AIFC 430B
Apply Redemptive Truth in
Counselling
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RESOURCES
CCFT Volume 4
Recommended reading:
Dr Bruce Thompson
“Walls of my Heart”
Elements of Competency
(Learning outcomes)
Read from Handbook
DECEPTION 
Jeremiah 17: 9,10
SELF-DECEPTION
- Being wrong when you think you’re right
DECEIVING OTHERS
- Defence mechanisms
BEING DECEIVED
SATAN – The ultimate deceiver
- A deceiver and liar from the beginning
- Lies of the enemy
- False prophets
DEFENCE MECHANISMS 
- Protects one from facing the pain of reality
- They are unconscious. Search me O God…
EXAMPLES (Freud)
- Repression – of the problem
- Denial – of the problem
- Rationalization and Minimization
- Displacement
- Dissociation
- Regression
- Reaction formation
Denial
REJECTION 
Occurs when felt needs are not being met
BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
Security
– sense of being loved
Self-worth – sense of being valued
Significance – sense of meaning/purpose
Only God can fully meet these needs
Most seek to have them met by the creature
rather than the Creator
When they are not met we build a wall of
protection around us – deceiving ourselves
THE “DIVINE PLUMBLINE” MODEL
Dr. Bruce Thompson
Modified version
Authority
Figure
PEOPLE
Self-hatred
Rejection
GOD
Love
Acceptance
Many
are against
themselves
Wall of protection
Constructed Self
(false self,
lack of self-awareness)
success
religiosity
masculinity
femininity
niceness
etc.
I am setting a
plumb line in the
midst of My people
Amos 7:8
EZEKIEL 13:1-14
FALSE PROPHETS
Parents, teachers, peers, media,
government, church, our own heart, Satan
THE WALL
of untempered mortar (whitewash) - fragile
STORMS
Ill-health, death in family, divorce, addiction,
crime, bankruptcy, loss of job, etc.
How do we react to the storms (crises)?
HOW DID JESUS REACT TO
REJECTION?
No one was more rejected than he was
He forgave them (Father forgive them…)
He kept on loving them
He did not seek revenge
CAUSES OF REJECTION
- At conception, before birth, at birth
- Lack of bonding to mother
- Adoption
- Generational (eg. Australia)
- Dysfunctional family (abuse, etc.)
- School (teachers, peers)
- Relationship breakdown
- Marriage problems and divorce
- Mid-life crisis
- At work
- At church
My wall of
protection
Building blocks
of rejection
To benefit from the teaching following you
need to apply it by:
1. Ticking the blocks of rejection in your wall
that have had a significant place in your life
2. Identifying the type of Christian you are
3. Writing down false comforts you have used
to ease the pain of rejection
Ask the Lord for insight
Search me O God… (Psalm 139:23, 24)
AF
Sadness
Blocks
of
rejection
and
rebellion
Hostility
Conceit
Self-pity
Self-hatred
Competition
Inferiority
Manipulation
Failure
Domination
Shame
Guilt
Unbelief
Rigid
▼
Pride
Authority Figure
E
M
O
T
M
I
N
D
S
P
I
R
IT
Sadness
Self-pity
Self-hatred
Depression
Apathy
Inferiority
Insecurity
Failure
Guilt, Shame
Discouragement
Despair
Dying
Quenched
Suicide
Hostility
Aggressive
Conceit
Sophistication
Mood swings
Superiority
Competition
Domination
Rigid, stubborn
Manipulation
Unteachable
Resentment
Criticism
Control
Possessive
Rejection
Rebellion
(Unbelief) Plumbline (Pride)
Crucified
Homicide
MANIPULATION
ACTIVE MANIPULATOR
Wins by winning (upper dog)
PASSIVE MANIPULATOR
Wins by losing (under dog)
COMPETITIVE MANIPULATOR
Wins anyway (hot dog)
INDIFFERENT MANIPULATOR
Wins by withdrawal (cold dog)
FOUR TYPES OF CHRISTIANS 
Authority Figure
Compliant
Christian
Passive
Rejection
Can’t Do It
Christian
Competitive
Christian
Aggressive
Rebellion
Critical
Christian
Compliant
Christian
I’ll do
anything
you want
I’ll serve you
I’ll be loyal
I’ll help you
Please love me
Notice me
Care for me
Affirm me
Be nice to me
King Saul
Passive manipulator
I’ll do anything
you want!
The Compliant
Christian can be
seductive
I can’t do it
I give up
Can’t do it
Christian
I quit
I’m no
good
I’m a
failure
I’m
hopeI’m
less
hopeess
Nobody
loves me
No one
cares
for me
anymore
Moses
Indifferent manipulator
Competitive
Christian
I’ll show you
I’m perfect
I know
I can do it better
See how
well I
perform
Praise me
Notice me
Tell others
about me
You need me
Don’t be
Emotional
Be strong
Jacob
Performance oriented
Over-achieving
Competitive manipulator
See how
perfect I am
Critical
Christian
I’m right
Listen to
me
I have a
word
for you
I’m unlovable
and so are You
You’re
hopeless
You’re
wrong
Judas
Active manipulator
PAIN – PLEASURE SWING
How have you handled the pain of rejection?
FALSE COMFORTS
- Food
- Alcohol and drugs
- Sexual immorality (pornography, etc.)
- Work as an escape
- Other addictions
- TV, books, music, computers, Internet, etc.
Four staff persons give a 2-3 minute
testimony of the types of Christians
Then in groups of 4-6 each student
shares:
1. Their blocks of rejection and rebellion
2. The type of Christian that they
predominantly identify with
3. The false comforts they use to
ease the pain of rejection
The Wall of
Salvation
Foundation
and
reinforcing
rods
Restoration
and
reconciliation
BREAKING FREE FROM OUR PAST 
There can be no healing or growth unless we
break free from our past
Many have real difficulty here due to a blockage
(see Vol. 2:91-96)
We break free from the crippling past by openly
and honestly facing past traumas, insecurities,
guilt and resentment and dealing with them
The following sections on the restoration
process show us how to do this
REDEMPTION 
Central and essential in counselling
Everything for God depends upon it
Restoration to God’s image
Ultimate reality
REVELATION 
The means for change
TWO KEYS
- Desperate for it
- Obedience to it
REVELATION OF
- Ourselves
- Jesus Christ
- Father God (see Vol.1)
(and being healed and fathered
by God into maturity
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY 
Blaming has to stop for healing
Father have eaten sour grapes…(Jer. 31:29)
Everyone shall die for their own sin
Our choices determine who we are
Accepting responsibility for our choices and
behaviour is essential for healing and growth
CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE 
Revelation leads to repentance (Is.6)
Not a morbid topic (Luke 15)
Essential in Christian counselling
Cardinal sins of pride and unbelief
WHAT ASSISTS REPENTANCE?
- Contemplation of the Cross
- Knowing that our sin grieves God
- Goodness of God
- Knowing that sin destroys us
- Reverence (fear) of the Lord
WORD STUDIES
Confess = homologeo (say the same thing as)
Repent = metanoia (change of mind)
= nacham (Heb. - sigh, sorry
Renounce = apeipomen (disown, to give up)
Humility = tapeinos (low lying in spirit, contrite)
Humility is being known for who I really am
- Openness and brokenness
- Repentance is not remorse
- The tax collector
- Continuing repentance
- Fruits of repentance – restitution
- Confess to one another (James 5:16)
SPIRITUAL WARFARE 
Essential and ongoing in counselling
We need to focus on Jesus - the Victor
Satan – a defeated foe
ENEMY’S TACTICS
Pride/unbelief, deception, imitation, division,
apathy, occult, etc.
THE OCCULT – See list (Volume 4)
OUR WEAPONS
Eph.6, Rev.12, Lord’s name, Holy Spirit, etc.
DEMONS, CURSES, BONDAGES 
(breaking vows, soul ties, etc.)
“Deliverance” ministry? Not a specific ministry
Exorcism in history (OT, Jesus, Apostles, today)
There was a change after the Spirit came
No reference to casting out spirits in any of the
Epistles or John’s Gospel (last written)
Can a Christian be demon possessed? No!
(evil spirits and the Holy Spirit cannot co-exist)
A Christian cannot come under a curse (Jesus
bore the curse (Gal.3:13)
CONCLUSION
- We need to major on Jesus and his victory,
and getting people filled with the Spirit
- Casting out has a very limited, if any, place
- Breaking soul-ties has no place
- Breaking bondages/inner vows - limited place
- Nehemiah confessed his sins and the sins of
his fathers (Neh.1:6)
Submitting to the Lordship of Christ, being filled
with the Spirit, confession / repentance,
renouncing, putting off the fallen nature (the
flesh) and putting on Christ, has a major place
HURT OF INJUSTICE 
Major problem – injustice or perceived injustice
causing unmerited suffering
- Why has this happened to me Lord?
- Why does a loving God allow this to happen?
Anger and disappointment against God
Adversity is universal – part of fallen humanity
- Accidents, natural disasters, sickness
- Human inhumanity to humanity-greed, crime…
Three important truths
- God is just in all of his ways
- Satan is unjust in all of his ways
- People are unjust in many of their ways
The Cross is God’s provision (Isaiah 53)
The Trinity all exercise comfort. What a friend…
- Some find their identity in their wound!
They curse it, rehearse it, nurse it …
- My grace is sufficient (Paul’s thorn in the flesh)
COUNSELLING ISSUES
- Non-judgmental acceptance and empathy
- Wisdom to help with the difficult questions
- God is in control - he is with us in it (Job)
FORGIVENESS 
TWO KEYS TO INNER HEALING
- Understanding forgiveness
- Understanding Christian identity
FOUR TYPES OF FORGIVENESS
- Receiving it from God
- Forgiveness in the Christian community
- Seeking forgiveness from those I’ve hurt
- Forgiving those who have hurt me
No Scriptural basis for:
- Forgiving ourselves or forgiving God
Forgiveness removes guilt and resentment
RESENTMENT AND BITTERNESS
Hurt  anger  resentment  bitterness 
hatred  murder
Resentment a common problem in Christians
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE
- Blocks inner healing and growth
- Destroys relationships
- Cause of many ailments and illnesses
WHY FORGIVE?
- Jesus said so
- Because God has forgiven us
- So God can forgive us (Matt.6:15)
- To release oneself and the other person
- So we do not torment ourselves
- It’s the main key to inner healing
FORGIVENESS IS NOT:
- Forgetting
- Saying it doesn’t matter
- Trusting
- Condoning
- Necessarily fraternizing
FORGIVENESS IS:
- A divine command
- A process (Limbic Lag)
- A heart matter
- Giving up the role of God as judge
- Goes to deeper and deeper levels
I’ve got good news for you Helen. I’ve forgiven
you for all those nasty, spiteful and disgusting
things you said to me last night
PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS
1. Ask the Lord for help and insight
2. Complete a Hurt List and Resentment List
3. Do three things in a simple prayer:
- Choose to forgive
- Confess unforgiveness, resentment, etc.
- Hand hurt over to the Lord
4. Seek grace to work through the process
5. Keep speaking out forgiveness
6. Release them from saying I’m sorry
7. Do not insist on them changing
8. Act out forgiveness (Matt.5, Rom.12)
9. Bless them and pray for their prosperity
10. Overcome evil with good
HURT (TRAUMA) LIST
Age
5
6
8
Trauma
The first day at school was very
painful. I remember leaving my
mother and crying most of the day
…
…
Ask God to show you if you have resentment
against any person - and if so tick it on the list
Then transfer the hurt to the left-hand column
of the Resentment/Forgiveness List
RESENTMENT LIST
Hurt
Dad called me
stupid in front
of 2 of my
friends when I
was 9
Thoughts/feelings
Forgiven
I wanted to disappear and
3/5/09
die. I felt so humiliated. I
felt I was worthless. I was
so angry with him for being
so insensitive towards me
in front of my close friends.
They were also embarrassed.
I felt I couldn’t invite my
friends home again. My dad
was often insensitive like that
RESENTMENT LIST
Hurt
My uncle trapped
me in a corner on
Christmas when I
was 12 and rubbed
me between the
legs and kissed me
on the lips
Thoughts/feelings
Forgiven
I felt so dirty and ashamed. I
also felt guilty because I let
him do it, and even liked it. I
knew it was wrong but was
unable to do anything about it.
I couldn’t tell my mum. I’ve had
problems with my sexuality
ever since, and wonder
whether I will ever become
‘normal.’ I feel everything to do
with sex is unclean. In my
marriage I find no satisfaction
in having sex. I felt I could
never trust my uncle or other
older people again
3/5/09
IDENTITY 
IDENTITY CONFUSION (OR CRISIS)
Insecurity, low self-esteem, lack of selfawareness, anger, addictions, gender confusion
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
- Where have I come from?
- Why am I here?
- Where am I going?
- What has value?
- How do I know?
ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN IDENTITY
- In the beginning God…
- I AM
ENDING THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY
Finding the great I AM (God)
First Commandment
I know who I am (Security)
I belong to God
I know what I am (Self-worth)
I am good and acceptable
I am redeemed
I know why I am (Significance)
I have a destiny - I serve God now and
will live with him forever
I am who I am, because I AM said who I am
THE SEVEN GREAT TRUTHS
I am created in God’s image
I am loved by God unconditionally
I am precious and priceless
I am a saint
I am a prince/princess
I am a child of God
I am an eternal son of God
SELF-ACCEPTANCE
- All have depravity and dignity
- God planned us before birth
- His plan is to conform us to Christ
- He hasn’t finished with us yet
- Inward beauty is greater than outward
- We are all different and unique
- Avoid odious comparisons
- Accept the unchangeable
THE TEN UNCHANGEABLES
Parents
Gender
Birth order
Siblings
Physical features
Mental capacity and temperament
Race
Time in history
Ageing
Death
RESPONDING TO DEFECTS
- Correct them if possible (within limits)
- Prayer of faith for incurable sickness
- Glory in unchangeable defects:
Attach new meaning to them
A motivation to build inward character
- Confess ungratefulness
- Thank God for the positives
SELF-AWARENESS
When we feel rejected we erect a false self to hide
the real me. We are incapable of breaking free from
past hurts and are left in a state of confused identity,
lack of self-acceptance and self-awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize myself as
an individual separate from the environment and
other individuals
It means having an understanding of one's own
knowledge, thoughts, strengths, weaknesses,
emotions and behaviour and how they affect me and
the world around me
When we have this we are able to make changes
and build on our areas of weakness
MULTICULTURALISM AND CROSSCULTURAL COUNSELLING 
(Apply redemptive truth to other cultures)
World trend towards multiculturalism
Bible and redemption is for all cultures
Culture includes race, colour, family, age,
socio-economic status, gender, feminism,
sexual orientation, religion, mental health,
chronic illness
Effective multicultural counsellors are aware of
and can empathise with clients in each area
CULTURAL STRENGTHS
AND WEAKNESSES
Every country has cultural strengths and
weaknesses which affect the family, church
and society
If we want successful and happy family life
we must follow the culture of the Kingdom of
God – biblical principles of family life
We must “break through” like David’s mighty
men and destroy cultural bondages
Western culture - mainly guilt-based
Eastern culture, Africa, aborigine - mainly
shame-based
ASIA
- Shame (politeness, confrontation! Yes, yes!)
- Extended family – matriarchy
- Eastern religions
- AL variations, openness, extended family, etc.
AFRICA
- Poverty, hopelessness, despair, shame, apathy
- Disease – low life expectancy (grief)
- Sexual immorality and addictions
- Degradation of women and domestic violence
- Child abuse pronounced
- Witchcraft
- Failure to apply truth to everyday life
- Weak church – a mixture of the gospel and
animism (emphasis on deliverance, etc.)
- Unhealthy dependency on the West
Domestic
violence
Pictures
help in developing
countries such
as Africa
Childhood sexual abuse
CULTURAL STRENGTHS – CHINA
(AFFECTING THE FAMILY)
1. Strong community spirit
2. Friendliness and hospitality
3. Safe community
4. Severe drug laws
5. Respect for elders, etc.
6. Resourceful and hard working
7.
Growing world economy
8.
Christian presence (10% Christian?)
9.
Resilience in crisis
10. Readiness to change and hunger for truth
11.
Respect for authority
12.
Women dress modestly
13.
Absence of pornography (except
Internet)
CULTUAL WEAKNESSES – CHINA
(AFFECTING THE FAMILY)
1. One child policy – spoilt children, selfishness,
weak in relating, excess males
2. Strong indigenous religion – Confucism,
Buddhism
3. The church – need for discipleship, grace,
fatherhood
4. Addictions (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, work,
money, gambling)
5. Stress-related illness from working long
hours, high cancer
6. High pressure education
7.
High family dysfunction– weak marriages/
fathers, divorce
8.
Domestic violence and abuse
9.
Sexual immorality, teenage promiscuity,
abortion
10. Weak personal boundaries
11. Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law friction
12. Trafficking of girls and children
AUSTRALIAN CULTURE 
STRENGTHS
- Christian heritage
- British heritage
- Resourcefulness (pragmatism, innovation)
- Personal loyalty (“mateship”)
- Personal autonomy (independence)
- Openness (honesty, frankness)
- Friendliness
- Generosity
- Courage
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
God’s hand in the settlement by Christian Europe
- Magellan (Spain 1519) - Terra Australis - to
convert the barbarians
- De Quirros (Portugal 1606)
- Australia del espiritu santo
- Tasman (Holland 1642) – a devout Christian
- Cook (1770) and Phillip (England 1788)
Many early Christians left their mark:
Richard Johnson, Marsden, Father Therry
Governors Macquarie, Hunter, Darling, Gawler
Sturt, Eyre, Leichardt, Lutheran Pilgrim Fathers
Parkes, Downer, Deakin, etc.
WEAKNESSES
REJECTION IN THE AUSTRALIA NATION
Authority figure (England)
Fear/withdrawal
Inferiority
Apathy
Guilt/same
Despair
Hostility
Superiority
Competitive
Resentment
Criticism
Rejection
Rebellion
Waltzing Matilda
Ned Kelly
PAIN- PLEASURE SWING
Materialism (sport, outdoor life)
Addiction (sex, alcohol, gambling, drugs…)
THE FAMILY
- Third most isolated nuclear family in world
- Wife/mother (matriarchy)
- Husband/father (unaffirmed and unaffirming,
rejection, addiction, unemotional, misogyny)
- Absent Father Syndrome (insecurity, hostility,
rebellion, depression, gender confusion)
- Marriage – divorce and abortion high
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINE
- Rejection, shame, low self-esteem
- Addictions
- Dependency on government support
Counselling issues:
- Cultural awareness – similar to Asians
- AL modification (like Asians)
- Openness? etc.
Form groups of 5-6 so each in turn can
share insights they received from the
teaching of latter part of this unit
- especially forgiveness and identity