interesting reading

for work i have to read a few books and i just finished up addicted to recovery. it has been very eye-opening. here are a few thoughts:

• self-esteem is at the heart of our rebellion and is therefore certainly not a solution to our problems
• we are determined to avoid talk of sin and rebellion as the source of our bad feelings...it is only when we take our rightful place before our Creator that we find any real pleasure in life
• psychology is a false gospel, leading people to a false hope and false peace
• true gospel is God-centered...gospel delivered by psychology is man-centered
• the Bible teaches we sin by choice...psychology that we sin because of what someone has done to us
• we try to forgive others not because God commands it, but to reduce our anxiety and depression; we sing praises not because God is worth, but because it will make us feel better
• the wisdom of man is relative, situational and ever-changing. it is prone to error and cannot be trusted (in comparison to the wisdom of God)
• a Christian cannot counsel an unbeliever except to state truthfully that one outside Christ has no hope.

so many of the classes i took in college i believed as truth. i never even second-guessed their validity, their ability to stand up next to the gospel. even "Christian" counselors can be guilty of leading people astray. we need to make sure we are firmly planted in the Word of God; it is applicable for every situation we face; we need to call sin what it is (SIN) and stop placing blame. we try to solve problems, to help people, but we need to realize that without Christ, they are helpless and hopeless.