There's Nothing New Under the Sun

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[Linda]

The Theophostic counseling done by the ECC people I knew was not "in house". They used "trained" professionals. These people are not psychologists, psychiatrists, or psychotherapists, these people are trained in "theophostic counseling". It isn't considered counseling, as I understand it, but rather a guided prayer ministry.

I have no trouble with praying for people who are hurting from current or past issues, my problem is that "guided" prayer, in my opinion, can be dangerous. When you say your prayer is "spirit guided" and then the counselor gets a "revelation" of something (past sin, abuse, whatever) there is a sense that whatever the "counselor" said must be true because it was bathed in prayer. I see it as a potential form of deception and a control issue. Just because a leader/counselor/pastor says something, doesn't mean it's true.

Did your GC church invent their own version of theophostic counseling? That is very interesting.

I'm having dinner with my nephew tonight and will get the name of that book about the dangers of "prayer counseling". I believe the woman had her life kind of ruined by some false memories that the counselor revealed about past abuse and demon worship. I think she sued the ministry. Again, it's vague in my mind, but I think the gist of it is the idea that "false" memories can come out in these types of counseling sessions.

For the record, I believe demons and Satan are real. I don't believe Christians can be demon possessed. I do believe Christians can be tempted by Satan (Jesus was). I also believe they can be "troubled" by Satan (Job). As far as schizophrenia, etc., I think there can be a variety of causes, including demons, but not limited to that.

[MidnightRider]

...
After all most professionals don't believe in Demons or Satin. I Know they are not totally against professional Psychotherapy don't get me wrong, but looking back I remember all kinds of people who where tormented by demons. They would see demons floating in the air and so forth. Could these people be dealing with schizophrenia? I just think it is a bad Idea for novices to go messing around with Psychotherapy.

Possibly schizophrenia. Or possibly they have been told by many fellow Christians that angels and demons are all around us, and they have read the Frank Peretti novels, and they have become convinced that they have to explain every event  in their lives (or at least the big events) in terms of angels and demons. More peer pressure than schizophrenia.

[Linda]

The title of the book I was referring to is "Second Thoughts".

Here is the link.

http://www.amazon.com/Second-Thoughts-Paul-Simpson/dp/0785274189

[DrSam]

Here is a Journal article on "Just What Is Christian Counseling Anyway?"

See attached file.

[Linda]

For those of you who are following the story of The Crossing Church, the mom, Katie, has given an update that is quite interesting. Here is the link:

http://onemothersjourney7.blogspot.com/2011/06/discovery.html

It sounds as though through her blogging a community has formed of those who left The Crossing Church or were excommunicated from it.

Katie also gives a link to a former member of The Crossing who is blogging about the high control nature of that church. He gives some specifics about high control leadership that are applicable to all high control groups. Here is that link:

http://randalljquick.blogspot.com/

[AgathaL'Orange]

The CODE sounds remarkably similar to GC.  On to link #2.