> From: Mike Scoles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: question for all of you
>
> Jim Guinee wrote:
>
> > Therefore, anyone, no matter
> > how good the deeds they do, that does not acknowledge Christ, cannot be
> > reconciled with God.
>
> Is it difficult to see just how offensive this is to people of other
> faiths?
No, it's not difficult. In the New Testament there are plenty of warnings of
how offensive these beliefs will seem, and that a Christian should expect to
be persecuted for professing and adhering to those beliefs. In other parts of
the world Christians are being imprisoned and slaughtered...it is sad that
people can't just let others believe what they want to believe and everyone
live as peaceably as possible.
I'm not sure if your original question means "You do see how you can offend
others, right?" or is it more "How can you believe something so offensive?"
There are a lot of beliefs and behaviors in the world that I personally view as
offensive, but unless they directly harm me I simply have to acknowledge a
person's right to hold to those beliefs and/or enact those offensive behaviors.
Everytime I pass by the booby-bar near Morgan/Maumelle I find that very
offensive, but nonetheless other people have a right to be there if they
choose.
> > Christians should not view themselves as
> > better than non-Christians (although this is a common problem), just
> > reconciled with God.
>
> And, that this is equally offensive to atheists? What a crock, "I'm not
> saying that I am *better*, just reconciled with God. I mean golly, don't
> take it so personally."
If you're an atheist, why would you care about someone's professed
relationship with God? If God doesn't exist, then someone claiming to be
close to a non-entity should be meaningless to you.
> > And more than one Christian theologian has elegantly
> > stated that Christianity is not a religion of exclusion because ANYONE
> > can join the faith.
>
> Does history provide us with any comfort to those with faith different
> from that of those in power? Have you ever heard that familiar Southern
> greeting, "What church ya'll go to?" How about, "Avrem, what the hell
> kinda name is that?".
I'm a transplanted Southerner, so I'm not sure what you're talking about here.
As I said, it is a very troubling aspect of Christian doctrine to suggest that
those outside of the club have to stay outside the door. I have an
enormously difficult time with this...if a Christian doesn't wrestle with this,
he/she isn't thinking too deeply.
> > Jim Guinee, Ph.D.
> > President, Arkansas College Counselor Association
>
> Is it possible to keep this "Jesus is the only way" perspective out of a
> counseling relationship?
I don't know why, but this particular part of your mail caused my blood
pressure to boil. I'm not suggesting you're attacking me personally, that's
just how it feels.
I think we have covered this issue before -- I believe you have brought it up on
more than one occasion. I wonder if you're even more likely to hold me
suspect because we work at the same institution?
I am happy to respond, because it IS a great question, and clearly very
relevant to psychology and psychotherapy. As a follower of Jesus, it is at
times quite difficult to work with people in the field of mental health, because
values and beliefs and behaviors come up so often. I am constantly
questioning myself, wondering how helpful I am to a student, and regularly
consult with colleagues, particularly when I feel there is too much discomfort
for the client's good. I've had to accept that working in a state institutition
will cause people to be a little suspicious of me, and I think that's clearly
appropriate.
Jesus said "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is
God's." I work for a state agency, and I was hired to help people solve their
mental health problems, and adhere to a code of ethics that respects
another's belief system. If I cannot do this, I should not work with a client,
and if I find I cannot do this at all, I should not work in this type of setting at
all.
> I have heard good Christian counselors say,
> "There is no way I could deal with a gay client." (Well, I suppose that
> the person *might* be able to deal with a gay client if the client wanted
> to be saved and go straight.)
It's fascinating to me that anytime a therapist professes a deep belief in a
religion, the focus of the discussion automatically seems to go to gay
clients. While it is an important question, that particular therapist is
statistically more likely to work with hetero clients who are indulging in
behaviors that are not necessarily "biblical." What about those value
clashes?
************************************************************************
Jim Guinee, Ph.D.
Director of Training & Adjunct Professor
President, Arkansas College Counselor Association
University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center
313 Bernard Hall Conway, AR 72035 USA
(501) 450-3138 (office) (501) 450-3248 (fax)
"No one wants advice -- only corroboration"
-John Steinbeck
************************************************************************
