...Book Review: Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling Summary McMinn (2011) in his book, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, highlights the importance of combining psychology, theology, and spirituality in to a Christian counseling session. McMinn(2011) guides the reader to a profound understanding of the pros and cons of incorporating : prayer, scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption in the clients’ healing process. McMinn(2011) explains the psychology, theology and spiritual foundations of each stage of the clients’ healing step. McMinn (2011) encourages the Christian counselor to always pray for his/her client. However, McMinn (2011) advises to firs take into consideration the mental and spiritual state of the client when deciding to pray with him/her. If client is not being open and loving towards God McMinn (2011) warns the counselor to be very tactful and even abstain from praying with client. McMinn (2011) stresses the importance for the Christian counselor to keep in mind that even though Scripture is the Word of God, one should be humble and accept that human interpretation has been limited by sin. Hence, Christian counselors should spend time studying and meditating in the Scripture in their personal time. It is also imperative for Christian counselors to have a sound interpretation of the Bible in order to guide their clients. McMinn (2011) points out four approaches to handle tactfully the...
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...Review-McMinn ABSTRACT McMinn, Mark R. Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality In Christian Counseling. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996. Dr. Mark McMinn compiles an excellent resource for those who have chosen the path of Christian counseling. It focuses primarily on two important aspects of the Christian counseling field : in counseling sessions and life outside of counseling sessions – namely the counselor’s task and the counselor’s life. He starts his book with a brief section – written with James Wilhoit – that talks about religion in the Counseling office. It informs the counselor of the importance of utilizing the Christian faith in counseling not focusing on the relationship between psychology and theology. It states the challenges that religion brings in counseling sessions and how to handle and address those challenges. In the section, Toward Psychological and Spiritual Health, McMinn directs his focus to the different characteristics of a person’s life. He suggests that Christian counseling strengthens three areas of a person’s life: sense of self, an awareness of human need and limitations, and confiding interpersonal relationships with God and others. Each chapter is outlined in a very teachable format. The chapters have sections to address the challenges the counselor faces, psychological and spiritual health focus points, and also expected results by each foundational element of counseling – psychological, theological, and spiritual. The majority...
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...Psychology, Theology and Spirituality: Interdisciplinary Approach to Christian Counseling Morenike Oye Liberty University Psychology, Theology and Spirituality: Interdisciplinary Approach to Christian Counseling Summary McMinn (2011) uses this book to bring out the importance of the use of spirituality (as related to Christian faith) in psychological counseling. He describes the Christian Counselors as people who are highly trained in counseling theory and techniques, in theology, and are personally disciplined to mirror Christian attributes during and after counseling. (pg. 139) According to McMinn (2011), Christian Counselors face the challenges of knowing the techniques of spiritual formation, inability to learn spiritual passion, and devotion so as not be handicapped in bringing religious issues to counseling and therapeutic session (p.39). This is because training and competency in the field of psychology and theology can be evidenced, but understanding spirituality cannot be evidenced. This will continue to be a challenge because we can never be spiritually competent. Another challenge is the link between the counselors personal and professional life and worldview as it affects the clients’ level of spirituality, believes and worldview. He states that Christian counselors are faced with the problem of expanded training. They must go beyond the level of professional training to personal training because other factors such...
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...Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling 4-MAT Review 4-MAT Review: McMinn Summary Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian Counseling written by Mark McMinn (2011) discuss the integration of psychology and spirituality including impacts of such in our daily lives both personally and professionally. According to McMinn (2011) there are three essential categories that must be considered within counseling; psychology, theology, and spirituality. To incorporate the three categories, the book down into further sections including prayer, scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption including “what if” sections with descriptions of circumstances and the corresponding results, what works and what doesn’t within the sessions. By beginning with an active and healthy prayer life personally, the counselor is able to pray for the client both inside of and outside of the counseling sessions. McMinn (2011) discusses the importance of ethical issues of using prayer which is the source of growth in spiritual lives, promoting a relationship with God rather than promoting health. According to McMinn (2011) prayer must only be used after consent given and the potential effects considered as some forms of prayer may be detrimental to the client. Scripture use within counseling can be considered a self-help book enabling personality and behavioral changes. McMinn (2011) discusses the use of Scripture to support...
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...Counseling 506: 4 Mat Review McMinn Liberty University Martha J Meek Summary Dr. Mark McMinn (1996) discusses in his book Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, the importance of combing the three and creating a way that will help the counselor reach the client. His book is broken apart in several different chapters that explain and reflect on religion in the counseling office, psychological, spiritual health, prayer, Scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption. McMinn gives scenarios throughout his book on various different situations and what the counselor should do in these situations. Religion in the counseling office is important, but McMinn stresses the importance of consent before using prayer. He states that often the client becomes too dependent on the counselor. The counselor can silently pray for the client outside the office. McMinn states “the question is not how we understand the relationship between psychology and theology but how we practically use the Christian faith in our counseling” (McMinn p. 26). Psychological and spiritual health is very important. McMinn designed a detailed map of spiritual and psychological health. The map gives examples of faulty sense of self by being self-absorbed, and having a lack of self-restraint. There is an example of faulty relationships, where a person can become dependent. There is an example of a faulty awareness of the need to play the victim role. McMinn describes Imago...
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...4 Mat Review 1: Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling Roberto C. Piscoya Liberty University Summary The book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn is a synopsis of several approaches in counseling sessions and how patients deal with their everyday life after each session, in order to create a more accurate description of how counseling actually affects the life of each patient. One of the main topics of the text deals with how essential it is for counselor to be conscious of their own personal spiritual life and how knowledgeable they are. This reminds me of the quote that says "You must love yourself before you can love others" since you cannot help others unless you yourself are prepared for the task mentally, physically and spiritually. One crucial component McMinn (1996) explains in the text about counselor-patient relationship is trust. Once the patient begins to trust the counselor that is when real progress is made. It makes sense because most people are not willing to talk to strangers about their problems, but they would be able to open up to someone they trust and feel safe with. In order for counselor's to reach this important milestone in patient-counselor relationship they must create a safe haven for the patient in which they do not feel judged or looked down upon. The author explains how important is to confront a client hand to hand with trusting in order to get a successful relation between...
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... The author stated that all truth is God’s and everything that he made was good. Psychology is the study of human behavior and theology is the study of religion; both perspectives are disciplines that are learned. Integration will allow a better understanding of human behavior which neither perspective can do along. Since the Christian faith could not support man along, the mentally challenged suffered. Critics stated that the Christian faith did not keep Bible law concerning love and acceptance of homosexuality; the faith didn’t have the science or intellect to cure sickness, distorted perceptions and mental defects. Sin brought the fall of man and brokenness; yet, science through testings, assumptions, methods, experiments and discoveries were needed to fully care for humans; a holistic approach was needed to cure man. The Church was challenged to provide supreme knowledge to care for souls which lead to many new worldviews which were made up of disciplines that governed people’s lives. These worldviews have Enemies and Allies which were obstacles to integration. The Church accepted psychological perspectives to help the mentally ill; they vacillated in their belief and had attitudes towards the scriptures; this is why the work to restore man could not be done alone through the Church. Moreover, in order for psychology and theology to be combined, there must be experts to form combined disciplines. The question is, where do we find such capable and...
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...In this book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling McMinn drew in on the basic concepts on a Christian’s life along with the basic concepts which we believe Christian counselors focus on. He focused on spirituality, theology, and psychology along with the daily battles faced by Christian counselors in their personal and professional lives. In the book McMinn went into the most important components in the life of a Christian being prayer, scripture, confession, sin, forgiveness, and redemption and broke down in all the ways we are affected during our counseling sessions. In the book we are left with personal experiences from the author in which prayer and scripture should be used and in how much we should use them when dealing with each component in the life of a Christian. Many counselors are faced with regular struggles on knowing and deciding when it is the appropriate time to use scripture and the various biblical readings in there sessions because of various reasons such as not wanting to offend their clients, not wanting to have the client feel as if they are being judged, and not wanting to puncture another wound in an already broken individuals situation (McMinn 2011). The book began to open me up when McMinn stated that “Christian counseling is more complex than other forms of counseling because our goals are multifaceted” (McMinn 2011 pg. 39). He opened readers up to the fact that as Christian counselors we are more so concerned with spiritual...
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...Depression is a state of mind in which a person has feelings of sadness, helplessness, negative thoughts, guilt, and other feelings that usually last longer than the average mood that results from experiencing the ups and downs that life brings. Bouts with depression can last for weeks, months, and even years. People exhibit depression through a lack of interest in things that would normally motivate them to action, a lack of attention and/or production on and off of the job and at home, as well as in other areas of life where the same people would normally thrive. Sometimes physical affects are the results of depression. Things such as weight loss, achiness, and other symptoms that are unexplainable to physicians are often attributed to depression. It is estimated that 6.7 percent of Americans who are over the age of 18 suffer at some point from depression in any given year.[1] Christians are not immune to depression or its affects. Pastors and Christian counselors often meet people who face depression for a variety of reasons, up to and including sin. Inside of the Christian circle there are many different views and methods on handling depression. Some view depression as an illness, and say that it is something that cannot be controlled by the person who is experiencing it. Others say that depression is always the result of some type of sin guilt, and that the person who experiencing depression has a need in one way or another to release this sin and ask for forgiveness. Even...
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...Need 5 Target Group 6 Vision Statement 6 Goals 7 Lessons Gleaned from Scripture 8 Formulation of Objectives 12 Competencies Expected of Disciples attending Recovery in Refuge 12 Selection of Content 13 Setting Captives Free 13 Life Principles for Worship from the Tabernacle 14 Celebration of Discipline 14 Shatter the Darkness 14 Scope and Sequence Plan 15 Phase 1: Repentance, Redemption, Recovery 15 Phase 2: Regeneration 16 Phase 3: Rescue-Reaching Out 18 Phase 4: Real Life 20 Partnership with the Refuge Counseling Center 20 Conclusion 21 Self-Assessment of How the 5 Essential Activities of an Education that Produces Disciples Was Incorporated and Integrated 22 Resources to be used in Recovery in Refuge 25 Bibliography 26 Works Consulted 27 Introduction At Crossroads Community Church in Nampa Idaho the catchphrase is ‘Refuge.” The church has developed what it calls a “Theology of Refuge.”[1] They state, “Crossroads is built around the idea of being a church of God ’s unconditional love, where lives are transformed and reconditioned for partnership with God in accomplishing His will in the world.”[2] This is accomplished using the biblical model of refuge found in the story of David hiding from King Saul in 1 Samuel 22:1,2. While David was hiding in the Cave of Adullum it is...
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...Integration for many years has been a topic of discussion between psychologists and Christian leaders. The debate between the two disciplines has been whether or not the two can coexist together or if the two disciplines should never merge. Epistemology, cosmology, and philosophical anthropology lays down the foundation for integration. Both disciplines seek to understand human behavior and both seek to fix what appears to be broken within humanity. Both disciplines seek for truth. Psychology seeks for truth through science and what has been observed, whereas the source for truth for Christianity is found in God through His Words and His Works. The two may not contradict. There are several models of integration and they look to explain what the relationship between psychology and Christianity ought to be. The Allies model, which is discussed in more depth, holds the view that truth is found in God’s Words and Works and that God is sovereign over all things. Integration Paper The integration of psychology and Christianity has been a topic of discussion for many years and will be for many more years to come. It is important that this discussion is not put aside but rather be openly discussed among members from both disciplines. There are many models within integration and they all offer their own perspectives on the relationship between psychology and Christianity. One is not necessarily better than the other because they all present their own advantages and limitations. It is...
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...Secular Views on Counseling John Smith Liberty University Abstract Whether a counselor comes from a strong Christian background, or a secular one, the goals of the professional should remain in the best interests of the client. Still, it remains important where the views of that counselor originated from and where the source of their motivation and ethical standards are derived. This paper attempts to compare and contrast the viewpoints of secular and biblical worldviews, as it relates to the counseling profession. Biblical & Secular Views on Counseling No matter what philosophical background counselors come from, the theme of their work should remain the same: It is all about the client. Whether a counselor uses the Code of Ethics adopted by the American Counseling Association, (2005) or the code adopted by the American Association of Christian Counselors, (2004) the goal of the professional still need to keep the client’s best interests at heart. Still, with this thought in mind, Christian and secular groups differ in the ways in which they go about not only helping clients, but how they define their perspective roles in the exchanges between the therapist and the client. In order to accurately evaluate the ways in which Christians view the role of the counselor, it is first important to go to the source of their opinions of the matter; the Bible. Different terms from the world of counseling can be defined...
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...r Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Dennis Bratcher A paper presented to the Breckenridge Conference on Clergy Preparation I. Introduction II. Synergism: A Biblical and Theological Base III. The Church's Mission and Ministry: A Recovery of Balance IV. Divine-Human Synergism in Ministry Footnotes Bibliography I. Introduction The Issue In Context The Church In this series of conferences begun last year, we are in process of reflecting on the direction and focus of the ministry and ministerial training in the Church of the Nazarene as our community of faith moves into the twenty-first century. We have attempted to approach our task from two complimentary perspectives, caricatured last year as the "field" of hands-on work and the "realm" of reflective inquiry (although I think there are serious problems inherent in such an artificial dichotomy of responsibilities). -1- From our initial attempts, it has become obvious that we face a multiplicity of issues in such an endeavor. The range and diversity of these issues arise partly from the variety of theological, historical, and practical concerns operating with each of us as individuals and partly from the assumptions and perspectives imported from particular arenas of ministry. One common element that keeps reappearing in various forms is the issue of the nature and mission of the Church. This issue is not unique to our enterprise in these conferences, as the new eleventh Article of Faith on...
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...Backus & Marie Chapian and The Lies We Believe, by Chris Thurman Much current "Christian" counseling is heavily rooted in Freud, promoting archaeological digs into the hidden recesses of one's past and strong encouragement to see oneself as a victim of the sins of others. In contrast to this increasingly popular approach, other Christian authors have opted for the cognitive techniques developed primarily by Albert Ellis, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).1 Two key examples are Telling Yourself the Truth and The Lies We Believe (abbreviated as TYT and LWB). Both Backus and Thurman give credit to Ellis for his ideas. However, it should be noted at the outset that Ellis is an aggressive atheist who believes that religious faith is grounded in "irrational" ideas and is evidence of mental instability. (See Discernment Publications' critique of Ellis in "Exposing the Roots" series.) At first glance, the cognitive approach may appear consistent with biblical teachings about renewal of the mind. Personal responsibility is a critical emphasis, in opposition to the prevalent "victim" theory that permeates too much modern counseling. However, as we shall explore more fully, there is nevertheless a wide chasm between the REBT of Albert Ellis and scriptural truth. In addition to Albert Ellis, Thurman quotes and credits M. Scott Peck, a popular author who espouses New Age theology rather than Christian faith. He also considers Carl Jung "one of the leaders of modern psychology"...
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...Pentecostalism * One way in which this religion spread begins with an independent bible school in Topeka, Kansas, founded by Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929) * Some students there had a particular concern for the account in the Christian New Testament recorded in the book of Acts, chapter two, describing what happened to Jesus’ disciples as they gathered in a private room in Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Pentecost. * This festival attracted thousands of tourists who spoke many different languages. According to the account, the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in these different languages. This phenomenon is called “speaking in tongues” or glossolalia. Those who spoke in different languages believed the Holy Spirit granted them the gift or power to do so. Much of the Christian tradition restricted such miraculous gifts to the age of the apostles and did not expect them later. * Parham’s students in Topeka found nothing in the biblical text that limited such spiritual gifts to an ancient time. On New Year’s Day, 1901, Agnes Ozman received the gift of speaking in tongues. Parham soon embraced the idea, equating such spiritual gifts with a “second baptism” that followed the traditional baptism which used water to anoint individuals. This second baptism was a baptism of fire * Speaking in tongues is a form of ecstatic experience when for a time another power seized control of one and manifests itself. * The Pentecostal...
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