Post by Cindy on Jun 14, 2015 7:37:41 GMT -5
Psalm 119 is only one of many passages on the transforming power of God’s Word. Consider some of the characteristics that can be manifest in believers’ lives when they fill their inner beings with biblical principles.
• Their lives are obedient to the Lord: “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:2–4)
• Their lives are full of praise: “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” (Psalm 119:7)
• Their lives are characterized as pure: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
• They have victory over sin: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
• They enjoy obeying the Lord: “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
• They receive direct counsel from the Word: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
• They are refreshed and strengthened by the Word: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)
• They are people of integrity: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” (Psalm 119:30)
• They experience inner freedom: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)
• They become unselfish: “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)
• They turn away from worthless and destructive practices and philosophies: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:37)
• They have hope: “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” (Psalm 119:43)
“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” (Psalm 119:49)
• They experience comfort in the midst of suffering: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalm 119:50) “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.” (Psalm 119:52)
• They develop good judgment: “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)
• Their hearts are sensitive: “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:70)
• They have eternal values: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72)
• They develop wisdom: “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98–100)
• They find guidance: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• They have an aversion for evil: “and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:128)
• They understand deep truths: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
• They sorrow over the sinfulness of the world: “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” (Psalm 119:136)
• They experience joy in the midst of trouble: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” (Psalm 119:143)
• They become people of prayer: “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)
• They remain true to God even through persecution: “Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.” (Psalm 119:157)
• They have peace and stability: “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
• They receive help from God: “May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” (Psalm 119:173).
And these promises are from one psalm alone! They are promises for every child of God who will seek His truth, regardless of how serious our problems are. They are promises for me. They are promises for you. Go back and note all the characteristics of mental health that are related to the Scriptures. How dare psychologists tell us that the Scriptures are deficient in ways that only modern psychology can supply! The Bible provides all the necessary information for “training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Thoroughly equipped. Instruction in righteousness is the maintenance program for spiritual and mental health.
Too many Christians mistakenly believe that they can experience “maintenance-free” spirituality; that it comes without choice, effort, or discipline. The truth is that it requires daily submission of our wills to the Lord by feeding on His Word to sustain the transformed life. There really is no mystery to this process; it just seems like too much work. We would rather depend upon a radio preacher or televangelist for our spiritual food. We would rather warm our hearts with contemporary music than the cleansing coals of God’s Word. We would rather pick up the newspaper than the Bible. We would rather play than pray. We want excuses instead of exhortation. We want man’s theories instead of God’s truth. We want comfort rather than conviction. We want to be entertained more than we want holiness. We want self-esteem instead of self-denial. But instruction in righteousness requires us to turn back to God and His Word.
There you have it—four steps in a biblical method for permanent change: doctrinal teaching, acceptance of rebuke, correction of wrong patterns of thinking and acting by putting off the old nature, and building up the new nature through instruction in righteousness.
Summary of Contrasts
In summary, let us review the two systems that claim to effect change in people’s lives. One comes from the heart of God, the other from the heart of man. You must decide which system you will follow.
Psychology has offered an alternative to Christianity with a fully developed system of faith. Christianity starts with the assumption “In the beginning, God…”—the existence of the Creator—while psychology starts with the assumption “In the beginning, bog…”—the evolutionary theory. Christianity sees man as a special creation of God, made in His moral image, while psychology views man as the end result of billions of years of random events.
Christianity believes that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and the only absolute source of truth; psychology believes that truth is where you find it and that man’s mind is the final judge. Christianity has a leadership of ministers who preach from the Scriptures; psychology has a priesthood of therapists who quote one another. Christianity is supported by the tithes and offerings of its disciples; psychology is supported by fee schedules and insurance payments.
The Bible claims to have explanations for man’s deepest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? How are we to behave? How can we change? What is our future? Psychology claims to have even deeper answers for these ultimate questions, which can only be revealed by therapists who have had years of formal training.
The Bible claims to reveal the motives of the human heart, while psychology claims to explain the unconscious drives of the human mind. Christianity claims that humans can be transformed by the miraculous and mysterious power of God. Psychology claims that it can transform man by helping him to understand, accept, and love himself.
The Bible says that man is by nature a sinner, separated from the life of God. Psychology says that man is essentially good and needs to recognize his full potential. The Bible says that without Christ, man is hopeless; psychology says that man is limited only by his imagination. The Bible says that man is lost and that Christ is the only way; psychology says it can help man find his own way.
The Bible calls sin by name; psychology says that man suffers from disorders. The Bible says that God’s people must not conform to the world; integrationists say that we must counsel the way the world does. The Bible says that each person is responsible for his own choices; psychology says that each person is a victim of his environment.
The Bible says that man can be forgiven, cleansed, and healed. Psychology says we must return to our past, embrace our pain, and explore our inner self. The Bible’s answer for guilt is man’s repentance and God’s forgiveness; psychology’s way is for the conscience to be desensitized. The Bible says that we must crucify self; psychology says that we must actualize self. The Bible says that our battle is spiritual; Freud says that the battle is sexual.
Down through the centuries, without the aid of psychotherapy or innovative techniques, Christianity has produced millions of permanently transformed lives by the liberating truths found in Jesus Christ. In barely one century, psychology has captured the minds of millions with a message that has enslaved mankind to vacillating theories which promote sinful behavior.
Psychology points man to self. The Bible points man to God.
Bulkley, E. (1993). Why Christians can’t trust psychology (325-326).
Having been through the whole psychology and counseling thing myself, I can tell you from personal experience that every word he says here is true. One thing he doesn't say here, but that is also very true is that people who believe in the world instead of God and His Word, go to counselors to be "fixed" and have to go through counseling for years; often for the rest of their lives, and yet they are never cured, never fixed. They often wind up on medications to change their behavior since the counselors words themselves have no effect, except perhaps to make things worse. They may wind up hospitalized at times because even the medications they're given don't cure them, all they do is mask the problem to some degree. But when people turn to God and His Word and/or a Biblical counselor, they are generally cured within a few weeks to a few months at most! Totally and completely! No hospitalizations, no drugs, no lifetime of counseling. Instead they wind up with a lifetime of a wonderful personal relationship with the Lord God, their creator, who knows them, loves them and guides them. I"ve experienced this myself, and seen it many times. God is amazing and so is His Word. The Jesus who healed people 2000 years ago, is still the same and still heals those who come to Him.
Note that I'm speaking of a biblical counselor, NOT a "Christian counselor". There's a huge difference between the two. A Christian counselor is someone who says they're a Christian and is also a counselor. They use the world's methods, not God's. Some of them may mix some of God's methods in with the World's, but they don't believe that God and His Word can do anything for a person experiencing mental health issues.
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• Their lives are obedient to the Lord: “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:2–4)
• Their lives are full of praise: “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” (Psalm 119:7)
• Their lives are characterized as pure: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
• They have victory over sin: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
• They enjoy obeying the Lord: “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
• They receive direct counsel from the Word: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
• They are refreshed and strengthened by the Word: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)
• They are people of integrity: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” (Psalm 119:30)
• They experience inner freedom: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)
• They become unselfish: “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)
• They turn away from worthless and destructive practices and philosophies: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:37)
• They have hope: “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” (Psalm 119:43)
“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” (Psalm 119:49)
• They experience comfort in the midst of suffering: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalm 119:50) “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.” (Psalm 119:52)
• They develop good judgment: “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)
• Their hearts are sensitive: “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:70)
• They have eternal values: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72)
• They develop wisdom: “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98–100)
• They find guidance: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• They have an aversion for evil: “and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:128)
• They understand deep truths: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
• They sorrow over the sinfulness of the world: “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” (Psalm 119:136)
• They experience joy in the midst of trouble: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” (Psalm 119:143)
• They become people of prayer: “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)
• They remain true to God even through persecution: “Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.” (Psalm 119:157)
• They have peace and stability: “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
• They receive help from God: “May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” (Psalm 119:173).
And these promises are from one psalm alone! They are promises for every child of God who will seek His truth, regardless of how serious our problems are. They are promises for me. They are promises for you. Go back and note all the characteristics of mental health that are related to the Scriptures. How dare psychologists tell us that the Scriptures are deficient in ways that only modern psychology can supply! The Bible provides all the necessary information for “training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Thoroughly equipped. Instruction in righteousness is the maintenance program for spiritual and mental health.
Too many Christians mistakenly believe that they can experience “maintenance-free” spirituality; that it comes without choice, effort, or discipline. The truth is that it requires daily submission of our wills to the Lord by feeding on His Word to sustain the transformed life. There really is no mystery to this process; it just seems like too much work. We would rather depend upon a radio preacher or televangelist for our spiritual food. We would rather warm our hearts with contemporary music than the cleansing coals of God’s Word. We would rather pick up the newspaper than the Bible. We would rather play than pray. We want excuses instead of exhortation. We want man’s theories instead of God’s truth. We want comfort rather than conviction. We want to be entertained more than we want holiness. We want self-esteem instead of self-denial. But instruction in righteousness requires us to turn back to God and His Word.
There you have it—four steps in a biblical method for permanent change: doctrinal teaching, acceptance of rebuke, correction of wrong patterns of thinking and acting by putting off the old nature, and building up the new nature through instruction in righteousness.
Summary of Contrasts
In summary, let us review the two systems that claim to effect change in people’s lives. One comes from the heart of God, the other from the heart of man. You must decide which system you will follow.
Psychology has offered an alternative to Christianity with a fully developed system of faith. Christianity starts with the assumption “In the beginning, God…”—the existence of the Creator—while psychology starts with the assumption “In the beginning, bog…”—the evolutionary theory. Christianity sees man as a special creation of God, made in His moral image, while psychology views man as the end result of billions of years of random events.
Christianity believes that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and the only absolute source of truth; psychology believes that truth is where you find it and that man’s mind is the final judge. Christianity has a leadership of ministers who preach from the Scriptures; psychology has a priesthood of therapists who quote one another. Christianity is supported by the tithes and offerings of its disciples; psychology is supported by fee schedules and insurance payments.
The Bible claims to have explanations for man’s deepest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? How are we to behave? How can we change? What is our future? Psychology claims to have even deeper answers for these ultimate questions, which can only be revealed by therapists who have had years of formal training.
The Bible claims to reveal the motives of the human heart, while psychology claims to explain the unconscious drives of the human mind. Christianity claims that humans can be transformed by the miraculous and mysterious power of God. Psychology claims that it can transform man by helping him to understand, accept, and love himself.
The Bible says that man is by nature a sinner, separated from the life of God. Psychology says that man is essentially good and needs to recognize his full potential. The Bible says that without Christ, man is hopeless; psychology says that man is limited only by his imagination. The Bible says that man is lost and that Christ is the only way; psychology says it can help man find his own way.
The Bible calls sin by name; psychology says that man suffers from disorders. The Bible says that God’s people must not conform to the world; integrationists say that we must counsel the way the world does. The Bible says that each person is responsible for his own choices; psychology says that each person is a victim of his environment.
The Bible says that man can be forgiven, cleansed, and healed. Psychology says we must return to our past, embrace our pain, and explore our inner self. The Bible’s answer for guilt is man’s repentance and God’s forgiveness; psychology’s way is for the conscience to be desensitized. The Bible says that we must crucify self; psychology says that we must actualize self. The Bible says that our battle is spiritual; Freud says that the battle is sexual.
Down through the centuries, without the aid of psychotherapy or innovative techniques, Christianity has produced millions of permanently transformed lives by the liberating truths found in Jesus Christ. In barely one century, psychology has captured the minds of millions with a message that has enslaved mankind to vacillating theories which promote sinful behavior.
Psychology points man to self. The Bible points man to God.
Bulkley, E. (1993). Why Christians can’t trust psychology (325-326).
Having been through the whole psychology and counseling thing myself, I can tell you from personal experience that every word he says here is true. One thing he doesn't say here, but that is also very true is that people who believe in the world instead of God and His Word, go to counselors to be "fixed" and have to go through counseling for years; often for the rest of their lives, and yet they are never cured, never fixed. They often wind up on medications to change their behavior since the counselors words themselves have no effect, except perhaps to make things worse. They may wind up hospitalized at times because even the medications they're given don't cure them, all they do is mask the problem to some degree. But when people turn to God and His Word and/or a Biblical counselor, they are generally cured within a few weeks to a few months at most! Totally and completely! No hospitalizations, no drugs, no lifetime of counseling. Instead they wind up with a lifetime of a wonderful personal relationship with the Lord God, their creator, who knows them, loves them and guides them. I"ve experienced this myself, and seen it many times. God is amazing and so is His Word. The Jesus who healed people 2000 years ago, is still the same and still heals those who come to Him.
Note that I'm speaking of a biblical counselor, NOT a "Christian counselor". There's a huge difference between the two. A Christian counselor is someone who says they're a Christian and is also a counselor. They use the world's methods, not God's. Some of them may mix some of God's methods in with the World's, but they don't believe that God and His Word can do anything for a person experiencing mental health issues.
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