Christian Spiritual Counseling

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Spiritual Renewal Before the Bread of Presence and Also Become Certified in Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Those to Peace Via the Bread of Presence

The prayer of the quiet as taught by St. Teresa encourages us to find a place of solitude and silence to meditate upon God.  In some cases, this spiritual “retreat” is a perfect time to escape the world, heal old wounds, and become strengthened.  Christian Counselors should encourage those who are suffering mentally to find this solitude before the presence of the Holy Eucharist.  In Exodus 25:30, this is called the Bread of Presence.  Later through Christ’s institution of the Eucharist, the ideal of the Bread of Presence became literally the Body of and Blood of Christ as he resides in churches across the world.
This humble act of Christ to allow himself to become contained under the physical appearance of bread is a great gift and source of strength for us.   Just not to consume but to sit before in awe and wonder.  Consider giving our Lord an hour, as he asked of his apostles, in meditative thought before the Eucharist.  Allow it to saturate your being with grace and love.
This spiritual renewal and healing can be yours as was prophesied in the Book of Exodus and later instituted by Christ.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program. By completing the core Christian Counseling Courses, one can become certified in Christian Counseling.   Those who become certified in Christian Counseling must renew every three years.

Mark Moran, MA

Education in Christian Counseling: Protecting Your Child From the Dangers of the Internet

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Education in Christian Counseling: Christian Parenting and the Internet

So on your “Good Christian Parental Checklist”, you can successfully declare before the Lord that you send your child to Church every Sunday, taught him his prayers, send him to a good Christian school and represent yourself as a good example.  You have created a stable home with Christian values and have attempted to fortify your child with the necessary Christian morals to ward off Satan, yet something is amiss despite your Christian Parenting.  Your child still occasional spurs out a dirty word and knows things he should not know about sex.  He exhibits behaviors that he has not learned at home nor supposedly from school.  Who is the culprit?
The answer more than likely is the internet.  Unlike the television which can be easily monitored, the internet creates the illusion that the child is only doing research, homework or playing an approved game.  The reality is the internet is a door to anything immoral, disgraceful and sinful.  While its benefits have been utilized by the Church, its misuse by unknowing children can lead them into a world of pornography or sexual predators.
Hence, your checklist needs to be updated for the 21st Century.  While we cannot completely filter what enters our childrens’ minds, we can protect them from numerous online images.  The first step is teaching your child how wrong these images are.  While curiosity still can overcome the child, at least through instruction, we know they have a feeling of what is right or what is wrong.  Secondly, we need to filter our internet server, blocking certain sites and closing up anything that could lead a child into pornographic areas.  Pop up control can also be essential.  Many times when we download things, pop ups can emerge for sexual advertisements.  Finally, we need to supervise.  Do not let your child disappear for hours on end without periodically checking on him to see what he is “surfing”–and please, sometimes its best to let them go outside and play!
With the invention of everything that is good, Satan hopes to corrupt and spoil it.  Much like corrupted humanity and dragged it down with him, he also corrupts anything that is good.  Today, the internet is a huge problem for keeping our children pure and is a direct window to Hell—if you let it be.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program.

Mark Moran, MA

Extraordinary and Saintly Love in the Desert of Sinai and Training in Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Training in Christian Counseling: Holy Nun of the Sinai Encompasses Christian Compassion

Obeying Christ’s command to see him in all, Sister Aziza fulfills Christ’s promise and fulfills Christian Compassion.  This saintly nun’s burning love for Christ goes out to the least of her brethren, especially runaway migrants from human trafficking gangs that plague the Desert of Sinai.

It with such admiration, that all Christians should imitate Sister Aziza in caring for those who have no where else to hide from unjust persecution.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please click here and review the program.  Our training in Christian Counseling includes core Christian Counseling courses that are required for certification in Christian Counseling.

Mark Moran, MA

Certified Christian Counselors: Champions of the Children Against Abuse

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Certified Christian Counselors and Reporting Abuse Within the Church

As cowards hide within the inner sanctuaries of the church to prey upon the innocents, we can see the plans of Satan to destroy the Church.  However, the words of Christ echo that the “gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”.  While these agents of Satan corrupt the hierarchical aspect of the Church, it is the role of the laity to help reform this branch of the Church Militant on Earth.   Certified Christian Counselors can play a special role as a mediator between clergy and laity in helping ministers, priests and also victims of sexual abuse.

Conflicted Emotions

Many times conflicted emotions can arise over the scandal that has struck the Church.  On one hand, many have been taught to trust and love the Church and have seen it as a holy Mother, while on the other hand, one is completely disgusted and distraught how the shepherds fed their little lambs to the wolves.  Yet, one should never feel conflict towards an institution when it contradicts the needs of humanity.  One should never feel conflict when wolves in sheeps’ clothing need to be removed from the fold.  And one should never feel conflict when innocence and trust is grossly destroyed.
Does this mean one should turn on the clergy?  Does this mean the holy priesthood and ministries of pastors are to be totally thrown away?  Do not think for a moment that as a physical and earthly institution that the church cannot be corrupted.  While it is preserved by the Holy Spirit in matters of faith and morals, the weaknesses of the Church are found in its broken members.  On earth the Church militant is open to sin.  The institution itself, while divinely inspired, nevertheless is made of sinners for the conversion of sinners.  Only within the Church Triumphant, or heavenly court, where the Mystical of Body of Christ lives in glory, is it free from corruption or the stain of Satan.  With this understood, we cannot dismiss the role of clergy or their important role in the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth.  However, we are called to root out the agents of Satan that hide in it.
One must realize that the earthly institution of the Church with its organization is merely a temporary mission in a heathen world.  It pales in compassion to the basilicas of heaven.  As pilgrims in an unholy land, we must understand that the Church was founded by Christ to baptize and feed our souls.  The institution, however, is not the complete church, but one aspect of it.   The Church in its entirety, at least on Earth, is comprised of all clergy and laity.  In this regard, when one considers loyalty to the Church, do not see the organization, but the Mystical Body of Christ and one’s faith in Christ.  One is not to defend the Church, but one is to defend one’s faith.  One is not to bend their knee before clergy, but only to Christ.  While many of the clergy may have become corrupt, or have hidden perverted monsters within their fold,  one cannot become like atheists or haters of the faith but become like Christian soldiers!  St. Catherine of Siena understood this.  While not priest or bishop, the Holy Spirit guided her to Avignon to admonish the Pope for leaving Rome.  And indeed the Pope did return to Rome!  One must remember that the laity represents the “church” as much as the clergy.  So to understand the church as merely men in funny hats is incomplete.  The Church is much more than that and the evil actions of politician priests and perverted men should not be seen as the Church.

Hence as Christians, we should not feel conflicted or betrayed by the true essence of the Church but by the current corrupt regime in the institution.  While the double piercing of our hearts bleed from the pain of the children and the disgrace of the priesthood, we must first protect the children.  In our protection, we must not seek to destroy the church but reform it.  We must realize that the Church is a tool to our salvation, not our salvation.  Only Christ is that.  Realize that Christ himself denounced the Pharisees of his day and would do no less in his condemnation of the putrid actions performed by his priests and ministers who supposedly represent him in the modern world.
There should be no conflict within a believer between punishing evil men of the  Church and one’s obligation to protect children.  The Church metaphysically is spotless, but evil men are not. As Christians, we should without limit, pursue and destroy their presence in the Church giving these roaches no place for shelter and exposing them for what they are.  For did not Christ say to those that harm his little ones that it would be better that they never been born or have a mill stone tied around their neck and to be cast into the sea?  Harsh words from our Lord, but words that show his conviction against the satanic agents that corrupt innocence.

The Christian Counselor and Reporting

With these ideas discussed and a proper understanding of what the Church is and what is not, how does the Christian Counselor emerge as a reporter in these cases.   First, the person who relays this information to you will undoubtedly feel conflicted.  The priest or minister seems like a beacon of holiness and above reproach.  The victim will feel like no one will believe him.  It is important to open  your arms to them and believe them.  If no one believes them they will fall into a deep pit of despair..  It is important to accept their cross and carry it as your own.  Second, do not be surprised if men in power use that  power for manipulation.  For most molesters, it is about power over the victim.  A priest or minister can use that power to dehumanize the victim.  They can make the victim feel like the molestation was the victim’s fault and that the victim is dirty.  Third, they can terrorize the victim with threats.  Such threats can include curses, or promises of Hell if they speak about the molestation to anyone else.
Once these things are told, it is the Christian Counselor’s duty to report this to the authorities.  Many dioceses or church structures suggest reporting to them.  They take the report, assign it to a committee and notify the authorities.  They then suspend the priest or minister while the investigation takes place.  I suggest notifying the authorities on your own, and then if you feel obliged, to notify the particular church government.  If it is small non-denominational community, then one only has the civil authorities to turn to.  Due to the Catholic Church’s lack of good faith the past Fifty years or so, despite promises of reform, I would not trust their inner workings and notify the civil authorities first.
This does not mean that certain bishops are not good men who will do what is right and punish these evil men.  It does mean though that past administrations may have secrets and corruption that no one wants exposed or seen by civil authorities.  These politician bishops will have much to answer to Christ but unfortunately we can no longer trust the institution of the Church and its clergy when it comes to temporal and civil matters.

What Afterwards for the Child?

After reporting, continued counseling will be required for the child, however, in some cases if Traumatic Grief or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome persist then a Christian Counselor should work in union with an LPC.  The child will have to become numb to the images that flood his or her head and aided in facing the horror of molestation.  Years of therapy are sometimes needed that remove guilt, shame, anxiety and premature sexual awareness.

As a Christian Counselor, with permission from parents, it may be wise to instruct the child about the beauty of sex and how it is God’s gift.  One needs to repair the sexual image that was corrupted by the molester and Satan.  This perversion of something beautiful could haunt the child his whole life and create  pathological issues regarding their future sexual life.  Hence there is an extreme importance in teaching the child a Christian understanding of sex and how God intended it to be used as a beautiful gift.
Ultimately, the child should be made to feel guilt free and able to face his or her fears.  One needs to take the past and all its pain and incorporate it into a healthy present.  We, as counselors, cannot erase what happened, but we can help the victim understand and grow from it.  In this way, a healthy adaptation can be produced within the person.  The scars will remain, but a healing and new found strength will also manifest.
If I may close an example from nature.  I bought a Eastern Red Bud Tree for my front yard.  It was a young tree with a thin trunk that was as wide as its only two branches.  A strong wind came one day and knocked it down.  It could never stand straight again.  With no hope in sight, I attempted to prune it down but it accidentally snapped.  All that remained was a stick in the ground about six inches high, split down the middle.  Before the end of that Summer, the tree started to regrow branches from the barren and thought to be dead trunk.  I was amazed and gently tied and fused together the trunk’s split.  The next year it grew new branches.  Finally after another Summer of growth, it hovered over fifteen feet high.  Recently this Spring, it actually bloomed for the first time and in the later months of this Summer has grown over Twenty Feet.  Yet the scar at its base is still there as a reminder to me of what happened to it.  This extraordinary revival of a tree is but a small ability when compared to the human soul that is infused by grace and cared for by its heavenly Father.  Allow yourself as a  certified Christian Counselor to become one of the Lord’s tools in regrowing these young souls so that they again bloom a spiritual flower of innocence.

Mark Moran, MA

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and Learn How to Become a Christian Counselor

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

We Must Have One Cross With Christ

 

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is on September 14th.  This great feast commerates the rediscovery of the Holy cross by St. Helen, mother of Constantine, in the Fourth Century.  Stories retold tell of the miraculous nature of the cross when it was discovered.  Of the three crosses that were uncovered, only the third cross miraculously cured the sick in Jerusalem.  With such certitude, the cross was exalted and eventually found its way to Rome as one of Christendom’s most precious relics.

The Cross and Us

The cross of Christ became the instrument and means to Christ’s death.  Through that death, came life and this symbol of death became also a symbol of life.  As Christians, St. Paul tells us that we are crucified with Christ but will also rise with Christ.  How are we crucified?  We are crucified by accepting our own crosses in life and uniting them with the suffering of Christ.  In this way, our wills conform to Christ, and our crosses become one.

It is also extremely important to realize that while the Jews and Romans were the physical means of Christ’s death, it was actually our sins that bore the weight of the cross on Christ.  In this way our own sins became tied to this crude piece of wood in a deeper metaphysical way than one can ever imagine.  The weight of the cross bore the offense of every sin past, present and future.  Yet our Lord endured its weight for the salvation of our souls.
Like Simon of Cyrene, will we help our Lord carry the cross?  Like John and the Holy Women, will we follow Christ to Calvary?  Like Christ’s holy mother, will we spiritually die with Christ?
We must answer yes to all these questions.  We must accept our crosses, unite them with Christ and carry them to our own Calvary.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program.  If you would like to learn how to become a Christian Counselor, then please also review the program.  There is information that can show you how to learn how to become a Christian Counselor.

Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counseling Certification: Discipleship Video

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Certification: Are You A True Disciple?

If you are a true disciple of Christ, then Christ is not just Sunday conversation but a reality in your interior and meditative life.  Furthermore, you seek Christ in everyone and spread his message to everyone.  The video below shows the true nature of discipleship.  Please click on it and share.
httpv://youtu.be/oJWkQ9UP_m8

If you are interested in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, please review the program and click here.
The Christian Counseling courses in this program help qualified professionals become certified as Christian Counselors at AIHCP
AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification is an excellent program to help certified Christian Counselors achieve recognition in their practice.
The Christian Counseling Certification program consists of core courses.  After completing these courses one can become certified.  Recertification in the Christian Counseling Certification program takes place after three years.

AIHCP

Program In Christian Counseling: Spiritual Flowers From Heaven

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counselors Must Understand the Interior Graces of the Soul and How to Discern Them

In previous blogs within our program in Christian Counseling,  we have discussed Mystical Union as described by St. Teresa of Avila.  Mystical Union is the pinnacle of temporal achievement on this earth.  I say achievement only in the sense of what one should strive for in this temporal realm because ultimately Mystical Union is a gift and cannot be earned.  Prior to Mystical Union exists a variety of spiritual graces and gifts that are given to the soul as it progresses towards this union with God.  Unfortunately, many of these gifts at times are hard to discern because of our own fallen nature.  Hence, the interior life of the soul and its many engagements with God can be a confusing to someone without guidance.    and those enrolled in a program in Christian Counseling need to be aware of the interior life of the soul and the many flowers that our Lord can send to the faithful from heaven.

What are Locutions

Locutions are visions from heaven.  Christian Counselors may experience themselves or counsel others who have received them.  The early stages of discernment can be very difficult because the evil one can appear as an angel of light.  Hence great care and prayer must be undertaken when analyzing such visions.  Furthermore, some people are subject to states of dementia and may need psychological help.  St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross all give detailed accounts on these types of visions.  Another excellent source is Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange’s classic, “The Three Ages of the Interior Life“.

Assuming the locutions are from God, we will continue in the types of locutions which God can graciously give his children.  The first type is a corporal vision in which our senses indeed partake in the vision.  These are found throughout Scripture and in the life of the saints.  Sometimes, one only hears the supernatural words transferred by the angels.  St. Luke records this in his Gospel when the angel spoke to Zachary.
Different from corporal visions are imaginary visions and words.  These graces from God are felt by the spiritual faculties of our soul alone.  They can happen when one is awake or asleep or in meditation.  While physically unheard, they remain perfectly distinct and stem not from our own will or imagination but from an external source.  They are also engraved upon the soul and can be recollected through meditation and prayer.  If someone is experiencing Imaginary words, it is good for Christian Counselors to judge the fruits of the words and how the words effect the peace of the soul.  If from God, only good fruits and peace will follow, while if from Satan, only evil fruits and distress.

A third type of locution or blessing from God is Intellectual words.  These words are communicated in the interior of the soul.   Many of these ideas are infused upon the soul and become graven into it.  According to St. John of the Cross, there are three types of intellectual words.  The first is Successive intellectual words.  These words come during recollection and are from the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, the person can at times deviate from the divine source and begin to subconsciously insert his own ideas or become manipulated by the devil.  St. John of the Cross assures us if successive words come from God then they will only produce in the soul good fruits such as charity and humility.  However, due to the confusing nature, he recommends that people do not pray for them.  The second type of intellectual word is Formal intellectual words.  They are referred to as formal because the soul knows they stem not from its own faculties but from another external source.  These experiences are so fast and quick they are free from illusion since understanding cannot determine where they came from.  However, while the initial spark illuminates the soul, the devil can distort the true meaning within the imagination of the person.  For these reasons, St. John of the Cross recommends that we only take what is sure and the rest hold within until outside counsel guides us.

The most secure form of intellectual words are Substantial intellectual words.  These words change the soul.  St. John of the Cross uses various examples of a soul becoming good at the command of the Lord, or being filled with love in another command.  In the Old Testament, he uses Abraham as an example when the Lord told Abraham to walk before him and be perfect.

God Can Also Shower Us With Divine Touch

A divine touch is a favor that usually accompanies divine contemplation.  It sparks in the soul a deep spiritual arousal of love and charity for God or neighbor.  Some can be so deep that they can imprint themselves upon the soul.   St. John of the Cross cautions one not to seek these sweet favors but to be passively accept them in humility for them.  If one seeks them, then they can fall victim to the traps of the evil one.  Essentially these divine sparks from God are unique to each person and meant for a person’s personal sanctification.
These favors from God however should not be confused with true Mystical Union.  Mystical Union is a state of prolonged contemplation and union while these spiritual favors from heaven are mere instances of God’s grace and love towards us.  Ultimately and most importantly one must understand that these are favors that God grants according to his will and not our own.  They cannot be earned or mystically attained via meditation.  Meditation merely prepares the soul for the possibility of such spiritual encounters that are solely willed by the Father.
If you are interested in learning more about Christian theology or Christian counseling, please review the program in Christian Counseling.  After completion of the program in Christian Counseling, one can apply for certification.

Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counseling Training Program: Do We Hoard Our Talents?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and the Parable of the Talents

Christ in Matt: 22:1-14 spoke of the parable of “Talents”.  This parable is unique for Christian Counseling sessions because it involves the utilization of one’s particular talents to the Christian community.  As a Christian counselor one can help others share their unique charisms as well as utilizing their own charism of counseling.
In the parable, Christ speaks of a master who gave his three servants each a coin to hold and guard.  The first servant increased his value fivefold and the next tenfold but the last servant hoarded the coin to himself and obtained no greater value.  The master rewarded the first two servants, but condemned the last servant.
The obvious implication is that God gives everyone particular talents.  Christian Counselors are given the charisms of wisdom, knowledge, understand and counsel, while others may possess the gifts of healing or prophesy.  Still some may merely possess physical talents that are used in the service of God such as art, music or manual labor.
In returning to the ideals of St. Teresa of Avila, one must understand that all gifts come from God.  In true humility, one must deflect praise of particular skills back to God.  Since these gifts are on “loan” from God it is our duty to share them and use them to help grow the Christian Church.
The last servant in this parable did not use his talents for the growth of the Church but hoarded his particular talent to himself.  This selfish act led to his condemnation.
As Christians, do we see ourselves not giving our talents to God?  Are we fully giving everything we have to know, love and serve the Lord?  What particular talent do you possess but have not used for the service of the Church?  Perhaps it is time to  increase the value of your “coin” tenfold before the master returns.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program. Our Christian Counseling Training Program is for qualified professionals who wish to help others from a Christian perspective.

Mark Moran, MA

Sunday Worship: An Option?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling: The Parable of the Great Feast and Us

Christ spoke of a great feast.  Many were invited to this feast but no-one came.  In response, the host told his servants to invite others along the wayside to come and partake of the feast he had prepared.  Some were good while others were evil.  The good were properly dressed in wedding garments, while the evil arrived in rags.  These evil ones were cast away while the good partook in the feast.  What can be gained from a Christian Counseling perspective from this parable found in Matthew 22:1-14?
This parable correlates with Sunday Service, Mass or Liturgy.  The feast is the celebration of the Eucharist where Christ calls upon many to come but very few attend.  While the original Jewish community rejected Christ, the Gentile population embraced him.  These new guests represent the new Church.  However there within the Church exists many who are spiritually distorted from the will of Christ.  These souls are dressed in “rags” and while attending the feast are unworthy of its graces.  Those of the Christian community who have a sincere love of Christ are the souls dressed in fine wedding garments.
This translation of the parable leads Christians to much spiritual thought.  First, how ignorant it is to deny the invitation of Sunday worship which is a taste of eternal life in heaven.  Second, how spiritually prepared are people for reception of the Eucharist?  Do we enter into church with indifference and various spiritual maladies or do we enter into church with devout love for Christ?
Christian Counselors must emphasize to their spiritual children the importance of weekly church Service, Mass or Liturgy.  This is food for the soul.  Our Lord asks very little of his people.  At the bare minimum he asks for one hour out of an entire week and sixty-two hours out of a year.  This adds up to roughly two in a half days out of three hundred and sixty five days of the year!
The secular mind places such importance upon sporting events and concerts.  It is a horrible misfortune for the materialistic mind to miss kick off or to not arrive early for the best seats at a concert.  Yet Sunday worship is reduced to a mere footnote and a family custom that is more of a bother than a blessing.  Even worst, some consider it merely an option.  This is just not among materialists but also so-called Christians who pick and choose the days of worship that fit them best.  Some even proclaim a false doctrine that they can worship God from their home and that organized worship is not part of the third commandment in keeping holy the Sabbath.
Yet despite all the reasoning and excuses, true Christians recognize the invitation to the feast as a call from Christ to attend weekly worship with a sincere and loving heart.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program.

Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counseling Online Program: Christ’s Human Nature: A Counseling Paradigm for All Spiritual Maladies

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Should Utilize Christological Principles

Christ’s human nature is a divine mystery tied to the Hypostatic Union or as stated in Scripture when “the Word became Flesh”.  This miraculous fusion of natures gives much for meditation and thought but also serves as an excellent paradigm for Christian Counseling.  Through it, Christ becomes the ultimate example for any spiritual malady men may face.  His example consists in his victory over any temptation.

The Importance of the Hypostatic Union

The mystery of the Hypostatic Union transcends all human reasoning.  Our reason must acquiescence to faith and our spiritual eyes must see what our physical eyes can never understand.  This is not illogical by rational beings to suspend such rationale to such a unique mystery but on the contrary is logical to restrain our intellectual hubris.  In doing so we are able to accept the mysteries of the infinite and their innate superiority over our finite limitations.  With this, one must accept as an article of faith this mystery and the reality and importance of the Hypostatic Union.
There are three elements that the Logos hoped to give mankind through his incarnation.  The first two deal with theological issues and the final element deals with counseling.  First, the necessity of a God-man became apparent after the fall of Adam.  A infinite debt was required to be repaid via a finite source.  The offending finite party needed a representative; a high priest, yet the offending party could not pay this reparation.  Due to this, an infinite source, the Logos, became flesh and fused his nature with a human nature in order to offer and be offered as the perfect sacrifice.
Second, the union provided a relational correspondence between God and man that previously could not exist with an immutable being.  Through the Incarnation, the Logos via his human nature became relational and open to change within this miraculous union of divine and human.  The love between God and man could now experience a new level of intimacy that involved emotion and a unique brotherhood.

The Church Proclaims

Before we enter into the counseling benefits and their application of the Incarnation or Hypostatic Union, let us review what the Church proclaims regarding Christ.  The Christian Church teaches that Christ is both divine and human but one person.  In the early church, many would attempt to unify natures or divide natures within the personhood of Jesus Christ.  In those instances, various councils triumphantly silenced the Christological heresies.  Nicaea in 325 proclaimed Christ, the Logos, as co-eternal and consubstantial with the Father.  Ephesus in 433 declared Mary as not mother of Christ’s human nature but the actual ‘Theotokos” or Mother of God.  This proclamation prevented the division of Christ’s natures and recognized his unique and single personhood.  Chalcedon in 450 reinforced the polar opposite.  Those of wrong opinion suggested that Christ consisted of one nature instead of two natures–hence creating a mixed nature that was neither fully divine or human.  Finally, in 481, the Council of Constantinople pointed out that Christ did indeed have two natures as well as two wills.  The heretical opinion hoped to suggest that Christ while possessing two natures, only had the will of the Logos and not the soul of a man.  In this teaching, it was affirmed that Christ had a created human soul that was unified with the Logos in the Hypostatic Union.  In this way, Christ’s full human integrity was protected from heretical interpretation–for Scripture teaches that Christ was like us in everything but sin.

Christian Counseling Application

Applying the beauty of the Hypostatic Union to Christian Counseling is an important way for people to see Christ as a true paradigm.  Christ’s human nature, the new Adam, is a beacon of light in the storm of the temporal reality.  It illuminates all men in how a human being is to react to temptation in this world.  Christ’s human nature, untainted by Original Sin, still nevertheless faced temptation.  One can see this during the Forty Days in the Desert and the intense Agony of the Garden.  In the desert,  Lucifer attempted to turn the soul of our Lord.  He promised him power and other luxuries if he would simply forsake the Father and worship him.
Do not think that such wonderful things did not tempt our Lord.  Have we not wanted fine things in this life when spiritual things should have been first?  Our Lord, as a man, desired wonderful things but his will was in such perfect union with his divine side and that of the Father that he would never separate the path laid before him.  Yes he is perfectly God, but in his perfect humanness he felt true temptation.  His body was not a mere shell or a phantasm as the early gnostics would contend, but was true flesh.  However, unlike Adam, Christ’s will would not be bent by the whiles of the world or the seductions of the serpent.  Instead, Christ would teach humankind how to hold true to the will of the Father.  In this, one truly can marvel at Christ.  He is not a mere demi-god who feels no pain or temptaiton but instead voluntarily submits himself to these things.  In this Christ as a person, both divine and human, does not preach from a lofty throne in heaven but instead teaches us through his own example; an example that led to submission of his own will even unto a painful death that he accepted with the sweat of blood.

So as we walk our journey and attempt to conform our wills to that of our Master, Jesus Christ, can we see ourselves binding our will to the Father as Christ’s human soul did?  When we are tortured by our passions regarding sex, desire, fame, disobedience, sloth or any other vice, we need to only realize that these same internal wishes were presented to our Lord and as a man he conquered them.
Praise be to Jesus Christ, two natures, two wills, but ONE PERSON–Our God.
Please utilize these Christological principles in your own Christian Counseling.
The Christian Counseling Online Program at AIHCP offers courses for Christian Counselors and other qualified professionals.  The Christian Counseling Online Program consists of a variety of courses that after completion lead to certification.

Mark Moran, MA