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Christian Counseling Certification Article on Meditation Is More Than Health

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Eastern Meditation stripped of its religious connotations has numerous health benefits but to substitute this type of meditation for Christian meditation in regards to spiritual life is an error.  For purposes of physical health, breathing and various positions void of religious intent have health benefits, but for spiritual benefits, one must turn to the classical Christian meditation that looks not for relaxation but spiritual connection with God through the Scripture and Christ.

Christian meditation is Christo-centric and finds its basis in God’s presence through the quiet of Scripture and Christ.  Christ leads one to the Father and helps one reflect on one’s spiritual life with God.  Deeper contemplation can lead to deeper unions with God but all leads one back to the current world and its current situation instead of attempting to escape it.

 

Christian meditation is about a closer union with God. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

Meditation is prayer and it is important that Christians remember this and not allow secular definitions of it to water its true nature down.  The purpose is not to merely refresh the mind, de-stress, or find calm, but to connect with God.

The article, “Meditation Isn’t Mere Therapy — It’s a Living Relationship With Almighty God” by Anna Abbott reminds us of the true spiritual and prayerful nature of meditation.  She states,

“In the case of Christian meditation, it is an active quest to live the life of Christ, which was anything but passive. Our Lord sought baptism from his cousin to begin his life of teaching. He called the Twelve Apostles. He actively healed, preached and performed miracles. He repeatedly told Sts. Peter, James and John that the endpoint of his mission was crucifixion, death and resurrection. He endured heroically, not passively. His mission is the foundational “quest.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Going beyond this secular definition of meditation and realizing this active quest to find God is key in Christian meditation.  Christian meditation is not to escape the world but to understand it with all its suffering and distraught but to Christianize it.  Meditation brings the Christian closer to God to deal with the issues of the world.  In this way, Christian meditation is far more different than secular notions of meditation that find there roots in Eastern themes.

While these techniques have physical health value they cannot replace spiritual meditation.   Also bear in mind as Christians, these techniques themselves need to be utilized carefully since their ultimate design is based to create mental states that are associated with Eastern theology which is far from Christian.  The ultimate end of Christian meditation is union with God, not to become a god.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches one’s academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Christian Counselor.

Christian Counseling Certification Article on Mentoring

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Making disciples of all nations and fulfilling Christ’s mandate involves sometimes more than preaching but also sometimes working with others and helping develop their spirituality.  Individuals in positions of authority or experience sometimes find themselves helping others perfect their trade.  This is not only true of the professional world, but also within the spiritual world.  Numerous pastors, elders and spiritually developed Christians help others find Christ and also to grow in Christ.

Mentorship hence is a vital role within the Church.  It involves the Spiritual Works of Mercy that include instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinful, counseling the doubtful and praying for their development.  Spiritual parents play large roles in this development.  Whether a pastor, minister, spiritual advisor, mentor or God parent, one is thrust into a spiritual position to help their spiritual children grow in Christ.  This spiritual promise is an important one that comes from God.  It is a very solemn duty to to not only guide but teach by good example.

 

Christ selected 12 Apostles to proclaim the Gospel. Spiritual Mentorship follows the paradigm of Christ in selecting and cultivating spiritual growth

 

This is why it is so scandalous when Church authority is abused.   When trust in authority is broken, many can be lost to the faith.  Many lash out against the faith.  Sexual abuse, corruption and bad example are all great sins before God and those in authority who mentor and teach the young, will answer in the most harsh ways.   It is important to shower one’s spiritual children with guidance and charity of the Holy Spirit through example and teaching.

Many look to the Paul Timothy relationship.  In it, St Paul guides St Timothy through the process of instruction and guidance.  St Paul educates but also encourages St Timothy in his spiritual formation.  Like St Paul, spiritual mentors are called to help cultivate religious vocations through example, teaching and encouragement. A spiritual mentor is a teacher, a coach,  and a counselor to his spiritual child and can help cultivate vocation through these positions of authority.

In doing so, like Christ, they give to their disciples a service of servanthood, as Christ did to the twelve but also an accountability.  An accountability to be spiritually present in their lives.  Also in any relationship their must be boundaries.  Overt dependency upon each other can cause damage to the growth of the spiritual child, as well as the spiritual parent.  The spiritual parent may also fear to let their spiritual child go.  So it is important to have important boundaries that are rooted firmly in Christ and faith.  It is hence important to discuss spiritual expectations and moral behavior in life, and when needed, the acknowledgement to seek outside help when needed.

It is also important to follow the Jesus Model.  Larry Kreider speaks about this model as a key way to help mentor and spiritually form young Christians.

Jesus just did not send out his disciples to the world without training or knowledge.  He chose them intentionally and took time to know them and cultivate their talents.  He taught not only by His words, but also by example.  The disciples learned the power of Christ on earth through His miracles and sermons.  In turn, Christ prepared them to proclaim the Gospel, but it was only until the Holy Spirit came upon them were they truly prepared.

He chose simply individuals.  He did not choose the rich or powerful but simple fisherman, Peter, James and John.  He chose a tax collector in Matthew, as well as numerous other outcasts.  He chose Andrew, Philip, James the Less, Simon, Bartholomew, and knowing those who would doubt Him, in Thomas, and those who would deny Him, in Judas.  Yet Christ, still accepted them all in their imperfections and status.  He gave them His full attention and charity and took them in as His own spiritual children.

Spiritual Mentors will also follow this model of Christ.  They will look to help develop the spirituality of the least of their brethren and allow their spiritual talents to become tools for the Church.  Like Christ, mentors need to initiate and take the first steps to help develop their spiritual children’s gifts.  They can reveal to them the good news of the Gospel and inspire in them a sense of awe regarding God. Through example and good deeds, they can inspire them.

They must also continue to build and cultivate the seed of faith within their spiritual children.  They must encourage spiritual life, reading of scripture, attendance of Church, and working within it.  They must cultivate that potential and push the faith into action.

Finally, eventually as Christ released the twelve, a mentor must be ready to release their spiritual children.  This does not mean, he or she abandons them or no longer offers his or her ear, but it does mean they trust in the abilities and faith of their children to spread the Gospel and themselves become spiritual parents.  The apostles went to the corners of the world and carried out their Master’s command even unto death.

 

We can help our spiritual children and help them grow in faith. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

If God is calling one to spiritual parenthood or to be a spiritual advisor, it is important to allow the Holy Spirit to guide it.  Prayer and fasting and discernment are extremely important.  One should not let insecurities or fear prevent one from fulfilling one’s duty to the Church.  The call to spiritual mentoring dismisses fear and insecurities, as well as ignorance, or apathy, or even impatience when one does not meet one’s standards.   It is a vocational call and it is a special relationship.

If you would like to learn more about AIHCP’s  Christian Counseling  Certification or would like to become a certified Christian Counselor to aid in your own spiritual mentorship of others, then please review the program and see if it meets your professional academic and spiritual goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.

 

Christian Counseling Program Article on the Four Gospels

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

 

This is a quick crash course in textual review of the Gospels and where they came from.  Obviously, we all know they came from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, who inspired human beings in the collecting various of stories and also directly inspiring the writers themselves, whether the writers were direct witnesses or collectors of the information.  Despite this inspiration, there still was a massive human cooperation with God that gave us the collection of the Four Gospels.  It is important as Christian Counselors, ministers, priests, and chaplains to have a good foundation in what the Gospels are and where they came from.

Preaching the Gospel is a standard phrase for those in ministry but what are the Gospels themselves?  Obviously the term to preach the Gospel extends beyond just the teachings found in the Four Gospels but are expounded throughout the entire Bible, but the ideal of the Gospel, the story of Jesus Christ and what He meant for salvation is the core concept found in the Gospels.  The previous books prepare the Christian for the encounter with Christ as found in the Gospels, while the Epistles explain them in greater detail.

The Four Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They form the basis for inspired writings on the life of Christ and the story of salvation

 

Hence the message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ is both God and man and came to Earth to redeem humanity from the sin of Adam.  In Christ, everything is made perfect.  In Christ, is the perfect sacrifice and bridge to God.  Without Christ, no salvation is possible and it is essential to accept Christ via Baptism to apply the blood of His redemption on the cross.   This is why it is was so critical a command to preach this message to all corners of the world.

The Gospels hence paint a picture of who Christ is and why He came.  They form the cornerstone of Christ’s teaching and set the basis for the Church.  It was hence critical for the Church to enshrine them as part of the foundational structures of the faith and all Christian theology.   The Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark. Luke and John were all formally written before the end of the 1st century.  In fact, most findings dictate that the Epistles of Paul outdate the Gospels.  It shows that the ideas of the Gospels had not been written yet by their namesakes, or at least collected together into one volume after the preaching of Paul.   Historic and literary criticisms of the text show that Mark was the first book written of the Four Gospels and Mark’s Gospel collected data from various sources.  These sources are known as the Que source which had accumulated various stories about the life of Christ handed down verbally and also in some cases documented.  Unfortunately, this common source of data about Christ has never been collected but the very fact most Gospels share common stories, illustrates a common source regarding the life of Christ as handed down by the Apostles.

The Gospels were stories of Christ that were collected from eye witness accounts or contain parts written directly as witnessed by the observer.  Historical authorship traditionally is applied to the namesakes of the Gospels themselves, the Apostles John and Matthew and the Disciples Mark and Luke.   Some contend that these historic figures only are of the name of the book and not the actual author or redactor.  Others contend that the eye witnesses themselves wrote the book.  Hence in John and Matthew, we see apostles who witnessed the life of Christ.  While Mark and Luke would have depended more on eye witness accounts as well as other source materials.

Despite only having only Four Gospels, the Church existed within the first three centuries under persecution and it would not be until the Fourth Century that it was able to canonize the books as inspired.  Many other books were classified as uninspired and left out of the canon.  Such books as the Gospel of Thomas or the Infancy Narratives were considered non canonical.   Some other books were considered heretical while others were considered pious but not inspired.

Hence the Church canonized the New Testament and accepted only the four we see today.  The first three are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels, while the Gospel of John stands on its own as a unique Gospel that has a higher Christological value.  While all the Gospels show Christ is both God and Man, the Gospel of John emphasizes the Divinity of Christ at a higher level.  This differences in emphasis is important to the whole story of Christ.

The Gospels were written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was a divine and human endeavor that worked side by side in giving us the life of Christ.  Textual criticism and authorship debates should not be seen as a way to lessen the Divine Source of  Scripture but to understand the human element and how it was constructed and compiled under the guidance of the Holy Spirit

 

The Synoptic Gospels while sharing similarities, nonetheless also differ in audience.   Matthew’s audience is more towards the Jewish population.  Matthew wished to show how Jesus was a good Jew and came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, while Luke engages more with the Greek world, showing that Christ has also come to save  all of humanity, not just the Jewish people.  If these namesakes of these Gospels are indeed the historical individuals, then Matthew would have an indepth knowledge of Christ as well as the Jewish law.   Luke who writes much on the infancy of Christ, according to tradition, also knew the Virgin Mary well and is said to have written the first icon of the Mother of God.  This would tie to the indepth amount of the infancy stories found in Luke.

Regardless, the Gospels are written and inspired and share their namesakes actual hand or spirit.  The accounts compliment and supplement each other.  Where others look to find contradictions or minor variations, the Church sees the many stories of Christ and their diversity shared in the Gospels.  In fact, as John points out, not even all the books of the world could contain the many stories of Christ.  The Church is grateful to possess four accurate accounts that supplement different audiences but share the same inspired story of Christ, God and Man, and also Redeemer for all audiences.

While various criticisms exist for Scripture, they should not be seen as critiques but instead research into the history, literary aim, and textual development to better understand the individual book.  These are important tools that if used reverently can be used to help us better appreciate the Word of God and message of salvation.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals

 

The stories and accounts are reliable because one can see the full story of Christ find form.  While only in oral form for the longest time, they found parchment and permanency through the Holy Spirit and His divinely inspired writers.  These same witnesses would later forfeit their lives for the stories found in to cement their authenticity with their own blood.

This is why we believe and this is why we share the Four Gospels.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

 

 

Please also review these other sources

“The Synoptic Gospel Parallels”, please click here

“Christology in John’s Gospel”, please click here

“Textual Criticism: What it is and Why you need it”, please click here

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Counseling Certification Article on Ignatian Spirituality and Loss

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Ignatian spirituality is an excellent way of experiencing God and prayer in one’s daily life.  In essence it is very intellectual and Christo-centric.  Christ is the center of all and service is essential to the church and community.  Meditation within the tradition is also Christo-centric and focuses on visualization on the life of Christ.  This focus on Christ helps many through various therapies, especially in grief.  The steps within Ignatian review of conscience can be important in helping individuals analyze their life itself

Ignatian spirituality makes one look deeper at self. It can help with various cognitive therapies through this exercise. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

The article, “How Ignatian spirituality enhanced my cognitive behavioral therapy” by Sue Do looks closer at the cognitive benefits of Ignatian spirituality and meditation on recovering from loss and grief.  The article states,

“In the five steps of the Examen prayer of St. Ignatius, I found the “reviewing of my day” to be a crucial part of my resilience and recovery. Facing my struggles and talking about it to God through journaling is similar to confronting my distorted thoughts in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. Positive affirmations are similar to the awareness of one’s needs and asking for graces in Ignatian spirituality.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Ignatian spirituality is a very disciplined and precise spirituality that looks to find Christ but also helps to better oneself in deeper analyzation to find weakness within the soul.  His exercises and meditation all help lead to a stronger Christian life

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Christian Counselor.

 

Christian Counseling Certification Article on Jesus Christ: Glorify Him

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Jesus is the central aspect of life.  He plays such a key role because without Him there is no redemption.  Christ the New Adam took upon sin and undid the curse of Adam through His sacrifice on the cross.   Hence in everything, Christ is present.  Christ makes all new.

Jesus Christ is an amazing miracle within Himself.  He is the Word made Flesh as stated in the Gospel of John and that alone warrants adoration and worship yet many do not understand the true inner workings of Christ and can become confused.

Jesus is both God and Man, perfectly unified in person. He deserves to be glorified

 

First and foremost, it is important to emphasize the importance of Jesus Christ.  The Fall of Adam sent the temporal world spiraling out of control into spiritual darkness.  Reparation needed made due Adam’s sin but no sacrifice was pure enough.  A sacrifice that possessed both perfect priest and perfect victim were needed to be given to God.

Christ offered Himself as that sacrifice by merely being born, but permitted Himself to remain obedient even to death to fulfill the necessity of sacrifice.  The Last Supper would have sufficed as the Perfect Sacrifice but the evil of humanity sought His life in a bloody sacrifice.  Christ did not demand His own end but accepted the will of the Father and hence as history showed, He was crucified.

However, to be a perfect priest and sacrifice Christ had to be both God and man.  He had to be perfectly both.  From a Divine standpoint, His essence as the Word, was divine and eternal while from a human standpoint, He was created and not eternal.

His Body was perfectly human.  The Divine Word did not create a shell to inhabit, or create the illusion of being human, but literally shared and occupied a Body with Jesus.  The Divine Word did not overtake or possess but became one with the human soul and body.  This hypostatic union was made possible by Mary saying yes to God’s will.

When looking at this miracle, Christ was both God and man, completely and fully, two natures but perfectly fused as one person.  Hence Christ’s humanity while created, became interconnected with the Word in such a way that Christ the Person was completely God.  One element was eternal, while another was finite, but together in union, represented one person and one God.

Due to this, we worship Jesus as a person.  We do not reserve worship only for His divine element but His entirety.

Because of Christ’s entirety of both God and man, He could then properly represent humanity as High Priest and as Divine offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice to the Father.  This is why it is so critically important that we understand that Christ is both fully human and fully God but yet one person.

This supernatural mystery of the Incarnation and Hypostatic Union show the great love Christ has for humanity and His central role in the redemption plan.  This love was so perfect that many even contend, the incarnation was impossible to prevent even if Adam had remained faithful.  Through Christ’s humanity, the Logos can touch us in different ways than just as a pure spirit and Deity.  As a human, He can love us in every possible way.

Jesus became human not only to redeem us but also to love us at the most human level

 

So many heresies have confused these concepts, either dismissing His divinity (Arius) or reducing His humanity (gnostics) or misunderstanding how His natures interacted (Nestorianism and Monophysitism).   These heresies miss the importance of God’s perfect love for us as well as the Christ’s role as the New Adam.

So we can confidently declare that Christ is Divine for the “Word Became Flesh”.  He is the Alpah Omega as declared in Revelations and He was eternal before, as He stated, than even Abraham.  We can also confidently declare Christ is human for He was indeed born in a manager, and was indeed crucified.

The Incarnation and Redemption saw the birth and death of a man and the resurrection of a God. For this reason, we glorify Christ and bend our knee.  Christ is our King, Priest, Redeemer, but also our Friend and most Beloved.

If you would like to learn more about Jesus Christ, one should read the Gospels, as well as study Christology.  This will enrich one’s understanding but also one’s love of Christ.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

 

Related Links

Please review  Jesus both God and Man article–Please click here

Also please review article on nature of Christ–Please click here

Also please view article on Jesus–Please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s video on the Word Made Flesh–Please click here

Finally, also review article on Jesus–Please click here 

 

Christian Counseling Certification Article on Spiritual Depression

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Individuals can be spiritually depressed.  They can hope and become unhappy with their faith.  They can also feel desolations in their prayer life where they feel abandoned.  How one bounces back in their spiritual life during this episodes is key.  Spiritual Counselors and mentors can help individuals rediscover the presence of God in their life.

If in a spiritual depression, sometimes praying harder despite the emotional comfort is key. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program

 

The article, “Understanding Spiritual Depression” from Healthline looks closer at spiritual depressions.  The article states,

“If you’re experiencing spiritual depression, your religious leader might encourage a similar remedy: prayer or seeking Christ. Yet, many of the symptoms associated with spiritual depression can also suggest a depressive disorder, which may not improve without support from a mental health professional.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Spiritual depression can be deeper rooted and may require professional mental help, but in many cases, one requires spiritual guidance through the spiritual desert of the world.  Please also review AIHCP’s Spiritual Counseling Program as well as AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program.  Both programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification

Christian Spiritual Counseling Certification Article on St Ignatius and Discernment

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Discernment is an important process in every Christian’s life.  This is the case not only in calls to vocation but also decisions that affect daily life.  Understanding good and evil and properly diagnosing proper choices in life help the Christian navigate the troubled waters of temporal existence.

Discernment requires prayer, patience , moral fortitude and wisdom. It involves accepting the will of God and offering your decision to God for blessing. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

Vocation is more than just one’s eventual role in life but also one’s daily duty and position everyday in life.  It is important to continually strive to fulfill one’s daily duty and help others find their role.  Discernment and guidance are key in these choices.  Proper discernment is based in prayer and imitation of Christ in fulfilling God’s will.  However, even with prayer, we can sometimes doubt.  Learning how to discern and dissect moral decisions can be more difficult than it appears.  Sometimes it takes time to finally find God’s will and answer to you.

The article, “WHAT IS IGNATIAN DISCERNMENT?” by Rev. Doug Leonhardt, S.J. looks at how St Ignatius Loyola utilized prayer, meditation and logical thinking based in philosophy and morality to come to discernment conclusions.  The article states,

“Pondering and noticing interior movements of attraction and heaviness are at the heart of Ignatian discernment. Discernment involves prayer and weighing facts and feelings about the several good choices which ultimately leads to a choice about what is the best fit for an individual. In the traditional language of Christianity, good Christians try to find the will of God for their lives. They look for signs but often when no clear signs are given, they make a decision and then ask God to bless it. ”

To read the entire article, please click here

Discernment in choice, path, endeavor and even regarding spirits and people are important parts in Christian spirituality.  It is important to learn how to form a strong Christian moral compass that helps guide one’s conscience.  Through wisdom granted by the Holy Spirit and an offering of all one does to God, one can be more confident that the right choice or feeling will eventually emerge.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.

 

Christian Counseling Training Article on Martin Luther King Jr and Ignatian Spirituality

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The spirituality of great men and women guide them. It allows them to pour out the inner grace God has given them and share it with the world.  St Ignatius Loyola was one such visionary who dived deep within to ultimately pour back out to all.  Martin Luther King Jr shared very similar views as St Ignatius, in how he looked to find Christ in everyone.  Like St Ignatius, he looked to give service to humanity through love of Christ.

Ignation spirituality and Martin Luther King Jr vision of giving to the world are very similar. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Training

 

This ultimately led to a social platform of peace, love and equality.  The same teachings of St Ignatius that was handed down originally from Jesus Christ.

The article, “The Jesuit Spirituality of Martin Luther King Jr.” by Marcia Chatelin looks deeper at the comparisons of both these great men in their love of Christ and search of social justice.  A social justice that is both a hallmark of Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the Jesuit Order.  The article states,

“We are able to return to King’s writings and speeches, and when paired with a review of the Spiritual Exercises, we can sharpen our gaze and our resolve to do justice to these compatible visions. Both provide us inspiration in seemingly opposite models, which are both necessary to identify and repair our fractured world: Ignatius’ mystic experience and King’s most humble revelations of faith; Ignatius’ great emptying of ego while alone and King’s luminous spirit in front of many”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Training and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four certification in Christian Counseling.

Christian Counseling Certification Article on the Heresy of Arianism

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The early Church faced many misconceptions about Jesus Christ.  Some believed Jesus’ body was a shell to the Divine Logos without a human soul.  Others thought Jesus was not true body at all but a phantasm of light.  Still others thought Jesus’ human nature and divine nature were so entangled that neither retained a true liberty from each other and were in fact fused into one mixture.  Others distinguished Jesus’ nature so much that there was no true unity but a loose union of two separate natures.

Arius denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and lessened him to the first creation of the Father. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

One of the earliest though was Arianism which denied the co-eternal nature of the Son with the Father.  This heresy was perpetrated by the hesiarch Arius in the 4th century.  His heresy was condemned at the Council of Nicaea at 325 AD as well again at Constantinople in 381 AD.  Of course proper and orthodox theology teaches that Jesus is one person with two natures in harmony being both fully God via the Second Person and fully human through Jesus of Nazareth.

The article, “What Is Arianism and Are You Accidentally Committing This Heresy?” by Alyssa Roat gives a very detailed account of Arianism and is a good resource for those seeking to understand it better.  She states,

“Many centuries ago, a man named Arius stirred major controversy in the church with his claim: Jesus Christ was created and finite, not of equal divinity with the Father. This became known as the heresy of Arianism. However, repudiation and rejection of his claim did not come easily. Even today, we may find ourselves falling into Arianism.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals in ministry who are seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.

Christian Counseling Training Article on Christianity and the Good Citizen

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christ’s famous words, “give unto Caesar what is for Caesar and give unto God what is for God” was important clarification to Christians on how to be good citizens.  Christ knew His Kingdom was not of this world but He also knew that Christians live in the temporal world.  Under such conditions, certain things must be given to God for spiritual salvation, but there were also duties to give to lawful authority.

The Christian citizen is thus not only brining the joy of the good news to the world, but also existing within society, obeying its laws and contributing not only at a spiritual level but also at a social level.  Christians share their many talents with their community and nation and serve as examples of good moral character while obeying and serving their nation.  Whether it is as mere citizen or political post, a Christian is meant to obey law and represent just cause within society.

What does it mean to be a good Christian citizen? How can one balance duties to the state and the faith? Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Training Program

 

A good Christian citizen while obeying just law and serving as a good civic and moral example also pushes for just and good social reforms through the proper legal and peaceful channels.  The good Christian protects the rights of others, opposes unjust laws that discriminate and impose suffering on others and protect the right of the weak.  Obviously abortion is a key issue here in regards to an unjust law that must be opposed through civic and legal discourse.  Those who take upon public office have a dual duty to both their faith and state.  While they cannot allow religious based ideals to overwhelm those who believe differently, Christian political leaders must adhere to the moral natural law in all legislation.   Those who break from those fundamental truths that bind all humanity, for the sake of secular glorification, fail both their duties as a statesperson and Christian.  Again this is why all Christian political leaders MUST oppose abortion legislation and denounce it for the evil it is.

A Christian hence is called to represent Christ in the nation and promote social morality.  This is done through voting according to conscience based on Christian ideals and also by supporting and promoting social justice to all.  While Christians may disagree with current social laws, they promote change to truth through peaceful measures that reflect the example of Christ.  Christian citizens also stand up against anti religious laws that look to remove reference of God to society.  The constant attack of atheism is found in society and this atheism looks to remove the freedoms and expressions of God in the public square.  The Christian citizen is called to peacefully battle this insult to God.

A good Christian citizen will also avoid extremism and nationalism.  Christian citizens will promote love of country and patriotism, but they will not support nationalistic values that place value over others of different race or creed.  In a pluralistic society, Christians while promoting the teachings of Christ, nonetheless, respect the values and opinions of others.  They do not look to force the teachings of Christ on others, but look to gently teach by word and example.

A Christian citizen however never places civic duty over the duty to God.  When the state over steps its boundaries, like Christians who endured death centuries before and in communist nations today, the Christian citizen stands up for religious freedom and the teachings of Christ at the expense of even one’s own life.  This is an unfortunate reality for many nations under communist control who denounce religious freedom and expression of one’s own personal worship.  In these cases, the Christian is called to duty to God first and overthrow of the evil government.

There should never be a conflict between being a good citizen and a good Christian in a democracy and just republic.  When balance is given to both, Christianity can flourish and add to the value of the secular state by producing good citizens that respect law and the social needs of others.

Love of nation is never a bad thing.  In fact, it is a prerequisite of any good person.  It places the love of neighbor over oneself which is a central teaching of the faith.  Christian citizens hence are always willing to sacrifice for their home and fellow citizen.

If you would like to learn more about Christian Counseling or would like to become a certified Christian Counselor, then please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and designed for qualified professional seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.