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Note from The Tennessee Conservative: Editorial statements in this column are the sole opinion of the author; they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff of this publication.
Submitted by Carol Smith –
I wanted to complete my masters in clinical mental health and was looking for a school that honored God’s word and the Christian worldview. I spoke with an academic counselor in the CMH program at Liberty university who assured me this was the case. She was wrong.
Unfortunately, many “Christian”schools are compromising with the culture.
I was in 2 courses, Ethics and Introduction to Counseling. One of my first assignments I was asked if I would be willing to give “marital counseling”to a gay couple. Another assignment titled: Attitude and Beliefs Inventory gave examples of clients in various situations and asked how “comfortable would we be working with this population or problem.
One was “A gay or lesbian couple wanting to work on conflicts in their relationship. Another was ‘a gay or lesbian couple wanting to adopt a child.”
I began to dig into the textbooks. I only read the first few chapters before withdrawing from the program.
The textbooks were: Introduction to Counseling: Integration of Faith, Professional Identity and Clinical Practice. Simmons, Lilley & Kuhnley. Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling. Remley & Herliny. I will mention a few excerpts from these books in relationship to current issues.
In my Intro to Counseling, the authors state “they want to create something that would help students understand how to be and think like an ‘ethically responsible counselor’ who is also a Christian and sought an education which included the Christian worldview.
1. The sanctity of human life/ Abortion: Ethics p72 “Counselors need to understand women’s issues, including the right to control their own bodies.” p174 the question is asked, when does human life begin? If human life begins before birth,then destroying life is murder. The authors in both textbooks never mention scripture such as Psalms 139: 13-16, Jeremiah 1:5 and countless others that answer that question!
They state: “Some ‘Christians’ would support abortion based
on their view of a women’s autonomy promoting the ‘freedomto choose.” As stated throughout these books, “A professional counselor, will avoid ‘imposing’ personal, (Christian) values.” They also state the client needs to ‘feel supported’.” So Christian counselors are to give ‘support’ to a client who chooses abortion.
2. Right to Die/Suicide: Intro to Counseling: p241 “Counselors are to ‘bracket’ their values concerning end-of-life decisions.” “According to current cultural values, suicidal thoughts related to terminal end-of-life concerns are considered personal values…’ “A counselor interceding on behalf of a client contemplating suicide related to end-of-life concerns would be ‘imposing’ their values on a client.”
Ethics p81…”Every counselor will be competent to work with terminally ill clients who wish to explore their end-of-life options.” You cannot refer. “Counselors need to ask themselves, under what circumstances do you think hastening one’s own death is an acceptable option…” “What if the individual is only 30 years old?” “…it is essential that you do not ‘impose’ your own beliefs and values even inadvertently about living, dying, quality of life, religion or spirituality.” Again, not one scriptural reference is used in either book and this is taught in a “Christian” university that supposedly holds to the Christian worldview?
3. Withhold Truth: Intro to Counseling xv “Don’t ‘impose’ your values on clients.” p56 Counselors are instructed to “help clients discover their own answers they have deep within themselves…to discover their own path; it is about putting our own worldview and religious beliefs aside…” P 155 “It would be inappropriate for a counselor to divulge their faith commitments and risk ‘imposing’ their values…violating the ACA Code of Ethics.”
Ethics P 4, 80 “Bracket your values; separate your beliefs from your work.”
4. Denial of Objective Truth: Intro to Counseling P 173. This book cites several ‘Christian’ counselors concerning the integration of Christianity and psychology. Mark Mc Minn Ph. D. “It seems silly that these days to think that with enough study, we could understand…the exact meaning, purpose and application of a Bible passage… “One of the gifts of postmodernity (which by definition is the rejection of universal truth and acceptance of moral relativism) it elevates the relationship above substance, (truth) and allows us to ‘try on’ various ideas…our clients are more interested in conversation than hearing the certainties (truth) we ‘think’ we posses.”
5. DEI/Privilege: Ethics, introduction: Pearson’s, the publisher, commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. P 67 the authors speaking about multicultural competence state that “counselors need to be aware of their own values, biases and assumptions…” “They must advocate for change at the individual, community and societal levels.” Speaking about, “White privilege” the authors cite “members of the dominant group in the United States… (White Christians)have not had to experience themselves as marginalized beings…’White privilege’ in our society allows, even encourages a lack of awareness. “White privilege is an invisible package of unearned assets on which White people can rely and which they are intended to remain oblivious.” “Her contention is that Whites have been taught not to see this inherited systemic advantage because remaining unaware maintains the status quo.” P 69 “The skills used to work with the dominate culture, which she identifies as White, of European ancestry and middle class, …are not likely to be useful to clients whose problems originate in societal oppression, discrimination and marginalization.
Intro to Counseling: P213 “As counselors start the exploration of their own cultural worldview, biases and values..if a therapist is an African American Christian male, he must be aware of his
‘privileges-Male, Christian, Middle-class, socioeconomic status, advanced degree, etc. And how these ‘privileges’ may have oppressed others.” In this section, scripture is used concerning social justice. They then cite an organization CESNET.
The following framework is presented which looks at the parallels of social justice and Christian concepts:
• Original sin-Privilege.
• Salvation-Being woke.
• Atonement-Reparations, acceptance of guilt and shame. Church-Universities.
• Pulpit-Classrooms, particularly grievance studies and social sciences.
• Preacher-Educator advancing the ideology above objective truth..their role, political advocacy.
• Heaven-Marx’s utopian ideal…expanded beyond class to other dimensions of privilege/oppression.
• Savior-Choose your political figure in whom all hopes lie, better be a Democrat, better yet, a democratic socialist…who’s not white…or a man.
P 76 the authors cite studies speaking about privilege, intersectionality, those who oppress and those who are oppressed. They encourage counselors to examine how both privilege and oppression effect their lives. They give 2 examples of privilege, being White, middle-class, heterosexual, or a Christian Black male. The oppressed would be being a woman, being gay or being Black.
Intro to Counseling: P194-194 Counselors are encouraged to become social justice warriors. “Advocacy involves actions aimed at changing the processes by which public decisions are made, thus affecting the sociopolitical and economic contexts that influence peoples lives.” Social justice is defined as …”fair allocation of resources, freedom from constraints…,it is inclusive
and attempts to move away from an individualized model of blame.” No accountability, no responsibility for one’s choices? P 202 “Jesus was a revolutionary and social justice advocate.” The authors give several examples of scriptures taken out of context such as the man who was healed at the pool of Bethesda, they claim, “the system was ‘rigged’ against this man, meaning he will never experience anything different until the system itself is upended.”
6. Racism: P217 the authors state that “racial microaggressions are generally perpetrated against people of color-POC.” By whom, white people? Where are the peer-reviewed studies to substantiate these claims? Also, is it possible that ‘microaggressions’ and worse have been perpetrated against white people?
7. Toxic Empathy: Intro to Counseling P 176-177. A Christian counselor states her role is “to be the light of Christ,” “When I work with some clients whom are transgender, cheating on their wives, causing great harm to their bodies on a daily basis, my job is to be with them.” “It is ego that wants to make people make the right choices.” (Funny, I thought it was love! I guess Jesus Christ was an egotist!) “Jesus, while he may know what is truly right and good, would sit with anyone.” (True.) “He would listen” (True.) “He would gaze” (???!) “He would contain” (NOT TRUE!) The definition means to hold something back. Jesus did not do that! He did more than, “sit, listen, gaze and contain,” he lovingly and at times not so lovingly confronted! He brought truth into every conversation. He told the woman at the well about her elicit relationships John 4, he told the paralytic man he healed to “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” John 5, he told the woman caught in adultery to, “go and sin no more.” John 8. He also was harsh with the religious leaders who were hypocrites calling them sons of hell. Matthew 23.
8. LGBTQ+ ISSUES. The Bible is very clear, there are only 2 genders, sex is for marriage and marriage is only between 1 man and 1 woman.
Intro to Counseling. P181 “Many different groups and denominations have changed their historical positions on issues of sexuality…As counselors operating from a Christian worldview this issue is unlikely to resolve soon and we must openly address it and be open to other points of view.” P 193 The authors cite the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development’s guidelines for ‘inclusion and accessibility.’ Counselors are to use “gender pronouns for self-identification as well as proper use of said pronouns when responding to others as expressed in the inclusion and access statement.” I looked this organization up on the internet, they in association with the ACA and the ALGBTIC their ‘guidelines’ for counselors is to: “employ using the correct pronouns is a basic competences and ethical duty, rather than a best practice because misgendering contributes to poor mental health outcomes and reinforces systemic oppression.” So Christian counselors according to these authors are to lie and feed into these clients delusions that they are the opposite sex!
P 194 Christian counselors are not only to accept homosexuality but embrace it as well!The authors cite a study speaking about diversity, social justice. “Counselors are directed to look within…approach it from a place of seemingly ignorance instead of an expert…cultural diversity is defined as the integration, acceptance and embracing of cultural differences..that include…sexual orientation.” The study they cite was written in 2015, had it been written later, It most likely would have included gender identity as well.
P 204. “In the Bible, social justice, diversity and advocacy are discussed. The basic dignity and rights of each person regardless of race, ethnicity, culture…and sexual preference are ‘affirmed.” The Bible teaches dignity of all people because they are made in
God’s image, however, sexual preference is not an immutable characteristic and does not have to be “affirmed.” We respect each individual but do not “affirm” their lifestyle.
P 181 A question the authors ask is can we hold onto our own values and beliefs while still honoring the positions and considerations of others? I would change that question to: Can we hold onto our own values and beliefs and remain silent and still honor God?
Ethics: P 66 When speaking of social justice and advocacy, sexual orientation is included. So how does a follower of Christ advocate for a harmful lifestyle which the scriptures state is sin and will separate the person from God for eternity?
The authors provide the following: “In April of 2022 the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, ACES note that by March of that year over 150 pieces of legislation targeting LGBTGEQIAP+individuals had been introduced in legislation across the U.S. In response ACES issued a statement on anti-LGBTGEQIAP+ legislation and affirmed the dedication to social justice, advocacy, multicultural content in coursework, anti-racist approaching to teaching and (support for) gender affirming care.”
It would be interesting to see the particular legislation. Preschool children are being exposed to drag queens twerking and reading books about gender fluidity. Or the Gender-bread person, a poster for kindergarten and elementary school aged children that tells them they can be a boy or a girl, both or neither and discusses sexual attraction? Schools that keep social transitioning from parents? Affirm gender affirming care? Where a child who usually has some mental health issues is put on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, which have harmful long-term consequences including permanently sterility. And surgery, a child will be medicalized the rest of their life and Christian counselors are to support this? Why is this book being used in a Christian university?
P 70 Students are encouraged to get involved “to take action” in regards to public opinion, policy and legislation. “lobby your legislators to ban conversion therapy for minors. Right now, there are 20 states that have banned talk therapy for minors who have unwanted same-sex-attraction.
P 74 The authors state, as counselors we are to “explore our biases such as homophobia, homo-negativity, heterosexism.”
P 78 When speaking about “conservative Christians” who refuse to give “gay affirming counseling,” they mention that Christian universities should not be accredited, the alternative is that Christian students are taught to “prevent imposing their beliefs on their clients” Jesus taught we are not to hide our light under a bushel. In both of the textbooks, I could not find one Bible reference concerning these topics of LGBTGEQIAP+ issue, this is because the scripture is clear on these topics. It appears the counseling program at Liberty is not! I will end with this, back in the 1950’s 60’s according to a gallup pool 70-75% of Americans stated religion was important in their life. In 2025 that number dropped to 47%. In the 1940’s only 1.2% of the population identified as LGBT. A recent Barna survey found that among gen Z, 39% identified as LGBTGEQIAP! We are losing our youth.
Parents it is your job to teach your children apologetics and the Christian worldview! Far to long parents have outsourced this to the church or the “Christian” school. According to Barna, only 12% of youth pastors hold to a Christian worldview! 90% of pastors refuse to speak to these issues out of fear! Parents, God has appointed you to disciple your children.
There are many more resources today such as Mama Bear Apologetics, Dr. Alex Mc Farland has written many helpful books such as 100 Bible Questions and Answers, he has a website and a podcast. Frank Turek is another. Lastly, when looking for a school, do not ask the teachers or anyone employed by the school, ask the students, look at the textbooks. Look for key words such as “diversity, Equity, Inclusion, homosexuality, transgender, a woman’s right to choose, abortion, suicide, end of life decision.
All the hot topics of today, if you find a “Christian” university has gone “woke.”
Follow Ephesians 5:11 “Expose the deeds of darkness.” Hit them in the pocketbook, i.e. Bud Light, Go woke, go broke! Sadly, that seems to be the only language many places understand, including “Christian” organizations.
