The following slides were given in an online presentation for a course at Argosy University

Christmas means different things to different people. To most children, Christmas means gifts; to many mothers Christmas means preparing huge feasts; to grandparents Christmas means having the family together again, and to many Christmas means financial burden. But, to the Christian Christmas means primarily a time of remembering and celebrating Christ’s incarnation and birth, and why Christ came. The Bible informs us that Jesus Christ came into this world for seven reasons:

1. 1. 1. To Fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17). The Law was given to mankind by God for the purpose of revealing what is good and right. The problem is that all of us are by nature sinners and incapable of fulfilling the Law. Christ came to fulfill the Law in order to reveal He is good, He is right, He is God and to become our atonement, our substitute for our sins

      2. To Reveal God (Romans 1:19,20; John 14: 7-10; Hebrews 1:1-3). Though creation manifests the wisdom, greatness and power of God it does not reveal who He is, nor His holiness, love, mercy and grace. Creation testifies to the fact that God exists. Only Jesus Christ can declare: “he that has seen Me has seen the Father.” Only Christ is the “express image” of the Person of God.

      3. To Provide the Way of God (Isaiah 53:6; John 12:46) Mankind is lost. Psychology may define our mental and emotional disorders, analyze and suggest causes, and propose plans for managing them, but psychology alone cannot heal us. The reason is simple. Mankind’s fundamental problem is not psychological, it is spiritual. We are made in the “image of God” and separated from Him because of our sin. Jesus came not to show us the way back to God; He is “the way”.

      4. To Seek & Save the Lost (Luke 19:10) Like lost sheep, we all stumble in multifarious means to satisfy the emptiness within, the hole in our soul. Like Humpty-Dumpty we have all fallen. We cannot save ourselves, and no counselor can rescue us. We desperately need a Savior.

      5. To Give Abundant Life (Romans 5:12; John 10:10) As a consequence of Adam’s sin all mankind suffers the judgment of death and, in fact, we all die. Jesus Christ was born in a crèche to die on a cross in order that we might live. But, more than merely living, Christ put on our flesh so that we might receive His Spirit and experience abundant life.

      6. To Give His Life (John 10: 11, 15; Romans 6:23) Christmas is derived from the combination of two Latin words: Cristes and Maesse. Cristes is, of course, Christ. Maesse means “to suffer”. In fulfillment of the Law, Christ was born to die. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

      7. To Destroy the Works of Satan (II Corinthians 4:3-6; I John 3:8) Satan tirelessly works to usurp God. He appears as an angel of light to blind, destroy and prevent all mankind from knowing God personally, walking in the light and experiencing His love. Christ came to destroy Satan’s power.

Of all the gifts under the tree none can compare to the One who hung on the tree for you. If you have not already received God’s gift of His Son I invited you to do so now.

God bless you all. Have a very blessed Christmas!

The Song of Simeon or the Nunc Dimittis (Latin: “now depart”) is found in  Luke 2: 25-35:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

You can almost sense the heart at peace in this passage, can’t you.  Simeon, probably a rabbi, faithfully did what he had to do for many years in the temple, and while many others had lost heart as they impatiently waited for Messiah, Simeon remained spiritually alive while he waited.  There is a very good reason for his spiritual life:  Simeon had learned the secret of, as the saying goes, “letting go and letting God.”

It says in our scripture that he was righteous, he was entirely conformed to the will of God; in God’s sight, he did what he should, he did what God wanted him to do. He was also devout, (taking hold, holding on, going cautiously.) It should come as no surprise that Simeon’s spiritual vitality had everything to do with God.  Did you ever notice that?  There is a certain steadiness, peace, faithfulness in people who hold onto God … but it isn’t really their ability to hold on to God, as much as it is God holding onto them.  What’s really the focus of a righteous, devout person?

It says in the second part of Luke 2:25 that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”.  This verse is so huge!  The word “waiting” is defined as: to receive to one’s self, to admit, to give access to one’s self, to  receive one into intercourse and companionship,  to receive one (coming from some place), to accept (not to reject) a thing offered, to expect the fulfillment of promises.  To put the word “waiting” in here is pretty lame, isn’t it?  Simeon hasn’t just been hanging around the temple aimlessly, wondering if something good might happen. He’s been focused; he is positive that God is going to do what he has promised, because he has received it for himself. This verse could be translated “He was RECEIVING the consolation of Israel”!

The word for “consolation” is paraklesis (This is the same word that the Rabbis called the Messiah the consoler, the comforter.  It is the same word that Jesus later used to refer to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Paraklete.)  You have to understand that Simeon had let go of self, it wasn’t about him, it was about what God had promised and what God would do and the result is stated in the last part of the verse, “and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” GOD WAS UPON HIM!  He was all about GOD.

How are you like Simeon?  Is it time for you to let go and let God?

Check out the following documents for your instruction and edification:

BIBLICAL GUIDANCE FOR QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIORS

Budget

Co-dependency

Inductive Study of Marriage & Divorce

Premarriage Questionnaire

Scriptures Relevant to Divorce

Do you know that peace of mind and the sheer joy in being alive is within your reach regardless of your circumstances? If you’re a Christian all you need is an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude and giving thanks is good medicine.

Recent scientific research suggests that positive emotions, such as gratitude and love, strengthen and enhance the immune system, enabling the body to resist disease and recover more quickly from illness, through the release of endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers. Among other effects, they stimulate dilation of the blood vessels, which leads to a relaxed heart.

What this means is that the more we experience a sense of gratitude, we literally bathe ourselves in good hormones, feel healthier, happier, more peaceful and content with our lives. Like most great spiritual truths, gratitude is stunningly simple. This is not to say it’s necessarily easy to practice. The most common hindrance to personal peace and joy is anxiety.

The apostle Paul prepared a practical prescription, an antidote to anxiety in Philippians 4:4-7.

“Rejoice in the Lord all ways; and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Like any prescription, it’s necessary to follow these four simple steps as directed.

First, we are commanded, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” This requirement focuses our thoughts and emotions beyond your circumstances to God’s greatness and goodness. We can rejoice because he’s in control. Singing, listening to praise music or “making a melody or heart” is a great way to praise the Lord always. This step is so important that we are reminded “again I say rejoice”.

The second step in taking this prescription is found in the words “Let your moderation be known unto all men.” The word moderation could be better translated “gentleness of speech”. In other words, we are not to complain, express negativity to others, about our circumstances.

Third, the apostle admonishes us “be anxious for nothing” or “don’t worry”. Someone once said, “Worry, like a rocking chair, gives us something to do, but it won’t get us anywhere.” Anxiety is not a benign activity, however. It pillages our peace, robs our joy, and steals our hope. We must deliberately and persistently resist anxiety, and war against worry.

The final application in the antidote against anxiety requires that we can take everything to God in prayer. There nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for His Fatherly care. Notice how we are to pray. Our prayers and petitions are to be submitted to God “with thanksgiving”. Our gratitude is not for presumed answers to our prayers, but for the petitions themselves. Our needs provide God the opportunity to show Himself glorious.

There’s a promise when this prescription is taken: “the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts (i.e., emotions) and your mind (i.e., thoughts) through Christ Jesus.” The one who is in the habit of praising God for His goodness will find himself overcoming many of the emotional, mental and spiritual problems that plague others.

The holidays are upon us.  Normally, this would be a festive time, a time of celebration.  Perhaps, things are different for you this year and this is not the “season to be jolly.”  You are a beleaguered by bills.  You’re overwhelmed with worries.  You’re feeling discouraged and defeated, helpless and hopeless.  Maybe circumstances in your life are so bad you’re weary of life and ready to say “farewell to it all”?   Perhaps, you too could have penned the words of the psalmist, who three times wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” (Psa.  42:5, 11; 43:5)

David uses the phrase “cast down” to describe the condition of his soul.  As a shepherd, David would declare sheep as “cast down” when their fleece was wet, they were on their backs and unable to restore themselves and return to their feet.  The affect of being cast down is expressed by the psalmist second question, “Why am I disquieted within myself?”  Restless and tormented, helpless and hopeless, facing certain death, unless their shepherd rescued them.

The word soul is nephesh in Hebrew and psyche in the Greek, from which we derive our English word psychology.  The translation of these two words refer to “the life principle” within the body; to the mind, emotions, conscience and will.  Combining the word soul with the phrase cast down the psalmist declares his despairing and dire condition.  Seeing his soul as cast down, he is incapable of self-correction.  Much like Humpty Dumpty, who has had a great fall and could not pull himself together again, so the cast down soul is doomed to depression and death.  Just as all the king’s horsemen proved futile in saving Humpty, so mental health professionals cannot save the human soul.   Cognitive and rational-emotive therapies alone cannot restore the mind and emotions.  Religious and moral therapies alone cannot rescue the conscience.  Existential and psychodynamic therapies alone cannot give hope and passion to the will.

Only God can save our souls.  Only God can resurrect the soul cast down.

Read carefully and be encouraged by the rest of David’s Psalm and ask yourself “Why am I cast down, discouraged and depressed?

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Significant research in academia and a plethora of psychological  studies suggest an inextricable nexus between what we see with our eyes and what we think, what we visually focus on and how we feel, even what we imagine and picture in our minds and how we behave.  For this reason some researchers advise against viewing too much news because there appears to be a correspondence between watching bad news and depression – of course, wives knew this a long time ago.  The business world has long understood the power in marketing or advertising by relating a product to an appealing image.  And, church leaders have written profusely about the need for “vision” when planning for church growth.

This observation really isn’t new.  Two thousand years ago Jesus noted the significance of sight and the power of vision in His sermon on the mount when He said “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore, your eye is healthy, your whole body shall be full of light.  But, if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness.  If, therefore, the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mt. 6:22-23).  Similarly, the Apostle Paul declared that Christians are transformed by beholding Christ: “though we look through a glass darkly…we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Cor. 4:2)  No wonder John the Baptist exhorted his disciples to “Behold [i.e., inspect intently, examine thoroughly] the Lamb of God.” (Jn. 1:29)  No wonder Paul instructed the believers at Colosse, inundated with a cacophony of confusing philosophies, “If you…are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1)  The author of the letter to the Hebrews admonished the persecuted Jews in Jerusalem “let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking [i.e., fix your eyes] on Jesus…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2)

Just as the Israelites, bitten by the deadly serpents in the wilderness, were healed and saved by looking at the serpent of bronze [cf. origin of the medical symbol] so we live by beholding Jesus.   How do you see the world?  Has your uplook affected your outlook?  Christ’s resurrection reminds up to keep looking up!

What Should You Expect from a Christian Counselor?

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When it becomes necessary to seek a professional Christian counselor either for yourself or to recommend to someone else the following criteria may benefit you in determining that choice.

1. A Mature Christian. The apostle Paul directed the churches in Galatia to seek those who are “spiritual”, or mature in their Christian faith, to “restore a brother overtaken in a fault” (Gal.  6:1).   It is highly unlikely the immature ever effectively counsel another to maturity.  It is impossible for an addict to  aid another in overcoming their addiction.
2. A Gifted Exhortor. Effective biblical counseling is a spiritual ministry facilitated by the Holy Spirit.  More than mere erudition and experience the Christian counselor must possess the gifts of exhortation (Rom. 12:8), wisdom and knowledge (I Cor. 12:8).
3. A Student of Word. King David began the book of Psalms with the words “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, . . . but his delight is in the law of the Lord” (Psa. 1:1).  He understood that what separates godly from ungodly counsel is the adoration and application of the Word of God.  The consequences from these two sources of the wisdom is profound.  James noted that ungodly counsel, “the wisdom from below” results in “strife, confusion and every evil work” (Jas. 3: 13-16).  Godly counsel, “that which is from above” is “pure, peaceable, gentle, yielding, merciful and beneficial” (Jas. 3:17-18).  It is significant to note that James prefaces this discussion on the types of wisdom with the question “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good life his works with meekness of wisdom” Jas. 3:13
4. A Skilled Practitioner. While every maturing Christian is expected to counsel or “exhort one another . . . to love and good works” (Heb. 10:22-25), profound personality disorders and mental disturbances require specialized education and training.  Just as we would expect a medical doctor to be thoroughly trained in the treatment of physical pathologies so we ought to expect the same of those who treat psychological, mental and personality disorders.  Appropriate education and licensure should be sought.
5. An Empathetic Listener. C.S. Lewis compassionately comforted those who sought his counsel by noting “I’m in the same hospital you are.  I’ve just been your little longer.”  The grace received in the midst of the counselor’s personal afflictions equips them to comfort others (II Cor. 1:3,4).
6. A Diligent Professional. Like any professional the Christian counselor must care for each client with the utmost respect and dignity, ensure confidentiality, maintain accurate records of the sessions, and comply with codes, ethics and laws which govern mental health professionals.
7. A Team Player. Church leadership often refer members of their congregation to Christian counselors for specific help and care.  The counselor, like a sheepdog, is called upon by the pastor, or shepherd, to care for the sheep.  Where this relationship exists, it is essential, as the counselee permits, for the counselor to work with pastors, elders, and other professionals in the care of the counselee.

Last week we noted that good theology is requisite to good psychology and that because we are created by God in His image, then it stands to reason that our lives are valued, fulfilled and blessed to the degree we reflect His image.   So, what is the process by which we are conformed to His image?  How is Christ truly seen in us?

First, one needs to become a Christian, to be redeemed by the blood of Christ and regenerated by His Holy Spirit.  The process of becoming a Christian is known as salvation.  The process of maturing in Christ is called sanctification.  Biblical Counseling, simply stated, is Christian discipleship, assisting in the sanctifying process, that is problem-based. Biblical counseling is a Christian helping another in the practical integration of godly living skills as revealed in the principles and precepts of God’s Word.

Bible studies alone are not biblical counseling, neither is counseling without sound theology.  Biblical Counseling falls within the discipline of practical theology.

Level 5 without levels 1-4 is not biblical counseling.  You see, biblical counseling is not simply the integration of some secular psychological model sprinkled with Scripture verses.  Biblical counseling begins and ends with Christ.  He is the author and the finisher of our salvation.  Hence, the more aware and informed the biblical counselor is of levels 1-4 the sharper more effective instrument they are in facilitating another’s sanctification.

Levels 1‑4 without level 5 is incomplete and ineffective.   Theology was never given in a vacuum.   The Church calling is not to simply dispense the Word, but to minister the Word.  The biblical counselor is a specialist within the Church in applying the Word of God to life’s difficulties.

Welcome to the first edition of our weekly newsletter.  It’s my prayer that you find each of these brief essays insightful, inspirational, instructional and intensely practical and beneficial.

Please be aware and forewarned that they are written from an unapologetic Christian perspective intended to give you biblical insight into psychology and practical living skills. The reason for this bias is simple.  Good theology is requisite to good psychology. Theology is the study of God.  Psychology is the study of man’s soul. If all mankind, that includes you and me, are created by God in His image, then it stands to reason that our lives are valued, fulfilled and blessed to the degree we reflect His image. Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3) is “the express image of His (God’s) Person”. He is incarnated word of God. He put on our flesh so that we might receive His spirit in order that we might reflect His glory.

I collect coins.  Some coins in my collection are quite old.  In fact, they are antiques dating back more than 2000 years.  You might think their age would increase their worth.  However, a numismatist assesses their value, not by their age, but by how detailed the relief or impression of the image is seen on the coin.  Our value is not measured not the length of our days, but the depth of our lives; not by our age or accomplishments but by our reflection of God’s glory.  How well is His image seen in you?  Do others see “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)?