CHRISTIAN CARE OVERVIEW
The Bible declares that people are God’s special creations, made in His very own image (Genesis 1:26-27). The Bible specifically deals with humanities spirituality, including environment, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. True Biblical Christian Care points the individual to Christ and the Word of God. Biblical care is a pastoral activity, a product of the Spiritual gift of Exhortation, and its goal is not self-esteem but sanctification.
The Scriptures are the primary resource for the Christian care professional to help the individual. As Romans 12: 1-2 instructs us, transformation occurs through renewing our mind to agree with the Scriptures. If there is to be any concrete life – change, the Bible is the source for all lasting life – change. Therefore, ASM employs the whole of positive Biblical Christian Care that is grounded in such Scriptures as Romans 15:13-14; a prayer for God to fill you with all joy and peace in believing … (verse14) the Apostle Paul writes that he is satisfied that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct (admonish, correct) one another. “Dear brothers and sister, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.” (I Thessalonians 5:12) And All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right – so that the people of God is prepared, made complete and equipped to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Our method is to apply the Word of God so that the individual may be changed, equipped, and made complete. Second Timothy 3:16-17 provides four primary methods of application used by ASM to achieve Spiritual change in the character and conduct of the believer. Doctrine and correction relate primarily to belief, whereas instruction and reproof relate primarily to behavior. Doctrine, means teaching, instructions that which is learned. Scripture is written for our learning – Romans 15:4. We are encouraged to attend to it and to heed it – 1 Timothy 4:13.
Correction carries the meaning “to make straight again.” To correct false doctrines or belief that one may hold. The idea is raising up those who fall and correcting those in error. Bothe doctrine and correction relate mainly to the beliefs of the individual. Instructions in Righteousness refer to training, guiding the individual in the way of God and includes discipline and confronting unrighteousness. Instruction and reproof relate to behavior. Instruction is training the individual how to live for Christ daily. Reproof stops the individual from conducting themselves in an inappropriate way and strives to bring the behavior in line with the Word of God.
ASM Christian Care Services work to produce concrete life – change in each individual. The desire is to affect a behavioral and attitudinal change that represents Christ-likeness. Therefore, the aim must be twofold for the Christian Care professional to be effective. First, in-reach or justification must be realized by the professional before outreach can take its rightful place. Second, the lifelong process of sanctification, which is set apart to a life of worship and service to God and humanity is fully engaged. When both are fully embraced, the mature Christian Care professional is ready to “go” to heal, to deliver and set free in the victorious name of Jesus. Do you want to be healed?