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WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING, TRIALS, TESTS?
25 KEYS - PART 1
OVERCOMING SUFFERING, TRIALS, TESTS, AND ADVERSITY - 21 KEYS - PART 2
WHY DOES GOD TEST US? - PART 3
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL? GLORY OF GOD IN EVIL - PART 4
TESTS - LIFE IS A TEST - PART 5
SPIRITUAL WARFARE - TEMPTATIONS, TRIALS, & TESTS
FALL OF MAN - TEMPTATION, SIN & FALL OF MAN
FALSE TEACHERS & FALSE PROPHETS - VIDEOS, ARTICLES, AUDIOS
Top Ten Reasons Theophostic Prayer Ministry is Not Christian
By Rick Galarneau / SO4J.com / SO4J-TV & Video Productions
Top Ten Reasons Theophostic Prayer Ministry is Not Christian— is an Article answering some of many problems, biblically, with Theophostic Counseling. But right before we get into— What is wrong with TPM, we will first share some: Fast Facts of TPM, and answer briefly: What is TPM?
This main Article below is merely a Bullet Point List which goes along with an Audio that Rick Galarneau & Sam Madrid did on this Topic.This is NOT an in-depth thorough Study. See right below for a List of more Detailed Studies on the Subject of Theophostics.
NOTE: Theophostics might seemingly work for you (so to speak)— what we're trying to warn about at SO4J-TV is that Theophostics is not 100% Biblical. i.e. Just because something Looks & Feels right, and is even called "Christian", and you've had a Great Experience with it does NOT make it Biblical! Example of being Deceived (but in a different way...please try and understand what we're trying to say) is found in: Matt 7:21,22-23 (hover over verse). People who called themselves "Christians" (i.e. called Jesus "LORD") and had said to Jesus that they had "Cast out Demons, and Healed people in Jesus' Name..." (it apparently "worked" for them to Cast out Demons....so to speak), yet Jesus will say "I Never Knew you, Depart from Me, you who Practice Lawlessness (Break God's Laws)."
We are to carefully Examine the Scriptures on everything (Acts 17:11), to make sure that what we: Say, Think, and Do is Biblical. Remember—
"If What You SAY, THINK, or DO is CONTRARY to God's Word, Then You Are Being Deceived!"
—Martha Mac, SO4J-TV & Video Productions
Rev 12:9 says, "Satan Deceives the Whole World"
See below Resources for more in-depth Studies on Theophostics & why it's NOT Biblical, or read this Bullet-Point list that goes with the Audio. Lord Bless! SO4J-TV
Rick Galarneau's Article below is a Bullet-point List, which goes along with this Audio—
Fast Facts |
Theophostics Prayer Ministry (TPM) is part of the unbiblical Inner Healing Movement.*
- Theophostics was founded by Ed Smith.
- The name comes from the Greek theo (God) and phostic (light).
- The TPM Basic Training Seminar Manual defines TPM as, "Intentional and focused prayer with the desired outcome of an authentic encounter with the presence of Christ, resulting in mind renewal and subsequent transformed life."
Those in Favor of TPM believe that a person's present emotional pain is often rooted in misinterpretations (lies) embraced during life experiences. Example: If an adult, for instance, feels shame when he thinks about a sexual abuse memory, the shame is not because he was abused, but because of what he believes about the abuse. For example, he may believe the abuse made him dirty or was his fault (lies). In a TPM session, the client is encouraged to discover and expose the beliefs and emotions associated with the abuse. He is then encouraged to encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, allowing Jesus to reveal that those beliefs and emotions are falsehoods. This realization then relieves the client of the emotional disturbance associated with the abuse. - * Source: Wikipedia The Practice of Theophostics Counseling is unbiblical and very dangerous.
By GotQuestions.org
Answer: The word “Theophostic” comes from two Greek words which mean “God” and “light.” Theophostic counseling is essentially “God bringing to light the truth.” Theophostic counseling was originally developed by Dr. Ed Smith. The primary theory behind theophostic counseling is that many issues that require counseling, such as depression and anger, are based on falsehoods that a person believes based on comments made about them by others, errant teachings, and/or bad experiences in life. The goal of Theophostic counseling is to lead a person to Jesus for healing and allow Him to reveal the truth to the suffering person. Examples of this would be a young man who believes he was at fault for his parents’ divorce, or a woman who experiences constant shame as a result of a sexual act she feels God will not forgive her of. Theophostic counseling seeks to reveal the lies and expose them to the truth that we are not responsible for the sinful actions of others and that God can and will forgive us and cleanse us of all of our sins.
Is Theophostic counseling biblical? As seen in the paragraph above, there is some truth in theophostic counseling. Many people do believe lies about painful events in their lives. These lies can cause pain, depression, and unbiblical beliefs about God, forgiveness, and salvation. Exposing these lies to truth of God’s Word and the love and grace of Jesus will bring spiritual and emotional healing. In this sense, yes, some aspects of theophostic counseling are biblically-based.
At the same time, when seeking any form of counseling, we must be wise and discerning (James 1:5). While some who practice theophostic counseling may be godly Christian men and women with a genuine love for the Lord and His Word, this cannot be said universally for all who claim to use theophostic counseling. Not every emotional problem is the result of a lie. Not every traumatic event needs to be brought up and dealt with for a person to experience the love of God and the joy of knowing Him. Some theophostic counselors delve far too deeply into the arena of unbiblical psychology, such as repressed memory therapy. As with any form of “Christian counseling,” there is a huge difference between counseling according to the teachings of the Bible and counseling using ungodly psychology while attaching Scripture references here and there.
In all areas of life, Christians must be wise and discerning when seeking counsel. We should not accept what any counselor says without first comparing it with Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and bathing it in prayer (Philippians 4:6-8). Some aspects of Theophostic Counseling can bring spiritual healing, if they are used biblically. But Theophostic counseling can be a great evil if it is detached from a solid biblical basis. Before considering Theophostic Counseling, we strongly recommend thoroughly researching the issue and thoroughly examining the counselor to see how he/she uses the Bible in his/her counseling methods.
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By Rick Galarneau / SO4J.com
Top 10 Reasons Theophostic Prayer Ministry is Not Christian
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- Heb 1:1-2 (NKJV) "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds."
Throughout history God has had ordained ways with which He has chosen to communicate with man. These ways have changed over the centuries. Many of these ways are no longer God’s ordained ways to communicate with man. In these last of last days God has chosen His written word (scripture) and His creation as his ordained ways to communicate with man.
Ed Smith prayed for and received the Theophostic Prayer Ministry method directly from God in a way that is not at this time ordained by God.
- Rom 6:22-23 (NKJV) "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Man’s greatest problem is that he has been working hard his whole life to earn a place in a Christ-less eternity. This is the worst news possible. “Lie-based thinking” pales in comparison. Mainstream psychology once treated clients using very similar techniques but abandoned the whole process decades ago. Theophostic Prayer Ministry is basically a reintroduction of a failed psychological method laced with demonic mysticism. It is very dangerous and many individuals have lost their health and even family members in its wake. The frequent excuse when these individuals contact Smith regarding these issues is that the particular minister they were dealing with was “not trained well enough”. This is a sad excuse to the ruining of lives of ones who were made in God’s own image.
- John 16:33 (NKJV) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Theophostic Prayer Ministry’s aim is to have its recipients enter into a pain free life upon completion of the program. Since the bible says that Christians will have tribulation it is anti-Biblical to say that Theophostic Prayer Ministry can make a Christian tribulation free.
- 2 Cor 6:14 (NKJV) "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"
A posting on the worldwide web was found where a Theophostic Prayer Minister was soliciting “individuals gifted in healing” from around the world, irregardless of their religious affiliation to train to become Theophostic Prayer Ministers. This is anti-Biblical.
- 2 Cor 12:9 (NKJV) "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
So which is it? Is God’s grace enough for the believer or does he also need Theophostic Prayer Ministry?
- 1 Cor 12:9 (NKJV) "For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
How could a believer want, let alone need, mind renewal when we have the mind of Christ?
- John 10:10 (NKJV) " The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
If Jesus grants unto you a softened heart you are no longer a slave to anything but Christ.
- John 8:36 (NKJV) "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
- Matt 22:14 (NKJV) “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Son chooses to set free any that he wills. A Theophostic Prayer Minister has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Theophostic Prayer Ministry did not exist before Ed Smith. Repentance has been here since Adam and Eve.
In order for a believer to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God there is some regular maintenance.
Among which are fellowship, prayer, the continued study of God’s Word in addition to keeping the wolves away from God’s flock:
- Acts 20:29 (NKJV) "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."
Theophostic Prayer Ministers are such savage wolves. Stay away! Repent while there is still time, and keep looking up for our soon coming King!
"TOP TEN REASONS THEOPHOSTIC PRAYER MINISTRY IS NOT CHRISTIAN"
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