Christian Counseling and Modernism
Counseling the doubtful is true when it comes to Modernism. Unlike other isms that exist outside of the Church, Modernism originates from within the Church itself. With this in mind, many followers become confused because of clergy or other teachers who support Modernistic ideals. Hence when Christian Counseling people who are infected with Modernistic ideology it is important to have a clear understanding of traditional Christian concepts.
So what is Modernism? Modernism was a philosophical movement at the end of the 19th and early 20th Century that hoped to marry the ideals of science with theology. It wanted to modernize Christianity with new concepts of belief regarding Scriptural interpretation, the divinity of Christ and how God interacts with his creation. The movement stemmed from within the Church and was quickly condemned by Church authorities. Still, the movement survived and haunted the Church till the present day. Whether during a sermon or at a lecture hall, the ideas of Modernism can be found.
With these things in mind, Christian Counselors need to be aware of this heresy and its basic tenets. Christian Counselors must also understand the correct orthodox theology and be able to articulate the truth to someone who is in doubt.
Christian Counseling can become an oasis of truth for many people. This is especially important when we live in an era of Church history when the truth can even be distorted by those we trust most. As Christ warned, there will be ‘wolves in sheep clothing’. With this in mind, Christian Counselors should face the challenge of Modernism and present sound and true doctrine regarding Scripture and the divinity of Christ.
If you are interested in the Christian Counseling program and have a sincere objective to preserve and teach the truth of Christ, please consider and review the program and see if it fits your educational or professional needs. Our program for Christian Counseling Certification is based on core courses that must be completed prior to certification.
By Mark Moran, MA, GC-C-, SCC-C
Loisy and Tyrell were the worst of the Catholic Modernists