Hvis vi adlyder Guds Ord viser vi Gud vår kjærlighet

"We owe God our all; our everything should belong to Him, including our love, which is shown through obedience."

 (Sitat fra en leseplan i Youversion, av Toni L. Wortherly, Esq)

Den som har mine bud og holder fast på dem, han er den som elsker meg. Og den som elsker meg, skal bli elsket av min Far. Og jeg skal elske ham og åpenbare meg for ham. (Joh 14,21) 

 

Vi viser Gud at vi elsker Han når vi adlyder Hans Ord/bud. For hvis vi ikke elsker Han vil vi ikke bry oss om Hans Ord, Hans bud, Hans lov. Men når vi bryr oss om de, og gjør etter dem, viser vi samtidig at vi elsker Gud. Bare de som har DHÅ kan lyde Guds Ord og elske Ham. 

     Er du en kristen som ikke adlyder Guds Ord? Da blir vel spørsmålet; er det fordi du ikke elsker Gud? Og hvis du ikke elsker Gud; er du da kjent av Ham, eller blir du en av de Jesus ikke vedkjenner Seg ved livets slutt? 

Mange skal si til meg på den dagen: Herre, Herre! har vi ikke profetert i ditt navn, drevet ut onde ånder i ditt navn og gjort mange kraftige gjerninger i ditt navn? 1Kor 13:2.Men da skal jeg åpent si til dem: Jeg har aldri kjent dere. Vik bort fra meg, dere som gjorde mot loven! (Matt 7, 22.23)

Guds Ord er den smale sti, den trange port, og få er de som finner den. Guds Ord er levende og virksomt og skarpere enn noe tveegget sverd, det regner igjennom helt til det kløver sjel og ånd, ledd og marg, og dømmer hjertets tanker og råd. (Matt 7, 13-14 og Her 4,12) 

I dagens samfunn er det vanskelig å ikke være forvirret. Er de bibelske sannhetene blitt gammeldagse? Eller var det skrevet i en så annerledes kultur og i en så annerledes tid at vi i dag må se bort fra deler av den? 

     Tenker du sånn har du sluttet å tro på Guds allmakt. For Gud beskytter Sitt Ord, og Han står bak Bibelen, selv gjennom oversettelser til de ulike språk og gjennom alle tider. (Bare vær obs på at de som er kalt parafraser ikke er selve Bibelen! F.eks. tror mange i dag at The Message, av Eugene H. Peterson er en Bibel. Det er det ikke. Det er Petersons egne ord og tolkninger til dagens amerikanske uttrykk!) Gud er stor nok til å bevare Sitt Ord, og Han har latt Sin Ånd skrive Bibelen gjennom de mennesker som skrev den, slik at den kunne stå gyldig til evig tid. Summen av Ditt ord er Sannhet, leser vi i Salme 119, 160. 

      Mange kristne har sluttet å studere Bibelen etter svar. De vender seg til menneskers visdom, gjerne i det påskudd av at "Gud har jo åpenbart ting gjennom mennesker". Men ved å overlate bibellesing til forkynnere og "fanatikere" blir man en glemsom hører, mens vi må være ordets gjørere. (Jak 1,22)

   Du ber, men får ikke. Fordi Gud har aldri ment at vi skal be og sette oss ned og forvente å få det servert på sølvfat. "Gi oss i dag vårt daglige brød" - betyr ikke at vi setter oss under et tre og venter på at Gud skal gi oss det. Det står nemlig i Guds Ord at den som ikke jobber, heller ikke skal spise. Vi skal be, og legge våre behov i Guds hender, og så "gå ut i all verden", og tjene til livets opphold, være vitner for Jesus, være lys og salt, og dermed "forkynne evangeliet". 

Er du en kristen som bærer dårlig eller god frukt? For vi skal kjenne dem på deres frukter, står det i Matt 7. Mange kan ha ytre gjerninger, som de som drev ut onde ånder i Jesu navn, de som gjorde kraftige gjerninger i Jesu navn og som profeterte i Hans navn, og likevel ikke var kjent av Jesus. Ytre gjerninger er ikke frukter av å kjenne Jesus og være kjent av Han. Fruktene er at vi hører Guds Ord og gjør etter dem, at vi adlyder vår Himmelske Fars vilje. Fruktene kommer ved at vi har DHÅ boende i våre hjerter, og skaper rettferdighetens gode frukter i oss; kjærlighet, glede, fred, langmodighet, mildhet, godhet, trofasthet, ydmykhet og avholdenhet. 

Kanskje du ikke forstår Guds Ord og derfor ikke er lydig mot den? Kanskje du ikke ser hva den sier..? Da må du rett og slett ta deg tiden til å lese i den, studere den og finne svar på de tingene du lurer på eller har problemer med, og begynne å gjøre etter det som står der. 

For det står f.eks at vi skal fornekte oss selv. I dagens psykologiske samfunn hvor alt er snudd rundt på hodet og blitt så indoktrinert i oss er det vanskelig å se at vi gjør feil når vi fokuserer på at vi skal bli legt fra fortidens sår, når vi tenker at vi må få bedre selvtillit eller en god selvfølelse. Det er vanskelig å se at løsningen og svaret er å glemme oss selv, og flytte fokuset på Gud. For er ikke det å stikke hodet i sanden og håpe på at det vonde går over av seg selv? Er ikke det å ignorere eller undertrykke følelser og smerter, og vil ikke det da bare komme opp igjen i en mye verre tilstand senere? 

Svaret er at Bibelens vei er den smale og trange og få er de som finner den. Få er de som vil vandre på den veien. Du vil heller føle på sine følelser, finne ut av hvorfor du er blitt som du har blitt, og fokusere på å bli bedre, bli friskere, bli sunn, bli legt og helbredet fra gamle sår. Forstå deg selv, finne ut av hvordan du kan få det bedre. Og så ser du ikke at du hele veien har fokuset på deg selv. Det motsatte av hva Bibelen lærer oss vi skal gjøre! 

Hvis du tror at du finner svarene i menneskers lære vil du drifte avsted utenfor Guds vilje. Hans vilje er nemlig bare å finne i Guds fullkomne uforfalskede Ord. Men her finner vi til gjengjeld også alt vi trenger å vite, indirekte og direkte. Vi må ha kjærlighet til sannheten, og da vil vi også oppdage Sannheten, i Guds Ord; for den som ber, den får, den som leter, den finner. (Matt 7,7) 

 

En bedre vei

En bedre vei

 

Herren viser oss en ny og bedre vei;

Glemselens vei

Ikke innover og bakover,

men utover og fremover.

Vi kan løfte blikket

vekk fra mislykkethetens vei

ikke innover, men utover

ikke bakover, men fremover

Ved å slippe grepet om det gamle

Spirer det nye frem

Han gjør noe nytt, vi kan strekke oss frem

Utover og fremover

Frihet til å se og se den frihet vi kan få

Fremover og utover

Glemme oss selv, for å finne oss selv

For det handler ikke om oss

Den nye og bedre vei

å ikke tenke på det som var før

for noe nytt spirer frem

fremover og utover; merker vi det ikke?

Trine Kvalnes 23.05.13

Psykologi og den kristne del 9 (psychology and the christian part 9)

The compulsion to fix the dysfunctional family:

Minirth and Meier tell us, "We all possess a primal need to recreate the familiar, the original family situation, even if the familiar, the situation, is destructive and painful" (Ibid. p65). Why would anyone want to recreate a painful situation? Why, because we are compelled by our unconscious minds that actually control (we are told) eighty percent of our decisions (apparently without our conscious knowledge) (Ibid. p. 65). But why would we unconsciously choose to put ourselves through such  pain?  Consider  the  following  three  reasons  given  by followers of codependency:

* We believe that if the original situation can be drummed back into existence, this time around we can fix it. We can cure the pain.  We  know  we  can!  The  codependent  possesses  a powerful need to go back and fix what was wrong, he must cure the original pain.

* We believe that we were responsible for the rotten original family; therefore, we must be punished — we deserve pain.

Codependents may actually be hooked on misery.

* We believe that there is that yearning for the familiar and the

secure. Even if the past was painful, at least it was home.

John Bradshaw, popular author and TV codependent guru, lays the blame on the Biblical teaching that everyone is born in a condition of sin. He contends that such teaching produces a "shame-based" personality destined to become an addict. He says, "Many religious denominations teach a concept of man as wretched and stained with original sin. . .With original sin you‘re beat before you start" (Healing the Shame that Binds You, p64).

Actually, the various "experts" come up with various (and often contradictory)  reasons  why  they  believe  people  become codependent. Why so many options? Perhaps this quote from the  University of  California‘s "Wellness Letter" explains  the problem well, "The literature of codependency is based on assertions, generalizations, and anecdotes. . .To start without the slightest shred of scientific evidence and casually label large groups as diseased may be helpful to a few, but it is potentially  harmful  and  exploitative  as  well.  If  as  the  best sellers claim, ‗all society is an addict‘ and ninety-six percent of us are codependents, that leaves precious few of us outside the  rehab  centers  —  but  at  that  point  the  claims  become ludicrous at best" (Oct., 1990 p7, quoted in Bobgan, p33).

There is neither  scientific of biblical evidence to support the   claims   of   those   who   teach   the   theories   of codependency, but why should truth get in the way of  a good thing?

THE EFFECTS OF CODEPENDENCY

We are being told that it is very difficult to discern whether the behaviour of a codependent was caused by his "illness," or the "illness" was caused by his behaviour. At any rate, Melody Beattie groups the problems of codependent people around the following categories: caretaking, low self-worth, repression, obsession, controlling, denial,  dependency,   poor communication,  weak  boundaries,  lack  of  trust,  anger,  sex problems, miscellaneous and progressive (Codependent No More, p. 37-45). After reading her lists, you realize that few, if any, can totally escape the codependent label.

Minirth  and  Meier  blame  addictions  and  compulsions  on codependency.  Even  more  importantly,  they  claim  that  a codependent is unable to obey God: "The Christian‘s foremost privilege and responsibility is to hear and respond to God. The codependent can neither hear clearly nor respond adequately. It‘s that simple" (p. 171). How cruel God must be, to demand obedience  from  people  who  cannot  obey  because  of  their emotional illnesses (caused usually by harsh parents), then punish  them  because  of  their  disobedience.  Either  the apostles of codependency are right, or God (in His Word) is — we cannot have it both ways!

THE CURE

In order to recover from codependency, codependents must enter  a  Twelve-Step  programme  specifically  designed  for them: Codependence Anonymous, which is almost identical to Alcoholics Anonymous — with only minor changes in the steps (see our paper on the Twelve-Step recovery programmes). Another option is to enter a clinic such as Minirth and Meier‘s and go through their similar programme.

As a summation, the adherents of codependency would say, "Codependents  carry  distorted  messages  about  their  own sense of worth and such messages originate in dysfunctional families. Those messages must be erased through regressive therapy and replaced with positive, self-enhancing messages" (Bobgan, p46). (It might be helpful to read our chapter on Self Image).

The Scriptures teach a very different method of change and growth. This method is outlined in places such as Eph. 4:22-

24, where we are told to put off the old self, put on the new self,  and  be  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  our  mind.  Specific

application of this principle will depend upon the problem that we face. The  psychological  world  (including  Christian  psychologists)

errs, because it has a faulty anthropology (view of man) based upon  human  wisdom,  rather  than  upon  the  Word  of  God.

Psychologists believe that people behave poorly, and develop emotional  and  psychological  problems  because  their  love

tanks are empty. If they can get their "significant others," or even God, to fill up their "love tanks," their problems will be

resolved. The end result is everyone living for themselves. The Bible says, however, that we behave poorly because we are totally depraved, having been born with a sin nature. As a result, we react sinfully to our problems.  The solution offered by God is to live Biblically. Progressive sanctification is our goal as we live our lives to please God.  The codependency movement is quickly turning Biblical living into a vice.  Those who choose to put Christ and others before their own needs are being told that they are sick and in need of therapy.  Is it any wonder that their world is confused?

INNER HEALING AND VISUALIZATION

One  of  the  increasingly  popular  methods  of  dealing  with problems today is Inner Healing (also known as Healing of memories, or Healing for damaged emotions) through the use of visualization. Some of the better known practitioners of this methodology have been: Agnes Sanford, Ruth Carter, Dennis

& Rita Bennett, and among Protestant non-charismatics, David Seamands. Seamands‘ books, Healing for Damaged Emotions and Healing of Memories, are perhaps the standard texts on the subject. These books come highly recommended by Gary Collins,   James   Dobson   and   the   Narramore   Christian Foundation, among others. The books are published by Victor Books (a division of Scripture Press) and have sold over six hundred thousand copies since 1981. Throughout this paper we will examine the teachings and techniques of Inner Healing in the light of Scripture.

THE BELIEFS OF INNER HEALING

Background:

There are many surface variations between teachers, but the basic structure of all Inner Healing approaches is a Freudian view of human nature which teaches that all of our problems find  their  root  in our  early childhood,  and  that  those  early painful    experiences    have    been    repressed    into    our subconscious mind. In addition, at least in Christian circles, a Jesus who loves unconditionally is imagined into our past in order  to  heal  our  childhood  wounds.  The  Inner  Healing movement  among  Christians,  springs  from  the  view  that neither God‘s Word nor Christ‘s power, as taught in the Bible, is sufficient to meet the needs of people with deeply damaged emotions stemming from childhood. Seamands says, "Early in my pastoral experience, I discovered that I was failing to help two  groups of  people through the regular  ministries  of  the church.  Their   problems   were   not   being   solved   by   the preaching of the Word, commitment to Christ, the filling of the

Spirit,  prayer,  or  the  Sacraments.  .  .  .  During  this  time of discovery,   God   showed   me   that   the   ordinary   ways   of ministering would never help some problems. And He began to  enable  me  to  open  up  my  own  heart  to  personal  self- discovery,  and  to  new  depths  of  healing  love  through  my marriage,  my  children,  and  intimate  friends"  (Healing  for Damaged Emotions, p. 7).

How amazing to discover that God has revealed to David Seamands what He never revealed to the Apostle Paul!

How utterly unbelievable it is to think that God waited until 1966 to let us know that His Word, prayer and the Holy Spirit were unable to solve many of the real problems in our lives — that  we  must  instead  turn  to  Freud  and  his  disciples  for answers.  Whenever  man  takes  it  upon  himself  to  add  his insights to the Word of God, error will be the inevitable result. At the foundation of all heresy is the belief that the Scriptures are  insufficient  and can be  improved  upon  by the  wisdom and/or revelation of man.

TEACHINGS CONCERNING HUMAN NATURE:

Inner Healers teach that our problems are caused by sins against us. People are fundamentally victims: hurt, wounded, needy, deprived — that we are all sinners is only of secondary importance. The "heart" is a passive storehouse of repressed hurts,  unmet  needs  and  yearnings  for  love.  (We  should comment at this point that Biblically the "heart" represents the inner person: our intellect, emotions and will). Long forgotten memories and experiences of childhood (even experiences in the womb; Healing of Memories, pp16-19) cause personality and behavioural problems. Such problems call for "healing." In other  words,  it  is because we are victims that  we  behave poorly. We sin because we suffer; we do evil because evil has been done to us. The only way that we will be able to stop making  poor  and  destructive  choices  (i.e.  stop  reacting sinfully)  is  to  eliminate  the  pain  and  suffering  of  the  past (adapted from a seminar by David Powlson).

TEACHINGS CONCERNING CHRIST

The  Christ  of  Inner  Healing  is  a  loving,  non-judgmental,

unconditionally accepting healer, who will heal our wounds and comfort our pains. Biblically, on the other hand, Jesus is the Saviour of mankind. He died in our place in order to

deliver us from the penalty, power and presence of sin.

THE TECHNIQUES OF INNER HEALING

Exploration of the past —

Our  past  experiences  are  explored  in  an  effort  to  identify feelings of disappointment and rejection that are supposedly causing our problems in the present (even simple things such as accidents, illnesses, or delays may trigger these feelings, see Healing of Memories, pp. 81-84). Until these wounds are uncovered, no inner healing is possible.

In this diagnostic phase, damaged emotions are first of all identified.  Next  to  be  uncovered  are  the  hurts  that  have caused those damaged emotions. Of course, hurts must have been caused by people; so, eventually the search leads to those who have wounded us. David Powlson gives this helpful diagram

DAMAGED EMOTIONS

|

HURTS

|

THE WOUNDER

Visualization —

"Through a process of guided imagination, the all-accepting Jesus is imagined back into the memory of traumatic past events. Intensive prayer is offered for the Holy Spirit to be a mystical  revealer  of  problem  areas  and  then  a  Healer"

(Powlson).  Secular  Inner  Healers  would  substitute  another important figure, in place of Jesus, as the all-accepting healer. For  example,  a  psychology  student  might  imagine  Carl Rogers; a history buff might call up Abe Lincoln; a Buddhist would visualize Buddha. The individual playing the part of the healer is not important; after all, this is taking place in our imagination, not in reality. What is important to Inner Healing is that you believe in the healing power of the person whom you are calling back into your past. It matters very little whether this healer is Jesus or Donald Trump, just as long as you have faith in this person. Another diagram by Powlson shows the process:

A NEW ACTOR

(SUCH AS JESUS)

WHO WILL ACCEPT US AS WE ARE I

THIS NEW ACTOR

BRINGS TO OUR PAST

THE EXPERIENCE OF HEALING

|

WE BECOME NEW PEOPLE CAPABLE OF

REACTING & LIVING DIFFERENTLY

(It  is  worthy  of  attention  to  note  how  much  impact  the teachings of Inner Healing have had on the life and ministry of

David and Karen Mains of Chapel of the Air. See, in particular, Karen‘s book, Lonely No More.)

THE BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE TO INNER HEALING:

Inner Healing has created a Jesus who will meet the needs that we think must be met by going into our past and healing our   wounds.   The   Jesus   of   Inner   Healing   is   a   non confrontational, unconditionally accepting Jesus, who receives us to Himself without regard to our sins. By contrast, the Bible teaches that "The real Jesus (not a fantasy Jesus) meets real people (not inner children of memory) in the present (not the past). He deals with the behavioural and personality problems of people by sanctification" (Powlson).

The true gospel message is that God saves people even though they are yet sinners (Romans 5:1-11). However, He does  not  simply  leave  them  in  their  sins,  but  rather, forgives their sins and imputes to them the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4). By grace He brings them into the family of God and starts the process of transforming them into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28, 29).

Inner  Healers  believe  that  suffering  causes  us  to  behave poorly;  the  Scriptures,  on  the  other  hand,  teach  that suffering reveals our character (Romans 5:3,4) and is used of God to mature us in Christ (James 1:2-4).

The Biblical process of solving personality and behavioural problems is quite different from the methods of Inner Healing. It  beg ins  wit h  G od‘s  W or d  revealing our hearts (James 1:21- 25; Hebrews 4:12). At that point we can then go to the real Christ for grace, mercy and help (Hebrews 4:13-16). Then as the  real Holy Spirit ministers in our lives through the Word of God,  we will grow in abundant life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and   become   adequate   for   every   good   work   (2Timothy 3:16,17)! The teachings of the Inner Healing movement are sadly out of line with Scripture.