Christian Counseling Program: The Glory of the Body Should not be Under-emphasized

In Christian circles, theology obviously stresses the importance of the soul and its everlasting attributes that are beyond mere matter.  Sin, vice and temptation that attacks our senses should be avoided at all costs.  This world or this flesh is not worth the cost of everlasting paradise.   The story of Faustus reinforces this ideal that worldly gains are not worth the sacrifice of one’s soul.

This has created a distortion on the value of the “Body” and its importance.  Does not Scripture refer to it as a “temple of the Holy Spirit’?   Unlike Neo-Platonic and Eastern philosophies that reduce the body to a mere shell, Christianity has echoed the importance of the Body in its teachings, most notably in the General Resurrection where the body will rejoin the soul.

So why the distortion, why do some value the soul above the body, if both in reality are important  and equal elements of our human nature?  The answer is not so much about the innate value that both equally possess in our dual nature of both spirit and matter, but due to humanity’s current state.

The current temporality of existence has imposed upon humanity a decree of death via sin.  The body will fade, the soul will struggle with its passions, and man will die.  Through Christ, we have been given new life, but not from the scar of Original Sin.  We still must die, but only to be later resurrected.  In this temporal reality, the value of the soul is greater than the body due to the situation, not inherent value

The sacrifice of the body for the soul is a beautiful companionship through life.  As the body becomes older, more tired and weaker, the soul matures, learns and becomes closer to God.  The soul, as the body ironically ages and withers, should become more radiant and beautiful as it ages and strips itself of self-love and replaces it with love of God.  St Teresa of Avila looks at the evolution of the soul as it moves through the interior mansions of spiritual life.  As the soul progresses through life, it can choose to become closer to God or reject God.

It is my hope that within the temporal journey of earth, our souls learn the many lessons to be learned and become closer and worthy of paradise, but what of the faithful steed and friend of the soul, our body?  The body that carried the soul through this temporal maze of sin and that is now fragile, old and weakened by the promised curse of death?  It has carried the soul to the finish line, initially sustaining temporal existence and providing sanctuary for the soul to grow in beauty and love of God, but as all matter, will eventually succumb to the sands of time.  Is this good friend and critical part of our human nature to be left to the side of the curb as the soul elevates to a new and wonderful eschatological state with God?

As a partner in good and bad with the soul, our body’s hands shared in all actions that glorified God.  Our lips praised His name, our eyes sought Him, our ears accepted the good news and our feet carried us to worship Him!  As promised, the General Resurrection will glorify the body as an equal partner in our human nature.

So let us not disregard this holy temple and its sacrifice–let us not be caught up with false ideologies that degrade it to a mere shell, but instead let us make good use of our body!  Let us respect it and care for it physically and treat it like a temple of God! Let us think of it as a good ship sailing through the turbulent waters of temporal reality taking our soul to the safe shores of Heaven—later to share in that same glory itself.

If you are interested in learning more about our Christian Counseling Program than please review the link.  If you are a qualified professional or have adequate academic background, you could become a certified Christian Counselor.

Thank you for reviewing and let us know if you have any questions

Mark Moran, MA, SC-C

The article, “The Power of Forgiveness”, by Cortni Marrazzo states

“Forgiveness is hard. But anytime we allow God’s strength to work in our lives, wonderful things happen!”

See on www.crosswalk.com

Christian Counseling Program: Christian Counselors Need to Guide People Away From Secular Prophesies

While predictions of the end of world will continue to circulate (even after 12-21-12), the message of Christ remains constant.  While people put their faith in ancient pagan societies, or the prophesies of those whose gift is not from God, Scripture leaves all that is needed.  St. John, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Book of Revelation.  While the book is full of symbolic meaning, everything a Christian needs to know about the future is recorded in this book.  Christian Counselors need to direct their spiritual children away from anything else not from God.
It is true, God does send prophets to help us understand the Book of Revelation and the end times, but God does not want his children continually worrying about the end.  He wants us to live a holy life today and not worry about tomorrow.  How many Christians, who are urged by sinful curiosity, seek the advice of mediums or other fortune tellers?
Christ is very clear.  He states that only the Father knows the day and the time when the world will end.  So while throughout the centuries we see people expecting Christ to return,, whether in the year 1000 AD or 2000 AD or in the form of some obscure native prophecy, Christians should take heart and not lose sleep over doomsday prophesies.  Instead they should focus on today and try to become better Christians so when the day does ultimately come when Christ returns in all his glory, then we will be prepared and not taken off guard.
If you are interested in learning more about AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program, then please review it.

Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counseling Program: Christian Counseling and the Little Things

Great men become great because of even greater trials.  Yet, for most of us, great trials or moments that define history rarely occur.  Tales of martyrdom rarely accompany our death.  Instead we are called to live a life of Christian excellence.  Christian Counselors can guide many people to extraordinary lives of sanctity simply through the “little things”.  If you would like to help guide others, consider our Christian Counseling Program

The idea of sainthood or a virtuous Christian life was not considered during the age of persecution in the early Church.  Most saints were people who heroically died a martyr’s death.  This is not to say they did not excel in virtue but the primary focus of the early Church and sainthood usually included a martyr’s end.  After the legalization of Christianity, saint like individuals ceased to be killed but died naturally.  This led the Church to a new examination of people’s lives that exceeded merely martyrdom but also spirituality.
Many great saints sought the honor of martyrdom.  St. Teresa of Avila as a young child ran away from home to face the Moors in Spain, but was properly reprimanded for such a rash decision.  Instead her life was to be a spiritual one that excelled in pious virtue.  This is the type of life that God calls to many Christians.  This is the life that God wills for many of us.  He does not call or expect all to become famous figures in the Christian circle or suffer a heroic death but to simply testify and live according to his laws.  Those who conform their will to God’s will and live according to his precepts live a sanctified life simply by fulfilling one’s daily duty.  One’s daily duty may be as simple as cleaning one’s house, earning a wage for one’s family or helping others in need.  When one fulfills their daily duty and conforms one’s will to God, then their life becomes as extraordinary as the saints.  In fact, that is how one becomes a saint!  One can only wonder until they reach heaven, how many great saints exist that were never known but were kept beautiful secrets from the public eye.  These unknown saints are spiritual treasures to the Church that intercede for us on earth everyday.  These unknown saints understood the beauty of offering their will to God in the most smallest of tasks as each day unveiled itself.

So What Can You Do?

St. Teresa the Little Flower, not to be confused with St. Teresa of Avila, conformed her will to the Lord in every smallest action.  Her simple life rejoiced in the Lord in the smallest things, from sweeping the floor of the convent to facing her fear of spiders.  Every single thing she did, she offered it to the Lord.  Through this simple life, she would later be revered as one of the Church’s most known daughters and elevated to sainthood.  So what can you do?  You can start by emulating St. Teresa.  One can make everyday chores a prayer to God.  One can bite their tongue in humility when something angers oneself or offer up a fear or pain to God when it would be easier to complain.
I often joke that if St. Teresa had a computer or had to drive in traffic, she would not be a saint, but the reality is the frustrations of computer trouble or the annoying driver ahead are all excellent opportunities to perfect Christian virtue.  I am far from being the one to preach this but I hope to illuminate myself and you as well in these little things!  Yet the point is simple:  Work with what you have and offer it to God on a daily basis.  One day at a time, take the little things the Lord gives to you and turn them into prayers and opportunities to please God.
While it is hard to bless instead of to curse, or to clean something with a smile instead of a frown, or to be patient instead of in a hurry, we can all accomplish these goals with the grace of God.  The trick is being open to that grace and aware of the opportunities that God gives to us.  So while martyrdom may not be in our future, we can become a martyr for Christ by offering our will to him and becoming sanctified by the little things he gives us everyday
If you are interested in the Christian Counseling Program, please review it.  The Christian Counseling Program is open to qualified professionals.  Qualified professionals must complete the Christian Counseling courses that make up the core element of the program.  After completing the courses, one can become certified in the Christian Counseling Program.

Mark Moran, MA