Theophostic Counseling - Is it Christian?
What does the Word of God say about it?
By Jim Searcy

Many think of me as being judgmental. I wonder if they will ever think that that is a judgmental thing for them to think?

Like it or not, I am one who will DO Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Generally, people will separate from me, because I insist on Biblical principles. I call sin, SIN. I am intolerant of excuses.

I am deeply grieved whenever the Biblical Model of Christianity is replaced with a Mystical Model. The mystical has swept the churches, and though few may realize it, the judgment of the Church is almost complete. The mystical model will just about always show fruit of bizarre manifestations and crazy illustrations. In short it is another gospel, which replaces the true Gospel of Christ with "a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" - Galatians 1:6-8.

What do we mean when we speak, or make a comparison, of Biblical or Mystical Christianity? Biblical Christianity is what the real Jesus Christ established. The REAL Christ was crucified on a Roman cross for SINNERS, and ROSE again from the dead. The Biblical Model has been followed by all the saints of history before these last days of strong delusion. Biblical Christianity has three elements - The Word of God; The Spirit of God; and the Regenerated Mind of Man. It is governed by the Word of God, with Christ being central. The major appeal is always through the mind, which must remain alert, rational, and ordered at all times. The emotions are SUBJECT to the understanding.

The Mystical Model, on the other hand, contains two elements - Spirit + Human Spirit. Until the recent widespread end time deception, apart from an occasional intrusion into the true Church, this mystical model has been followed only by false religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, the cults, and the occult. Spiritualism is deadly dangerous in these days of strong delusion.

The Mystical Model is governed by so called "spiritual experience" so that the Word of God is no longer foundational. Experience, not Christ, NOT the Word of God, becomes central. The appeal is mainly through the emotions with the mind remaining passive, neutral, and inoperative. The Word of God, if it is used at all, is used only for "proof texts" (usually out of context) to examine "the fruit" of the experience.

Mysticism spiritualizes ordinary objects without any Biblical warrant or basis, such as the recent Redeeming the Land seminars, PK national rallies, and great large ecumenical rallies.

Theophostics appears to be another new and spiritually dangerous method of psychotherapy involving occult visualization techniques. Many such deceptions have wormed their way into the modern day church.

Dr. Ed Smith, is the founder of Theophostics. Ed Smith has 17 prior years of experience in psychological counseling. Ed Smith coined the name and this methodology that he has called "Theophostics" (i.e. "God"-"light"). Ed Smith says it was a direct revelation from God to him in 1996. The implication of this is that God waited nearly 2000 years while "hurting" people stumbled about in their emotional pain, waiting for Ed Smith's (or rather, God's) breakthrough in psychotherapy.

Theophostics has an enticing story of success, with many personal testimonies. Theophostics practitioners, and those who have their conscience seared by the practice, will often have quite a few New Testament scripture citations. Ed Smith would almost have you think that those scriptures were especially written nearly 2000 years ago for such a time and methodology as this. Jesus said they would, come in My Name. So we should indeed expect a disarming recitation of a standard statement of the Christian faith. We should also expect a denial that this is just another method of psychotherapy, visualization, or guided imagery. Theophostics is presented as nothing less than a breakthrough in Christian counseling.

But it is just another demonic attack on the integrity and sufficiency of the Christian faith, and an open door into the spirit world of the occult.
To begin with, Ed Smith, leads his clients to go where we are told, as Christians, not to go: The PAST.

The Apostle Paul says, THIS ONE THING I DO, this ONE thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. (Phil 3:13-14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me IN Christ Jesus. All of us, who are of full age in Christ, should take such a view of things.

Paul also writes "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

Born-again saints are to be NOW, and forward-lookers, not backward-lookers. The only exception is a sin, in your past, that requires restitution or reconciliation. That fruit of repentance demonstrates to those whom you have wronged, that your repentance is genuine and godly. That is a good witness.

Other than that, there is nothing of value back there in the past to dwell on.
It cannot be over emphasized that the idea of digging into the past is totally foreign to the whole counsel of scripture. There is not one single instance, let alone teaching, of digging into the past to deal with some hidden or perceived emotional trauma, in the entire bible. The only exception is that of exposing sins committed for the purpose of challenging the sinner to repentance.

Other than that one exception, the entire Word of God is always to disregard, discard, and forget the past. Born-again people are to focus on the present and the future.

What is psychology about? It is the wisdom of man. The majority of psychology practitioners are godless atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, skeptics, and sexual perverts. Psychologists have used their godless imaginations, over the last century, to explain man's spirituality APART from God. Psychology is pseudo-science. As a professional engineer, I know the difference between pseudo-science and true science. I can only give an opinion on psychiatry as pseudo-medical practice.

The disguise of pseudo-science allows psychology to creep into the churches. Many have had consciences seared. The church has been enticed into man-centered, rather than Christ-centered teaching and counseling. Psychology is based on the foolish and vain inventions of secular mystics. It all started with the teachings of Sigmund Freud, just a century ago. Do any Christians know what a reprobate is? In a person it was Sigmund Freud.

But what does the bible say? " Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and VAIN deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col 2:8)

Where is Christ Jesus in such teaching? Such teaching and counseling always puts man, the sinner, at the center of God's plan and love. The subject Christian is then taught to go AGAINST the Word of God. He is told to look inward at himself. He is taught to look backward at his PAST. The entire Word of God teaches man to look outward and forward. The Bible teaches to look towards our fellow man and Christ. The Word of God teaches us to look forward toward our heavenly calling. The Bible teaches us to be full-time worshippers of God. The Bible teaches us to be DOERS of the Word of God, and thereby partake of His glory, which we DO NOT deserve. The truth is that we deserve hell for our sins. The truth is that Jesus Christ died for SINNERS! Alleluia! I am a redeemed SINNER.

We need good preaching regarding sin. That is nearly impossible today, when the church does not know the DIFFERENCE between the LAW of Sin and Death, the LAW of Moses, and the ROYAL LAW of God.

Man is not a victim. Man is a SINNER. Fallen man has been deceived by the devil's evil plans. Yet, man is completely responsible and accountable for his sinful behavior. Excuses make you a worker of iniquity. Mat 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Blood of Yeshua makes you a REDEEMED SINNER. Why do we allow anybody to tell us it is NOT our fault? Why can anyone in a "so called" Christian church be allowed to say that we will NOT be held accountable for violations of the Royal Law of God?

True repentance and peace with God is not attainable through psychology. It will only make you FEEL good on your way to HELL. Is that MERCY? Is that LOVE? If it is, just call me "No Mercy Searcy."

Repentance for any VAIN (inward focused, self focused) creature, and we are all vain creatures, is IMPOSSIBLE without the GRACE of God. Until sinful man is fully convinced in his heart, of the fact that he is deserving of punishment, he will not repent. Man must be fully convinced, that without the Blood of Jesus, without REPENTANCE, condemnation is a slam dunk.

God cannot lie. Hell is the penalty for every evil act, and every evil intention, against the Royal Law of God. No man will find God’s GRACE apart from that conviction. Do you FEEL bad? Alleluia! Your conscience may not yet be seared. Run to Jesus!

It makes no difference whoever else was involved in whatever conspiracy or sin that took place. You are the one you have to keep out of hell. Forgive them! Move on. The Word of God tells us not to play with the past, and the VAIN deceit, and cunning craftiness of men.

The basis of psychology is AGAINST the Word of God. The basis of psychology is against the Bible regarding the total depravity, that fallen man must come to understand, to find the GRACE of God. Psychology opposes the hopelessness of every man’s sinful condition. Psychology sears the conscience regarding man’s desperate need for salvation.

Show me the psychology book where you can find: " As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Rom 3:10-18)

There is no one righteous, not even one. Where is that to be found in the psychology text books that Ed Smith studied.

Dear friends, call me "No Mercy Searcy." I cannot but tell you the truth that I have found from the Word of God. That truth is, that no matter how "hurt" or how "victimized" you FEEL, how victimized you are, or how victimized you may have been, you deserve, and have deserved every bit of it. And that pain is just a small taste of the horror and terror of hell, which is unrelenting, eternal, and irreversible, if one ends up there. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. However, God is not going to wring His hands at the prospect of sinful man going there because man refuses to admit he is a SINNER. Rather, as Creator of all things, including hell, He planned it that way as the just penalty for falling short of His righteousness, and His glory.

In hell the unrepentant and unbelieving who have been abused or victimized by Satanic rituals, or any other horrible thing, will join the unrepentant and unbelieving Satanic abusers of people. In hell there will be great wailing, weeping, and gnashing of teeth at the FOREVER torment. FOREVER can be really good or really bad. No in between. We MUST make the right choice on this one. I say choose life, even if it HURTS for a little while.

Hell will be full of those who chose the FEEL good psychology path to hell. The broad way of psychology leads to hell. Feeling good does not make it good. Feeling right does not make it right. Doing what God says is right, makes it right. In choosing the good feelings of psychology, did they reject God's offer of forgiveness of SINS through the cross of Jesus Christ?

No temporal pain of abuse and victimization will be remembered in hell. Hell is FOREVER. The agony of hell will far surpass any experience in this life. Let us therefore endure whatever affliction. We must give up the focus on self, and focus on Yeshua and others. Forget the PAST temporal pain of abuse during our short temporal lives. And if we do not choose to forget it by pressing on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, we will long to return to that light affliction. Because it will seem trivial compared to the agony and torment of hell. Review what Jesus said about a certain rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, if you think I am exaggerating.

Jesus Himself dealt very directly with the question of victimization:
"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:1-5)

The "breakthrough" does NOT come by convincing yourself that you are a VICTIM of your PAST and the evil acts and schemes of OTHERS. Is breakthrough another word for victory? The breakthrough comes when you realize just how great is God's love, His mercy, and His compassion. He took upon Himself the full punishment that you deserved in your worthless, ugly, depraved state of existence. That is TRUE Breakthrough. That is REAL TRUE Victory.

Then how incredible, how totally awesome, how amazing and wonderful the full pardon for sin, the gift of eternal life, and the heavenward calling becomes. The GREAT JOY of God’s love comes only to those who comprehend the depths to which they have fallen, and the utter hopelessness of their sinful condition. The abused and victimized believers will, in heaven, forget the pain of their short temporal lives. HEAVEN is FOREVER. In heaven, no one will remember the passing pains of this life. In heaven, we will dwell with God and see Him face to face, and know Him as we are known. The joy of worshipping Him will wipe away all tears.

The psychologists and psychiatrists want you believe God’s Word lies about the nature of man. They would have you believe that man is inherently good. The vain deceit of theophostics would have you believe that man is a victim of his past. Theophostics would have you believe that evildoers are sick, not sinful. Psychology teaches that one should have high self-esteem, instead of low self-esteem and high God-esteem. Psychology teaches that one should have a feeling of self-worth, rather than God-worth and self-worthlessness. Psychology teaches that one should have a good self-image, rather than a good Christ-image and a bad self-image.

Such teachings are from the pit of hell. Some man of God must have enough knowledge and regard for the Word of God to say so. Such teachings are void of the fear of God. The vast majority in today’s churches, 98% according to Elijah, are going to hell feeling good about such blatant contradictions of the Word of God. It is grievous to see pastors and men of God, who are supposed to KNOW the Word of God, embracing such doctrines of devils. The methods and philosophy of psychology have contaminated the church. No wonder so many who are REALLY hearing from the Lord are hearing Him say Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Let me tell you, it is vain deceit to preach that to love others you must first love yourself. The broad way to hell has all the good FEELINGS of high self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image. Such blatant contradiction of the Word of God does not come from the Spirit of Truth and Holiness. Such philosophy cannot be "christianized." This stuff is flat out secular mystic’s lies, with a "Christian" vainer or not. SELF IS THE PROBLEM! We are creatures of VANITY.

Pastors and shepherds are unfaithful to lead and counsel those in their own flock. They are sending them to the wolves Jesus warned us would be wearing sheep’s clothing. These "professionals" spent years leaning the world's philosophy, and not after Christ. They receive this ANTICHRIST philosophy as providing great insight into people's problems. Sheep are being sent by pastors to the "professional" conscience searers with the hotter irons.

Christian bookstores do not seem Christian to me now days. Look at the teaching tapes, videos, and the shelves of Christian bookstores. More and more one will find teachings that focus the believer on himself. Books, self help books, how to deliver yourself from your problems. The "Christian" coating gets thinner and thinner. How to heal your wounds, how to find your inner fulfillment? What ever the problem there are a half dozen new books to make you FEEL better about yourself. Does anybody ever die daily anymore? Does anybody get crucified with Christ any more? Does anybody present their bodies as a living sacrifice anymore? That may not FEEL good. But 2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. CHILD OF GOD, IT IS HARD TO HURT A DEAD MAN. Heaven is not that bad.

Yet what does the scripture say? "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Tim 3:1-8)

TODAY'S Modern Growing and Going Church. They are "lovers of themselves." Lovers of themselves is number one in a long list of sins that would characterize the church of last days. You can bet they sing pretty and feel good, they have "a form of godliness but denying its power." Did they "CREEP" in, Oyveh! The spirits that make them FEEL so good are the spirits of Jannes and Jambres, NOT the Spirit of Truth and Holiness.

So Ed Smith got Theophostics from God? Not the God of the Bible. Theophostics has a miracle method that the Word of God would call a pretended sign and wonder. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. Ed Smith claims he has been given revealed light from God. Which God? Satan can come as an angel of Light. (2 Cor 11:14-15)

Ed Smith has "lie-based theology." The Bible has "sin-based theology." His basic premise, that man is good, and is a victim, is BIBLICALLY FLAWED. Ed Smith infers that "hurting" people must deal with their PAST "wounds." Ed Smith infers that the "sin-based theology" of the Bible is a legalistic effort of man to overcome sin through self-effort.

"Lie-based theology" is then offered as the better alternative that says that sin is precluded by deception and at the heart of all sinful behavior in the Christian is a lie or deception. "I sin because I have been deceived."
Ed Smith mixes his flawed theology with statements of orthodox Christian doctrine. A good false doctrine always does hide the error in a mix of truth. The sound biblical statements have the effect of disarming the student and convincing him that the method is "biblical." But the focus remains on the lie of "lie-based theology."

I saw a reprint of an example Theophostic "counseling" session. For that reason I would not have the book in my house if what was reported to be on page 84 of Ed Smith's manual "Beyond Tolerable Recovery: Moving beyond tolerable existence, into genuine restoration and emotional inner healing. Theophostic Counseling" (1st Edition). You may buy the book, you may think it is Christian but I won’t spend the Lord’s substance on that kind of trash. GARBAGE!

Ed Smith’s Theophostics presupposes that we must go back in the PAST to find the "lie" that is hidden somewhere in the "dark room" of their deep subconscious. His technique then goes into his method to generate an altered state of consciousness. The client is to let their mind drift into the past, until the "lie" (which must be there, says theophostics) is discovered in a dark, hidden place. Then there's this "stirring up the darkness" where the client to is to focus on the "lie" and repeat it over and over, re-feeling and re-living the pain and emotions that are associated with it.

Good technique for inducing an altered state of consciousness. The occult has perfected such techniques. The eastern mystic religions also use such techniques to produce the altered states of consciousness.

God Forbid that people can think such things are Christian or Biblical. The one part of his being that a Christian will never surrender control of is his mind. The self control fruit of the spirit must be most diligently applied regarding the mind. We are to take every thought captive to the mind of Christ. We are to gird up our minds 1 Pet 1:13. We are to have our mind renewed by the Holy Spirit of Truth. You empty your mind in these days and you may be sure a demon will fill it. Mysticism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the occult will empty the mind and go for an altered state of consciousness. No way will the Christian, who knows the Word of God, go for an empty mind or altered state of consciousness.

The most basic knowledge of the wiles of the devil, should see a blatant obvious demonic entry. The devil attempts to create a scenario where God cannot be, seduce the counselee victim into a hypnotic trance, entice him into throwing away his ability to reason out of it, create enough feelings of evil that a Holy God would never associate with it, eliminate the possibility that God would enter by presumptuously commanding that God come when he calls, then inject a counterfeit Jesus-spirit guide to take control of the subject and induce a "high." Success is then proclaimed, because when the counselee comes out of it, he FEELS delivered and healed. What has really happened? His conscience has just been seared with a hot iron. He has given the most serious GROUND for demon possession.

The Jesus-apparition/presence encounter is the most frightening part of all of Theophostics. Theophostics can have God at your beck and call. A Jesus apparition is always available when ever you say. Oyveh!

Satan is a master of wiles. What bothers me, is that supposed men of God, supposed of full age in the Word of God, could bring such into their churches. Satan comes as an angel of light. One of the devils favorite wiles is to impersonate God. He still labors in that delusion. Ed Smith’s Breakthroughs and great victories are great victories of the devil. The breakthrough is the seared conscience that comes with giving ground to a very STRONG DELUSION. Yet, the Word of God tells us even the very elect would be deceived if it were possible.

Ed Smith’s Theophostics gets very quick results because he is fast tracking to the searing of the conscience effect of demon possession. He ties right into the high power transmission lines, tapping right into the supernatural powers of the occult. Most conventional methods use humanly contrived procedures over a long period of time to get a person to feel good about themselves and their own desires. Ed Smith does not need the extended weekly visits of a few suckers. He is not getting people addicted to counseling and psychoactive drugs in his process. He is fast tracking in giving ground for demon possession and the seared conscience to boot.
No doubt business is booming for Theophostics, for Jesus said FEW would enter His straight and narrow way, of the cross, of trials, of persecution, of suffering.

Knowing that the Word of God tells us such things were coming in these last days, is part of the reason why we have the GJiGT unabridged version of "War on the Saints" available on the www site. I gave Henry Gruver a copy. Henry was specifically asked to judge and find any error or departure from sound doctrine. He said he read it. He said he found no fault with it.

Satan is a deceiver. He comes as an angel of light. Jesus told us Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The devil first deceives a person. Satan lures through lust of the flesh or some other object of human desire. The devil gets one to listen to him instead of God, and very often will give a person what they desired. Then, God's protection is lifted. Satan will then hurt him and unless the ground given is taken back, destroy that soul in hell.

The Theophostic method gives tremendous ground to the realm of the occult for demon possession. The bait or object of desire, which is a good feeling about one’s self, concerning one's past, is granted. But with a stronghold established, the devil will then attack the person in some other way. The attack will likely be in a way that is totally unrelated. Theophostic victims and practitioners will not make the connection. Ground is given and remains. The end may be infinitely worse off than when he started. Theophostic breakthrough is a victory for demons by getting the person to focus on SELF. Self is the problem. You are not delivered because you FEEL good about your self and have a better self image. Wow, they even call it Self Image. Could Self Image be an IDOL?

The way John ended his First Epistle is a fitting close to this. 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

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