Faulty Christian Beliefs

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" FAULTY CHRISTIAN BELIEFS / ANXIETY "

" Some anxiety-producing faulty beliefs are common in Christians,

though they may exist more on a feeling level than intellectually.

Several of these faulty beliefs follow:

** " God can never forgive me for some past sin, " a belief refuted

by I 1:9 and Psalm 103:12-14.

** " God cannot use me because I am weak or not completely

spiritually strong in all areas, " a belief opposed by 2 Corinthians

12:9, " For My strength is made perfect in weakness. "

** " God will love me more if I do more for God. " God's love cannot

be earned; Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us it is simply " by grace ...though

faith ... the gift of God, not of works. "

** " Because I am not prosperous, God's love is no longer with me. "

** " I am not important in the body of Christ. "

** " I am doomed to a life of loneliness. "

** " I must carry my guilt for a certain length of time before I can

be forgiven. "

It is the counselor's job to redirect these false beliefs to a

biblical perspective. He can do this by developing assignments

whereby the client can see that his belief systems simply are not

true. For example, an individual who believes that he cannot give

talks before others may be given the assignment of sharing his

testimony with a small group and observing how they respond. The

specific evidence helps to overcome his erroneous belief.

When the belief system is faulty, the individual's beliefs cause

anxiety. In cognitive therapy, these belief systems are challenged,

and then new healthy, anxiety-reducing belief systems are slowly

developed. "

Copyright 1989. " Worry-Free Living " , Written by Minirth, M.D.,

Meier, M.D., Don Hawkins, Th.M., published by

Publishing Company.