Though many years of biblical counseling, I have affirmed my conviction that biblical “truth” is essential to change. But the problem has always been how to help the counselee believe that biblical truth is relevant and experiential. This is true for all Christians: we experience a “gap” between what we KNOW and what we EXPERIENCE. Psychologists have a word for this gap—they call is “cognitive dissonance.”
For example, Jesus promised He would give us ‘rest’ for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28). But I know that most Christians see this as a nice “saying” but are unable to experience the reality of this truth in day-to-day experience. What is the answer to this dilemma—this gap between what I know and what I experience?
You must be actively engaged in this battle for truth and the accompanying battle against unbelief!
Every truth you receive, by faith, will take you into a conflict with the “un-beliefs” in your head. Paul employs “battle” language in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, exhorting you to “take captive” wrong thoughts that keep you from experiencing God’s truth, treating them like prisoners who must now obey Christ.
While God’s truth is absolutely true, it remains irrelevant to us until we have engaged in the battle to make it applicable to our lives. Do you KNOW and have you EXPERIENCED what Jesus said: “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32)?
Maybe you’re not fighting hard enough!
Thank you for this insightful reminder. May we "reckon" as personally true the glorious revelation of our union with Christ. In the days of many winds of false doctrine, may we have this diligence to disown falsehood and declare the truth.
ReplyDeleteyes... and the DISCERNMENT! (Philippians 1:9-10)
ReplyDeleteGreg,
ReplyDeleteOne of the best writings I have ever come across on the subject of Christian unbelief (why it exits) is in a book by Philip Keller entitled, "A Gardener Looks At the Fruit of the Spirit." The chapter is "The Four Kinds of Soils" and he draws material from his own bringing up in the South African countryside. I recommend it highly!
Stan