Greetings!
Have you wondered what it really means to give Christ Life away?
There are virtually as many forms and methods of ministering to others as there are counselors, disciplers, and teachers. It could not, and should not, be said that anyone's method is “the” absolute correct way in helping another with the Abiding Life. Much depends upon the philosophy, vain or not, of ministry to which the “Christian” worker subscribes. The objective determines the means.
Because the objective of an Abiding Life worker
is assisting men and women to become victorious indwelt Christians and ministers of the Cross, we should not aim merely at helping ourselves, or others, at resolving “problems.” What most people perceive as the problems may actually be God’s instruments for accomplishing the most significant work in an indwelt believer – that of being brought to the end of oneself. Without those “impossible situations,” we might never have come to the place of brokenness and emptiness before our Groom and Savior, and through this “death,” entered into Christ’s resurrection power and life as a daily reality.
Our culture rejects the idea of indwelt Christianity!
The most common reason for this is it displaces credit. Human flesh demands attention, appreciation and self-identity credit. This is true for the indwelt believer, follower or unsaved. It is a ramification of the fall of man. Since we live in a culture that copyrights everything from blog posts to inspirations of the Spirit, our proof is in this revelation. If anyone dares to practically live out their beliefs in indwelt Christianity, the issue of granting credit to self, or charging for the Lord’s services would become erroneous assumptions. In fact, a direct violation of Christ Himself. Christ came with many free gifts, delivered them to His workers, the workers put a price on His gifts – and now we sell them to the needy. Dear God, what have we done? Some of the greatest violators of this demise are found in the “Christian” counseling industry.
There is a nasty habit
in the church today of thinking that not only is counseling the answer to all “psychological” issues in a person’s life, but we make people pay to get the answers.
This is a fantasy resulting from a church that has referred people away from the institution that Christ provided as the destination place for the answer.
The irony of this twist is that God works diligently to send hurting souls
to
the church, while 91% of American churches refer people
away
from
the church after the Lord breaks them down enough to come to His Church. We live in a church culture that believes if prayer, small groups or Bible studies don’t do the job, we shun them by referring them to an outsource that typically builds their self-life! Please tell me how that ISN’T working against the hand of God. When in reality, God has empowered every believer with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to offer wise counsel and to assist others in repentance for wrong attitudes and actions (sin). It is the experience of most Abiding Life workers that when the Holy Spirit is released to be obedient to Christ within the worker – transformation is quick and certain.
How much psychobabble does it take to set a person free?
If you are thinking I am referencing secular counselors. You are wrong! Any directive, or non-directive counseling that is not done by releasing Christ from within – is psychobabble. Even a well training Christ-as-Life counselor who uses the words OF Jesus instead of releasing His Word from within their propagating a religion, minimally a religious practice.
Question.
Do you see the world getting better after 100 years of psychotherapy? Are there fewer suicides? Are there less disturbed people in the world? Better question. Is the Church in a better place after integrating psychology and theology? My favorite question. Why do God’s people spend zillions of dollars through the generations integrating demonic doctrines into the absolute doctrines of God? The answer is embarrassing. We are acting like fools. We have been dumbed-down into the lathery of Satan. Even Satan knows there is no freedom outside of Christ. That is why he works day in and day out to accomplish the above foolishness.
Anyone who has worked with a hurting soul knows that the process is dirty and messy. It is due to this mess that the discipler needs the mind of Jesus to do the work through him/her. This requires that the counselor/discipler must have self-reckoned to be dead as he is working with the desperate. If the indwelt Christian is functioning like a “textbook” counselor, he will focus on “giving advice.” If he focuses on being a discipler, he will be more apt to invest his own life in another so that Christ will be formed in the one being ministered. This certainly means that the discipleship process will not remain in the office. It may include helping the wounded walk through personal crisis after hours – and even socializing with him/her in order for the disciple to be able to see the Abiding Life is real. After all, aren’t they family? It might result in looking like the way Jesus modeled it for his disciples. Oh wait – that’s too messy.
It is critical that the worker
, who has embraced the mind of Christ within, is able to give His life away through his mind, will, and emotions. In other words, be committed to GIVE HIS LIFE AWAY at any price. Indwelt Christians should not be quick to “give advice;” but rather, be willing to invest their own life until the overflow of the life of Christ is formed in the person(s) to whom they’re ministering. This means that significant segments of the ministry process may not take place in the secular model of their office. It may include a frantic phone call, texting, e-mails, or personal visits from time to time. Remember, most is caught rather than taught. That takes a serious level of personal investment as a brother or sister in Christ. Let’s face it – true discipleship requires “walking through” steps of obedience to God in order to be reconciled to another, to make restitution, to discontinue a legal action, or to take legal action where the law has been broken. In the most biblical context, there is a requirement of a discipler to lay down his life for his ministry partner.
What about those who reject the helper?
One of the toughest passages in the Bible for me as a discipler is Romans 8:7:
“Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”
Let me explain. Since people reach out for help when their minds are set on the flesh (or IN the flesh/unsaved) and their flesh is hostile toward God, when they come for help, they are apt to be hostile toward the helper. Wait, it gets worst. Since you, as the discipler, have your mind set on the Spirit (God), your ministry partner is going to express his hostility toward God onto you by punishing God through actions directed toward you. The truth is, the discipler ought not to be su
rprised at this, nor should he be thrown off by such hostility. Don’t let it divert you away from leading this person into his liberty in Christ. After all, Chri
st did say,
“What they do unto the least of these my brethren, they do unto Me.
I cannot tell you how many times I have had someone stomp out my office in open hostility. Some never return.
The harshest factor in Romans 8:7
is that hostile people are convinced they are 100% right when expelling hatred and hostility. Isn’t that why they pay $90 an hour – so they can dump? This makes it a massive challenge for the discipler. Sometimes, we have to wait a month, a year, or more, for the Holy Spirit to reveal to them the Truth that will ultimately set them free. This is why we, as disciplers, must have our minds set on the mind of Christ at all times. If we do, then when the ministry partner pitches their fit and becomes broken by God, he will return to the place of healing – your “office.”
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”
(2 Timothy 2:1).
After counseling people for 40+ years, I have come to expect there is a good chance the person seeking help might not be ready for authentic help. Given more time, in addition to Holy Spirit's preparation and brokenness through circumstances, total willingness may emerge. Desperation is my greatest friend in counseling/discipleship – for a desperate soul allows God to say anything to him/her, and it is likely they will be more than willing to do what He says.
We people helpers need to
watch for a person who does NOT oppose God’s will; but rather, is wanting to have their life exchanged for that of Jesus. I personally have tried to master the method Jesus used on people to whom He ministered – willing and not so willing. For example the rich young ruler. The young man reached out to his potential discipler (Jesus) and began the first session. After a bit of dialogue, the big test came into play:
“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property”
(Mark 10:21-22).
Did this young disciple listen and do exactly as his Discipler asked? No, he did not! He was not ready for such a challenge. Was Jesus’ time invested worthless? Of course not. Above all, Jesus understood the principle of planting seeds. If we study the manner in which Jesus handled people, we will find his “loving ways” to give the grave appearance of not being so loving. If we do not send our disciples away with pointed challenges each and every time we meet with them – well, I don’t think we are doing our job.
People who reach out for help
rarely want help on the day that they ask. Typically, people who reach out for help want it on their terms. When most discover it WON’T be on their terms, the Holy war erupts. This does not mean that we turn them away. Just know that it is a “rich young ruler” session. Dialogue is needed, love expressed, and challenge rendered. If they ask for more, then give it to them. Anyone who has “set up a session” with me hears me say,
“Your first session is not your first session.”
I make use of the first session to simply evaluate his/her level of wanting. It is critical they walk away knowing the ground rules his discipler will function within, what the discipleship entails, and what is expected of them. I don’t even ask permission to disciple them until the next meeting. If they ask for another time to meet, I use the next session to test their sincerity. The human mind is fickle. We tend to jump-in without counting the cost.
Fact.
Real discipleship is messy. If we depend on training, education or anything other than Christ within us – we are certain to fail. Worst yet, it will lead the disciple into a deeper relationship with the self-life. The conclusion? They will end up having a “love affair” with themselves.
