendously insightful, and we had a great heart to heart chat after that was truly a balm to my heart as a wife seeking to love my husband and honour the Lord.      

Finally, brothers Paul and Tedd Tripp have aiding in shaping and influencing my walk with God, counseling philosophy and practice through live conference  sessions, recorded videos, and books; “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands”, “Age of Opportunity”, “Shepherding a Child’s Heart”, “a Shelter in the time of Storm” and more.  I am thankful for their heart based approach, not behaviour modification, and their grace based counseling. 

I am very grateful for these people listed, and others who are “no names” in terms of the counseling world, but youth leaders, pastors, parents, co-missionaries, and friends who poured truth into my heart and mind through counsel and teaching over the years.  So blessed to part of God’s family and to have the opportunity to learn from godly men and women how to bring hope and help to other hurting souls.  

Counseling and Psychology Terms and Techniques | Biblical Analysis | ACBC Exam Question #48

26. Write a short paragraph on each of the following: healing of the memories, visualization techniques, 12-step and other recovery programs, self-image.  In your answer, define and give a biblical analysis of each concept.  (Do not guess.  Research these concepts)

                “Healing of the memories” refers to a process used by some psychologists and counselors in which they have counselees review/recover past memories and attempt to replace or “heal” them by adding Jesus to their remembrance of an experience, changing how they recall the past.  This psychology practice began in the 1940’s by Agnes Sanford, rooted in Freudian and Jungian theories. In her book “The Healing Light” Agnes Sanford writes; “So He cleansed the thought-vibrations that surround this globe as a purifying plant cleanses our drinking water, taking it in dirty, throwing it up into the sunlight, and sending it forth clean. So He removed the thundercloud of man’s hate and released the clear shinning of God’s love.”¹ Though some of her teaching and system of counseling is biblically based Agnes takes much liberty, and makes many theological mistakes in her approach to the Word, and it’s application to our lives. It is unbiblical and unwise to be involved in this type of process and deeming it “Biblical/Christian” counsel though it has become widely accepted in evangelical circles. “Inner healing is based upon the implication that we clearly need something more than God's love and forgiveness in order to love and forgive others who are perceived to have wronged us in the past.”²  

             “Visualization Techniques” refers to the theory that; “The key to achieving what you want—whether it’s a healthier body or increased confidence—may lie in your ability to visualize it. Here’s how to use mental imagery to become stronger, happier, and more effective.”³ What?  So, basically this practice presents to us that if we can think it, we can make it happen? Oh, really?  So, I’m 5’2” female dealing with chronic pain of endometriosis but if I really want to, I can visualize being a NBA star?  Oh, yeah?  How much $$, and how many sessions will that take?  I’m sorry… but come on!!!  What a pile of rubbish. Even if my goals for visualization techniques were lower, more realistic, let’s say I just wanted to be pain free, and the endometriosis gone, if I focus on it hard enough and will it to happen, it’s going to?  Not according to my doctor’s my test results, and my day-to-day reality.  I believe this to be a hope inducing theory that will produce no result, frustrating and pointless to the counselee, and definitely not Biblical. 

                “A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles (accepted by members as 'spiritual principles,' based on the approved literature) outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems.”⁴ At face value many of these programs can appear Biblical

and correct.  However it can easily become legalistic, the worship of a system rather than God, and it is very vague and allows for any view of God in it’s very core statement.  The third step to these programs is; “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”  What basis of truth is used to come to an understanding of God?  This is unclear and up to the individual’s own definition and practice, not defined by Scriptural truth. 

                 “Self-esteem, which is the positive values a person places on his or her sense of worth”⁵ is believed to be vital in a healthy person to live, enjoy relationships, and pursue their goals. Self-image is a very culturally hot topic, and many issues people face are diagnosed to be rooted in incorrect self-image. It is falsely believed and taught that at the core we are all good people.  This is scripturally incorrect (Romans 3:10).  When the focus on counseling is self and valuing your own being and opinion, this excludes God, totally enables idolizing, sin and serving self.  It’s a wrong foundation to build upon and counsel from.   

 In Scripture we read; “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)  Scripture, Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and the process of sanctification of believers ought to be the basis, the practice, the means through which we counsel.  It is important to be discerning, Biblical, and wise in sticking with truth according to God’s standard, and not mans’.      

¹ “The Healing Light”, Agnes Sanford, page 122

² http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/inheal.htm 

³ http://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/emotional-health/visualization-techniques-00100000103183/

⁴ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program

⁵ “Psychology”, Ciccarelli, Harrigan, Fritzley, page 501

Ministry of the Word Model | Professional Medical Model | ACBC Exam Question #25

25. What does it mean to minister the Scriptures in counseling? Contrast a “ministry of the word” model and a “professional medical” model.

                Ministering Scripture in counseling means to present Biblical truth and principles to a counselee, recognizing that it is the work of the Spirit to change the individual, and aid them in applying truth to their circumstances.  Depending on the counseling situation this may involve one or all of the following using the Word to accomplish; teaching on sin, seeking to bring counselee to accept Jesus as Saviour if unsaved, repentance, admonish, instill hope, encouragement, accountability, and instructional help implementing Biblical principles into daily living practice (2 Corinthians 7:8-10, Romans 14:19, 15:13-14, 1 Peter 3:15).  In 2 Timothy 2:7 after giving instructions Paul writes to Timothy; “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”  I believe this passage is a good indicator of what we as counselors do; bring them to truth, and what God does; enables insight, and change.  After all, Jesus said of the Spirit; “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)  This is the beauty and freedom of Biblical counseling.  Yes we have a huge responsibility to lead counselees to truth, creatively reach their hearts, helping them connect truth to their circumstances.  But, it is God at work, God’s Word, His Spirit who is the True Counselor (Psalm 32:8), the life changer.  We must remember and counsel under this understanding.

                Professional medical experts function on the physical level of human biological issues.  They do tests, assess symptoms and diagnose problems based on provable physical evidence of their patient.  This person has cancer, that person a broken limb, and so forth.  This is very helpful and necessary to our lives for physical health.  Biblical counselors ought to respect and take into consideration the physical health of their counselees, and work with medical doctors as outlined in my response to question #20.  Psychology though is not measurable or scientific, tested or proven by examination.  It uses secular ethics to treat issues in a person’s life, without recognizing God in any way.        

                Nouthetic counsel using the ministry of the word model is not intended to cure a physical ailment, that is the work of medicine.  Its’ purpose is to lead a person to Christ using the Word to reveal sin, independence, our need for a Saviour, and enable righteous living, thinking and lifestyle based on the principles of the Bible.  Because we have the authoritative powerful Word of God, it is not based on opinion or society’s standard (as psychology is and changes its’ methods and practices frequently).   God uses ordinary, fallible men and women to counsel from His infallible Word His truth and promises that none other can give.