Posted by ForeverSailing on 5 November 2020
Devotional 5
A discussion with Brad Jersak and Paul Young concerning a book they recently co-authored. It touches on some interesting and controversial topics. (Thanks, Dina.)
Brad Jersak and Paul Young
Comments
MikeB
2 years ago
I found the interview fascinating. I love the humility of these people. (I find it interesting when YouTube disables the comments section.) I realized the topics they cover are very controversial, but it’s so good that people are addressing these very complex issues.
RW
2 years ago
Thanks. Very good. I haven't heard much from Paul Young in a while. Certainly a thought provoking piece. I have always liked Paul Young as he really challenges my preconceived ideas on many fronts. The take away for me on this piece is something that the Lord seems to be regularly showing me. That is no matter how smart and insightful I am tempted to think that I am, I can barely fathom 1 iota of how differently the Lord see things than we do.
CH
2 years ago
I agree. An insightful discussion about some controversial topics that I think they hit right on the button. The Lord's ways are so much higher than ours.
Frank
2 years ago
Wow. Very good. Thanks, Dina. As a side note, about 3 years ago I edited a dissertation (thesis for a PhD) for a psychologist who'd worked with people whose personalities had split into "shards" like Eve in the face of severe trauma like Jacki [in the book] faced. In the intro to her dissertation she says, "Are NDErs [those who've gone through near-death experiences], mystics, and [people with multiple personalities after severe trauma] accessing an archetypal Self-care system which guides, protects, comforts, and informs, and whose presence is more readily acknowledged during altered states of consciousness? ... It is heartening to know that the mind appears to tap into a restorative energetic field. ... The role of an exceedingly helpful ... spiritual helper as human-Divine bridge appears to be a construct validated by many." There was a lot of psychological language, but the thing I got from it is that God is there to help us and restore us even in the face of severe trauma, and as they said, there's nothing that can separate us from the love of God.
Jon
2 years ago
I have shared this video with quite a few friends, and have gotten very good reactions. Frank, thanks for the comments about those with "multiple personalities" after severe trauma. It helped me have more empathy for some of the young refugee men I work with, who can show such self-sacrificial love and care for the orphans, the injured, those in need etc., but then can want to return to the battlefield to fight and kill. Some have two stark different sides to their personalities. It was helpful to hear how Paul Young and the other pastor handled the suicidal women, still honoring her free will, in spite of the choice she was considering.
I have never been in the shoes of those who have suffered "severe trauma" from living through a very brutal civil war and have tried not to have a condemning attitude when they want to seek revenge and not forgive. We have brought up the subject of forgiveness, to try and bring healing to their hearts. Forgiveness though can be extremely difficult without also seeking justice. When discussing the subject of forgiveness with the refugees, we have to be tread carefully. They think we are asking them to forgive the man who is responsible for the death of their husband, father, brother, or for their child who being disabled for life. Forgiveness is an inner healing for themselves personally, so they can pursue justice without the added weight of bitterness and hate.
This comment diverts from the main topic, but it comes up a lot when working with people who have been through severe psychological trauma. They want so much to see justice in order to be healed of their trauma, but even seeing the regime destroyed or the dictator dead, will still not bring the deep inner healing that only Jesus can give.
MikeB
RW
CH
Frank
Jon
I have never been in the shoes of those who have suffered "severe trauma" from living through a very brutal civil war and have tried not to have a condemning attitude when they want to seek revenge and not forgive. We have brought up the subject of forgiveness, to try and bring healing to their hearts. Forgiveness though can be extremely difficult without also seeking justice. When discussing the subject of forgiveness with the refugees, we have to be tread carefully. They think we are asking them to forgive the man who is responsible for the death of their husband, father, brother, or for their child who being disabled for life. Forgiveness is an inner healing for themselves personally, so they can pursue justice without the added weight of bitterness and hate.
This comment diverts from the main topic, but it comes up a lot when working with people who have been through severe psychological trauma. They want so much to see justice in order to be healed of their trauma, but even seeing the regime destroyed or the dictator dead, will still not bring the deep inner healing that only Jesus can give.