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.  

Demons | Counseling | ACBC Exam Question #46

24. Is there any place in biblical counseling for casting out demons? In your answer, include your position on demonic activity in the post-apostolic era and the biblical methodology of dealing with it.

                I do not feel that casting out demons ought to be part of biblical counseling in the post-apostolic era, no. Casting out of demons during the ministry of Jesus and the apostles (because he gave them this authority) was to prove Christ’s deity and authenticate the His message and that of the apostles.  It was a method used by God for a certain time in history, but because we now have the full cannon of Scripture, and a complete understanding of Christ, and the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer this type of spiritual activity is no longer needed.  Yes, demonic activity is real in our modern world, without question.  Scripture does not deny that.  Of unbelievers the Word says;

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Believers are warned; “…do not give the devil an opportunity.” (Ephesians 4:27), “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (6:11), “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7), “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

                Our role as counselors however is not to involve ourselves with demonic activity, Scripture nowhere commands this.  We are to evangelize the unsaved, and aid our believing counselees in sanctification through the Word of God.  Scriptural directives regarding demons and the devil would include; resisting, fleeing and using the Bible to stand firm on God’s truth.    As ambassadors of truth we need to be wise to; “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)  Keeping counseling sessions based on Scriptural truth is essential, exorcism and casting out demons is not Scripturally based, and need not be practiced to lead someone to the Word, and walking in right relationship with Him. 

                It is impossible for a believer to be indwelt by a demon (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20).  “…God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth…” (1 John 1:5b, 6)  It is diametrically opposing to suggest that a believer could possibly be under the power of Satan.  And the goal of counseling an unbeliever ought to be their salvation, exorcism isn’t what they need, the Gospel of Christ is.  

ENDings for the best and worst case senarios | ACBC Counseling Exam Question #45

23. List several reasons for terminating a counseling case. Answer this for cases terminated because of spiritual change (growth) and spiritual hardening (failure to comply).

                Counseling is not meant to be a lifelong process (as discipleship is) in a believer’s life.  Because it’s intention is to intervene when the counselee requires aid of another in their walk with Christ is the hope is that in due time the one-on one counsel will no longer be required as the counselee gains understanding of truth, independence, and a pattern of obedience in their life in the area they came to counsel for.  Occasionally counseling cases must end due to a counselee’s failure to comply, in which case there is no progress being made, or willingness on the part of the counselee.  These situations are unfortunate, but a counselor cannot force a counselee into yielding to Scripture or Biblical change, so it is sometimes best for the process to end until the counselee is willingly responsive.

                When a counseling case has met the intended purpose of using God’s Word to discern thinking and behaviour that God wants to change, for the benefit of the counselee, and the glory of God; helped our counselee become God’s kind of person; becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ then logically you want to send them out to live their lives for the Lord, and serve others.  For example if a counselee came in with the issue of anxiety/worry and over a period of several sessions came to see that worry is sin, that it revealed a heart of disbelief in God’s character, and has with a personal plan using Scripture, prayer, and accountability seen growth and the putting off of worry and replacement with faith and gratitude towards God then this person is ready to finish their counseling sessions at this time.  It does not require the person to have totally eradicated worry from their life, but to have a working plan in place, be practicing repentance when they fail, and seeing progress towards less and less anxiety, and more peace and confidence in the person of Christ in their life.  In Galatians 6 we read that we need to bear one another’s burdens in the body of Christ, and then; “The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.” (Galatians 6:6)  When our counselee can testify of God’s Word changing them, and show evidence in their lifestyle that is Biblical change in that specific area of sin for which they came, then they can “graduate” from this season when counsel intervention was required. 

                When a counselee is non-compliant to receiving truth from Scripture, refusing to change the sessions have no value in their lives, and the case must be closed until the heart of the counselee changes.  This is hard to do, and difficult for a counselor, but we cannot do the work of the Holy Spirit, or the Word of God in a person’s life. Scripture speaks strongly; “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15)   Wasting time with a counselee bent against the work of God in their lives is futile, it can be best to move on to the next willing person and pray that God changes that individual’s heart.  For example; a counselee may come in and string out a long sob story of parental neglect, and blame their inability to keep down a job on their parents who “didn’t teach them necessary life skills”.  In doing a little research outside the counseling room you as the counselor come to discover that the counselees’ parents are respectable citizens, have done their best by their daughter/son, and they are simply lazy, and unwilling to work hard for a living, giving up easily when things become challenging.  In counseling sessions you seek to help the counselee see their faulty thinking and blame shifting, urging them to take responsibility for their own choices, attitudes, and actions.  This only results in them becoming defensive, angry, and walking out of sessions.  After several attempts you come to conclude that this counselee will not accept Scriptural truth or responsibility, so speaking in love you tell them they are welcome to come back when they are prepared to accept God’s Word about their situation, and welcome the help you are seeking to offer, but until then the sessions are unfruitful. 

                Though Scripture says; “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” (Proverbs 19:20) We as counselors cannot force compliance. It brings great comfort to take heart as counselors that it is never our responsibility to change a person.  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)  God Himself will always continue to work in the lives of Christians.  He after all commits to; “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)  Yielded or not, God will pursue, love and discipline His own.              

Biblical View of Emotions

22. Develop a biblical view of emotions. Use both the Old and New Testaments in your answer.  How can emotions be changed biblically?

Emotions are; “an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.”¹ Emotions are a God given part of our human make up.  We don’t make them happen, they are causes of our environment, involuntary reactions that occur mentally, some with biological effects also (tears, sweating, increased heart rate, etc.). “We need to think biblically and theologically about emotions. Every emotion itself is not automatically sinful. It is what motivates our feelings and what we do with and how we respond to our immediate felt experiences that are crucial in identifying the nature (health/holiness) of our emotional life.”¹

Here are two passages where emotions are conveyed; “…but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:5)  “So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food…..Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” (1 Kings 21:4,7) 

There are passages referring to people feeling fear (Matthew 10:28), anxiety (Philippians 4:6), wrath/anger (Proverbs 15:18), sadness (Nehemiah 2:2, 1 Samuel 1:8), grief (Genesis 26:35, 2 Samuel 18:33, Job 6:2, 17:7, Psalm 31:9, 119:28) joy (1 Samuel 18:6, 1 Kings 1:40,8:66, 1 Chronicles 15:16, 25,Ezra 3:12-13, Nehemiah 12:43, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 1:4, 3 John 1:4), despair (Deut. 28:65, Job 10:1, Psalm 27:3, Psalm 42:6, Ecclesiastes 2:2), hatred (Proverbs 10:12, 13:24), familial love (Genesis 22:2, Genesis 37:4, Proverbs 3:12, 10:12, 13:24) friendship love (1 Samuel 18:1, Proverbs 17:17), and marital love (Genesis 24:67, Genesis 29:18, Hosea 3:1, Song of Solomon 5:1, 7:10, Proverbs 5:19, Ephesians 5:33).  These are just a selection of emotions, and Scriptural references, there are many in the Word of God. 

“God designed your emotions to be gauges, not guides. They’re meant to report to you, not dictate you. The pattern of your emotions (not every caffeine-induced or sleep-deprived one!) will give you a reading on where your hope is because they are wired into what you believe and value — and how much.”² Because our natural man is bent towards sin we should not trust our emotions to dictate our choices, justify our reasoning, or be our bearing on what is right or wrong (Jeremiah 17:9).  Feelings or emotions themselves are not sinful but can easily lead us into sin.  For example; anger can lead to words of wrath or violent acts.  “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26) would indicate that we do have a choice, and can use anger biblically.   If we address the individual/group; speak truth lovingly (Ephesians 4:15) confront them (Matthew 18:15-17), and pursue peace (Romans 14:19, Hebrews 12:14) we are responding biblically with to our emotion of anger.  Elsewhere in Scripture we find commands to bring our thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), set our minds on eternal/heaven (Colossians 3:2), not be anxious (Philippians 4:6) but think on what is true, lovely, excellent, praiseworthy… and peace will result (Philippians 4:8,9).  Often Scripture prescribes a perspective change which results in a change of emotions; “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2), “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.” (James 4:9) “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” (Psalm 42:5)  When we view our circumstances in the light of eternity, and with an understanding of His goodness then our we can gain control of our emotions and submit joyfully to His will, plan and purposes in our lives (Romans 8:28,29, James 1:2-4, 12, 2 Corinthians 4:17).  Emotions can be an asset in bringing us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), revealing our hearts, and a fuel to action.  We get to choose how we deal with emotions and are responsible to God for our actions.       

¹ Bob Kellerman http://www.rpmministries.org/2014/06/the-emotional-life-of-jesus-lets-be-good-bereans-out-there/ ² www.dictionary.com  ³ Jon Bloom http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/your-emotions-are-a-gauge-not-a-guide