New Hope
CE Notes
July 2000
Dr.
Bill Gaultiere
(714) 971-4213,
DrBill@CrystalCathedral.org
This is the complete notes from class for your review and study.
This class focuses on understanding and helping people who have
toxic images of God as harsh or neglectful. Remember to
complete the attached exam, either for the fun and challenge
of it or to get New Hope CE credit.
A CHILD'S EXPLANATION OF GOD
Here's how Danny, an 8-year old boy explained God: "One of
God's main jobs is making people. God's second most important
job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes
on, since some people, like preachers, pray at times besides
bedtime. God sees everything and hears everything and
is everywhere, which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't
go wasting His time by going over your parents' heads asking
for something they said you couldn't have.
"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work
like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to
teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They
finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified
Him. But He was good and kind like His Father and He told
Hs Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to
forgive them and God said, `OK.'
"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes
God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's
God. Don't skip church to do something you think would
be more fun, like going to the beach. This is wrong!
And besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon
anyway.
"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you
will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere
with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know
He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't
swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by big
kids. But you shouldn't always think of what God can do
for you.
"I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He
pleases. And that's why I believe in God."
Little Danny has a good God image. He sees and experiences
God as present with him, helping him and caring for him.
Danny has closeness and trust and respect for God that is very
admirable and beyond that of many adult Christians!
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and
become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom
of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew
18:3-4)
TOXIC FAITH
Blaming God leads to more problems: "A man's own folly
ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord." (Proverbs
19:3)
Hiding from God in fear leads to loss and judgment: "But
the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in
the ground and hid his master's money. `Master,' he said.
`I knew that you are a hard man. So I was afraid. See, here
is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! .You
should have put my money on deposit with the bankers so that
when I returned I would have received it back with interest.'
"Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has
ten talents. And throw that worthless servant outside, into
the darkness." (Matthew 25:18,24-28,30)
To deny God is to be denied: "If we disown Him, He will
also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown Himself." (2 Timothy 2:12-13)
Some people refuse grace: "Though grace is shown to the
wicked, they do not learn righteousness." (Isaiah 26:10)
Example: "AnotherLostSoul" who posted on the 1Community
Message Board on http://www.hourofpower.org/.
Thanks DRBILL but I know for sure that I am already condemned
and that God has either turned his back on me or is enjoying
my constant and increasing suffering for his own amusement.
God doesn't know the meaning of the word mercy.
God doesn't really love any of us, he just loves to be loved
and worshipped and praised. He likes to makes us suffer to see
which of us will still worship him, all to satisfy his ego,
his need to be chosen over Satan, no matter what he puts us
through.
I have suffered emotional turmoil for 40 years starting with
your typical, but far worse, child abuse. For the past
10 years, health problems have started up and keep getting worse.
I beg GOD for mercy from my latest one. I beg him to take it
a way so I can have a chance to deal positively with everything
else, but all I get is the usual silence and it keeps getting
worse.
I must already be condemned, and why shouldn't I. After all,
I am the most useless piece of good for nothing garbage failure
that has ever lived.
People have told me over the years such things as "Satan is
oppressing me because he fears the work God has in plan for
me" and other such garbage. I used to believe in that and put
my hope in it, but not any more. I know it has always been God's
plan that I suffer a miserable life and then go to hell.
I believe he is trying to drive me to taking my own life. I
believe that day is coming very soon. I cannot, will not take
this crap from God much longer. If he wont talk to me now, tell
me what exactly he wants from ME, then I will speed up my appearance
before him on the day of judgment so he can tell me then. Although,
he probably will continue to torture me by not even looking
at me.
Later response to myself and others who offered support:
To those that have taken the time to share, care, and pray
for me. Please do not waste anymore of your time on me. I quit.
I spit on god and I hate him more than ever. I am ready to go
to hell, not today, but someday. God does not want me and I
do not want him. End of story.
HOW GOD BECOMES HURTFUL
Faith Purification
Turn to God, then you see Him: "A veil covers their hearts.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
(2 Corinthians 3:15-16)
Experience love then you see God: "No one has ever seen
God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and his love
is made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in
love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:12,16)
Persevere, one day you'll see God clearly: "Now we see
but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face."
(1 Corinthians 13:12)
God doesn't answer the question, "Why am I suffering?" He just
offers Himself: Having been tortured, ridiculed, and carrying
the shame of our sins and just before he died of suffocation
on the cross, "Jesus cried out in a loud voice, `My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Mathew 27:46)
HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE
New Hope Counseling for Toxic Faith/Harmful images of God
Offer your care by putting yourself inside the skin of the
one who is struggling through active listening. God did
this for us by taking on the form of a man in Jesus.
Active, compassionate listening: Validate feelings/experiences,
not distorted perceptions.
- "You feel so angry at God because you pray and pray, but
still you have these health problems."
- "It's hard for you to keep going on when you feel so empty
and you're in such pain."
Don't defend God; don't get into an argument.
- "It feels to you like God doesn't care about you and won't
answer your prayers."
- "To you it seems that God is sadistic. It's as if
He enjoys seeing you in pain."
Focus caller on realistic, immediate need.
- "What helps to bring you some comfort?"
- "When have you felt closest to God?"
- "Would you like to pray together about this?"
Watch for stuckness, resistance and spoiling
- "How is it feeling for you to talk with me about your experience?"
- "What do you think might help you?"
When
God is the Enemy CE Exam
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