I am writing this article because I am reading a book for class called, 'Seeing With New Eyes' by David Powlison. The book is excellent on all angles. But in class we are studying the history of psychology along with the history of Biblical counseling (which is much more recent). I have learned some new things from taking this course.
One thing is that psychology is a category created by society for those who are suffering and experiencing the effects of the fall (which really includes all of us). But what happened was, first of all, the church really wasn't equipped to help people with suffering and problems. And secondly, psychology/psychiatry was thought up by people who have philosophies which leave God out of the picture. So, in essence, today psychology is just man's way of trying to take problems that are related to the spiritual, into the physical realm. Since God is left out of the picture, and since man is the measure of all things, psychology, as we know it today, has a lot to be desired. Man is not the answer to man's problems. Circumstances and environment do not cause people to sin. God created a beautiful world, with people who were made 'very good', but since the fall of man took place (see Genesis 3) mankind has suffered and has caused suffering and has always been in search of the reasons why. Only God has the answer for all of our sufferings and sins.
Pelagians are professing Christians who believe that human beings are basically good, and that a person can choose whether he or she wants to sin. They do not believe in effects of the fall of mankind, as written about in Genesis 3, nor do they believe that sin has a hold on people that needs to be broken. They do believe that Jesus died to pay for people's sins, but they also believe that the person must keep the Commandments of God in order to be saved. These people really do believe that they are keeping all the Commandments as well, and will be puzzled if you are honest with them about your struggle with sin.
In a sense, all of us, by default, think like Pelagians. We assume people are basically good. We think of sin as just disobeying the 10 Commandments. This though, misses the understanding of the deep inner hold of sin. Sin is not something you do (or rather is not limited to something you do). It is what we are. We don't see ourselves as sinners typically because we live in a fallen world and are blinded to our own sins. We can see the sins of others though, but even with that, we really don't see sin the way God sees it. God is light and He sees every sin and will destroy it One Day. We also have an Enemy of our souls who is on our backs 24/7 tempting us to sin, and looking for those places we are vulnerable in. He doesn't tempt us where it is obvious to us, but in those subtle places that we don't see. He wants us to fall and to feel guilt, shame, and hopelessness, and ultimately, despair.
I have seen Pelagians preach their message. It is usually one of hatred and judgment. There is not a message of hope in it. That is because they believe people can just make a decision to not sin anymore. Why I am writing this article is simply because if we, as the church, do not understand this simple fact, we are not going to be equipped to do Biblical counseling. The difference between Biblical counseling and Pelagian theology is serious. We might think of ourselves as reformed or orthodox in our views, but if we don't understand that sin is the fabric we are made of, we are going to discourage those who need counseling from us. We will tell them to 'Shape up', or, 'Repent'. Believe me, people have tried already to shape up. Many have tried to pull themselves up on their own boot straps so that they can be ready to come to God in repentance and faith. But they won't be able to because they have not been taught correctly about their sin and about the Cross. Pelagians think Calvinism makes people irresponsible with their sins. But that is not true. (Calvinism holds the belief of God being sovereign and saving, keeping, delivering, and setting people free from sin). Whatever labels we have, the point is to always go back to the Scriptures.
People cannot 'stop sinning'. Repentance doesn't mean to 'stop sinning'. "It means to turn away from our sins and turn to Jesus Christ as Savior in faith. Jesus came to save, to invite people to an inner transformation of mind, heart, motives, will, identity, and emotions." (David Powlison, Seeing With New Eyes). It means developing a relationship with the true and living God, which can now take place because God sent His Son to die for human beings in their sinful condition.
God doesn't wait for people to clean up their acts before He will accept them. He accepts those who turn to Him and He Himself cleans them up with the blood of His Son. That is how they become acceptable to God.
If you are a person who has encountered or seen professing Christians telling you to 'stop sinning' or have heard God's judgment upon you because of some obvious sin you are committing or struggling with, and have heard this from counselors, you have heard the Pelagian way of doing counseling, which doesn't work. Pelagians don't believe in progressive sanctification either, so that is another reason why Biblical counseling doesn't work with Pelagianism.
God is a God of hope. God can change us. God's grace is there for us if we are humble and see our need for it. We have to ask God for help, as we are helpless.
For those who are ministering in the church; be careful to not manipulate people to change. Using scare tactics and threats are not God's way of working. Galatians 6:1-3 tells us to help our brother or sister who has fallen or is entangled in sin, so they can get out. We persevere with people. We are to be patient with others. We stay with them through the process of breaking the bonds of sin. We are to stay with them until the knots get untangled and the chains are broken. We really are our brother's keepers.
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| The doctrines of Pelagianism are not found in the Scriptures |
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