I spent a little more time developing my comments on this article and
thought I would post it again so I could try and make you even madder than
the first time.
Followup Commentary On The Dumbest Article I've Ever Read.
By Phil Scovell
Subject: LIMITING ANXIOUS FEELINGS.
The Author said, When I'm facing such situations, I try to
follow the six steps described below to limit my anxious
feelings.
First, state the problem. A problem well stated is half
solved. In anxious states of mind, people can't see the forest
for the trees. Put the problem in perspective. Will it matter for
eternity? The danger at this juncture is to seek ungodly counsel.
The world is glutted with magicians and sorcerers who will
promise incredible results. Their appearance may be striking.
Their personality may be charming. But they are bankrupt of
character. Avoid them. (Psalm 1:1).
Step Number One Comments.
What if you don't know the identity of the problem or what is
even causing it in the first place? What if you are lost in the
middle of an endless ocean of mixed emotions instead a forest of
trees as he suggests? If a tree falls in the forest and you
aren't there to hear it, does it make a noise? I hope he isn't
suggesting we confess the problem rather than Jesus as the Solver
of all problems.
He said, Second, separate the facts from the assumptions.
Since we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, we make
assumptions, and we usually assume the worst. If the assumption
is accepted as truth, it will drive your mind to its anxiety
limits. Therefore, you must separate assumptions from facts.
Step Number Two Comments.
What if you don't know the facts about what you face and you
are unawares of how to determine the facts? Does this mean your
mind has therefore been stretched to the outer limits of anxiety
and so you now must be mentally ill?
He said, Third, determine what you have the right or ability
to control. You are responsible for that which you can control,
and you are not responsible for that which you can't. Don't try to
cast your responsibility onto Christ; He will throw it back.
Step Number Three Comments.
Meanie Jesus. Tossing back what you cannot bear? This ain't
no Heavenly ball game we are playing; it's life. Control? How
can you control uncontrollable circumstances that slam into you
without warning? How about the sudden death of a loved one for
example? Did he ever think of that? How about a loved one who
has cancer and has been given six months to live? What if you get
a call in the middle of the night and your son, who was on his way
to visit his sister in Wichita, was changing a flat tire and was
struck and instantly killed by a passing vehicle? What if you are
12 years old and just found out you have no father, to speak of,
and the one who is your real father is living the rest of his life
in the state prison? What if you can't control even your own
thoughts? This guy obviously has never had that experience or he
wouldn't say such a stupid thing. Where is Jesus when you need
Him the most? This guy certainly doesn't know.
He said, Fourth, list everything you can do which is related
to the situation that is under your responsibility. When people
don't assume their responsibility, they turn to temporary cures
for their anxiety, like eating, TV, sex or drugs.
Step Number Four Comments.
What he means is, you aren't worth spit as far as God is
concerned because you won't take responsibility for your own
problems. In short, God doesn't care if you are trapped by the
anxiety that you should be able to handle on your own in the
first damn place. Besides, he left out eating chocolate and TV
dinners.
He said, Fifth, once you are sure you have fulfilled your
responsibility, see if there is any way you can help others.
Turning your attention away from your own self-absorption and
onto helping people around you is not only the loving thing to do,
but it also brings a special inner peace.
Step Number Five Comments.
This is the old standard come back, everybody else is worse
off than you. So run right out into the traffic, find a freaking
volunteer job, help others, and it will make you feel so much
better, you'll forget all about your fears and anxieties which
God isn't interested in helping you with in the first place,
dummy.
Finally, he said, Sixth, the rest is God's responsibility,
except for your prayer, according to Philippians 4:6-8. So assume
your responsibility, but cast your anxiety on Christ.
Step Number Six Comments.
The rest is up to who? You just were told in five, and
possibly six, steps, how to manage your own freaking anxiety
problems without God's help at all. Why would you now even think
to pray if you don't need God to help you in the first place.
Where did Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible go in these six
steps in the first place? I'm just glad he didn't have 10 steps,
or 47 steps, or 685 steps. Maybe that's the holy version and this
is just the practical, and secular, 6 steps version.
This has been a slightly cynical response to one of the dumbest
Christian advice articles I have read in years. By the way, in
my 50 years plus walk with the Lord, I have tried every single one
of these things many times and they don't freaking work so get a
life and stop showing everybody how little you know about anxiety
of any kind.
Phil, Know It all, Scovell.
It Sounds Like God To Me.
www.SafePlaceFellowship.com
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