THE PLACE & PERIL OF COUNSELLING IN THE CHURCH

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1 MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 22 August 2004 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) Website: * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev Jack Sin (HP: ) THE PLACE & PERIL OF COUNSELLING IN THE CHURCH Introduction 1 Tim 6:20 says, O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called. A New Interest Today The Word of God exhorts us to admonish one another (Rom 15:4), to comfort (1 Tim 4:18), encourage and build up one another (1 Thes 5:11). All the words suggest an edifying relationship among believers that will require some form of counselling and devotion to God s Word in a meaningful and God-honouring demeanour. However, these have not been done properly and biblically in the Church over the past few decades. A so-called Christian psychological therapeutic movement has infiltrated the Church over the past decades and have drawn great interest from its adherents, recruiting new followers for their paradigms and practices. The Church is plagued by a serious problem today. A surprising number of so-called experts have arisen that appears to have the cure-all to all kinds of psychological problems today. Many pastors feeling inadequate, have surrendered their ministries to these Christian professionals who have taken centre stage in the management of lives in the local Church. While one appreciates the sincere desire to impact lives for the better, one is greatly concerned by the humanistic approach taken by some that integrate earthly psychological principles derived from unbiblical and unverified theories and apply it to born-again believers without the concurrence of Scriptures. While psychology attempts to be the study of the soul for mankind, we humbly assert that Scriptures is the only reliable manual that God has given us for true soul-study. It is the only comprehensive and sufficient manual God has authored for the task of nurturing a soul through the vicissitudes of life in the process of biblical sanctification (2 Tim 3:16,17, Isa 40:8, 2 Pet 1:19-21). Psychoheresy is not just a minor diversion from sound biblical doctrine. It is one of the most subtle means of undermining the faith today. It is also one of the most rapidly expanding features of the Christian community. In spite of a growing public awareness of problems in the Psychology Industry, the Christian counselling business continues to flourish. An ever-increasing number of Christians are becoming professional dispensers of psychotherapy and an equally expanding Christian clientele seeks their services. Under the label of science, Psychology paraded to the world as a so-called scientific study of all sorts, presenting itself as a panacea for troubled souls. The mental

2 health system will never be the same again, said R Christopher Barden, a psychologist, lawyer and President of the National Association for Consumer Protection in Mental Health Practices. It is indeed shocking that many, if not most forms of psychotherapy currently offered to consumers are not supported by credible scientific evidence (Martin Bobgan, The End of Christian Psychology, Santa Barbara, East Gate Publishers 1997,105). Despite its bold claims, psychology or psychotherapy, (which is not verifiable or testable is at best a pseudo-science that has the external characteristics of empirical science) attempts to employ so-called scientific methods of investigation diagnosis and analysis but failed miserably as science over the past 150 years. Since Sigmund Freud s times, selfimage theories, positive thinking, hypnosis, co-dependency times split personalities syndrome, has been sold to the public as though it is Bible truth. It is still popular today even though there is nothing scientific or empirically sound about the theorems. The new buzzword today is mental and emotional wellness, adopting a holistic approach to health matters which is a popular concern today. Habitual sin is touted as sickness with environmental reasons. The Bible teaches that the root problem is the total depravity of man (Rom 3:10, 2 Cor 7:10). Therapists are replacing the biblical perspective of the problems of a sinful and depraved generation and its solution from God s Word based on sanctifying grace and forgiveness of penitent souls to a new zenith of managing or soothing sinners with a psychological salve. Moral and ethical woes are taken lightly as a malady of our parents or society that has made us the way we are and not a penitent dependence and intercession before the All-Mighty God, with absolute obedience to holy, sufficient Scriptures and a keeping of the righteous commandments of God. To mix Scriptures with psychology and sell it as a spiritual elixir for all cures is deadly compromise and unwarranted and has no heavenly mandate. We desperately need to humble ourselves before the Thrice Holy God and admit our depravity and deficiency and God s sovereignty and sufficiency and take personal responsibility to repent and humbly follow Christ, taking up the cross daily, denying self (Luke 9:23). These are vital things to be prayerfully considered today if we are to maintain our Christian testimony and witness before a dying world. 1 Thes 5:21 says, Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. We have to be discerning and vigilant in these last days of spiritual compromise and declension. Background of Key Psychologists Consider the background of some of the so-called psychologists in Freud and Jung. Jung repudiated Christianity and became involved in idolatry and the occult. He renamed and replaced everything having to do with biblical Christianity with his own mythology of archetypes. As he developed his theories, his archetypes took shape and served him as familiar spirits. One such personal familiar spirit that helped Jung develop his theories was Philemon. Jung also participated in the occult practice of necromancy (ie consultation of the dead). Jung mythologised Scripture and reduced the basic doctrines of the Christian faith into esoteric gnosticism (a heresy of the first century) and many are still studying his theories in Psychology today as though it is truth. Sigmund Freud who was an atheist believes that religion is a neurosis and was supportive of evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin. Freud was later exposed to be involved in idolatry and the occult. He collected a large number of ancient Greek, Roman, Oriental and Egyptian artefacts, including rows of statuettes arranged on his desk and around his office. One person who knew the family said that of Freud, The artefacts were

3 not only decorative. He used some of them to help him in his writings. Freud and Jung each turned their own experiences into a new belief system called psychoanalysis. Freud denied the spirituality of man by identifying religion as an illusion and calling it a neurosis. Jung attempted to debase spirituality by presenting all religions as mythology and fantasy. Many contemporary psychotherapists have not moved very far from these two positions although some tried to. They often present religion as an illness at worst and as a myth at best and such are the deadly beliefs and practices of the many proponents of psychotherapy. There are approximately more than 400 approaches to psychotherapy and none of its underlying psychologies can be reconciled biblically (Bobgan, 105). Many Christian psychologists depend heavily on Carl Rogers non-directive approach; another on the Freudian questionable unconscious determinants of behaviour; another on William Glasser s reality, responsibility and right and wrong and another on Albert Ellis Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. Numerous other so-called Christian psychologists, all too willing to evaluate and accept psychological ideas in the light of biblical teaching use other mutually conflicting systems and multifarious contradictory techniques for their therapy and counselling (89). This is not only confusing but also damaging to the spiritual health of the recipients and that of the church as a whole. The predominant mode today using Christian psychologists was that of active reconstruction and relabelling ; either by reinterpreting psychological facts from the perspective of theological facts or reinterpreting theological facts from the perspective of psychological facts. The integrational approach, while complimentary of psychology, often ends up being derogatory of the Bible and one has no part in it. How dangerous is this growth of Christian psychology in the Church today? Bobgan comments: We believe it is a diabolical means by the evil one of infusing the Church with the world s ways and ideas. It takes the eyes of believers off Christ and to self and worldly panaceas instead. It substitutes the Word of God with the wisdom of men and it replaces the work of the Holy Spirit with human ingenuity. It feeds the flesh and hinders spiritual growth and is insidious and pernicious to God-honouring healthy spiritual walk with Him (83). Conclusion God s infallible, sufficient, preserved and authoritative Word is His only revelation to mankind about Himself and about the nature of humanity; how people are to live and how they can be counselled and transformed for the better. Jesus died to give us everlasting life to those who are born again through saving faith in Him and the Holy Spirit enables believers to live according to God s Word and not by some man-made psychological principles or therapies (Tit 3:5, John 20:31). Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did not call people to an external methodology but to a saving and sanctified relationship that affects every aspect of a person s life by the Word alone and not by man-made psychological theories (Rom 10:9,10). 1 John 4:1-3 say, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already

4 is it in the world. One is not against Bible-based counselling which one believes there is a proper place in the Church. Jay E Adams s approach on nouthetic counselling which is based wholly on Scriptures alone, is acceptable as a biblical counselling approach in the Church today but not the integrationist psychological counselling of Larry Crabb, Minirth & Meier and others in the same camp. May the Lord give us the discernment to distinguish the two and the courage to follow that which is right according to His Word. Jack Sin (For more information on the subject, read Martin Bobgan s The End of Christian Psychology, Santa Barbara, Eastgate Publishers: 1977 and John MacArthur and Wayne Mack, Introduction to Biblical Counselling Dallas: Word Publishing, 1994 and JE Adams, Christian Counsellors Manual, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973). * * * * * * * * * Call to Full-Time Ministry I thank God for opening my eyes to the reality of the coming judgment of God on mankind through the study of the Book of Revelation by Elder (Dr) Goh Kee Tai in 2000 during Pandan Church Adult Bible Class and later in 2001 by Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow during the FEBC night class. The message is that there is no escape for mankind outside Christ. The only escape from this judgment is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the privilege people with the message of salvation. The only solution is in declaring the gospel of salvation, that Only Jesus Saves. As we sang the song The Last Hour during the FEBC night class, I felt the urgency of the message, we were as it were transported to the gates of heaven to behold the coming glory. The sunset burns in western sky, upon the air a warning cry. The siren wails from tower to tower, brethren this the last last hour. This was before the infamous 11 September 2001 attack on the twin towers in New York. The twin towers signify the epitome of man s supremacy and trust in Satan s economic power and not in God, like in the tower of Babel. I was privileged to go for Holy Land Tour in 1998 led by Elder George Foong and Elder Lim Kim Hee. I was 30 years old that year. On 30 September 1998 morning, during breakfast at Mount Scopus Hotel just outside old Jerusalem city, a Indian lady travelling with us gave me and my wife 2 verses Deut 28:8 and Deut 28:13. She said the Lord is speaking to you through these two verses. Do claim the promise. The Lord healed her from fatal leukemia a year back. Together with her husband they were planning to go to Australia for full time theological studies after the pilgrimage. Deut 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Deut 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: The LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail My Chinese is Yi Wei. Yi means one and Wei means Tail in sound. Rev Timothy Tow said in night class on Calvin s Institutes, the pastor is the head and the tail. I believe the Lord has a work for me in the pastoral ministry. During the Holy Land Pilgrimage the Lord gave me the following words to the chorus of the hymn Cleanse Me which I have not shared with anyone until now. Met thee O Lord in Scopus Salem, Received thy calling and thy cleansing power. That I may be deemed fit for Master s use. To proclaim the risen Christ & coming King. Our Senior Pastor Dr SH Tow had also a word of encouragement. [2 Sept 01 Dear Aik Wee Thank God for your good part in our team work. I believe the Lord has greater things for you. Press on toward the mark. Acts 6:4. Give yourself to prayer and the

5 Word. Affectionately SH Tow] I believe the call in Acts 6:4 is in the pastoral ministry. I was reading the book The Life and Diary of David Brainerd on 16 June 2004 where there was a biography of Jonathan Edwards by Philip E. Howard, Jr. Jonathan Edwards was invited to be assistant to his grandfather, the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, pastor of the Congregation Church at Northampton, Massachusetts. He accepted the call Sister Lillian Chin gave me a verse in 1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. This sister called time again to ask when I m joining FEBC full time. The Lord sends His servants to ask and make me think again. Through various conversations with Rev Jack Sin, he saw the opening for pastoral work with mission emphasis especially to support the outreaches of Calvary Pandan Church. During a mission trip with Sister Carol Lee, she asked if I had considered the full time ministry. I shared with her my struggles. During the visit of Dr Paul Hoole he spoke specifically of answering the call for missionary pastors in the church. The message is to stop giving excuses about wife, career, finances. Had a time of sharing with him and he again urged to make a decision. I am reluctant to part with my present job where we are financially comfortable as a family. Why should I give it up? Why can t I continue to be full part-time? But again, I m restless and unable to have peace in this state. I have spoken to my department manager ten months ago and he is aware that I m waiting on the Lord. During Rev Peter Clements recent visit to Singapore, he spoke of his call to the full time ministry. I could understand his struggle because I m going through the same now. As the children s hymn that my daughter Lois taught me from her kindergarten. Let the Lord have His way In your life every day There s no rest, there s no peace Until the Lord has His way Place your life in His hand Rest secure in His plan Let the Lord, let the Lord have His way. I felt no peace until I surrender myself to the Lord. Thank the Lord for also speaking to my wife on 25 June 2004 RPG reading. Thank God for helping me to see His guiding hand in this matter. I rest in Him now surrendered. Deut 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Lek Aik Wee (NB: Dn Aik Wee is a fervent deacon of Calvary Pandan Bible Presbyterian Church who left a lucrative career in IT to serve the Lord full time. He is presently studying in FEBC). * * * * * * * * * At the Pulpit Theme for the Quarter: Life s Changing Encounters with Jesus Rev Jack Sin Jesus & the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31) *These hyperlinks work with Word 97 and later version. [End of MM, 22 August, 2004]