Christian Counselor's That Drive The Devils Car

...upon arriving home last night, I was blessed to have a call with a dear christian brother whom I have not seen in a couple of years. He vented to me about the "hell" he was living in right now with difficult times. And personally I do agree he has it tough. Then he goes on to mention to me he visited a Christian Counselor just awhile back, and the counselor gave him this advice, "you just need to not have a Quiet Time right now, and let the Lord love you, and you should not force any works to achieve a Quiet Time everyday, because you are burned out." ~my Spirit screamed out like a FLAMING DOVE, "WHAT IS THIS HERESY"?!! My friend actually believed the counselor and took his advice. So I gathered composure and sought to administer the truth to him in this matter. I insisted that Hebrews 11:6 was vital for him, and that God does reward those that draw close to him, and then the Spirit took me in mind to Song of Solomon, and the lover running over to hide behind the Trellis waiting for the bride to come running back after him, searching for Him. Draw close to the Lord and He WILL DRAW CLOSE TO YOU. Hopefully the Spirit will use this in his life, though I fear my message was unreceived. So here is my SHOUT OUT, and its about Christian Counselors. This isnt the first frustration I have had with "these counselors". There are two types of Christian Counseling, 1. Christian Counseling that uses Mans Pychology, Man's Wisdom, Man's Drugs, Man's Logic, Man's Intuition. This type of Christian Counseling will only lead you into a inward and downward spiral into the blood thirsty soul and flesh of your body. I say to these types of Counselors "Lean not on your own understanding, and QUIT DRIVING WOUNDED SHEEP IN THE DEVIL'S CAR.The Other type of Christian Counseling, is Christ centered, the Life of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will set you free from anything you are dealing with. Jesus Christ will heal this pain, and that pain, this void and that void, this struggle and that struggle, and the Word of God, sewn into us by the Power of the Spirit will set anyone free. That is, anyone that seeks after the Lord and not Man's Wisdom. I say go to God, go to the Word, and don't sit down in the harvest field and wait for something to happen. There is a battle going on, and if you slack off sitting in the field, that warfare battle may just indeed come to you in your lethargic state. We MUST GO TO JESUS FOR EVERYTHING! To be at peace with this fire in my bones in this matter, I must say if you are driving in the car with a Christian Counselor advising you in the ways of Man, GET OUT OF THE CAR< JUMP FOR THE ROAD, then roll, and tumble all the way until you find the real comforter and the real Counselor Jesus Christ in the WORD OF GOD. Blessings to you all today. My thoughts and prayers are for each of you as you stay lit daily for the Glory of the Lord. Soon we will see our Lover come for Us!! Until then, keep working dedicated in the harvest field of the Lord.-boynjourney

Amen brother! We must go to Jesus and not to the world for deliverance. It's the blood of Jesus that delivers, not some self-help techniques and certainly not by trying harder. You've just described psychoheresy quite well. As one who spent a considerable number of years seeking help from the world, rather than Jesus you're right on track.PSYCHOHERESY? What's that? I've never seen that term in the Bible. Basically, psychoheresy is a term to describe what you have when secular psychological counseling ideas and concepts are mixed with the teachings of the Bible. Psychoheresy website

From the Cambridge Dictionary:heresy noun1 [C or U] (the act of having) an opinion or belief that is the opposite of or against what is the official or popular opinion, or an action which shows that you have no respect for the official opinion...2 [U] a belief which is against the principles of a particular religion:He was burned at the stake in the fifteenth century for heresy.Hi there - I read with interest your post, and could identify in part with your sentiments. However, I think that sometimes it takes a bit of "dangerous" thinking to shake ourselves free from the poison of legalism.I agree with you, of course, that we all need to pray and read our Bible. I agree that if we draw near to God He will draw near to us. However, how often, when, where and how, are questions which I don't really think anyone can answer for anyone else.the counselor gave him this advice, "you just need to not have a Quiet Time right now, and let the Lord love you, and you should not force any works to achieve a Quiet Time everyday, because you are burned out." I think it's a bit strong to call this "heresy", however you are entitled to your opinion! The devil is very clever, and a past master at tying Christians up in the web of legalism. I've been there in a big way, and I know that it's a very short walk from sincere loving service of the Lord, to actually serving your idea of who God is, and what He expects, resulting in confusion, fear and condemnation. I have since learned ALOT about Jesus and the Father, and am expecting to go deeper and deeper throughout eternity, discovering the infinite depths of love He has for me.I obviously have no knowledge of your friend or this person he was talking to, but I would certainly not write off this person's advice not to force any works to achieve a quiet time every day.By that I do not mean to say he does not need to seek God. Perhaps he needs to relax a bit and see God as a Father who is absolutely head-over-heels in love with him, rather than a legalistic slave driver who will only be pleased with him if he clocks in at a certain time every day.Whatever your friend does - he is accepted by God in Jesus Christ. THAT should be his starting point, and if he realises that (with some encouragement from his friends!) he will be on a secure foundation to move into a highly rewarding relationship with God.Bless you for your care for him!Yours in ChristDom Spencer

Hi Dom,By that I do not mean to say he does not need to seek God. Perhaps he needs to relax a bit and see God as a Father who is absolutely head-over-heels in love with him, rather than a legalistic slave driver who will only be pleased with him if he clocks in at a certain time every day.I'm trying to come to terms with this segment. I am all together uncomfortable with the underlined idiom generally reserved for 'lovers'. I think it leads to a gross misunderstanding of our relationship with God and God's expectation of us. Truly we are slaves and He is our Master. We present ourselves unto the Lord based upon what should be seen as a 'reasonable' (logical) response to His expression of love, which He demonstrated on the Cross (Romans 12:1). Greater love hath no man than this, that He would lay down His life for His friends. I find no NT biblical precedent for thinking of God's love towards us in a 'head over heels' fashion. We love Him because He first loved us and expressed that love in his sacrificial death. That is where our eyes need to focus. If we are too look to a hill to see God's love it will be Mount Calvary, not running and chasing us, but carrying the weight of my sins and the cross upon His back. I am not trying to be mean here at all; I am trying to keep the focus where it has to be if we are to appreciate God's love for us. We simply cannot reduce our relationship with God to two lovers madly in love.

Well said Robert, especially in light of so much of this particular 'idiom' being mentioned often of late."you just need to not have a Quiet Time right now, and let the Lord love you, and you should not force any works to achieve a Quiet Time everyday, because you are burned out." Not entirely off base, taking Robert's sentiments into view ... To wait on the Lord is both a great difficulty and a needed necessity. There is a place of spiritual burnout where we are forcing the issue and operating out of the flesh even more than we might like to admit.Am speaking from experience.

"you just need to not have a Quiet Time right now, and let the Lord love you, and you should not force any works to achieve a Quiet Time everyday, because you are burned out."Boynjourney, I really appreciate your passion to see this person fully trust in Christ. And I also empathize with your concern about heresy. Yet these words may be the exact words your friend needs to hear. I had a friend who was in a similar situation many years ago. As anxiety and guilt grew deeper, she became more and more obsessed with reading the bible and praying. It became harmful to her. She needed to be set free from anxiety, burn out, guilt, and from bondage to works. She was told these words too by her counselor. She took the advice, and it helped her a lot. That was many years ago. Now she is much more stable and loves the Word and God, and is a great pray-er. It seems wrong to close the bible for a time - but it may be the best way to learn to trust in God rather than in one's spiritual activities. Perhaps the best thing you could do is pray for your friend and the counselor. The counselor likely sees things that you don't, and if possible, it's best not to interfere in the process too much. If this person is suffering from the deeper stages of burn-out, this is not time to lay heavy spiritual truths on him. He can't handle it. Just enjoy your friend, go on walks, enjoy nature, or something wholesome. Your inner peace and joy and trust will rub off on him. And just keep on lifting him before God! Trust God!Diane

There is a place of spiritual burnout where we are forcing the issue and operating out of the flesh even more than we might like to admit.Am speaking from experience.Yes. And amen. Have been there also, even recently. I think our relationship with God needs to have a little more of a natural flow than that. We can get bogged down doing things and our heart not be in it. We don't need a break from God, but we need a break from ourselves and our false notions.

Hi RobertFrom the Cambridge Dictionary:head over heels (in love):completely in loveI don't think that phrase only applies to "lovers" of the romantic kind.I would certainly say it of my relationship with my 2 children.I think there are some surprises in store for us regarding the way God actually feels toward us. Bless youDom

Jesus is our Bridegroom, we are His bride, so He certainly is in Love with us.When we are unable to go to where He is, for any reason, He comes to us.It is all of Jesus, none of us.I'm speaking from experience on this.He came to meHe came to me.When I could not go to where He wasHe came to me.That's why He diedOn CalvaryWhen I could not go to where He was, He came to me.God Bless all of you.Nellie :-) :-)

Hi guys,You all should go to www.thebereancall.org.This ministry has many resources about Christian psychology. If you go to some of the newsletters, Dave Hunt goes into depth on what their main focus on teaching etc. is.I pray this ministry blesses you all, They have opened my eyes to a couple of pretty unnoticed heresies the past couple of years. god bless

Hi Dom,I don't think that phrase only applies to "lovers" of the romantic kind.Certainly the phrase can be used to describe many things that we may give ourselves over to. The point I am trying to make is that the love expressed between man and God (agapE) cannot be expressed unless the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If this love can be expressed between 2 unregenerate human beings then it cannot be the love (agapE)that we are to reciprocate back to God. I hope I did not put words in your mouth, I was merely interpreting the idiom based on my experience in hearing it used. I don't believe I am alone here. I am afraid, though, that a great many folk do view their relationship with God as they would unregenerate human relationships. This is obviously due to a lack of study of God's word; (which is typical of New Converts who have not had time to learn these truths yet), so it is important that we try to express love biblically. AgapE love is a selfless love that is based upon a decision issuing forth from the very nature of God without respect to an assignable cause. I don't believe we can afford to have folks get confused on this issue. "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom_15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom_13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal_6:10. See further 1_Cor_13 and Col_3:12-14." (Vines) Our original post lends me to think that the brother in need needs someone to express some genuine Christian love (the love of God). I think of the hymn:LOVE LIFTED MEI was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.RefrainLove lifted me! Love lifted me!When nothing else could helpLove lifted me!All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll clingIn His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.RefrainSouls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.God Bless,Robert

By that I do not mean to say he does not need to seek God. Perhaps he needs to relax a bit and see God as a Father who is absolutely head-over-heels in love with him, rather than a legalistic slave driver who will only be pleased with him if he clocks in at a certain time every day.Well, since these are my words… I feel compelled to speak.I mentioned that I am head over heels in love with God, or Jesus, same person, let me clarify this. When I think about who I used to be, and where I used to be, what God delivered me from, how he has taken control of my life, my wants, my expectations, my dreams and turned it all around so that I now desire his will in my life, his purpose and his expectations of me and the person he desires for me to be, I can’t help but to be in love with God. And yes head over heels in love with him.Our race and our focus should be wholedheartly be on HIM. And on what he did on the Cross. Not on some dream, promise, or feeling but on HIM. If he spoke it he will bring it to pass. To continue to hold on to something for fear of loosing it is ridiculous, if it’s yours, it’s your no buts, ands, or if’s, I know!!Oh, people fall in love with God, or rather don’t fall but allow yourselves to love him with all of your heart, with all of your mind, and with all of your soul.He is Father, (in heaven)He is Comforter,He is Healer,He is restorer,The restorer of your soul, the lover of your soul he will never leave you nor forsake you, he is mindful of you and the word spoken over your life, AMEN.

If the context of resting is to take a holiday away from God, then it obviously heresy, however taking a break from trying to achieve what we *think* God wants from us may be good advice :-Psa 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God...Sometimes our efforts to please God in our own strength actually get us so busy and run down that we are side tracked from God's company and become deaf to his voice without noticing. Communion with God should bring peace and healing, not permanent anguish.Satan is a master of throw dummy loads onto Christians - goals that aren't ours to achieve, worries and battles that aren't ours to fight. Sometimes this may come in the form of a person who perpetually "needs help", but has no heart to seek God and correct the underlying causes of problems in their life. Their only function is to drain us out. We need to be ruthless in identifying and dropping satan's dummy loads if we are to be effective in our real battles.To balance that, there are periods of battle where we will be anguished and will need to stick it out. The angels comforted Jesus *after* he had fasted 40 days - there was obviously a need for it. If Jesus had of "just relaxed and turned a few stones into bread..." during the battle, the course of history would have been very different.Jesus was well aware of his "spiritual energy levels". He felt power leave him when the woman touched his clothing for healing. It seems he was also taken back by John the Baptist's death. However when he was running low, he would go into the wilderness alone to recover - praying and seeking the Father.2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyedPassingThru

I just looked back to see what exactly the counselor advised. The following words grabbed my attention: , and let the Lord love you,I don't think all the poster here caught this. These are very precious words - very needed advice - not only for this friend, but for all of us. If we don't learn to let God love us, we will very possibly unravel eventually down the road. Eventually, when crises comes upon us, we will run out of steam. We face burn out and break down. We cannot depend on our own efforts, our own determination, even our own good habits. God wants us to trust in him, not ourselves. Sometimes God's best teaching times are during break-downs - when one can no longer hold themselves together, or maintain their own righteosness, read the Bible, or pray. One must simply learn to rest in God - let him love them, just as this counselor recommended. Can you think of better advice!!!!!!Let the Lord love you." In other words, TRUST HIM, trust in his love. Trust that he loves you! Isn't that what redemption is all about - an act of divine love? I don't think I need to write any scriptures to prove my point - you ALL know plenty of them - even without opening your Bibles for days! His word is hid in you heart! Now, the real issue is this: can you trust those words? Can our burnt-out friend trust them?Diane

I feel that these words need to be highlighted: Sometimes our efforts to please God in our own strength actually get us so busy and run down that we are side tracked from God's company and become deaf to his voice without noticing. Communion with God should bring peace and healing, not permanent anguish. Amen to this! Satan is a master of throwing dummy loads onto Christians - goals that aren't ours to achieve, worries and battles that aren't ours to fight. Sometimes this may come in the form of a person who perpetually "needs help", but has no heart to seek God and correct the underlying causes of problems in their life. Their only function is to drain us out. We need to be ruthless in identifying and dropping satan's dummy loads if we are to be effective in our real battles. I might suggest that it is not Satan whom we are to blame, but we ourselves who embrace the "dummy loads" (I like that term!)You touched on very common problems in the church body. We often don't see it, but our social/psych professionals do. They don't always know that it is our FAILURE to apprehend to God of the Bible that causes us to visit their offices. No wonder some of them suggest to their distraught conservative clients that their religion is the cause of their troubles. They are right! However, it is not the Bible or God that is the root of the problem but the failure to trust in God for who he really is and what he has offered us (freedom from guilt and shame)When we are blind to this, we will continue to be like Job's friends or like the Pharisees who layed heavy yokes on their subjects; or we will listen to their 'advice'. There is hope - God himself sees this bondage better than we do, and he works in our lives to set us free. Diane