Psychology - A Warning

[rhomphaeam]

​

Psychology – A Warning

It is important to understand that generalised psychology as a broad subject of systematic enquiry has many roots which have produced a tree of great breadth and height. It has yielded fruits which are food to the natural mind, and is therefore able to make the natural man wise. If this were being written for the natural man it would serve no useful purpose. However if a new creature in Christ reads it and gives thought to the potential of what is being spoken, as well as its reality, then it may produce a good effect. This is because the influence of psychological thinking today, now that the tree is bearing its seasoned fruit, is profound, far reaching, and has serious implications for believers who may be unaware of these things.

The subject and application of psychology as social psychology, emphatically represents a union between men and the prince of the power of the air. It is a union which has its roots at the very dawn of this age, in the garden of Eden. For this reason alone I reject psychology and sociology as a valid basis for ministry. They are of an agreement innocently entered into by one man, Adam, and therefore, are implicitly not of God. The fact that so many believers have grounded their ministries in, and make intellectual assertions taken from psychology and sociology, through books of so-called learning, simply demonstrates that they have eaten the seasoned fruit without either comprehending the fruit, the tree, or its roots. If those who “serve” in this way insist that this is not the case then I would say it is because they may yet be of the same root which they drew upon from their youth. In short they are yet mere men. To add to that premise let me say straight forwardly – if you hold another view, or if this admission offends you then turn away, as looking here will serve no purpose for you.

I could say that I am grateful for having had an opportunity to study theoretical subjects at university. However this would be a half truth. I discerned a complete mortal contradiction in psychology, criminology and sociology with biblical truth then, in in the 1980’s, and today I comprehend more of its substance. Then it was simply childish faith, today it is a more “patient” man. Then I was willing to speak out, today I am commanded to speak out and must do so without apology, hesitation or let. Therefore if you find this claim of mine to be at odds with your own understanding, and are inclined to press yourself in it with no sense of a need to repent of all that wisdom of men, my advise is depart from here because you will find that you will stumble and fall if you do not. Though you may fall and cry out, it will be found that this man has dug the pit knowingly. With that mind of understanding you can take your choice at your own cost accordingly. Unless you are willing to lay hold of Christ Himself, and at the same time reject the wisdom of men, then there is no benefit whatsoever.

The Roots:

In speaking of the roots of psychology one can easily say that they range from ancient Greek thinkers in the Graeco-Roman world through to the 19th century when psychology took a very different direction from what may be legitimately identified through ancient and near middle age philosophy and medical anatomical literature, to what is now claimed to be more empirically based in observational psychology. It should be noted that animals as well as human beings are interrelated in this schema, so that dogs, rats and chickens are just as valid observational subjects as are little children. Behavioural psychology believes that what is true for a dog is just as true for a man, at least at a psycho-physiological level. It would seem that psychology has ”grown up” as it were, and now thinks itself sufficiently advanced in scientific methodologies to dispense with its roots in philosophy and cognitive reasoning and has become a pure empirical science, producing theories of human behaviour which are “proven” to be true. This is a deception of course but it suits psychologists to believe this as it sets them in a class of their own, and legitimises their self seeking status as “priests” of behaviour.

Despite this maturation, psychology is still an infidel as far as truth is concerned because it is only able to address that which its philosophical roots were able to conceive of, and to which it is irrevocably tied. This being the dichotomy of a man as soul and body, rather than a true understanding arising from Scriptural revelation and knowledge that a man is Spirit, Soul & Body. In my presentation, historical psychology has three principle divisions out of which a fourth can be identified. The fourth being implicit in the formal development of psychology as an independent empirical subject attending to its effect, as well as Satan’s ambition to be worshipped as true God. In balance, one would have to say that psychology is a contributing factor and not the sum of this effect. Other subjects have been cross informed and in their own right have contributed to the wickedness of the day we live in.

Western Time Line

• 1. Graeco-Roman World & European Renaissance 6th Century BC – 14th Century AD
• 2. Emergent Modern World 14th Century AD – 18th (1774) Century AD
• 3. Industrial Age 18th Century (1750) AD – 1859 AD
• 4. Post Industrial – Emergent Post Modern World – The Fullness of Lawlessness.

It is important to understand that these time line distinctions are merely to provide a framework for thinking about the subject matter. They do have significance beyond providing a framework in which to think about other more important matters, but this significance is better drawn out as a separate presentation because it is a spiritual significance and attends to the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world, and not just the world itself.

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part i
Knowledge is vain if it is not met with a mind of obedience in truth.
Written by Rhomphaeam in 2009 to answer a question about the validity of social psychology in ministry. A shortened version of the original written in 1987 by Rhomphaeam.

 

[rhomphaeam]

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part ii

Although it is inevitable that one would have to allude to this “spiritual” implication, the actual business of presenting spiritual truth is better done non-apologetically. The fact that we live in this present age and not in the past demands that we look at the historical claims of psychology to better understand its scope of reason and enquiry. This is because psychology is academically presented today, as having longevity and therefore by implication integrity for asserting that its roots lie in the ancient world where pure science existed and where thoughts about humanity; which is the principle subject of psychology, are empirically, and therefore scientifically valid. It is possible to say that psychology does have its roots in the ancient Roman world with Greek philosophical thinkers, but it would be spurious to say that in essence this claim presented by historical psychology is as valid as the similar claim, that pure science, such as mathematics, physics, or else astronomy are themselves valid. These also have their roots in many of the same thinkers. In fact, it would be necessary to assert emphatically that in so far as the psuche (soul) is concerned, the ancient world was in this regard interested in the soul principally, and by reasonable deduction of the soul in attendance to the physical body, they were also interested in anatomical and philosophical physics.

For example; whilst mathematics as a cognitive and empirical science has developed throughout the ages, the basic underlying cognitive reason and subsequent empirical evidence of mathematical theory from the ancient world, still remains true today. It is also true to say that the historical roots of psychology arising from the philosophies of the ancient world, still remain in the air, and are still implicit in every fabric of its foundation, its emphatic denial of the reality of God, and its dichotomous presentation of man as being soul and body, rather than Spirit, Soul & Body.

Regarding Pure Science:

The Pythagorean Equation is just as true now as it was when it was first expressed. The Pythagorean equation relates the sides of a right triangle in a simple way, so that if the lengths of any two sides are known the length of the third side can be found. Another corollary of the theorem is that in any right triangle, the hypotenuse is greater than any one of the legs, but less than the sum of them. A generalisation of this theorem is the [[law of cosines]], which allows the computation of the length of the third side of any triangle, given the lengths of two sides and the size of the angle between them. If the angle between the sides is a right angle, the law of cosines reduces to the Pythagorean equation.

This same empirical and theoretical validity can be seen across all pure sciences and most have their roots in the ancient world. Only technological advances in observational instruments such as varieties of scopes, measuring devices, as well as the use of mechanical computational instruments has made a significant difference in the last 500 years to the breadth and development of pure science, particularly since 1939 and the start of the development of computer architecture. Although all human sciences claim this same integrous link, the true root is a philosophical one and not an emphatic empirical one so far as behavioural psychology is concerned. As a matter of academic reality the claims that early philosophical thinkers were empirically based in physiology is absurd.

The Tree

It is necessary to recognise that we ourselves must not take our present understanding or else the intended meaning of psychological thinking today precisely from the historical root. What is widely accepted today as legitimate psychology bears almost no resemblance in purpose or character to what was by reason of the subject material (Body & Soul) of the early thinkers in their day. However, psychology does have philosophical as well as empirical roots in the past. This includes ancient as well as renaissance thinkers. In reality I would say that what is called behavioural psychology today did not begin to emerge until the 18th century. This can be principally attributed to Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer. This is a subject in itself and I will post it separately. It is equally necessary to resist a teleological attitude when looking at historical thinkers and writers and attribute to their words modern meanings and understandings. In short, psychology if it is to be proven reasonable, must not falsely draw on ancient philosophies as justification for present claims in the same way pure science can. Nevertheless behavioural psychology was laid on a foundation of beliefs in the ancient world and middle world which had as much to do with Athenian Theism (atheism or the denial of God himself) as it had to do with valid philosophical enquiries in an age in which God Himself had already established the shadow of things to come in the full visibility of the nations (Israel).

The distinctions between the four ages I have drawn represent in the first three, distinct ages in continuum, both in human history as well as correspondingly in the development of human sciences as opposed to pure science. This gives rise to a fourth age in which we now live and this age is by my reasoning and calling, the age of the revealing of the man of sin. Intellectually it is called post modernism, in occult circles it is the age of Aquarius and in biblical revelation it is the age of lawlessness. The connection of the ancient world, the renaissance world and the industrial age is implicit by virtue of empirical knowledge taken from ancient philosophers, renaissance contributors and industrial rationalist and thinkers. Whilst these three ages are uniform with regard to their roots in ancient Greek philosophical thinking, and are easily investigated, a conceptual paradigm of thought, by reason of their effect and intentions in each age, has produced an outcome of distinct effect. This forms a “new” paradigm and needs careful analysis. One could say that this fourth effect or paradigm is the age of the Fullness of Rebellion against God.

It would be possible to say that the ancient world of Socratic, Platonic and Aristotelian thinking was primarily philosophical and emergent empirical-rational. The renaissance world was philosophical, pseudo-rational as well as emergent-individualistic, and the industrial world was essentially rational, individualistic and increasingly empirically deterministic. These three constructs which I have developed have given rise to the present post industrial world in which we presently live. Everything has changed in the last 60 or 70 years beyond any possible chronological recognition, even taken from the best empirical insights into ancient artefacts and texts. To arrive at an understanding of what is believed today in human sciences, and why it is necessary to comprehend in simplicity the three ages as stated; as well as their links in ancient philosophy in particular, and the subsequent rise of philosophical reason and enlightenment, it is necessary to at least observe the relevant links as claimed by academics themselves as well as to demonstrate that the link is more often in the minds of men, than in true knowledge. The assumption here is that the science of humanity had chronological integrity and validity in the same way pure science has. My simple point being that this is not the case.

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part ii
Knowledge is vain if it is not met with a mind of obedience in truth.
Written by Rhomphaeam in 2009 to answer a question about the validity of social psychology in ministry. A shortened version of the original written in 1987 by Rhomphaeam.

 

[rhomphaeam]

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part iii

The Fruit

This introduction is not intended to have academic merit. It does not have academic merit nor should anyone imagine it to have. Although I have drawn upon a recollection of resources which are themselves academically competent, it is not my intention to present a particular academic view. The sole purpose is to extract an understanding which would reasonably amount to a way of looking at generalised theories. The motive is to claim that human sciences are not fact in the same way pure science is fact. It is to simplistically draw from the example of pure science the chronological continuity of its substance in human societies across the ages. This is something which cannot be done or said of human sciences other than by reason of the underlying paradigm which philosophy has provided. Human sciences affect our thinking and therefore behaviour, in context of our beliefs about life and self more than is easily understood. In the end it is to reference this world of darkness and thereby draw attention to the kingdom of light, by exposing the fraudulence of this world, and to declare the wonderful truth and validity of Christ and His Kingdom.

Every element of the visible and invisible universe belongs to God. It is only in the vanity of men’s minds that this world is comprehended as light, and in this light, (which is in truth darkness), blackest darkness has taken a fuller position in this age. The outworking is an unchallengeable feeling that man is the centre, and God is completely excluded from this process. If this was simply a matter of understanding the world in which we live, it would be of little merit and would be better set aside in favour of a heart desire to know God’s will and to comprehend His purposes. Indeed for this man, and many others as well, it is already set aside in favour of truth. If such an enquiry however serves to give rise to a need to be taught of God, it will produce a life of obedience. In this we will see that even the very fabric of our bodies and minds are flawed and cannot comprehend God or His ways. We may observe angels and have visions yet these too will not produce obedience or prove a faithful outcome.

Grievously, the churches are saturated in worldly thinking, whilst believing that God is unconcerned, and even pleased with our efforts. Until we understand that the world is the darkness, and the light is Christ Himself, in us by faith, we may never see the imperative to repent of that way of thinking, which to our natural minds seems quite reasonable and profitable. Even though we are light in this darkness of the world, if Christ is in us we may still nevertheless walk in the darkness of our natural minds, and never truly know how to walk in the light of Christ. This is not judgement, but discernment. It is not condemnation, but a desire to show mercy and the love of the Father through Christ. It is my assertion that the key to understanding in a reasonable mind the deeper truths of faithful sonship, requires the understanding of the truth that a man is made of three distinct yet unified parts. These are Spirit, Soul & Body. The world which we have so easily loved denies this and its denial is implicitly woven into every fabric of western civilisation so that from our first breath we have been taught it. In this sense having been taught of the world we may still walk as of the world and not dress in readiness for the Lord Jesus and His coming kingdom in visibility.

The Hope

There is coming a day when it will not be necessary to even speak of this world at all because some at least will speak so as to provide an end time compulsion to obedience and true faithfulness according to God’ calling. Until that hour comes we have to settle for the crumbs. May the fullness of time soon be upon us so that we may all know the liberty of the sons of God and the true substance of our purpose and present calling in Christ Jesus, as servants and not lords. If we cannot set aside our affection for that which is enmity with the Father in heaven, we will suffer loss. If we do not receive by way of a heavenly witness the true condition of the flesh and its implications for being yet taught by the prince of the power of the air, we are already suffering loss. That loss of ours is more Christ’s loss because He loved us even unto death in order to purchase us and to preserve us spirit, soul and body until the day of the Lord. Simply speaking the truth will not produce its fruit without obedience. Knowledge will not produce obedience at all. Only the revelation of God will convince us that this world, and all its men, are wrong unless they have spoken according to that which is true according to God and not the ruler of this present darkness. All the men we need to take note of in simplicity are written in the Scriptures and if we read what they were able to write by God’s grace and purposes, we will have sufficiency. In that knowledge, our own spirits will bear witness with our mind’s and our mind will agree to the putting to death of the body by the removal of Christ’s own body on the cross. If not then our very mind and body will be yet evidence of our once father of disobedience and rebellion, even yet working in us.

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part iii
Knowledge is vain if it is not met with a mind of obedience in truth.
Written by Rhomphaeam in 2009 to answer a question about the validity of social psychology in ministry. A shortened version of the original written in 1987 by Rhomphaeam

 

[rhomphaeam]

Copyright Notices
Copyright © Robert Chisholm 1986, 2011, 2017 All Rights Reserved
Unless otherwise stated all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. The Lockman Foundation
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. email admin@rhomphaeam.ch or robert.chisholm@nblc.church
Notice is waived by myself Robert Chisholm AKA Rhomphaeam for use on www.christianforums.net
All other uses other than for personal use or else in the expression of the Copyright Notice - please email for permission.


Psychophysiology

Mind & Body - The Flesh

Everything that we experience in life, physically, emotionally and sympathetically, all pass through the brain, either consciously, subconsciously or else conductively. Of these millions of daily events, none are harder to understand than are emotions. How do emotions occur? What are they? Where do they reside? How do we know that emotion is real? Are emotions simply chemical receptions, or can emotions be more than mere physical chemistry? Where are emotions experienced? The list of questions could no doubt be very long.

While it is undoubtedly the case that an understanding of the various neurological functions of the brain gives an insight into such questions, simply knowing that the forebrain rationalises emotions and the limbic system as well as the cerebellum play a subconscious role in emotions, or that the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract can influence emotional well-being, will do nothing to address the meaning of the Scripture in dealing with behaviour.

One of the great deceptions of our age has been the rationalisation of sin to the extent that sinful behaviour is no longer sin - it has become psychological or else physical behaviour. The field of study that has interpreted this neuropathological and neurophysiological knowledge to explain emotional behaviour has been psychology. The research itself has been pathologically and neurologically driven in response to illnesses of mind and body, yet its outworking is that it has served to provide a justification for unhealthy behaviour. In such a mind many believers no longer see sin for what it really is.

Scripturally, the term flesh carries a number of meanings. On the one hand, it suggests the physiology of the body itself. And on the other, it means the fleshy soul. The physiology of the body is quite easy to understand at a basic level. However, even in this regard, when we speak of the body we need to know what we are talking about when it comes to spiritual matters. Take the child in Mark 9:25 for example, who was delivered of a spirit that robbed him of speech and hearing. Or the man in Matthew 12:22 who was also without hearing and speech.

In these two instances, the flesh would literally be the eyes and the ears. Yet it must be clear that no demon possesses a persons actual eyes or their ears. So what in fact do demons possess that makes it possible for them to rob a child or a man of sight and hearing? It is also true that blindness and deafness may have nothing to do with demonic spirits. See Bartimaeus in Luke 18:35-43 who received his sight. In the case of the boy, the cause was demonic, and in the case of Bartimaeus, there was no demon to cast out. In the event of the man in Matthew, he was possessed. When we speak of the flesh, therefore, we have to know what that means, even with regard to the physical body itself. When we are talking about demonic possession, we have to ask what that actually means as well, because demons clearly can and do influence the body itself, yet they do not literally possess the eyes or the ears.

Mind & Body - The Will of the Flesh

There is also another meaning of the term flesh in the Scriptures. This use of the term has to do with how a man behaves as a result of the influence of his body on his mind. Fear, for example is one of the most compelling influences we can experience and may make us do things that are truly sinful. Fear is experienced in the body. Without the physical experience of fear, then fear would not exist. Once fear is experienced in the body, however, the soul has to decide how to act on that physical experience. Anger is an emotional influence that transports the boundaries of the physical body and can turn a man into a murderer. Cain was such a man. So when we speak of the flesh, we can be speaking of the physical body itself, and we can be speaking of the way that the body influences the soul. When speaking of the physical body, we are speaking of the law of sin and death. When speaking of the soul, we are speaking of the fleshy man. When the Apostle Paul tells us that it is the weakness of the flesh that renders the Law of God incapable of a benefit, this is what he is speaking about. In short, the flesh is weak. It is this weakness that makes it possible to be possessed in the first instance, as in the case of the child in Mark 9:25 and the man in Matthew 12:22 - And it is this weakness that robs, even the soul who agrees that the Law of God is holy, righteous and good, from actually fulfilling that ambition to keep the Law.

 

[rhomphaeam]

Copyright Notices
Copyright © Robert Chisholm 1986, 2011, 2017 All Rights Reserved
Unless otherwise stated all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. The Lockman Foundation
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. email admin@rhomphaeam.ch or robert.chisholm@nblc.church
Notice is waived by myself Robert Chisholm AKA Rhomphaeam for use on www.christianforums.net
All other uses other than for personal use or else in the expression of the Copyright Notice - please email for permission.

The Man Adam & King Saul

Of Saul

We read that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft in (1 Samuel 15:23). These words were spoken by Samuel directly to King Saul after he disobeyed God and spared the life of Agag the king of the Amalekites.

The explanation given by Saul for his rebellion was that he feared the people. In Strong’s the word feared in 1 Samuel 15:23 is יָרֵא (yare) and is described as “the psychological reaction of fear.” A little later on Saul reacts again. This time it is to Samuel’s refusal to bless him after his acknowledgement to Samuel. “Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” (v25). Samuel refused and turned to walk away. Saul grabbed at Samuel’s clothes and tore his coat in his desperation at Samuel’s answer; “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” (v27). It is essential to lay hold of the reality of the situation that Saul found himself in after the battle in which he ought to have obeyed God and destroyed the king. Why did Samuel explain to Saul that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft as a response to Saul sparing the king’s life?

We see from this passage of Scripture that when Samuel finally says to Saul, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbour, who is better than you. “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” (vv28-29), that Saul’s response is “I have sinned; but please honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God” (v30). There are two things at work in Saul. The first is that he is a man given to fear and emotional (psychological) reactions, the second is that he is a man who sets his importance as king even above obedience to God. These two things speak of two parts of the man. The fear speaks of the body through which fear is experienced, and the pride speaks of the heart. Together they speak of witchcraft and rebellion.

Of Adam

If we look at Adam, we see a remarkable thing. It is this remarkable thing that speaks more than anything else to the meaning of the Scripture “death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offence of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” (Romans 5:14).

We tend to imagine that Adam’s sin must have been a sin of such character, that he was the worse sinner ever to live. There is no doubt that his sin carried consequences beyond the sin of any other man, yet it would be impossible from the Scripture to say that his sin was itself the vilest sin ever committed. In fact, if we simply look at the action involved in Adam’s sin, it consisted of no more than reaching out and eating of that which was offered to him by Eve. We could say for certain that Adam knew that he was disobeying God when he ate, and we could say that in doing so he was putting himself before God. In no instance is the sin of Adam described as rebellion in the Scriptures, it is always described as disobedience. Saul’s sin, however, is described as rebellion, and it is likened to witchcraft or sorcery. This is because Adam was not driven by fear, he was yet innocent, unchanged, perfect and sinless. Saul was driven by fear because he was already a sinner. Adam’s action is disobedience. Saul’s action of disobedience is rebellion and witchcraft. The difference here is so profound that we could easily miss its meaning altogether.

It is a precept in psychology that explains this distinction between Adam and King Saul so easily that when I first saw it I had to seek the Lord for many weeks to be certain that I had not somehow mistaken either the precept or the biblical account of Adam in the garden of Eden. What is being spoken about is the meaning of fear and NOT how it was that Adam came to be afraid. I am NOT speaking about disobedience of Adam - rather his fear. To do that I am asking the reader a simple question.

Was Adam naked when he hid from God?

 

[rhomphaeam]

PeterJens

The way you express yourself in the Is the Law of God dead? And if yes, how? thread @#748 is very insightful and I mean that in a sense of insightful of a work I have been about in trying to understand the pastoral ministry and how the prophetic ministry is equipped to support the pastoral ministry - and that includes not refusing pastoral authority. I have taken a different position to the one you have taken and that is because when I first entered a church after being saved the Lord spoke to me as I sat at the back of the church and said that I was not to be afraid of the pastor's authority. At the time I could scarcely comprehend just what that would mean. What I did definitely understand was that the Lord didn't tell me that the pastor had no authority or else that eldership was a thing to refuse. But I was already clear about my own calling and so of course I began to share with the pastor some of the things that would be harmful to the church.

I also studied Psychology at University as a theoretical subject and of late I have been speaking with a number of psychiatric neurologists - one of whom is a lead in his field. His specialism is emerging neuroplasticity. And his work as of three years ago was evidentially grounded in recovery of stroke victims. But I have also seen that psychologists and biological scientists have begun to inform the subject of emotional healing as a neurological pathway and that effort is informing Christians regarding the precept of the renewing of the mind injunction in Scripture.

I began writing on the problem of applying a psychological explanation to emotional issues - especially the issue of fear, anxiety and anger in the 1980's and did so precisely because I could see just how harmful the subject was going to be to the churches.

You said in The Trichotomous and Dichotomous View @#30 (below)

"Modern medicine and studies of the brain, show our existence is the interplay between our hearts, our emotions and our minds. Modern therapy has identified anxiousness and fear can be very destructive while security and love very healing. These are both issues Jesus addresses straight on, yet theology and its discussion often side steps this and people find little practical application in their lives."

But you also used the expression the modeller in your first paragraph of that post. That term in the precept you used it is the same as a psychological expression of confidence in the medical science of neuroplasticity. It is the same as clay to God is and becomes the brain to neurologists and a healing process to psychologists who use that precept of modelling the neural pathways through psychological means to recover from emotional harm. You have used it expressly in the sense of need and that hierarchy of needs expression is derived from Abraham Maslow.

I realise that you may not have given the same direction of thought I have given it - but if you read this thread from the beginning you will see that we have come to entirely opposite conclusions - even if we cannot deny the science that is emerging around us.

I am grateful that you responded to both threads as you did because you made your first response in the thread linked above entirely volitionally. I believe that whilst you say you are a theologian - you may have rejected or misunderstood what the Scripture says about this old man, the flesh and the fuller meaning of the Cross.

Rhomphaeam

 

[Christ_empowered]

Not a fan of psychology or psychiatry. Neither seem to do much except reinforce the social order at the expense of the masses. Sociology strikes me as potentially useful but overrun by people pushing ideology as fact.

 

[PeterJens]

PeterJens

The way you express yourself in the Is the Law of God dead? And if yes, how? thread @#748 is very insightful and I mean that in a sense of insightful of a work I have been about in trying to understand the pastoral ministry and how the prophetic ministry is equipped to support the pastoral ministry - and that includes not refusing pastoral authority. I have taken a different position to the one you have taken and that is because when I first entered a church after being saved the Lord spoke to me as I sat at the back of the church and said that I was not to be afraid of the pastor's authority. At the time I could scarcely comprehend just what that would mean. What I did definitely understand was that the Lord didn't tell me that the pastor had no authority or else that eldership was a thing to refuse. But I was already clear about my own calling and so of course I began to share with the pastor some of the things that would be harmful to the church.

I also studied Psychology at University as a theoretical subject and of late I have been speaking with a number of psychiatric neurologists - one of whom is a lead in his field. His specialism is emerging neuroplasticity. And his work as of three years ago was evidentially grounded in recovery of stroke victims. But I have also seen that psychologists and biological scientists have begun to inform the subject of emotional healing as a neurological pathway and that effort is informing Christians regarding the precept of the renewing of the mind injunction in Scripture.

I began writing on the problem of applying a psychological explanation to emotional issues - especially the issue of fear, anxiety and anger in the 1980's and did so precisely because I could see just how harmful the subject was going to be to the churches.

You said in The Trichotomous and Dichotomous View @#30 (below)

"Modern medicine and studies of the brain, show our existence is the interplay between our hearts, our emotions and our minds. Modern therapy has identified anxiousness and fear can be very destructive while security and love very healing. These are both issues Jesus addresses straight on, yet theology and its discussion often side steps this and people find little practical application in their lives."

But you also used the expression the modeller in your first paragraph of that post. That term in the precept you used it is the same as a psychological expression of confidence in the medical science of neuroplasticity. It is the same as clay to God is and becomes the brain to neurologists and a healing process to psychologists who use that precept of modelling the neural pathways through psychological means to recover from emotional harm. You have used it expressly in the sense of need and that hierarchy of needs expression is derived from Abraham Maslow.

I realise that you may not have given the same direction of thought I have given it - but if you read this thread from the beginning you will see that we have come to entirely opposite conclusions - even if we cannot deny the science that is emerging around us.

I am grateful that you responded to both threads as you did because you made your first response in the thread linked above entirely volitionally. I believe that whilst you say you are a theologian - you may have rejected or misunderstood what the Scripture says about this old man, the flesh and the fuller meaning of the Cross.

Rhomphaeam

I agree that in reality we all see just an emphasis within what you could call truth, or Jesus.
I sense from this sentence "you may have rejected" implies the idea that any particular sharing is conclusive.

What I have learnt in Christ, is we can only share where we are. Like a window in a vast landscape, it is just that, and should be taken as part of the walk, and rejoiced with that we know and share in Christ and His love.

The problem with modern psychology is the belief that the individual focus alone leads to resolution or growth.
In Christ alone, His love working through our lives brings real resolution and growth.

What has changed is the value of recognising emotions as messengers of compromises and position, which are helpful and something not to avoid. So many believers regard emotions as the enemy to be fought and repressed which leads to chaos and breakdown, rather than letting Jesus minister to our hearts, and through repentance and openness begin to understand the true reality of communion and forgiveness.

One assistant pastor in our church married a young woman because he felt it was the right thing to do, not because he in is heart wanted to do it. When in later years he realised he was totally conflicted about her and the marriage and started to fall in love with another woman, he had a nervous breakdown. His resolution was to dump his wife and marry the second woman claiming that was following Gods will. Rather than call this sin and the young man not facing life decisions he had freely made, they called it mental illness etc.

Without a theology of the heart, have we a gospel at all? If Jesus says he came to bring us life to the full, what did he mean? If love is from the heart, what about the majority who are so conflicted they would barely be able to say they love just one other person, let alone a brother or sister in Christ in this way.

I have a theological view of Jesus's words speaking to us making our paths straight, that we speak what we mean, love as we truly are, and literally desire the best for others. If one holds this view and experience discipleship is the path to get there. But it means healing, resolving, building something new in peoples lives. I do not agree with regression therapy or reliving past trauma, but building new response to life which over time resolve the affects of past trauma and the memories become distance recollections.

The flesh is always with us, it is part of our human experience and it is good in appropriate ways. Denial of hunger and desires is wrong, but equally believing we do not change and the Lord cannot transcend our flesh, is unbelief in the Holy Spirit dwelling within. God bless you

 

[rhomphaeam]

I have a theological view of Jesus's words speaking to us making our paths straight, that we speak what we mean, love as we truly are, and literally desire the best for others. If one holds this view and experience discipleship is the path to get there. But it means healing, resolving, building something new in peoples lives. I do not agree with regression therapy or reliving past trauma, but building new response to life which over time resolve the affects of past trauma and the memories become distance recollections.

That is pure psychology brother. And nothing more. But I can't argue with your position in the sense that you have to serve the Lord as you believe you should.

Without a theology of the heart, have we a gospel at all? If Jesus says he came to bring us life to the full, what did he mean? If love is from the heart, what about the majority who are so conflicted they would barely be able to say they love just one other person, let alone a brother or sister in Christ in this way.

There is in truth no such thing as a theology of the heart because in a spiritual meaning of theology - to allude to the study of God or the knowledge of God - what we find is that God's only answer to the heart - the old man - the flesh or whatever term is used to achieve a semblance of meaning for others - is the Cross unto death daily. New birth comes with a new heart. So seeing as the new heart of flesh is given in exchange for the dead heart of stone, then perhaps it would be essential to speak of how we relate to others as a reasonable outworking of having been given a new heart - and how our own minds in remembrance of past harm to ourselves is renewed, so that we can prove that perfect and acceptable will of the Lord. But it is a grave mistake to utilise physchological theories and modalities to bring healing to believers when healing in that sense speaks of the the seat of emotions in the soul. Its a difficult thing to work out - but I have learned one thing over the near four decades I have been a believer - the church of forty years ago is almost gone and the present church in many places is become a desperately sick place either because too many believers still speak out of a heart of stone or else because the greater others speak out of an emotional mind.

The remedy is the Cross of Christ and the cross of obedience with Christ in us as living waters flowing out to others. It cannot be a healed heart of emotions otherwise we don't have a new heart at all. And in a less easy meaning neither can it be a renewed mind if we are to mean psychological healing.

I do appreciate your posting and answering my questions and regard it to be the hand of God. God bless you.

 

[eddif]

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part iii

The Fruit

This introduction is not intended to have academic merit. It does not have academic merit nor should anyone imagine it to have. Although I have drawn upon a recollection of resources which are themselves academically competent, it is not my intention to present a particular academic view. The sole purpose is to extract an understanding which would reasonably amount to a way of looking at generalised theories. The motive is to claim that human sciences are not fact in the same way pure science is fact. It is to simplistically draw from the example of pure science the chronological continuity of its substance in human societies across the ages. This is something which cannot be done or said of human sciences other than by reason of the underlying paradigm which philosophy has provided. Human sciences affect our thinking and therefore behaviour, in context of our beliefs about life and self more than is easily understood. In the end it is to reference this world of darkness and thereby draw attention to the kingdom of light, by exposing the fraudulence of this world, and to declare the wonderful truth and validity of Christ and His Kingdom.

Every element of the visible and invisible universe belongs to God. It is only in the vanity of men’s minds that this world is comprehended as light, and in this light, (which is in truth darkness), blackest darkness has taken a fuller position in this age. The outworking is an unchallengeable feeling that man is the centre, and God is completely excluded from this process. If this was simply a matter of understanding the world in which we live, it would be of little merit and would be better set aside in favour of a heart desire to know God’s will and to comprehend His purposes. Indeed for this man, and many others as well, it is already set aside in favour of truth. If such an enquiry however serves to give rise to a need to be taught of God, it will produce a life of obedience. In this we will see that even the very fabric of our bodies and minds are flawed and cannot comprehend God or His ways. We may observe angels and have visions yet these too will not produce obedience or prove a faithful outcome.

Grievously, the churches are saturated in worldly thinking, whilst believing that God is unconcerned, and even pleased with our efforts. Until we understand that the world is the darkness, and the light is Christ Himself, in us by faith, we may never see the imperative to repent of that way of thinking, which to our natural minds seems quite reasonable and profitable. Even though we are light in this darkness of the world, if Christ is in us we may still nevertheless walk in the darkness of our natural minds, and never truly know how to walk in the light of Christ. This is not judgement, but discernment. It is not condemnation, but a desire to show mercy and the love of the Father through Christ. It is my assertion that the key to understanding in a reasonable mind the deeper truths of faithful sonship, requires the understanding of the truth that a man is made of three distinct yet unified parts. These are Spirit, Soul & Body. The world which we have so easily loved denies this and its denial is implicitly woven into every fabric of western civilisation so that from our first breath we have been taught it. In this sense having been taught of the world we may still walk as of the world and not dress in readiness for the Lord Jesus and His coming kingdom in visibility.

The Hope

There is coming a day when it will not be necessary to even speak of this world at all because some at least will speak so as to provide an end time compulsion to obedience and true faithfulness according to God’ calling. Until that hour comes we have to settle for the crumbs. May the fullness of time soon be upon us so that we may all know the liberty of the sons of God and the true substance of our purpose and present calling in Christ Jesus, as servants and not lords. If we cannot set aside our affection for that which is enmity with the Father in heaven, we will suffer loss. If we do not receive by way of a heavenly witness the true condition of the flesh and its implications for being yet taught by the prince of the power of the air, we are already suffering loss. That loss of ours is more Christ’s loss because He loved us even unto death in order to purchase us and to preserve us spirit, soul and body until the day of the Lord. Simply speaking the truth will not produce its fruit without obedience. Knowledge will not produce obedience at all. Only the revelation of God will convince us that this world, and all its men, are wrong unless they have spoken according to that which is true according to God and not the ruler of this present darkness. All the men we need to take note of in simplicity are written in the Scriptures and if we read what they were able to write by God’s grace and purposes, we will have sufficiency. In that knowledge, our own spirits will bear witness with our mind’s and our mind will agree to the putting to death of the body by the removal of Christ’s own body on the cross. If not then our very mind and body will be yet evidence of our once father of disobedience and rebellion, even yet working in us.

NBLC (The Marshes) Pastoral Support Part iii
Knowledge is vain if it is not met with a mind of obedience in truth.
Written by Rhomphaeam in 2009 to answer a question about the validity of social psychology in ministry. A shortened version of the original written in 1987 by Rhomphaeam

Ephesians 2:12 kjv
12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, eventhe law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

“to make in himself of twain one new man”
Out of the Jew and Gentile.
Some of the gentiles heritage was treasure.
Some of the gentile heritage was bad.

It is very difficult to look at the Gentiles and see what we retain and what we reject.

Your last few posts have been. an honest attempt to just that.

The Jewish people are under a similar investigation. Some followed God to the best of their ability, and some had more sin than the gentiles. There was no righteousness by the Law, and he did speak to them in a different language.

The advantage goes to the Jews. Romans 3
But
Jew and Gentile are made into one new man.

The tendency is to see replacement theology, or
Law of Moses continually.

We are one new man.

eddif

 

[PeterJens]

That is pure psychology brother. And nothing more. But I can't argue with your position in the sense that you have to serve the Lord as you believe you should.



There is in truth no such thing as a theology of the heart because in a spiritual meaning of theology - to allude to the study of God or the knowledge of God - what we find is that God's only answer to the heart - the old man - the flesh or whatever term is used to achieve a semblance of meaning for others - is the Cross unto death daily. New birth comes with a new heart. So seeing as the new heart of flesh is given in exchange for the dead heart of stone, then perhaps it would be essential to speak of how we relate to others as a reasonable outworking of having been given a new heart - and how our own minds in remembrance of past harm to ourselves is renewed, so that we can prove that perfect and acceptable will of the Lord. But it is a grave mistake to utilise physchological theories and modalities to bring healing to believers when healing in that sense speaks of the the seat of emotions in the soul. Its a difficult thing to work out - but I have learned one thing over the near four decades I have been a believer - the church of forty years ago is almost gone and the present church in many places is become a desperately sick place either because too many believers still speak out of a heart of stone or else because the greater others speak out of an emotional mind.

The remedy is the Cross of Christ and the cross of obedience with Christ in us as living waters flowing out to others. It cannot be a healed heart of emotions otherwise we don't have a new heart at all. And in a less easy meaning neither can it be a renewed mind if we are to mean psychological healing.

I do appreciate your posting and answering my questions and regard it to be the hand of God. God bless you.

"it is a grave mistake to utilise physchological theories"
"It cannot be a healed heart of emotions"

There is an interesting tension here. What are we? Are we just us, a static being in the moment?
Are we a history of emotional responses to situations with conclusions and a thinking mind which enables us to change these responses and conclusions through choice?

If as humans we are lost because our whole behaviour patterns and history is built on this world and not the Kingdom, then it is this that needs to be rebuilt and changed. If a christian is merely a person with faith and nothing else shifts, then you end up with a hypocritical life.

Jesus says we must become like children. Paul says we must sow to the Spirit and not to the flesh, and we will reap eternal life. Put these two things together and you get a rebuilt set of behaviour patterns and history built on the cross and on Jesus. This is a new creation, built by the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is founded on pain and hardship, fighting through, putting to death the ways of the world and glorying in the ways of love and God.

Now within this one needs a theory of healing hurts, PTSD, of trauma, of life changing events and its after math.
Panic attacks, anxiousness that becomes overwhelming, a denial of a feeling so when it appears it is a monster.
One theory is this is demons and possession. I regard that as just nuts and superstition, though in some cases might be a factor.
Another theory is reliving the events with Christs love brings release. My experience is for believers it as made things worse and doubly caused harm by reliving the events without a changed emotional approach to bring release.
My experience is the new creation created by Christ through obedience and following Him, dissipates the memory so its impact is no longer the same.

Some talk about being born again merely in spiritual language, without the emotional impact of knowing Christs love and identification in the heart. But for me this is absurd and meaningless. It is in knowing this love and the power of the cross that brings us into new life.

Why I put this language in emotional terms is because it explains my own story and the weakness to schizophrenic illness that my family have. Lack of emotional robustness and being able to be a fully emotional creature destroys us as humans. Emotions are part of who we are, not our enemies. Knowing how to handle them is essential to our walk in the Lord.

In our house group anxiousness is often the most common issue that is hard for people to handle.
But praise, putting ourselves in the hand of God, reminding ourselves of His great provision in Christ and forgiveness through the cross brings peace and reassurance. It is though important to take the first step of acknowledgement so that ministry of the Holy Spirit in ones life can begin, through an act of faith, praise.

Now this is not a psychological theory but an actual practical response to who we are and how we work in the Lord.
God bless you

 

[Adoration]

Without having read this entire thread.... and not being sure if this comment will even be on topic... I shall take the risk.

I am 58 years old... I have suffered with Severe Chronic Depression all of my life... My first hospitalization was when I was 19. I have been on a plethora of medications... all non-effective to "treat" my condition... I am what is known as medication resistant.

With the above said... for the last 12 years... I have been on an anti-psychotic/anti-depressant called quetiapine.
I take my dosage at night before bed... and I get a good... deep sleep... at least 10 hours a night.
For someone who has suffered such agony and lived in chronic despair for many decades without much reprieve... I am GRATEFUL beyond grateful for this BLESSING.

It is the understanding of my psychological disorders that have helped me UNDERSTAND myself... my weaknesses... my short-comings and my limitations.

I feel very strongly that the world of psychology can be of great benefit for the SAKE of REPRIEVE of EMOTIONAL PAIN.

It's so easy to say it's all a big lie... and has dangers... .Of course it does... these are conditions where the brain is involved.... not just emotions.

I have seen the circle of Christians who will state... you don't need medication... you just need to get right with Jesus... or stop CLAIMING the depression as YOURS.... BLAH BLAH BLAH. I have witnessed a great many people who would truly benefit being on medication... but they will not even consider it because their brand of CHRISTIANITY forbids it.

This is a very dangerous discussion to be had between people who are not educated in the field... and I'm not suggesting that is happening here. For what it's worth... I decided to give my two cents worth... Free of charge... LOL

God is always healing... it is in His very nature to HEAL... REDEEM and RESTORE.... sometimes a little bit of help is needed... and medication is often a GIFT of MERCY.

 

[eddif]

There is in truth no such thing as a theology of the heart because in a spiritual meaning of theology - to allude to the study of God or the knowledge of God

Cardiac conduction system - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Sorry about the symbolism. To me the hidden man of the heart speaks volumes. The desperately wicked heart is receiving help.

Jesus:
Bones out of joint
Spikes through hands and feet
Crown of thorns
Beard plucked out
etc.

Marred beyond the semblance of man. You have to think political cartoon to see the man.

eddif

 

[rhomphaeam]

I feel very strongly that the world of psychology can be of great benefit for the SAKE of REPRIEVE of EMOTIONAL PAIN.

It's so easy to say it's all a big lie... and has dangers... .Of course it does... these are conditions where the brain is involved.... not just emotions.

Thank you for sharing your neuropsychological issues that have been your experience since you were nineteen years old. I don't think that it is off topic - the topic is clearly labelled and the post is clearly expressed - so it is relevant to say that you feel very strongly about psychology and appropriate medication as a benefit to you.

Rather than say anything more can I ask you a question that appears at the end of post #5?

Was Adam naked when he hid from God?

 

[rhomphaeam]

Why I put this language in emotional terms is because it explains my own story and the weakness to schizophrenic illness that my family have. Lack of emotional robustness and being able to be a fully emotional creature destroys us as humans. Emotions are part of who we are, not our enemies. Knowing how to handle them is essential to our walk in the Lord.

My mother was a paranoid schizophrenic with sadistic tendencies so I know first hand what that means. Yet I write as I do write. If I made my own experience a basis for explaining the Christian walk then I would be better to become a councillor or else a clinical psychologist. We are about the gospel of Christ and not therapy. If we are about therapy then there is no ability to even mention Christ in psychology unless we adopt a formal Christian modality such as Theotherapy - and if we do that we can almost remove ourselves from the entire field of approved councillors and psychologists in every state in the US and the entirety of Britain. I am not even generally concerned about that modality albeit that I don't practise it. What concerns me is what I stated in the first three posts of this thread.

And what I said as an opening disclosure was:

"The subject and application of psychology as social psychology, emphatically represents a union between men and the prince of the power of the air. It is a union which has its roots at the very dawn of this age, in the garden of Eden."

Now that cannot be a vague statement can it? Perhaps more pertinent the statement is expressed as social psychology and not simply psychology. The reason for that is because whilst psychology when applied as cognitive behavioural therapy in addressing anxiogenic cognitions (anxiety) or else somatic components (physical), in general anxiety disorder, it is social theatres that determine how the patient will benefit from the treatment and the treatment will not of itself achieve very much at all other than perhaps relaxation therapies for the somatic components.

Psychology is by its very definition incapable of addressing spiritual matters. So neither can our personal life experiences produce spiritual truth if we ground ourselves in emotional and cognitive precepts. We either receive what we have been given from the Scripture or else we remove from a claim to biblical truth when we express ourselves mind and body. I already explained that previously but of course you are free to express yourself as you feel led.

Rhomphaeam

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno. I am labeled as schizophrenic. I think I had a difficult life and Jesus Christ recently brought deliverance. I have been saved for nearly 9 years now. Thing is…

The label seems to be more for others than for me. The only reason my life with the label is good is Jesus. Parents very close 2nd. I have seen long term patients at the clinic and…

I don’t think mental health helps in any meaningful way.

 

[rhomphaeam]

I dunno. I am labeled as schizophrenic. I think I had a difficult life and Jesus Christ recently brought deliverance. I have been saved for nearly 9 years now. Thing is…

The label seems to be more for others than for me. The only reason my life with the label is good is Jesus. Parents very close 2nd. I have seen long term patients at the clinic and…

I don’t think mental health helps in any meaningful way.

Amen brother. I have been seriously encouraged by your posts. I even took the trouble to read a lot of them. The Lord is doing a wonderful work in you and I don't think I have ever read such an encouraging thing to hear of the way you handle the label and the historical reasons for being given it. Your parents must be so blessed by you.

 

[Adoration]

Psychology is by its very definition incapable of addressing spiritual matters. So neither can our personal life experiences produce spiritual truth if we ground ourselves in emotional and cognitive precepts

I think I need to either retract my statement or clarify it... as after reading yours and Christ_empowered's comments that came after mine... I realized I had made the statement that I AGREE with the world of psychology... However this is NOT the case...

My situation is perhaps unique in that ( for me ) I have found comfort in the diagnosis of exactly what my mental illness is. I suffer with two conditions... Severe Chronic Depression and Dysthymia ( which is persistent depressive disorder)... it's a low grade depression that NEVER goes away... and when I am hit with a seasonal episode of Chronic Depression... it's like having a double dose of the same disorder... which leads to great despair... and that is where FAITH comes in....

You are correct in that Psychology... by it's very definition is incapable of addressing spiritual matters.

My promotion or agreement is with the psychiatric medications... NOT with the world of psychology.

I have perhaps been blessed with a good doctor ( for the last 20 years )... she has worked with me... and watched
me closely.... I have only had one medication increase in 12 years... and it was from 100 mg to 125 mg.

So... all that to say that YES.... the field of psychiatry is NOT at all helpful to the CHRISTIAN... but the world of proper medication is often times a GOD-SEND.

All my success and growth has come from simply UNDERSTANDING and BELIEVING that God LOVES me... It is this ONE piece of knowledge that has changed EVERYTHING for me.

Sorry for the mis-communication. I am not familiar with the world of psychology.... as far as counselling goes. It has only been me and my family doctor trying to figure things out.

 

[eddif]

I think I need to either retract my statement or clarify it... as after reading yours and Christ_empowered's comments that came after mine... I realized I had made the statement that I AGREE with the world of psychology... However this is NOT the case...

My situation is perhaps unique in that ( for me ) I have found comfort in the diagnosis of exactly what my mental illness is. I suffer with two conditions... Severe Chronic Depression and Dysthymia ( which is persistent depressive disorder)... it's a low grade depression that NEVER goes away... and when I am hit with a seasonal episode of Chronic Depression... it's like having a double dose of the same disorder... which leads to great despair... and that is where FAITH comes in....

You are correct in that Psychology... by it's very definition is incapable of addressing spiritual matters.

My promotion or agreement is with the psychiatric medications... NOT with the world of psychology.

I have perhaps been blessed with a good doctor ( for the last 20 years )... she has worked with me... and watched
me closely.... I have only had one medication increase in 12 years... and it was from 100 mg to 125 mg.

So... all that to say that YES.... the field of psychiatry is NOT at all helpful to the CHRISTIAN... but the world of proper medication is often times a GOD-SEND.

All my success and growth has come from simply UNDERSTANDING and BELIEVING that God LOVES me... It is this ONE piece of knowledge that has changed EVERYTHING for me.

Sorry for the mis-communication. I am not familiar with the world of psychology.... as far as counselling goes. It has only been me and my family doctor trying to figure things out.

You have the advantage that your condition does not have dominion over you.

There is balm in Gilead. Maybe some is imported.

Paul is an example of a confessed dysfunctional man who God used.

On a level, most every one has problems (sin). The benefit in Christ is that it does not have dominion over the person. I sure recognize several areas in my life that are not totally right. Struggles that continue. At the last trump we will all be changed.

Thanks for blessing us.

eddif

 

[Adoration]

You have the advantage that your condition does not have dominion over you.

This is absolutely TRUE.... I do have that advantage.. I am a high functioning person who has learned to deal with her disabilities. Depression is not like the other mental health issues... it's simply a constant sadness... and yes it can lead to thoughts of suicide... however... when one chooses to surrender their lives ( no matter how broken ) over to CHRIST... this is when the REAL and TRUE healing can be achieved.

I have suffered MUCH emotional anguish... there are levels to despair... that many don't even know about. My healings... ( not just one )... have occurred over a very long period of time.

Something happened to me this summer... a season of ABSOLUTE and OVERFLOWING JOY... I cannot explain it... It just happened and birthed GRATITUDE like I have never known... I'm not sure if I would venture to CLAIM that I have been healed... but yet I have... The low grade depression which was a constant companion over decades of my adult life is GONE... Nothing has changed in my world... so I know it is not by or from something I did or did not do.

I'm not certain as to why NOW?? Why after all these years of deep and constant suffering have I finally been FREED of this agony??? These are not questions that I even feel or have... What has filled my soul is this overflowing gratitude... it has been going on since the end of June of this year... and it just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

So.... Have I finally been healed?? I have no idea... All I know is that I love CHRIST with all my heart... I have for many years... however now.... I can FEEL God's love for me... His absolute DELIGHT in me.... and this simply keeps rebirthing the feeling of GREAT JOY in my soul. It's as though I asked a question many years ago... and my answer finally came...

YES ADDY..... I am the GOD of ALL CREATION.... and YES ADDY.... I love you with an everlasting love.... and YES ADDY.... I am well pleased with you.

I really can't explain it... I would not even begin to know where to start... and to be honest... I don't even want to... I simply want to saturate myself in the LOVE of CHRIST.

It took me 20 years to get here... so many lies I had to work through... so many dared to tamper with the work that God was doing in me.

For me... knowing that my salvation is SECURE and that I am LOVED by God is all I need to finish this race.