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Id like to start this information page with asking the following question, what is a Christian Rehabilitation Centre? In finding the definition to what Christian rehabilitation centres are to us we are going to break down the single idea of a Christian rehabilitation centre into its 3 most fundamental components.
Christian
There are few words that have been as deluded as this word, to a large degree it has been reduced to a generic term used by humanists, liberal theologians, church members who use the word only as a formality as well as people who intensely love Jesus Christ and what He has done for us on the cross.
It is however only from a biblical perspective that we are able to discern what Jesus himself stood for. Regardless of the title or the meaning we would like to assign to this word, what the bible says is expected of people who truly want to practice their faith in Christ.
Love for one Another:
Going forward let us adopt the meaning of Christian as a born again, true believer of Jesus Christ and all he has said in the Christian bible. What is it that is going to set the Christians apart from a fallen world? Jesus gives us this command in John 13:34–35 (NASB95)
- 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
- 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
To love one another just like Christ loved us is an instruction that is not compromised by humanist beliefs or motives. If we are to follow Christ’s example of love we need to be able to exercises biblical instruction without compromise. Here are two specific area’s (amongst many others) which we believe to be applicable to a Christian Rehabilitation Centre* (I use the word rehabilitation for ease of common understanding and our argument of rehabilitation Vs. regeneration will be discussed later.
Love
- 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
- 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
- 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
- 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- 8 Love never fails.
Without discrediting any of the above verses I would like to emphasise verse 6. This verse highlights a contradiction that us Christians have to other humanist belief systems. In John
14:6 (NASB95)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus clearly states that He is the only truth. If we are to show love, anything other than what Jesus taught and stood for would be a contradiction to the truth that we so dearly believe in. It is only with biblical standards that we are able to measure unrighteousness (see the above verse). Without biblical truth and righteousness we cannot show each other true love. In Matthew 5:20 (NASB95) Jesus makes it clear that righteousness is very important to us Christians.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
This righteousness is not a set of do’s and don’ts but it is a way of getting right with God. You cannot do this unless you put all your faith in Jesus Christ and his Word – The Bible.
Christian Discipline
The bible makes it clear that discipline is not only ordained and exercised by God but it is a requisite for being Gods children.
Hebrews 12:7–8 (NASB95)
- 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
- 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
We are not left on our own to carry the burden of disciplining a carnal mind, instead God has given us a helper that will guide us into all wisdom and understanding. This helper is Gods own spirit.
John 14:26 (NASB95)
- 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
It is important for us to understand that discipline is on an opposite scale to punishment. Discipline corrects where punishment breaks down. As Christians we have been given a spirit of self-discipline and it is our duty to teach each other how to rely on this spirit. When someone is an addict of any kind this is an area in which there is much work needed. We have to teach our students to exercise and understand this new spirit of discipline that they have received once they are reborn. We will need to understand that external discipline should to be applied when habits and belief patterns have been formed that are contrary to Gods spirit of self-discipline.
Ephesians 6:4 (NASB95)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB95)
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB95)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
What are Christian Rehabilitation Centres?
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