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Theophostic Ministry - 10/11/2009 11:34:32 PM
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teacher1982
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Is anyone familiar with Theophostic Ministry as taught by Dr. Ed Smith? If yes, please explain what you know about this ministry.
Has anyone taught it? If so, was it successful?
Has anyone been counseled using this ministry? If so, was it successful?
Please give comments, opinions and experiences.
Thank you.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/12/2009 1:03:13 PM
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solarflare
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Why? Is Mr. Smith's version different than everyone elses? Are his visualization techniques approved by Scripture as compared to everyone elses?
Renew your mind with Scripture.....not visualizing Jesus coming into some hurt in your life. (generic you)
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/12/2009 7:16:44 PM
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teacher1982
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Lots of hits of this OP and only one answer. Solar - you sound angry about this ministry - at least that's how I'm reading your words. What is your opinion of the ministry and why? Please answer with answers, not questions.
(I like to honor people with the title of Dr. if they have worked hard and obtained that level of degree.)
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/12/2009 9:16:10 PM
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solarflare
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quote:
ORIGINAL: teacher1982
Lots of hits of this OP and only one answer. Solar - you sound angry about this ministry - at least that's how I'm reading your words. What is your opinion of the ministry and why? Please answer with answers, not questions.
(I like to honor people with the title of Dr. if they have worked hard and obtained that level of degree.)
Lovely lead in. Should I respond to the anger ? Or is that just to put me on the defensive? Theophostic so called ministry is a new age attempt to infliltrate the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Visualization is not Scriptural. There have been other threads on this topic already. My last comment. Thanks
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/12/2009 10:12:01 PM
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ironsharpensiron
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I looked at a website, HERE IS A LINK , and it reads like new-age pseudo Christian psycho-babble.
I had never heard of this fellow before, but have seen others like him. Incorporating the world into God's Word...not something I would get involved with.
Matthew
_____________________________
"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/12/2009 11:22:15 PM
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teacher1982
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Please explain what you mean by "new age" in relationship to Theophostic ministry. I thought New Age was more in the line of teachings and beliefs that people like Oprah have. One being that there is a "higher being", but is according to each person's beliefs - i.e., the higher being is what/who each person believes it to be. Oprah does not believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, which we Christians know is THE TRUTH.
I do not agree with anything defined as "new age", but I don't understand why you think that Theophostic ministry is new age. Please explain with examples of statements/teachings in the Theophostic Ministry that is "new age" teachings.
I am sincerely wanting answers and appreciate any clear explanations that you can give. The information that I have read about this ministry makes complete sense to me. Dr. Smith makes it very clear that he does not claim any credit if a person receives healing through this ministry - rather he emphasizes that he gives all the credit and glory to Jesus. That's not new age.
quote:
Incorporating the world into God's Word What do you mean by this? Please explain. Do you have any examples from the ministry that is doing this?
Thank you.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 11:28:25 AM
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solarflare
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There you go:
Visualization
In Occult practices intangible images are brought into (physical reality) the material world, our 3rd dimension, by a number of ways. The attainment of this experiential knowledge (gnosis) leads to a self-realization . It has been said by occultists it lead's one to the mastery of spiritual technology and the attainment of psycho-spiritual powers.
The belief is that energy follows our thought. Our mind and thoughts produce energy, which begins to be birth in the spiritual realm first and then is reproduced in the natural. As the image we hold is incubated in thought it becomes birthed in the physical material world. Everything is first spiritual then physical. They claim this is how God created, he first had the image and then spoke it .This is clearly Christian Science and mind science also found in eastern ways of philosophy and metaphysical thought.
Visualization that is Christianized
This is the incubating process. One holds the image in their minds eye and uses faith as a force to make it come about. The concept is to have it birthed in the spiritual realm first and then it will come about in the natural. Then one is to speak what they see into existence. with this law of manifestation," thoughts held steadfastly in the mind are spoken aloud, or visualized will "manifest' in the physical world. Napoleon Hill was taught this law by spirits who called themselves Ascended Masters from a School of Wisdom located on the astral plane. Hill visualized 16 nine famous men from the past sitting around a table as his advisers and guess what, it worked. Leaders in the Faith movement are using this same law as well for speaking things into existence. The occult technique of visualization is also the key to inner healing. One visualizes a situation in the past they need to be reconciled, they visualize Jesus coming to them and solving the problem.
The New age teaches that if everyone on earth practiced this to change their reality the world would be a very different place. We would have a potentially several billion godlike creatures in the world all exercising their will competing for their own piece of reality. The force is in the hands of its wielder. Whoever exercises the most power wins. God loves us enough not to put this kind of power or ability in the hands of sinful man.
FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE, GO TO:
http://www.letusreason.org/NAM22.htm
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 1:13:21 PM
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teacher1982
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Solar - thank you for this explanation.
In reality, Theophostic ministry is dealing with abuse and the lies of the devil that was told to that person at the time of the abuse. For instance, if a little girl was sexually abused, lies are told to her by the devil that "she is no good", "it was her fault", "she deserved to be treated that way", "she should have fought", and thoughts like that. The little girl believes these lies, and therefore feels these ways about herself. From that point on, she makes life-time choices with that opinion of herself at the forefront. For example, she may chose a man who is a true loser because she doesn't feel that she deserves any better. Her entire life will be build with more lies that stack upon the original lie that was given to her by the devil at the time of the abuse.
That is a very simplistic explanation of the beginning of the ruination of that little girls' life.
She may not even remember the abuse, but she sure remembers the lies and believes them as the truth. Why wouldn't she? So she makes choices and decisions based upon what she believes to be the truth. By the time she seeks therapy, she is dealing with a messed up life and secular therapy would try to analyze her present life problems and habits and choices.
Theophostic ministry believes that the original lie must be destroyed through prayer and the healing of Jesus. As in the above example, when the little girl realizes that the abuse was not her fault, she did deserve better, she wasn't strong enough to fight, or she was a good person; that original lie(s) is/are then revealed as a lie and Jesus reveals the truth to her. Once the original lie is revealed and the truth comes to light (phostic), all the other lifetime of lies that were built on the original lie is destroyed.
For a person to be able to get to the original lie is true healing and will change their lives. It was never God's plan for a child to be abused. Most severe abuse results in a person being "fractured" - their emotional, conscience and subconscience mind can not deal with it. They may develop multiple or alternate personalities because of the fracture. God made our minds to do this to protect us from something that is truly unbearable. The same as a person gets a surge of adrenaline at the time of an accident and can do things that they normally couldn't do. (Like lifting up a car off of an injured person to save their life when otherwise there is no way they would have the strength to do that. We have all experienced these times to some degree). However, a person who is fracture due to abuse and who is believing the lies, can not be a whole person until they receive healing from and through Jesus.
Again, this is a very simplistic example of the ministry. It is all done with sincere prayer and Jesus is given all the glory and credit for someone being healed - being able to get over the abuse and the original lies created from the horrible experience.
I see no "new age", visualization, or devilish forces in this type of prayer and ministry. Just as when someone has a physical ailment. The Doctors may treat the symptoms, but they better get to the origin of the illness or the person will not get well. Putting make-up on a skin melanoma will only cover it up. To be healed, it needs to be cut out and further treatments made if necessary.
So in Theo(God)Phostic(Light) ministry, Jesus heals the source of the pain and rids the person of the original lies.
Anyone who has been abused, and later remembers it, will also be able to realize that they believed lies surrounding the abuse, as the examples given above. Of course, every situation of abuse is different, and therefore the lies are different.
I see no reason why Christians can not accept and believe that Jesus can heal us from abuse and lies the same as He can heal us of cancer or the flu or a headache.
I believe that this belief has been a common belief for healing, but was just not called Theophostic Ministry. Certainly in the churches that I have attended all my life, we pray for the sick and for people who have emotional problems, are depressed, and so on. We believe that Jesus can heal ALL illnesses, not just the physical (what you can see with your eyes) illnesses.
I am not a teacher or preacher of this Ministry and this is only an explanation of my limited knowledge of it. I find it very interesting though and since I believe that Jesus does heal today, in our present time, not just in the New Testament, I see no reason why we can't pray for healing for a miserable person suffering from the results of abuse that happened many years ago.
< Message edited by teacher1982 -- 10/13/2009 1:21:06 PM >
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 1:33:28 PM
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solarflare
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quote:
A few weeks ago my wife and I were driving to the house of some close friends, listening to a tape of Dr. Ed Smith, the founder of Theophostic counseling, who was preaching at a large evangelical church in our city.1 As we listened, my wife asked, “what kind of sermon is this?” The sermon was filled with psychological terminology, a sprinkling of Scripture giving 21st century psychological meanings to 1st century concepts, and many anecdotes to convince the listeners that every one of them needed “Theophostic” ministry. After some time my wife looked at me and said, “Why are these people listening to this? We heard this 25 years ago.”
This the same DR you have made mention of?
here's more:
http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue79.htm
Just wondering, cause these people seem to know your Dr Smith and do not like his teachings............
BTW, an alarming number of sites come up when DR smith and theophostic are googled. They are not complimentary.
The end
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 2:00:01 PM
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Kat_D
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"Though is it adamantly denied, Theophostic Counseling includes a form of guided imagery and visualization, the possible acceptance of recovered memories, and Dr. Smith's belief that Christians can be inhabited with demons." -Apologetics Index
More information here
Just another twisted part of the false Deliverance Movement. Either the following Scripture is true or it's not:
17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The truth is that all Christians have been set free of their pasts. However, some Christians chose to live in their old man and believe that they are generationally cursed or have demons that cause them to behave the way they do. They believe that they need something more than what Jesus Christ did for them to be made whole. According to the Word of God, that is false.
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 3:35:21 PM
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teacher1982
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Solar - where did that quote come from? I'm not familiar with this forum and I don't see where you are quoting from. Just wondering.
I will check out your links because this is why I am asking about Dr. Smith and the Theophostic Ministry. I do not know him and have never been to any of his seminars or teachings. I heard about this type of ministry, read some about it, and it makes sense to me.
Kat_D - to say that any abused person who gets saved is then immediately healed and set free from any results, damage, hang-ups and so on from that abuse is just not true. It could happen, but it doesn't always. It just doesn't and I know that for a fact. Many people get saved at a young age and do not even remember the abuse, yet suffer from the consequences. They have bad behavior but don't know why. Things hurt them that are echoes of the abuse, but they don't know why. They react in negatives ways to anything that triggers memories of the abuse and they might not even realize it. Many things change at the instant a child is abused. Salvation saves the soul from Hell, but does not automatically change every bad thing that has ever happened in a person's life. If it did, we would all be perfect here on earth, but we're not. Most of us deal with stuff from the past whether we realize it or not.
Theophostic Ministry is NOT trying to add to what Jesus did for people on the Cross. It is a Ministry to use what He did for people on the cross.
The same as physically sick people are not automatically healed at the second of Salvation. Maybe they get healed later, or maybe never. But they are still saved. We do not get new bodies when we are saved. We live in the same one, which includes the brain, mind and memories, but our souls have been changed.
I know that I am not using the best words to explain my understanding, but I do not believe that this is "new age" teaching as I understand it to be. New Age believers do not accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God or the ONLY way to Heaven.
I'll check the links that you have so kindly listed and then get back to you. I appreciate your help and will read them with care.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 8:27:22 PM
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teacher1982
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I have read the links and even printed out a couple of them.
From what I can understand, the MAIN objection to the Theophostic Ministry is that there are not scriptures SPECIFICALLY giving examples of this very thing happening for someone.
If this is the argument against this ministry, then there are many, many other common well-known beliefs that would have to be put aside also. In every single denomination. These beliefs and doctrines have been discussed over and over, but are still accepted because Christians have reason enough to understand that the Bible does not give us step-by-step, every minute instructions on every single situation that any one person out of billions of people MIGHT encounter.
There are plenty of more commonly believed doctrines such as The Rapture that is not in the Bible either. Neither is OSAS. However, we believe these things because we rightly divide the Word of God. We study, pray, and seek God for interpretations. We listen to teachers and ministers who we have confidence in that are chosen and anointed by God to explain His Word.
So to say that this ministry is "new age" or of the devil simply because the Bible does not spell it out in exact words is not a valid argument against it.
I see no wrong in a person praying for Jesus/God to heal them from painful memories and lies from the devil that has effected their entire lives; and even caused them to make bad choices and terrible mistakes. We all know that we are the product of our environment, education and experience. If all was good, the person will be emotionally healthy. If all was not good, the person will have emotional damage.
The simpliest example that I can give is if a child was told all their lives that they are stupid and will never succeed, most likely they will believe it and it will be the way their lives end up being. Even after salvation, they will still feel defeated in their personal life. However, Jesus can heal them of that belief through prayer and study of the Bible. That is Theophostic Ministry in a nutshell.
I also say, as I stated earlier, that Jesus does not heal people from every single problem/ailment/sickness and so on when He saves them. If He did, we would all be perfect and have no problems whatsoever. That is not true of anyone that I know.
Living a Christian life is a process of growth and learning. At the point of Salvation we are babes in Christ and have much to do. We are to work out our salvation, which I think means to study the Word and grow in Christ. We lay aside the things that so easily beset us. There are things that we have to do after salvation and surely everyone would agree to that.
So why would it be wrong to pray for healing of past wounds/hurts/abuse/lies?
I need more proof that this ministry is wrong than to state that it isn't spelled out in the Bible exactly as Dr. Smith does.
< Message edited by teacher1982 -- 10/13/2009 8:35:43 PM >
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 11:19:02 PM
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Kat_D
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Sounds like you weren't really interested in what anyone would say in opposition to this so called "ministry"....sounds like you already had your mind made up before you posted, kwim?
quote:
ORIGINAL: Teacher 1982
The simpliest example that I can give is if a child was told all their lives that they are stupid and will never succeed, most likely they will believe it and it will be the way their lives end up being.
I was that child (you can also add sexual and physical abuse to that) and after receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior, studying the Word of God, and believing what it says, I was set free. No program necessary.
The psychology that has invaded the church has caused broken people to believe Jesus isn't enough to heal, restore, revive, and renew them, and that is a pathetic lie.
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 11:31:09 PM
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ironsharpensiron
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quote:
Sounds like you weren't really interested in what anyone would say in opposition to this so called "ministry"....sounds like you already had your mind made up before you posted, kwim?
This is my impression as well. I could be going out on a limb here, but it seems to me that the OP is looking for affirmation in using this type of 'counseling.' Since they are not receiving that affirmation, they are now defending it as if it was their own.
And, Solarflare, beat me to it many posts back; 'visualization' is a huge red flag.
Matthew
_____________________________
"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 11:36:11 PM
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ironsharpensiron
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quote:
The psychology that has invaded the church has caused broken people to believe Jesus isn't enough to heal, restore, revive, and renew them, and that is a pathetic lie.
I totally agree with this statement. As a Christian counselor the help I offer is by the Word of God; scriptural principles. Using anything else minimizes who the real and only true healer is; Jesus.
Matthew
_____________________________
"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/13/2009 11:52:14 PM
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sharonjef2007
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I have read a lot about Theophostic Ministry on The Marriage Bed forums. And, I'm not impressed! I don't think it is healthy to have that kind of healing emotionally. Otherwise, you don't learn from it. It is not something I would advocate nor do myself.
_____________________________
my blog......Picture This.......
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 8:10:06 AM
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DaveW
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quote:
ORIGINAL: sharonjef2007
I have read a lot about Theophostic Ministry on The Marriage Bed forums. And, I'm not impressed! I don't think it is healthy to have that kind of healing emotionally. Otherwise, you don't learn from it. It is not something I would advocate nor do myself.
When Paul Byerly and his wife Lori were debating taking Theophostic training, they asked me my opinion. I saw nothing out of place in it. But the version I had read about did not include the visualization or the deliverance aspects. It was simply finding the lies, repenting of believing them and letting the effects of rejecting the lies and accepting the truth happen. I see absolutely nothing unscriptural about that. So I encouraged them to go forward with it.
I do not understand why you think healing is not healthy. Not all injuries are something you need to "learn from."
As to whether visualization or deliverance are appropriate for believers today, that is an issue not unlike pretrib/posttrib or eternal security. Different people will see it different ways.
_____________________________
Avatar is my daughter Laura and SIL David on their wedding 9/20/09 ====================================
Our CD is now available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 9:22:22 AM
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teacher1982
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Yes, I wanted to hear what people would say about this ministry. But if you will read my OP, I was asking for people's experiences and KNOWLEDGE. I can read all the negative stuff on the Internet for myself. I do not know those people and you can find negative comments about anything, any doctrine, belief, religion, and minister. There are even negative comments about Billy Graham on the Internet.
I have listened to what you all have posted. What I know personally, myself, about the Theophostic ministry is that it does NOT use "new age" teaching or visualization.
However, this ministry emphasizes the Word of God, Scriptures, Biblical principles and lots and lots of prayer. The claim by Dr. Smith is that healing comes through Jesus and ONLY through Jesus.
The best testimony would be from someone who has gone through this type of ministry counseling. Whether they say something negative or positive, at least I would know that they are speaking from experience and not from something that they read on the Internet.
No, I do not have my mind made up. As I said earlier, I have not attended any seminars or teachings by Dr. Smith. I do not teach or preach this. I am only interested in it as it makes much sense to me. Anything that uses the Word of God, prayer, and faith in Jesus Christ as the ONLY healer can NOT be wrong.
As DaveW said - there is absolutely nothing unscriptural about the ministry doctrine. quote:
I do not understand why you think healing is not healthy. Not all injuries are something you need to "learn from." I totally agree and do not understand why people would be against a healing ministry based on scriptures and the healing power of Jesus. If they are, then we all need to stop going to Doctors, taking any prescriptions, Chemo, radiation, or any other type of non-scriptural treatments.
I found a book on Amazon.com that is written by Dr. Smith and bought it. This way I will be getting information from the "horses mouth" and can read for myself the exact teachings of Dr. Smith, and not what others "say" his teachings are. With prayer and faith in Jesus I believe that I will be able to discern whether or not this is a false and "new age" doctrine.
I do appreciate everyone's comments and opinions. Opinions are just that - one's ideas - but not FACTS.
I would love to hear from is someone who has first hand experience with this ministry as a patient/participant.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 10:08:30 AM
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sharonjef2007
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quote:
I do not understand why you think healing is not healthy. Not all injuries are something you need to "learn from."
I have had some MASSIVE baggage and issues to heal from in my life. While I was healing from a lot of stuff that was done to me, I still needed to learn from it. I still needed to go through the fire and the pain in order to be able to put it behind me and move forward. When it was suggested to me on TMB by fellow posters, I was pretty much told there is no reason to go through traditional counseling and such. Just do this and Jesus will heal you right away. It is easy....it is fast.
The thing I don't like about Theophostic is it seems to be advertised as some quick fix. Kinda like taking diet pills. If a person needs to lose weight and get healthy, the healthiest way to do it is through making lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. Now, if a person takes diet pills and goes on a liquid diet while not learning healthy ways to eat and live, that person may lose weight, but it will not be sustainable. That is how theophostic was described to me. That is how I read it. And that is why I would not recommend it nor do it myself.
_____________________________
my blog......Picture This.......
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 10:50:52 AM
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Kat_D
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ironsharpensiron
quote:
The psychology that has invaded the church has caused broken people to believe Jesus isn't enough to heal, restore, revive, and renew them, and that is a pathetic lie.
I totally agree with this statement. As a Christian counselor the help I offer is by the Word of God; scriptural principles. Using anything else minimizes who the real and only true healer is; Jesus.
Matthew
Amen! Jesus/His Word is enough! As a biblical women's counselor, I am in total agreement.
16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." -II Timothy 3
On another note, a big problem with the type of "counseling" being discussed here is that it causes the Christian to believe that he/she are entitled to a pain-free life on earth. This is not so. We will always have pain while we are in this body. The question should be, "How can God use my suffering and pain (past and present) to benefit others and draw me closer to Him?"
Our hope is not that we can have a life without suffering, our hope is that Jesus will meet us in the midst of that suffering and provide everything we need to get through it, rise above it, and become a blessing to Him and to others because of it.
3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." -II Corinthians 1
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 11:00:37 AM
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mysteryofgospel
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teacher1982,
I have to agree with the other posters in that you had a preset agenda in your first post, then you defended your already decided upon conclusions in your second post and then you just deflected criticism in your third post to once again defend your position.
Theophostic teaching is garbage wrapped in the name of Jesus Christ as validation. You have dismissed some outstanding responses as, "opinions", because they are those you don't want to hear.
Just my opinion.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 11:28:29 AM
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doinkdom
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A Biblical Evaluation of Theophostic Ministry
Another link
Smith has put God in a TheoPhostic box, because he says that "God will not speak His truth" if the counselor has "not correctly identified the original lie" (p. 76). Thus God’s hands are tied and His mouth is shut without the expert, the TheoPhostic counselor who has mastered Smith’s system. Smith says the counselor "must discover ‘the lie’ that matches ‘the picture’ and stir up the accompanying emotion" so that the client can hear "the divine truth" (p. 57).
I know that the OP was asking for experiences...but this entire ministry is based more on experience than the truth of God's word.
It makes it hard to really answer specifically.
I am a biblical counselor as well and I would never recommend this to anyone.
_____________________________
Rest assured, dear friends, that where your pleasure is, there your heart is.
- Charles Spurgeon
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 12:15:13 PM
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DaveW
Posts: 3792
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: sharonjef2007
I have had some MASSIVE baggage and issues to heal from in my life. While I was healing from a lot of stuff that was done to me, I still needed to learn from it. I still needed to go through the fire and the pain in order to be able to put it behind me and move forward. When it was suggested to me on TMB by fellow posters, I was pretty much told there is no reason to go through traditional counseling and such. Just do this and Jesus will heal you right away. It is easy....it is fast.
The thing I don't like about Theophostic is it seems to be advertised as some quick fix. I can understand that. Was it Paul or Lori @ TMB that suggested Theophostic was a quick fix? I certainly would be surprised if they did.
It (if done properly) in not a quick fix by any means. It is a tool for getting at lies we have believed and undoing them. And if tried by someone who does not have the charismatic gifting of Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom or Discerning of Spirits, it can go off the deep end in a big hurry.
Some people are always looking for that quick fix, whether it is in clearing out your clogged arteries, losing weight or hurt emotions. I am familiar with 3 types of christian counseling; Nouthetic (SP??), Theophostic and Elijah House. Each have their place. And I would ALWAYS start with Nouthetic which is pure biblical counseling. Then you can move into the Elijah House and/or Theophostic (assuming the counselor is properly gifted and trained) to complete the job.
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Avatar is my daughter Laura and SIL David on their wedding 9/20/09 ====================================
Our CD is now available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 12:34:53 PM
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teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
Status: offline
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You are incorrect to say that I had already made up my mind. If I had, I wouldn't have posted my questions.
By talking to someone who has experienced Theophostic Ministry, i.e. received healing from Jesus through this type of prayer and support, then I could hear how it happened and what the process was. All other opinions are just that. If you have never tasted Chocolate, you can give your opinion on the taste all day long and still not know what you are talking about. Do all the research you want to on the ingredients of Chocolate, but you still do not have the experience of the taste, and therefore can not rightly describe it.
I do not see any teachings and principles of the Theophostic Ministry that is contradictory to the Word of God. Just because the Bible doesn't explicitly explain it, doesn't mean it is against the Word. Many beliefs and doctrines are not explicitly explained in the Bible, yet we believe them.
I am happy to hear that some people can pray for themselves, read the Word, and then receive complete and total healing of all pain and damage done to them by abuse. However, not every one is able to do that. The same as some people are healed of cancer and some aren't. I don't know why that is - guess we'll have to ask God.
I haven't heard of "Nouthetic" or Elijah House and will have to research them.
Theophostic Ministry does not claim to be a quick fix. It does claim to be complete and total healing by and through Jesus, and Jesus ONLY. I still say that nothing is wrong with that. Some people are healed by their own prayers; some are healed by the prayers of others, their church, and so on; and some are healed through therapy. And sadly, some people are never healed. Personally I would ONLY go to Bible-based, Christ-based therapy such a Theophostic.
There is no explanation why people are NOT completely healed of emotional pain and mental anguish when they are saved considering what some scriptures say. But the truth is, some people aren't. Period. They just aren't. I wish we all were healed of everything when we get saved.
quote:
I know that the OP was asking for experiences...but this entire ministry is based more on experience than the truth of God's word. SALVATION IS AN EXPERIENCE! You can't say that experiences are wrong or false.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/14/2009 2:08:30 PM
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doinkdom
Posts: 5581
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: The higher lowcountry
Status: offline
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Another link
Smith has put God in a TheoPhostic box, because he says that "God will not speak His truth" if the counselor has "not correctly identified the original lie" (p. 76). Thus God’s hands are tied and His mouth is shut without the expert, the TheoPhostic counselor who has mastered Smith’s system. Smith says the counselor "must discover ‘the lie’ that matches ‘the picture’ and stir up the accompanying emotion" so that the client can hear "the divine truth" (p. 57).[/quote]
This is Smith's own words...and this is biblical?
seriously?
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Rest assured, dear friends, that where your pleasure is, there your heart is.
- Charles Spurgeon
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