Neff_and_McMinn_Review_Assignment__Part_B

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NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 1 Neff and McMinn Review Assignment: Part B Kyleen Oldham Liberty University August 15, 2021

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 2 Abstract In the chapters 3-6 and the final conversation of ‘ Embodying Integration: A Fresh Look at Christianity in the Therapy Room by Neff and McMinn, there is a conclusive discussion of appropriate strategies to safely communicate scripture in Christian counseling. An extensive look into functions of cultural adaptation with uses of scriptural metaphors is presented as well as the possible roadblocks along the way. Taking scripture through a roller coaster of adaptations in metaphorical analogies to tie together conceptual arches essential for a believer highlights a lot of inconsistencies a follower of Christ may not have been aware of to exist. Also, an elaborate dissection of approaches that could hinder and help a client and how this is important to grasp in counseling is discussed as perceptions from individual to individual will always be unique based on lived experiences and cultural background and diversity. The promise of being able to listen and accept a client's reading of scripture and also find means to adapt and transform their negative fixations to something positive without imposing personal beliefs is a delicate dance that is integral when in tough therapeutic relationships with troubled clients. Throughout this paper is an examination of tricky situations and strategies to navigate them with the word of God implementing such and not the therapist, thus avoiding ACA Code of Ethics violations, and how to successfully treat a diverse clientele while doing so as a Christian counselor.

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 3 Summary When discussing the unique nature of each individual client, the text states, “narrative doesn’t form in a vacuum (personal or theological). It is formed within a complex interface of interpersonal relationships, cultural and social location, community influence, and so forth” (Neff & McNimm, 2020, p. 212). This is the introduction to three chapters expanding on the impact scripture can have on each individual client due to unique interpretations based on diverse personal lived experiences. The text explains how in regards to Christians, there is a creation of self through “interwoven stories of self and the Chrisian gospel” (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 215). This concept becomes elaborated to the reader as a means of highlighting the individual nature of each clinical session being a different journey with the client as through personal understanding comes different interpretations of scripture itself. The bible is made to be a text that is adaptable across the ages and has the flexibility to have different interpretations and through centuries different metaphors to express the basic story arc are played out to be most applicable to the audience of the time. With this being summed up, there is simply a “diversity of theology represented in the Christian tradition and an appreciation of the complexity that emerges when our social context intersects with our attempts to understand the mysterious truth of the atonement” in reference to New Testament theology (Neff & McNimm, 2020, p. 218). This is the most essential concept to grasp in the Christian Gospel. The most essential example of metaphorical translation of scripture comes with the reference to the theologians' understanding of the sense of atonement through cultural relevance of the times. Three primary models include the idea of the “cosmic battle” where Christ conquered “evil, sin, and Satan” (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 222). This is further dissected as also

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 4 being a sort of “ransom” paid for the likes of mankind by Christ’s sacrifice. This therapy is dubbed in the text “Christus Victor/Ransom Theory”. The next theory laid out, “Moralistic Theory”, delves into the idea of Christ being Obedient to God and accepting death as a display of God’s agape love for mankind. This enhances the construct of repentance and thus brings about a “moral transformation” with a subjective model of atonement reflecting on God’s love and the residual transformation of an individual’s spiritual walk in life (Neff & McNimm, 2020, p. 223). As time developed into the twelfth century with the concept of chivalry being a cultural construct, the idea of atonement went into the sense of choosing “satisfaction over punishment” and this thus demonstrated Christ’s obedience to his father in life and thus following through with his death on the cross (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 223). Distortions of the theological models are something that is inherent to encounter. Conceptions of child abuse was a common narative distortion admist certain other factors when discussing the scriptural passage of atonement. Other distortions include the idea that God is complicit in violence, which contradicts the biblical narrative of a loving creator. This distortion is at risk of putting an emphasis on the individual and their sin and perpetuating violence. There is also a distoritin that exists in regards to an abstracted model of the atonement that could create a divide between salvation and ethics of the time. Then there is the influx of emphasizing a wrathful God and judgemental God, and another distortion where God is demanding justice and Christ is a pawn satisfying the demand of his father. (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 225) The text further discusses means to fix faltered narratives in scriptural metaphors through strategic means. The conceptual construct of the penal substitutin theory of atonement allows for language of a wrathful God and the idea of a transactional ransom misguided with the ideology of child abuse is able to cause a fluxuating where a model can shine a much more favorable light

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 5 on Christ’s sacrifice and emphasize the love put forth through sacrifice to fulfill such a punishment rightfully deserved upon mankind (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 228).A nonviolent view of atonement would emphasize the concept of Christ being drawn into a world full of sin and thus made into this sin by his father’s design. This was then adequate to a nonviolent display on the cross instead of acting in defense and instead took on mankind's sin and self-sacrifice. This is essentially a display of the reward received through salvation in Christ’s sacrifice and is also a display of love upon all individuals who may be victims of oppression and violence to give them that light in the darkness through Christ (Neff & McMinn, 2020, 232). A key notation of a true Christian therapist derived from the text was replicated as one who would communicate, “a deep commitment to belong with the client inside the muddled mess of sin, pain, and darkness, similar to how Jesus entered the world’s darkness and suffering and taking it all in” (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 241). A deep dive thereafter into the client's perception of God and his image is integral into understanding the relative feelings of shame, vulnerability, attachment, etc. that are tied into this unique conception the client has. The self reflection that is derived from this is significant in relative nature to individual sinfulness and thus resulting guilt. The essential nature of grasping this conceptually as the therapist is what allows there to be an unraveling of how projected relative conceptions of important concepts like shame and guilt are developed is an important means to have when working towards a change in the theological conception and bringing about an idea of security and empathy into the relationship with the image of God and allows hope to be found (Neff & McMinn, 2020, 255). The next key point of mentioning is the concepts of “mission” biblically and how it is very varied in ideology. When looked at in the light of “soteriology”, mission is seen as a means of bringing others toward salvation vs. the “ecclesiology” which is an emphasis on church

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW ASSIGNMENT: PART B 6 expansion. Thus, when mission is derived in the nature of God it is showing how God is “oriented toward the world” (Neff & McMinn, 2020). This promotes the ideology that mission is dualistic in functioning and allows the idea of the self to be essential as God is love and Christ is what and how it was proclaimed. God is thus already “engaged in mission to the world” as God is working alongside us in life. With this being said, God can be trusted to already get at work in a client’s life and transition them towards a sense of wholeness. As a therapist we are to simply come alongside the holy work already occurring in the client through God’s redemptive nature (Neff & McMinn, 2020, 283). The essential concept rests in the consistent presence of God in our lives for us as Christians to lean on in suffering and brings a sense of rest through the presence of God’s cohesive love through all moments in life. Though there are the painful and difficult moments, there are also moments of human thriving that also need to be addressed and embraced through life’s journey. God remains steady and strong and persists which brings a sense of safety (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 314). Experiential living is an essential concept as to living in the moment in a sense or living moment to moment and constantly being aware of the present through all bodily perceptions and sensations and finding wholeness in the self (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 335).

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