Jesus can be your Therapist

 Many pious Muslims live under the storm clouds of fear. They never know whether their submission will be enough to save them from the flames of hell.

Some compare themselves to not-so-virtuous nominal Christians and they feel proud and superior.

Others compare themselves to extremely religious Muslims and they judge themselves as failures.

Then they can become extremely fanatical because they can never be sure whether their religious virtue is enough to save them from hell.

Unfortunately, there are also some Christians who live in such a religious no-man's land.

There are Christians who are trapped in pornography addiction. They feel helpless to escape from slavery and are full of fear of God's judgement.

There are other Christians who believe in Jesus, but they have never realised that they can only receive their salvation as a gift from God. They live just like Muslims, with the belief that they must earn their salvation.

If you think like that, you can become very strictly religious and look down on Christians who are not so strictly virtuous. That's exactly how the Pharisees were.

Or you can judge yourself as inferior because you fail again and again.

If you are addicted to porn or gambling, you urgently need help, from God but also from understanding people.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Jas 5:16 NRSV

Many Christians need deliverance from demons and many need good counselling or a good therapist.

Jesus did not come to burden us with guilt complexes. On the contrary.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Jn 10:10 NRSV

Such a life is only possible in close fellowship with God. God is love. Only those who experience God's love on a daily basis have access to this abundant life.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

How do these morbid religious attitudes arise, whereby legalism, pride or guilt complexes keep us away from the love of God?

Legalistic religion, tradition, inflexible or manipulative parents or pastors, fastidious moralistic culture.

Sin, perversion, abuse, shame.

I know Christians who were molested or abused as children. That can lead to all kinds of feelings and thoughts, all kinds of wrong turns in life, so that we are full of shame.

If you can't get rid of wrong thoughts and feelings, you must know that Jesus loves you unconditionally. Let Jesus be your therapist. He wants to help you and not judge you.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

Deliverance from Addictions, Trauma and Sin

There is a big difference between a person who wilfully and unscrupulously follows evil ways and a person who is overcome by sin.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Gal 6:1 NIV

A young man thinks he is a born-again Christian. He loves to read books about faith. He talks enthusiastically about missions and wonderful testimonies. He is a Jesus fan.

At the same time, he has a pretty girlfriend. She works in a brothel and wants to continue working as a prostitute. She has no inclination to seek a different life.

This young religious man seems to have no remorse. He wants to continue to enjoy his sexual adventures and at the same time remain a Jesus fan.

Is this man on the path that leads to heaven? What does Jesus say?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Mt 7:21 NIV

Should we help this man with gentle counselling? Perhaps he needs to fear God's judgement.

Then there are completely different situations in which true disciples of the Lord are overwhelmed by temptation.

Peter told Jesus that he was ready to die for his Lord.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Mt 26:34 NIV

Jesus did not scold Peter, but corrected him mercifully with love and grace.

I know a pastor who was overwhelmed by his responsibilities and financial problems. He loved Jesus with all his heart, but he was overwhelmed that his faith was not strong enough to get out of trouble.

He tried to pay his debts by gambling with poker machines. He not only lost his own money, but money that belonged to the church. When he openly confessed his sin, he was  deeply humiliated had to resign from his position as pastor.

Peter was not condemned when he failed before the cross, nor do I believe that this pastor and his wife were condemned. They repented and are faithful servants of the Lord to this day.

I also know Christians who go wrong after unbearable abuse and bullying. Some with gambling addictions, others with porn or sexual sin, others with alcohol or other drugs.

God understands your trauma. You hate your sin and Jesus hates that sin too. He does not look down on you. He wants to heal your broken heart. He wants to set you free from your addiction and sin.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV