Preach in the Spirit

I was recently encouraged to consider what it means to “Preach in the Spirit”. Does it mean to just come to the pulpit and trust that the Holy Spirit will fill my mouth? Should I abandon preperation and notes and just “go with the flow”? What does preaching in the Spirit really mean? 

First of all I believe that “Spirit-Led” preaching and notes/preparation are not mutually exclusive. That is I believe that my preparation is just as much spirit led as the delivery of the message on a Sunday morning. I believe that God is outside of time and therefore not constrained by it. In his providence he has planned the content of each gathering of his church before the creation of the world and so I have no difficulty in believing that the Holy Spirit will, and does, inspire me and lead me as I prepare long before the delivery of the message in the meeting.

I have a high regard for BOTH the Word and the Spirit and it is my desire to see both honoured. My preparation is the direct result of my high view of Scripture. Since the Bible is the Word of God – inerrant, infallible, and inspired – then we must commit ourselves to a method of preaching that most honours God’s revelation in Scripture. Generally this means for me diligent study, reading, prayer and preparation.

In order for me to explain the scriptures I need to study, understand and prepare, but I do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18). We read of Apollos in Acts that “He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures” My preparation allows us to be competent in the scriptures. Paul instructs Timothy “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” which I think again shows us the value of studying and preparation. We must be very careful of drawing conclusions from what the bible does not say. The bible does not say if Paul for example ever used notes. However, in 2 Tim 4:13 he does ask Timothy to bring “the books, and above all the parchments”. It is widely accepted by most commentators that these books were Pauls own writings (notes if you will) as well as some of the Old Testament, possibly the Septuagint (Parchments). Even in prison Paul was reading and preparing himself for what speaking opportunities might lie ahead.

Now all that said I think as preachers we do need to be flexible and not so tied by our preparation that we miss it when God says “well done for preparing, but I want to do this now” there is of course a fine line.

I have seen Mark Driscoll’s preaching notes and he has 2 post-it notes in his bible and preaches for an hour from just that. However, this is because of all of the time he has spent prior in reading, praying, studying the scriptures at length and writing books. “… out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45) Mark Dever, CJ Mahaney and other Holy Spirit anointed preachers tell us that they spend 30 hrs per sermon! (I think CJ works on one hour of prep for every 5 mins of talking).

I think too there are times of anointing that come, as we are attentive to the Spirit, and God leads us is different ways. In times of great outpouring we see this anointing to speak, examples such as Peter in Acts, Smith Wigglesworth, right up to John Arnott and other in more recent times where people preach without notes or preperation it would seem. In these times we see an abundance of grace and anointing to carry out Gods will in the most interesting of times (having to preach several times every day would certainly qualify J ). I would agree that in those exciting circumstances there is a special grace and anointing for those moments where one is lead “in that moment”. It is in those times that the Lord calls to mind all that we have stored in our hearts over the years in reading the scriptures, in diligent study and reading. We must be like Mary who pondered things in her hearts. – “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart“ (Luke 2:19)

I personally think that it would be irresponsible of me not to prepare but equally as irresponsible for me to ignore the Holy Spirit when he tells me to leave my notes and follow his lead. As I started off by saying … I believe that “Spirit-Led” preaching and notes/preparation are not mutually exclusive. This is why I believe that we must, and should prepare. We must be men given to prayer and the scriptures (Acts 6:4) so that we are able to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:28), to teach with authority but also to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Both are important –WORD & SPIRIT operating together !

Confused Carol Theology

Happy Christmas !

Now that I am waiting for my Christmas Dinner and having just been to a Christmas Morning service I am a little confused by the final line in one of the carols. The line was …

Sav’d by his love, incessant we shall sing

Of angels and of angel-man the King

What perplexed me is what on earth is an “Angel-Man”? Surly it can not be suggesting that Jesus was an Angel!

Christians, Awake! Salute The Happy Morn

The Carol is called “Christians, Awake! Salute the Happy Morn” written as a Christmas poem John Byron and altered slightly to become a Carol John Byron was also the author of “Hark! the herald angels sing“. John Byron was friends with John Wesley but I am aware that they had a “religious sympathy deeper than the differences of their temperaments and theological views” which would suggest that Mr Byron’s theology was different to Wesley’s. That said it would not indicate that these differences were fundamental in their nature.

Fully God – Fully Man

My concern is that the line we are looking at “Of angels and of angel-man the King” is indicating that Jesus was not, as the bible tells us, fully God who becoming flesh (man) but was an Angel who became a man. This is heresy if this is what it saying ! 

“(1)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. (14) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,2 & 14 

Have the Words been Altered?

After a little research I have found what I think is the origional by John Byron called “CHRISTMAS DAY FOR DOLLY”. Allegedly written for his daughter, Dolly, the final verse says …

Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing

Eternal praise to heaven’s Almighty King.

Now that I am happy with, Mr Byron you are forgiven … not that it would seem you need to be as someone else changed your words. So who was this heratic that decided to change the line to be “Of angels and of angel-man the King” rather than “Eternal praise to heaven’s Almighty King”?

According to the “An Annotated Anthology of Hymns by J. R. Watson, Timothy Dudley-Smith” the origional has been altered many times for various hymn books. It seems that this may have been where this heresy has crept in.

Can You Help?

In the limited time I have before the Turkey appears I have not been able to find the culpret. Do you Know ? If you do let me know in the comments below.

Other Examples of “Dodgy Carols”

Do you know any other carols where the text is less than theologicaly sound? If so, let me know.

In the meantime let me wish you all a ver happy Christmas and a blessed new year! Merry Christamas.

 

 

 

The Role of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy within Pastoral Counselling

Introduction

There is, within many charismatic circles, a reticence to embrace what many would consider secular wisdom in the area of pastoral care within the local church. Most preferring to embrace the “Power Encounter” of the Holy Spirit as all that is necessary to resolve any and all pastoral situations. Whilst fully embracing the power of the Holy Spirit, looking and longing for it, there is also need, as Paul instructs the Romans , to use the knowledge that we have received from God to instruct one another. The bible provides us with a wealth of knowledge that Paul informs Timothy is good for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . This, I believe, provides us with a platform to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and the “power encounter” with loving, thoughtful discussion and counselling.

We know that we are living in a fallen world, that man’s inherent propensity is towards sin and that in and of our selves we are unable to overcome that which is inherent within us. By definition we need therefore to find the solution from outside of ourselves. I believe that the solution comes only from God himself and would therefore subscribe to the biblical view that our salvation in these areas of difficulty are found only in Him. However, whilst our salvation is only found in God the working out of that salvation can vary from person to person and situation to situation. Because of the uniqueness of God’s creation we all come to a realisation of our need for change (sanctification) in areas of our lives in different ways. Sometimes it is through scripture, other times through preaching or through the challenge of a friend. Sometimes it is because our circumstances are so extreme that we can no longer cope. There are many examples of people in extreme circumstances simply crying out to God and immediately being healed or the situation remedied . However, there are also many situations where that is not the case, or where learned behaviour, destructive conduct, habits or addictions cause the person to re-offend. Paul expresses this well in Romans when he says “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” . We do not always understand why we do the things we do. How often have we come before the throne of grace and cried for forgiveness for yet another repeated offence? It can be helpful to utilise counselling in these circumstances to assist the individual in understanding more fully the nature of their circumstances and/or actions and so to look, with God’s help, at how they may overcome !

With this in mind I would like to look at The Role of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) within Pastoral Counselling showing how it could provide valuable insight and support in all areas of pastoral care.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

CBT is designed to help you alter how you think (Cognitive) and what you do (Behaviour). By examining the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviour we can then consider why we are responding in a particular way. For example if you were to walk down the street and see someone you know who then completely ignores you, you could respond by thinking they don’t like you, you then feel miserable which then may cause you to take some comforting behaviour such as eating or shopping which then causes some physical reaction such as weight gain or debt. This then results in new thoughts of failure and so the vicious circle continues. CBT allows us to affect one of these areas and so break the cycle. Typically this is done be looking to change our thoughts which in turn will alter our behaviour.

CBT – Secular Case Study

This is my story! At almost 20 Stones, my weight was out of control. My blood pressure was so high that I was borderline for needing medication. I had been overweight for longer than I could remember trying every fad diet and weight loss programme that came along. I have always been very goal orientated and can discipline myself to diet no problem. I could lose weight and feel great and then put it all right back on again. Deep down being overweight depressed me as it affected my health, my ability to enjoy my kids and my wife. I would go through periods of great sadness because I had tried to lose weight and failed time and time again. One day, it was my eldest’s sons 13th birthday, and I had arranged for him to have a flying lesson with a pilot friend of mine who invited me to sit in the back of the plane as my son flew. However when we got to the airstrip and did the pre-flight checks it became apparent that I was too heavy to go with them as we exceeded the max load of the small plane. Over the next day or so I realised that I was a glutton and gluttony was a sin. So I decided that I must again lose weight. As I researched which fad diet I would choose this time I came across a rapid weight loss programme which appealed to my impatient nature. This one however included group counselling which I now know as CBT (See Figure 1). The diet was a great success, losing 6 stone in 100 days, but I had lost weight in the past and put it straight back on. However, that was almost 2 years ago and I am still under 15 stone! So what changed? My thinking changed. The CBT caused me to think about “why I ate”. I realised that I ate when I was depressed, I ate when I was sad, or stressed or fed up. I ate for comfort! This then made me put on weight which then depressed me so I ate more and so the vicious circle continued. This is a great example of secular CBT in operation. By causing me to think of the circumstances that caused me to eat I was able to look past the immediate – I was just eating too much – to asking why and under what circumstances. As I then changed the way I thought about things it then altered my behaviours and the need for comfort (feelings) through food. This then changed the physical reactions (that of eating) which has allowed me to maintain a more appropriate body weight.

CBT – In a Pastoral Environment

part from my reason for starting the diet being a realisation of sin (Gluttony) the CBT I was involved with was wholly secular. However, in a pastoral environment we need to include the aspect of God into our model (See Figure 2). By including God we are more able to look at not just the reasons behind our behaviour and responses but also look at what the bible has to say. Even though I have lost weight I still struggle daily with what is, in essence, an addictive cycle of eating. The CBT still allowed me to address my thinking but still it is a constant struggle. This is where I believe that the Pastoral Element is so helpful. As I consider the CBT cycle I have come to realise that our thoughts, feeling and behaviours/action are “in Christ ” just as a new creation I am in Christ. Secular CBT allows me now to understand what I should do and how I should handle it but as Paul says in Romans “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out”. As we bring in the wisdom of the secular CBT model with wise pastoral counsel we can address the spiritual aspects of our being. With a pastoral model I can conclude that in turning to food in times of stress, hurt, sadness or despair means that one is doing more than being a glutton, we are making food a god and in doing so we break the first commandment . As we then not only consider the spiritual impact as well as the physical/psychological we recognise that the results are not simply that one gets fat, but that one also offends God.

One must not simply look therefore to change ones thinking about food in order to amend behaviour towards food but also to change our thinking in terms of the offence the action will cause God. Without pastoral assistance this information could easily lead again to a vicious circle of eating because one could so easily then feel more depressed and more of a failure because now as a Christian you are offending God. Pastoral care can help understand the grace of God that is freely available when we repent and ask for forgiveness. With a God centred pastoral CBT approach we can not only understand the triggers, as the world would see them, that cause us to behave in a particular way but also the sin that so easily entangles . As we use these things together we can look to change our thinking and, if necessary, to come to a place of repentance by providing a safe environment where we can explore our feelings, thoughts and behaviours and where we can confess our sins knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness .

Conclusion

Whilst not in every case I do believe that CBT has a vital part to play in Pastoral Counselling within the life of the local church under the government and oversight of biblical eldership. I would not see this as first line care, but would certainly see that in some circumstances this type of pastoral counselling would be a great help.

References

Romans 15:14

2 Timothy 3:16

Philippians 2:12

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw-0wR87okY

Romans 7:15

Romans 12:21, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 4:4, et al

1 Corinthians 1:30

2 Corinthians 5:17

Romans 7:18b

Exodus 20:3

Hebrews 12:1

James 5:16

1 John 1:9