I think a “biblical” approach to trauma is found in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter (neuroscience for example) and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.” God’s direction is not only found in Scripture but also in his creation. He built our bodies and we get to discover and learn how he created us and how to treasure and care for our bodies.
As one who subscribed to the Journal of Biblical Counseling, paid for all my paper copies to be put onto CD’s back in the day, read as many of CCEF’s books as I could and then received counseling for her marriage, and her young children, this article deeply resonates with my experience. Some of the biblical counseling was we received was truly helpful, but our family was way beyond its scope. Until 2013, we belonged to a “family” of churches, (read cult) SGM, that condemned secular psychology, psychiatry, and medication to treat mental health issues. If our problems couldn’t be solved by receiving pastoral counseling within our church, the only other option was biblical counseling. I’m grateful we finally left in 2013 and pivoted to therapeutic services. We’re ten + years deep with trauma therapy, medication adjustments, and still trying to uncover all that seems to be misaligned within our children’s bodies and minds. It’s a complex topic, and I pray the church begins to take much better, more humble approaches to this.
So glad y'all were able to get out and get help. There's definitely a lot of humility needed in this field and I’m hopeful as I do see that humility, growth, and respect for biology in the next generation!
This is really good. I’m still on CCEF’s email list from back in the day. The most recent email has the heading “Thinking Biblically About Trauma.” I couldn’t even bring myself to click the links because of my awareness that your experience with “biblical” counseling is tragically common. I had a weird moment with that email that’s hard to explain. Just stared at it for a few minutes. Felt the reaction in my body. Based on that experience, I’m curious...Do you see an attempt within organizations like CCEF to incorporate actual scientific research; to be trauma-informed in a meaningful way that accounts for the vast complexities of mental health? I have a hunch the answer in “no.” But perhaps I’m being unfair. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Oof, yaaaaa. I hear “thinking biblically” and I immediately cringe. What is “biblical” is very subjective to a wide variety of interpretations these days.
I have complex feelings with CCEF. It too was founded by Adams with Johnny Mac involved. CCEF seems to have a more holistic approach than ACBC and they allow women to teach without safeguarding men from learning from women.
David Powlison (former executive director, PhD science/medicine/psychiatry) worked in psychiatry before he became a Christian so he had more nuance and grace in his perspective. I purchased a video series of him teaching on psychiatric disorders but have not dug in yet.
I typically enjoy Mike Emlet (also a Dr of medicine) and Julie Lowe (licensed professional counselor) as well. I struggle with Ed Welsh (licensed psychologist) bc has written a lot on anxiety and addiction but I have yet to see him make the connection to these as a symptom of something other than sin — tho his recent quotes on CCEF Insta have been grace-filled. It's a huge step in comparison to ACBC where you have men teaching on depression, etc. with no medical or psychology training.
I do see the same rhetoric, “Trauma is bad but God is better/bigger/etc.” which, while true, can mean we aren't going to address the biology that God designed and how that affects our functioning and relationship to, well, everything.
I do see the theme for their upcoming conference is trauma and Mike Emlet will be speaking on Trauma and the body (your email likely hyping the conference) and I can't quite tell what he thinks about becoming trauma-informed as it's in quotes.
I'd say that I have hope but we’ll still need to wait on the learning curve. I pray people like Aundi Kobler will catch on in those circles.
I really thought that I replied to this, but I guess that was only in my head. 🤦🏻♀️ Your insights are VERY helpful and I'm really grateful that you took the time to help me understand the connection (and disconnection) between CCEF and ACBC. I've been thinking about how technically speaking, there is no "biblical" way to think about trauma. The Bible gives us plenty of examples of potentially traumatic events, calls us to affirm the worth and dignity of every human, and compels us to respond the to pain of others with the radical compassion of Jesus, but that's about it. The biblical authors had no access to the neuroscience that explains trauma, so to suggest that there's some "biblical" way to understand it, especially if that "biblical" way ignores or downplays the neuroscience, is a big stretch. You don't need to respond to that, I've just been doing a LOT of thinking about that adjective "biblical" and how misused it is. Thanks again, Jennifer!
Valid!
I think a “biblical” approach to trauma is found in Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter (neuroscience for example) and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.” God’s direction is not only found in Scripture but also in his creation. He built our bodies and we get to discover and learn how he created us and how to treasure and care for our bodies.
As one who subscribed to the Journal of Biblical Counseling, paid for all my paper copies to be put onto CD’s back in the day, read as many of CCEF’s books as I could and then received counseling for her marriage, and her young children, this article deeply resonates with my experience. Some of the biblical counseling was we received was truly helpful, but our family was way beyond its scope. Until 2013, we belonged to a “family” of churches, (read cult) SGM, that condemned secular psychology, psychiatry, and medication to treat mental health issues. If our problems couldn’t be solved by receiving pastoral counseling within our church, the only other option was biblical counseling. I’m grateful we finally left in 2013 and pivoted to therapeutic services. We’re ten + years deep with trauma therapy, medication adjustments, and still trying to uncover all that seems to be misaligned within our children’s bodies and minds. It’s a complex topic, and I pray the church begins to take much better, more humble approaches to this.
Oh goodness, yes the JBC! Fwew!
So glad y'all were able to get out and get help. There's definitely a lot of humility needed in this field and I’m hopeful as I do see that humility, growth, and respect for biology in the next generation!
This is really good. I’m still on CCEF’s email list from back in the day. The most recent email has the heading “Thinking Biblically About Trauma.” I couldn’t even bring myself to click the links because of my awareness that your experience with “biblical” counseling is tragically common. I had a weird moment with that email that’s hard to explain. Just stared at it for a few minutes. Felt the reaction in my body. Based on that experience, I’m curious...Do you see an attempt within organizations like CCEF to incorporate actual scientific research; to be trauma-informed in a meaningful way that accounts for the vast complexities of mental health? I have a hunch the answer in “no.” But perhaps I’m being unfair. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Oof, yaaaaa. I hear “thinking biblically” and I immediately cringe. What is “biblical” is very subjective to a wide variety of interpretations these days.
I have complex feelings with CCEF. It too was founded by Adams with Johnny Mac involved. CCEF seems to have a more holistic approach than ACBC and they allow women to teach without safeguarding men from learning from women.
David Powlison (former executive director, PhD science/medicine/psychiatry) worked in psychiatry before he became a Christian so he had more nuance and grace in his perspective. I purchased a video series of him teaching on psychiatric disorders but have not dug in yet.
I typically enjoy Mike Emlet (also a Dr of medicine) and Julie Lowe (licensed professional counselor) as well. I struggle with Ed Welsh (licensed psychologist) bc has written a lot on anxiety and addiction but I have yet to see him make the connection to these as a symptom of something other than sin — tho his recent quotes on CCEF Insta have been grace-filled. It's a huge step in comparison to ACBC where you have men teaching on depression, etc. with no medical or psychology training.
I do see the same rhetoric, “Trauma is bad but God is better/bigger/etc.” which, while true, can mean we aren't going to address the biology that God designed and how that affects our functioning and relationship to, well, everything.
I do see the theme for their upcoming conference is trauma and Mike Emlet will be speaking on Trauma and the body (your email likely hyping the conference) and I can't quite tell what he thinks about becoming trauma-informed as it's in quotes.
I'd say that I have hope but we’ll still need to wait on the learning curve. I pray people like Aundi Kobler will catch on in those circles.
I really thought that I replied to this, but I guess that was only in my head. 🤦🏻♀️ Your insights are VERY helpful and I'm really grateful that you took the time to help me understand the connection (and disconnection) between CCEF and ACBC. I've been thinking about how technically speaking, there is no "biblical" way to think about trauma. The Bible gives us plenty of examples of potentially traumatic events, calls us to affirm the worth and dignity of every human, and compels us to respond the to pain of others with the radical compassion of Jesus, but that's about it. The biblical authors had no access to the neuroscience that explains trauma, so to suggest that there's some "biblical" way to understand it, especially if that "biblical" way ignores or downplays the neuroscience, is a big stretch. You don't need to respond to that, I've just been doing a LOT of thinking about that adjective "biblical" and how misused it is. Thanks again, Jennifer!