Questions about Counselors

We received the following important question: 

Do you think it is a sin to see a counselor? If I need help to find ways to deal with my stress and I think a counselor would help is that wrong?

RESPONSE:

Prov. 11:14 - Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. 

There is no doubt that it is not a sin to seek a counselor. Quite to the opposite you should see as many counselors as you can! The question that you want to be asking is what kind of counselor should you be seeking. Start with the people closest to you who know you and are of a Godly character…friends, parents, other Christian family members. Next, seek the godly leaders of your church who can pray with you and give you godly biblical wisdom. If you are at a point where you think you need professional help you should seek a counselor who is a believer in Jesus Christ. There can be medical and even biological features to stress and anxiety that may need attention…but you want to receive that kind of attention from someone who also understands what it means to be spiritually alive in Christ. Materialist and atheist counselors, who operate from an evolutionary mindset may jump to using drugs or ungodly suggestions to help cope with your stress. Seek a counselor by all means…but be quite certain that counselor is a believer with a right view of the fundamentals of the faith.

On a personal note I would add that stress is the challenge through which the Lord is taking you. It is never promised that the Lord will remove our trials…only that we must rely upon him through those trials. Paul had some unknown medical issue that plagued him throughout his ministry…he prayed that God would take that away, but God refused and 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us:

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

What are the differences between churches and denominations?

We received this question regarding what differentiates the various different local churches, and larger denominational associations, and how we should choose a church in light of that reality. 

In the Bible, the church is addressed in two ways: the universal church, and the local church. The Universal Church is called the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5) and The Bride of Christ (John 14, Ephesians 5:23—33), and consists of every believer in Jesus Christ from Pentecost to the Rapture. Believers are meant to gather in Local Churches (such as we see in Revelation 2-3). These local gatherings of believers are a large part of the plan of God, but will often contain both believers and unbelievers…and each body is meant to be growing towards the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:13). Some churches and bodies have chosen to identify themselves by certain beliefs, practices, and traditions and then give that group a label, or some kind of organizational affiliation. 1 Corinthians 3 makes it very clear that we were never meant to follow men, but seek Him in word alone. This practice of denominationalism is certainly not what the Lord has in mind for His Church. Churches that identify with a certain denomination or movement will often ask, not what the Bible has to say, but: “What does my denomination say about this issue?” Which we want to avoid at any cost. Rather than learn every detail you can about every church, denomination, and tradition I advise you to find a church that is seeking to clearly teach and understand the Bible. When you know the word of God the traditions and ideas of men will become apparent in where they stand in contrast to the Truth.

A final note on this issue: Just because a church claims to be a “Bible Church” or “Non-denominational” does not mean that it is immune to all of the same temptations and pitfalls of a denominational church. Having spent much time in Bible Churches I can say with some authority that Bible Churches are often the most dogmatic in their extra-biblical traditions, practices, and doctrinal errors. The old saying goes that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. For the purposes of this topic, that means that we do well as individuals and as local fellowships to seek after the Word of God and constantly allow the Spirit of God to challenge our shortcomings of faith and practice that we all may come to a mature and full expression of the life and character of Christ.

What Would Have Been...

²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Matthew 11:21

In Matthew 11 Jesus is rebuking the Nation of Israel for not recognizing that He, the Messiah, had come unto them.  His fulfillment of the promise of God was attested to by His birth, by the timing of his arrival, by His teaching ministry, and by His many miracles…yet they had failed to believe in Him.  This is a powerful reminder that we are held accountable for the clear ways in which God has revealed Himself to us at any time in world history…but this verse has another interesting insight for us.  Jesus explains that if others had seen what the Israelites of His day saw they would have repented.  This tells us that God does not simply “know everything that is” He also knows everything that would be, could be or might have been.  This extends God’s divine knowledge past the actual into any possible contingency that could imagine or even those that could never be imagined.  Thus, when God does something or allows something, we can always be absolutely confident that there is no better thing that He could have done for His own glory, and for the ultimate benefit of those who love Him.

Naming the Stars

He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
⁵Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:4-5

So often in life we know what happened…we just don’t know why or how.  When a student studies their hardest and fails the test anyway.  They know the facts…they just can’t figure out why it happened.  In many such cases we are never allowed to know more than the bare facts of the situation.  Yet for God there is no information let out.  From the greatest of things, unimaginably far away, God is intimately acquainted – knowing each star by the name which He gave it.  When it comes to the subtlest minutiae of our social situations or the inner workings of our hearts…God knows all the factors and has a perfect understanding.  So when things seem beyond your understanding you can rest in the fact that while our understanding is always limited…the Lord of our lives understands completely what is going on…and how it is affecting us.

Omniscience

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
²You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.  Psalm 138:1-4

The thought that God knows all things is likely quite familiar.  After all, if He is God, it stands to reason that He alone has the capacity to know all things.  There is no twist ending to a movie, nor a mystery that God needs to untangle…he knows it all.  But the focus of this passage is personal.  David takes great comfort in knowing that God knows more than just his actions…but God knows everything that David will think – and long before David thinks it.  God knows where he will go, and God knows exactly what David is going to say…long before he says it.  Two points…God knew everything you would think, say, and do long before He saved you and yet He chose to send His Son Jesus Christ to save you anyway.  There are no surprises for God that will throw off His salvation for those who know Him by grace through faith.  The second point is this…God wants to know about your thoughts, he knows what you will say, but waits to hear you say it.  The God of the universe knows all about you, and he is interested in you personally.

Sovereignty

“…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:18-21

A nation is said to be sovereign when no other nation has the final say, or control over its affairs or working.  When a nation is ruled by a single person with the unquestioned rule we find that person can justly be called the sovereign…or the sovereign ruler.  It doesn’t mean that the sovereign nation controls every detail of the life of her citizens it means that whenever the governor of that nation weighs in there is no one with the power or authority to challenge that ruling.  So it is with the Lord.  God’s sovereignty does not mean that God is controlling every through breath or decision made on earth…though He surely knows all things.  God’s sovereignty tells us with great clarity that nothing can stand in the way of God declared will.  This includes his plan for the ages, His judgment upon sin, and even His perfect sovereign provision of our Salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.

Close at Hand

 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the LORD,
“And not a God afar off?
²⁴Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?” says the LORD;
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23-24

When you picture a lawman from the old west there is only one place to imagine that he would have his gun.  Right on his hip, in its holster.  Police officers today keep their weapons in the same place…why is that?  It is not because it is the most comfortable place…it is because it keeps their protection right next to their hand.  The Lord here describes himself as ‘near at hand’…and the Hebrew Poetry Pattern gives us the repetition that God is “not afar off”.  What does God want us to know about himself?  He is near, and present with us.  There is no place where we can escape his gaze, and no possibility that we could ever be outside of his knowledge and care.  This is as true in the moments when we may wish to hide our rebellion from Him as it is during the moments when we feel most alone.  When you cry out to the Lord, He is always near at hand.

Omnipresence

7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
¹²Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You. Psalm 139: 7-12

As a child I distinctly remember being separated from my mother in a department store.  Surrounded by racks of clothing that obscured my view I raced through one aisle after another…hoping to find my mother again.  As tears filled my eyes I wondered how my mother had gotten so far out of sight.  Then I heard her call my name.  I couldn’t see her for the height of the racks…but she could see me.  I thought I was lost, but I was never for a moment out of her caring and protective gaze.  So, David relates the great comfort of knowing that whether we are in the deepest jungle, or in our own comfortable homes – the Lord knows right where we are…because He is right there with us.

Immutability

⁶ “For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachi 3:6

When theologians talk about God’s “immutability” His unchanging nature is in view.  Yet we see there are a handful of times in which God seems to adjust His plans based upon changes in the situation.  How can this be, if God is unchanging?  It is important to understand that the immutability of God applies to His character, but it does not limit his interactions with time.  Next, we must understand that while God is perfect and unchanging in his character humanity is always dynamic.  Thus, when a person changes they will also change in their relationship to His perfectly constant character.  Adam and Eve provide a perfect example.  God created the world for them to live and thrive.  They were in a right relationship with Him…until they rebelled against him.  At this point, everything had to change in order to accommodate their rebellion.  God’s character didn’t change…but how humanity would need to relate to Him in his perfection changed forever.  Just remember…if God ever seems far off or distant it is never Him that moved away.

The Constancy of God

²⁷ But You are the same,
And Your years will have no end. Psalm 102:27

Things change, relationships change, our bodies change, even the landscape changes.  It has well been pointed out that change is the one constant upon which we can rely.  Yet, we find that because God is not affected by time, He alone can remain unchanged by time.  The Lord never has “an off-day” nor does he get better at being God…God is perfectly constant in His character.  This means that God is always dependable and reliable in every aspect of Who He is.  We need never imagine that His standard of righteousness or justice differs from one day to the next, nor do we need to wonder if He will ever lose the edge on his omniscience and get caught by surprise.  Perhaps most importantly to us – when God declares and displays His love for us NOTHING will ever change that.

Everlasting to Everlasting

² Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:2

Most of the mountain ranges, as we know them, came into being during the Great Flood of Noah’s day…but this verse looks back before that.  Before the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, and the surrounding universe.  From “everlasting to everlasting” is a curious phrase.  While our blip of time that exists between the creation and final destruction of this cosmos seems long to us, it is simply a space that exists between two expanses of absolute eternity.  As we gaze backwards and forwards into those two vast and incomprehensible preponderances of limitlessness we cannot begin to understand them.  We do not a vacuum…but our personal Father God…who always was and always will be Himself.  Like a child looking down from the high dive to see his daddy waiting in the pool assuring his safety, we can face the future because our Father God is God from everlasting to everlasting.

Eternity

Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. Genesis 21:33

When waiting in line time just crawls.  When riding a roller-coaster 5-minutes can feel like mere moments in passing.  While we have different experiences with time, we are always bound by it.  We cannot go forward or back, speed it up or slow it down, nor can we manipulate or change it.  We are stuck in time.  God, however, created time.  Genesis 1:1 gives us the moment where God created our timeline: “in the Beginning…”  It is strange to think that the beginning is only the beginning because God chose to start there…and had he not created space and matter, time would continue to be an abstract concept in the wake of his eternality.  In Genesis 21:33 God is called the Everlasting God.  “Everlasting” translates the Hebrew word: ‘olam.  This word means far more than simply lasting forever, but even has the sense of the fact that God is timeless…without beginning and without end.  There is nowhere you can go…and nowhen that you can go to escape from the love and care of your Everlasting God.

Writing Himself Into the Story

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Acts 17:24

Famed author Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most curious writers of the 20^th century.  He makes elaborate and strange fictions…but then some think he will often write himself into those fictions through a recurring character named Kilgore Trout.  In order to create these fictions he must exist outside of them…were he limited by them the author could not plan them and shape the story and the characters to an effective and meaningful end.  Yet, while everything is ultimately his design, there may be a time to come into the story and interact with the characters he made.

In a similar manner, we see that God created the heavens and the earth, yet he is in no ways contained by these limitations.  While we can encounter God anywhere, we find that He is not confined to be in one place at a time, because the entire cosmos is His creative work.  Still, the best chapters of this story are when God writes His Son Jesus Christ in as the main character…to bring the story to a most meaningful and glorious conclusion.

Greatness

³Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3

In his play Twelfth Night, Shakespeare tells us “some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”  We often ask ourselves how we can move something from “good to great”.  When it comes to God’s character we are told he is great.  The first time “great” is used in this verse it is the Hebrew word gadol meaning big, immense, or large.  It can mean something that is physically large or vast, or in as a figure of speech for unseen attributes. 

“greatly to be praised” is a different Hebrew word ma’od which as the idea of his praise (in this case) justly always multiplying.  Finally, the nature of his greatness (back to the root word gadol) is expressed as being unsearchable.  Try as we might, we will never find the end of his perfection in every attribute and fullness.  We will spend all eternity marveling at his greatness…and the only appropriate way to respond is to multiply our praises unto Him.

Infinity

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 1 Kings 8:27

The Temple Solomon built was a marvel.  The beauty of it had been unparalleled.  It had been planned and supplied for by King David, and it was placed exactly where God had designed man to meet him as a permanent and unmoving version of the tents of the Holy Tabernacle before.  Finally, God had a house that was permanent, beautiful, meaningful and glorious.  Yet, Solomon realized that this was very different from the pagan temples that are seen throughout the world.  God would not be contained in this beautiful temple…for even the heavens could do not contain God.  For us the concept of “infinity” is incomprehensible.  However, it is important to realize that God is not a part of our world system.  He transcends and supersedes all of the limitations and laws of time and space.  Put simply – the God we serve is never stumped by the situation, He never needs to rush to be somewhere in time, he never gets caught unaware.  You can trust in Him.

Unity

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4

The Hebrew word “echad” gives the sense of unity from multiple parts.  It is this word that is used when God tells us that a man and his wife are to become one (echad) flesh.  The Bible is consistent, there is but one God, yet God consists of three persons have distinction from each other, yet are co-equal, co-eternal, infinite in unity and all sharing the same essence.  While this certainly is more than our minds can handle that is a good thing.  It is the fact that God, in His very nature is not fully comprehensible to us is further evidence that God created man…not the other way around.  When a man invents a god, he invents a god he can fully understand and manipulate.  The God who created man designed us to know Him, and respond to His love.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwell in eternal unity, order, and perfect fellowship.  The character of God is known to us through that unity.

A Spiritual Mind

Romans 8:6 New King James Version (NKJV):

⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

So often we don’t enjoy what we have.  Health is often not appreciated fully until it is lost.  We may have thousands of dollars in the bank but never enjoy a dime.  Loved ones often go entirely take for granted until they are taken from us.  In just this way the child of God has access to the unlimited peace and wholeness that comes from knowing Jesus.  Yet, when we walk in carnality we don’t take advantage of the peace which we have been given.  We live like spiritual beggars when we have been given everything that we need for life and godliness.  Being carnally minded may have to do with clear and outward sin, and it may be nearly invisible to the people around us.  While carnality can take many forms it usually involves being heavily self-focused.  But how to be spiritually minded?  Clearly, this involves changing our focus, from ourselves and our need to Jesus Christ and His perfect provision.  When we are fully dependent upon the Lord, beholding him through His word we tap into the life and peace that only He provides. 
This has been a Minute for the Bible.

The Peace from Wisdom

Psalm 37:37 New King James Version (NKJV):

Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;

For the future of that man is peace.

Like spoiled children, we often think of the Lord’s righteous standard as being overly demanding and stringent.  Yet, like a patient parent, the Lord allows us to learn that his upright and perfect character is the only way to have to enjoy life.  How many non-believers have found this to be true.  They do not trust in Jesus, but by being honest, hard-working, and basically moral they have a seemingly peaceful and pleasant life.  This is because they are making the right choices even if their reasons are entirely selfish.  However, the person who is a child of God, walking by means of the Holy Spirit, will experience permanent spiritual peace and, most often, the peace that comes from living out His life and character.  Or, as Proverbs 16:7 put it: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him.”

When the birth pains are over...

Isaiah 55:12:

“For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This passage proclaims the joyous life in the Kingdom of God.  When Jesus reigns upon the earth we will see everything respond with glory.  Romans 8:22 says: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”  Creation groans because it is subjected to the futility of man’s sin.  It doesn’t groan in hopeless suffering, but as an expectant mother who is longing to give birth.  That time will come when Christ reigns and even the earth itself will respond in praise and glory from being finally righteously ruled by the Creator and Redeemer of planet earth…Jesus Christ.  When you think of the beauty of the earth remember, she is still in labor pains…if you have trusted in Jesus Christ you will see her in her restored splendor as she flowers under the hand of her One True Master.This has been a minute for the Bible.

God has done His works in us...

Isaiah 26:12:

Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works in us.

This passage foretells the victorious culmination of Israel’s long and turbulent History.  While the rulers of the age would squabble and plan, prepare and bargain, with the threats all around them the Lord had a different message.  They would be disciplined by being taken off to the Babylonian Captivity but there is a time, yet future for us, when the LORD will establish peace for Israel.  That will be the full peace of the millennial Messianic Kingdom wherein God will provide all that He promised Israel, proving that all God’s promises are “YES!” in Christ.

But there is an indirect application for us in the church today.  Just as all of Israel’s best efforts to create and maintain peace were a failure on the national front, so our best efforts for creating peace in our lives will result in failure.  Light a candle, take a bath, listen to some quiet music.  All these things just provide a temporary illusion of peace.  The only true peace comes from the Lord’s work within us.  The paraphrase the Lord Jesus:  A branch can produce no fruit on it’s own…it can only stay close to the life-giving vine.

Justified Peace

Romans 5:1:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Justified translates the Greek word dikaiow and means to be declared righteous. This is different than being righteous.  Nobody is righteous before the Lord as all are touched by the death dripping guilt of our sin stain.  Yet a person is DECLARED righteous by accepting the perfect payment of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.  The result of this declaration of righteousness is a complete and total peace between the Saved Saint and the Righteous God.  Bad days and good days, through all of life’s ups and downs, nothing can take the peace that comes from the eternally valid sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  We all have growing to do, and will likely walk in sin from time to time…but we can never lose the peace that exists between us and God, because we didn’t make, earn it, or maintain it…it is a grace gift of our loving God.

He Cares, He Can

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

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.

“Don’t worry about it!” The voice of the used car dealer rang in my ears as I sat by my broken-down car, wishing that I had worried about it while I was on the car lot.  The fact was that he didn’t know much about the car he was selling, nor have the care or power to fix anything.  His direction that I shouldn’t worry turned out to be especially hollow.  But when the Lord tells us not to be anxious, we should listen.  The Greek word merimnao means to be troubled with cares and we are here COMMANDED with a present active imperative not to be troubled by our cares.  But why?  What are we to do with our burdens and fears?  We are meant to make our requests known to God.  This tells us two very important things about the Lord.  First, he Cares.  Second, He can.  The Lord commands us not to be burdened with our worries – because for Him they are light, and we were never meant to bear them.  

Personal Peace

John 14:27 New King James Version (NKJV):

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When the Bible uses the word “peace” it means a wholeness, fullness, or completeness.  In the Biblical concept, we find that peace is the result of having needs met and being free from want.  Interestingly, peace is not something that a person can find or achieve for ourselves.  When Jesus was getting ready to go to the Cross, He comforted his disciples by promising peace.  But He gives them some extra information.  The peace that Jesus promised is personal.  It is His peace, and he alone can give peace.  Furthermore, this peace is given in a special way.  It is not given in the same way the world gives.  The world gives with conditions and expectations, but the Lord gives His peace freely and fully to all who believe in Him.  While we may get distracted, and we may be deceived, we never have less than all that we need.  

The Peace Peace of the Lord

Isaiah 26:3 says:

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

A peaceful time might include your favorite music, or a cup of tea while the snow falls.  But perfect peace?  Why that would have to be getting a massage on a Hawaiian beach while listening to Benedict Cumberbatch read the funnies out loud to you.  Perhaps we all have different ideas of what a peaceful day might be like.  However, the perfect peace that the Lord promises in Isaiah 26:3 has nothing to do with our circumstances.  This verse, when read in Hebrew is: Natsher samooch tithsor shalom shalom.  No, I did not repeat myself.  The Hebrew expression translated “perfect peace” is shalom shalom – or  “peace peace”  The sense of this repetition  is intensifying the meaning of peace.  When we are focused solely upon the Lord, trusting in Him through every situation, we don’t just have peace…we have peace peace.