*From Christ Centered Therapy by Neil Anderson. This book should be in your library and can be purchased at Amazon.com
No therapist is values-neutral. Inevitably, a therapist's worldview will be revealed in his or her methodology. Clients come to therapy sessions with preconceived notions about themselves, the world they live in, and God -and so do therapists. So what types of worldviews are at work here?
In Understanding the Times, renowned worldview expert David Noebellists four worldviews that exert the most influence over people in Western society. According to Noebel, the dominant worldviews include humanism, utopianism, New Age, and biblical Christianity. He writes, "The term worldview refers to any ideology, philosophy, theology, movement, or religion that provides an overarching approach to understanding God, the world, and man's relations to God and the world."
Noebel contends that every worldview contains distinct perspectives in ten areas: theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics, and history (see Table 1.1). All ten disciplines are interrelated, which means that in each case psychology is intertwined with one or more of the other disciplines, including theology!
Ironically enough, prominent humanist Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) inadvertently supported the idea that one cannot separate religion and philosophy. Regarding utopianists (communists), Russell wrote, "They have all the characteristics of religions. They advocate a way of life on the basis of irrational dogmas; they have a sacred history, a Messiah, and a priesthood. I do not see what more could be demanded to qualify a doctrine as religion."J[ Indeed, Russell is right about the utopianists, but the context of his comments implies that he views his own humanist position as nonreligious, which is simply not true. Russell's worldview is vulnerable to the same criticism.
Every philosophy assumes some view of God, a view we can fit loosely into one of the following four categories:
• There is one God (Christianity, Judaism, Islam).
• There is no God (humanism, utopianism).
• There are many gods (pantheism).
• All is god (New Age).
The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 12 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett. This home study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.I would highly recommend your to visit their website at http://www.thetruthproject.org/
Clarifying one's worldview is critical for the counselor as well as for the counselee, since both have a controlling belief regarding the world in which they live. Every worldview has some explanation for the client's problem and what is required to resolve it. Based on their particular worldview, therapists will use certain methodologies and sources to develop a treatment plan and, as they participate in case consultation sessions, present case management plans to managed care providers and converse with professional licensing boards.
From our experience we can say that these environments often are not open to the Christian worldview. However, if the Christian voice of truth is silenced, we are waving a white flag rather than maintaining our position in Christ until our precious Bridegroom comes. If, because of intimidation from the surrounding culture, Christian counselors who are afraid to tell believing and unbelieving clients the truth of God's Word in love will have failed themselves and their counselees. We must follow the example of Paul, who testified in his letter to Timothy:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel Iwas appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you -guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. -2 TIMOTHY 1:7-14
This is a convicting passage for any Christian therapist who knows the prevailing climate, the fierce opposition, and the competing worldviews that exist in our culture. But we also know the truth that will set people free, and we are commissioned by God to share this truth in love. Therefore, we joyfully stand in the righteousness of Christ and minister to those who are struggling.
To minister effectively, we must understand not only the biblical worldview but also the worldviews prevalent in contemporary psychology. With that in mind, consider how these four major worldviews influence the counseling process and the counselee.
Since 1962, Summit Ministries has been training Christians in worldview development and analysis. Summit is your leading worldview ministry with abundant resources online (http://www.summit.org/) for your encouragement and training.
To minister effectively, we must understand not only the biblical worldview but also the worldviews prevalent in contemporary psychology. With that in mind, consider how the four major worldviews just discussed influence the counseling process and the counselee. Also consider one last vital comparison in this lesson between the worldviews of Humanism and Biblical Christianity and consider how the worldview of counselors subscribing to would influence their counseling processes and their counselees so differently.
The Humanist Religion
1. The Universe is self-existing, not created.
2. Man is a part of nature and he has emerged as part of the evolutionary process.
3. Everything is organic and part of the whole universe. There is no distinct and supreme intelligence that communicates with Man because Man is part and parcel of the universe.
4. The individual born into a culture is largely molded by that culture and his genetic inheritance. Man is the total product of nature and nurture and nothing more.
5. Values, ethics and morals are determined by the individual on the basis of scientific inquiry in accordance with human needs.
6. The time for belief in God is passed. Today's world requires new thought to go with the times.
7. There is no distinction between the sacred and the secular. True religion consists of anything that is expressive of intelligently satisfying human living.
8. Life ends at death. To find meaning in life man must live with social passion in the here and now.
9. Worship and prayer is outdated superstition and is replaced by a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.
10. There are no uniquely religious emotions and attitudes associated with belief in the supernatural.
11. Man's knowledge, reason and education will be able to overcome all of life's trials.
12. In order to have a true religious experience, the joy in living and the creative in Man must be stimulated. The achievements of Man bring satisfaction to life.
13. All institutions and governments should exist for the fulfillment of human life.
14. The profit motive should not be the driving force of society, but there should be equitable means of distribution to all mankind in order to remove human suffering and bring about a better world.
15. Humanism will: a) affirm life rather than deny it; b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life not flee from it; c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for a few.
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The response of Biblical Christianity to the 15 major beliefs of Humanism:
1. The Universe is created.
2. Man was created by God. Man is distinct from nature which also is part of God's creation.
3. Man is distinct from the rest of creation. He is comprised of soul consisting of mind, will and emotions, and given a unique spirit that interacts with the soul and is directly connected to God's spirit through prayer and communion with God.
4. Man's basic tendencies are influenced by nature and nurture, but his character, conscience, inner strength, determination and ability to overcome the limitations of nature and nurture come from his personal relationship with his creator.
5. Values, ethics and morals are determined only by God and coded into the spirit of every person who has a vital personal relationship with God in the form of a conscience. This spirit of truth resides within us. God has also given His truth to Man through the inspired Holy Scriptures spiritually written by God through men to whom divine inspiration was given.
6. God's values, ethics and morals are the same yesterday, today and forever. They are eternal and without change. They are not fleeting with the whims of Man. If nothing else in life is ever certain, God's Word never changes.
7. There is a distinction between the sacred and the secular. True religion does not consist of religiosity but of an intimate and personal relationship with God. It is epitomized by reverence, surrender, trust and obedience toward God and His desires for us.
8. Life is eternal and could either be lived in God's presence or in separation from God both now and throughout all eternity. Life does not end with the event of the death of our bodies as we now know them. Meaning in life is gained by maintaining a strong personal relationship with God. This relationship gives Man the power, strength and guidance to spiritually prosper and experience inner peace and joy. This peace and joy resides in the person's spirit regardless of their present circumstances, or the circumstances of society that may outwardly affect them.
9. Worship and prayer brings us into intimacy with God and is not superstition but the deepest reality without which Man could never reach his God-given potential and fulfill the purpose of his life. A heightened sense of personal life automatically flows from a strong personal relationship that comes through worship and prayer. Efforts to promote social well-being are ordained by God and given power to succeed by God. In comparison, the
social welfare projects of Man lack spiritual power and guidance and often end in failure.
10. Emotions associated with supernatural encounters with God's Spirit is commonly reported to be powerful, uplifting, healing, cleansing, and in many ways fulfilling. Many experience these unique emotions as gifts from God that naturally flow from being in His presence.
11. The best of Man's knowledge, reason and education is not good enough to overcome all of life's trials. Eventually Man will come to his wit's end and turn to God who alone has the power to save Man from the weaknesses of his nature and give him the inner strength to overcome.
12. The highest religious experience comes only in the context of a personal relationship with God which include joy in
living, the stimulation of Man's creative abilities and achievements motivated by God's plans and purposes for our lives. Many who have attained high achievements in life separate from a relationship with God have felt empty and unfulfilled in spite of their high achievements.
13. External institutions and governments could never in any large degree fulfill human life. It is only as individuals are transformed from their selfish, self-centered natures inwardly, through the working of God's Spirit within them, that they can feel true fulfillment. If everyone had an intimate personal relationship with God, there would be no need for institutions and governments and everyone's life would be fulfilled.
14. It is not profit motive that causes the world's suffering, but the Sin of man. Sin is a disease, which could only be cured by the Holy Spirit working contrition within the individual heart. Sin is a universal, non-discriminating disease that all men and women beyond the age of accountability suffer from. Only forgiveness from God can remove the sin in the individual heart
and replace it with His love. This is the only transition process that changes us from the inside out and could bring about a better world.
15. Biblical Christianity will: a) affirm life in the Spirit but not in the carnality of the flesh; b) seek to find God’s will for our lives in submission to God; c) Allow God to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all who trust and obey Him. Knowing that God is every person's provider and sometimes withholds in order to cause people to turn to Him in prayer and enter into a personal relationship with Him so they could be blessed with His provision. The Biblical Christian stands ready to give and help others in need who are not aware of God's promise of provision, to whatever degree they can, to whatever degree that God will allow, and to whatever degree is beneficial to the person.
Congratulations! You have completed Lesson 4
GO TO LESSON 5
