I am providing this brief essay as an introduction
of theophostics from a Biblical perspective because we
see these techniques pervasive at the global level and
already trickling into schools, churches, and some
corporate retreats.--DJ

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?

I am not Henry Gruver. Ask Henry about almost anything, and he will say "I
find no fault with that." That is good. He knows how mercy triumphs over
judgment. He CHOOSES not to find fault. He is an evangelist. He is neither
an overseer, nor a prophet, though he has received some of the most
profound, detailed, and scripturally sound prophetic visions.

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. I insist on Biblical principles.
I call sin, SIN. I am intolerant of excuses. I do hope that Henry does not
separate from me over what I am led to research regarding Theophostic
Counseling.

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. Thophostic practicioners, 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 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 with 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 God's love, His mercy, and His compassion is, to
have taken 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 to those who come to 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 chruches, 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 the
secular mystic’s lies. A "Christian" vainer does not change the lie. SELF
IS THE PROBLEM! We are creatures of VAINITY.

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 learning the
world's philosophy, and not after Christ. They receive this ANTICHRIST
philosophy as providing great insight into people's problems. Send them 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 crucifed 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 Chruch. 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 are denying its power." Did
they "CREEP" in, Oyveh! The spirits that make them FEEL so good are the
spirits of Jannes and Jambories, 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 the 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 "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 appearition 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 deciever. 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, and
ultimately 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.

Shalom & Simcha,
Jim Searcy

Great Joy in Great Tribulation www sites:
http://www.dccsa.com/greatjoy/
and
http://www.gvtc.com/~jsearcy/