So few churches and Christian leaders including Christian Counselors emphasize the Care and Cure of the Soul that it must not be very important. Despite the modern neglect of Soul Care the Early Church was deeply involved in it and focused a great deal of scripture on the importance of healing the hearts of wounded members.
One of the great and most hopeful scripture in the Bible comes from God's instructions to Moses in Exodus 15:26 “If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I put upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord, your healer.”
Then God gave Moses a bunch of instructions about what to do to stay healthy. In almost every case they were instructions on prevention, wellness, stopping the spread of disease and other healthy ideas. In fact, the Jewish Priests were called to be Community Health Care Officers for the Hebrew Children.
The New Testament also contains many suggestions on how to stay healthy, prevent illnesses and develop a lifestyle of wellness. It also includes passages on healing in a remedial sense but we mostly read about how to get "None of the diseases of the non-believers".
For example, many of the current disease states we face in America and the Western societies stem from poor lifestyle decisions not germs, viruses and chronic illnesses. One of the most disturbing lifestyle issues leading to lowered quality of health is Adverse Childhood Events (ACE). Interviews of thousands of patients by the Kaiser Permanente HMO in California revealed that a high percentage of the patients suffered from serious losses, unresolved grief, trauma and emotional pain.
The chart below shows why it is very important to heal those hurts.
It is my view that the churches can best teach on these issues and develop simple processes so their members can find God's love and peace during the early stages of Christian growth. Far too often we wait until there is a serious crisis of burn out, marital conflicts, illness or a church split.
The early years of Christian growth needs to be like Boot Camp in the Navy. A new believer is transferred from an old life to a new way of living. Discipleship, personal mentoring, coaching and developing new ways to think and feel are all crucial.
Our materials are being used by churches and mission groups all over the world to facilitate healing and growth. I suggest you begin by reading Power Christian Thinking that lays out a plan for "Taking every thought captive to the mind of Christ". I CO 2:15
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