“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Tim. 4:1)
John Regier is founder and director of Caring for the Heart ministries (CFTH) based out of Colorado. George Froese, a pupil of John Regier and and purveyor of his teachings, is founder and director of Heart to Heart Ministries located in northern Alberta. Both ministries are founded upon a corrupt foundation (psychoheresy "counselling"), and unscriptural and heretical philosophies, more so than just psychoheresy, but that will be the main focus here, particularly theophostic counselling/inner healing which they heavily promote, psychoheresy intimately connected with the unscriptural spiritual warfare movement.
As an introduction, the “Biblical Concepts in Counselling” course, produced and taught by John Regier under which teaching George Froese purposefully fell, is continued to be in use with the same philosophies and techniques in counselling to this day, described further below. The course includes a number of unscriptural concepts and doctrines linked to psychology and humanism, including “generational sins / curses” (which is completely contrary to Scripture and derived from Catholicism: “Generational Healing Prayers” and has links to the occult) and “demonic spiritual strong-holds” (true believers have permanently overcome the devil at salvation — 1 Jn. 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:18) along with the remedy for deliverance from the alleged “generational sins” and “demonic strongholds" being “Inner Healing” (an unscriptural teaching based upon eastern religion and mysticism) which is “Listening Prayer Therapy” and Visualization (“Theophostic Healing”), all of which is extremely unscriptural and heretical. Visions are also pursued after but nothing in Scripture lends support to it. The Word of God alone produces faith (Rom. 10:17) for salvation (1 Pet. 1:23-25) and is the obedient faith the just live by (Gal 3).
The counselling seminars propose that Satan can defeat believers in areas of their life, so the believer therefore needs to understand these in order to resolve personal or martial problems, with, again, the restoration coming about through “inner-healing” and “listening prayer.” We see this on Froese’s Ministry website, where he speak of having seen “people free[d] from the bondage of sin” and he wasn't referring to salvation. Since this not referencing salvation, it is unbiblical. This freedom allegedly came through unBiblical means such as visions and “inner healing” whereas the Bible says the new birth brings freedom and deliverance from both the penalty and power of sin (read Rom 6:1-23; 7:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:23). Though there is spiritual warfare that we utilize to fight against spiritual strongholds, no true born again believer is ever again under “the bondage of sin.” Sin has absolutely no power over the saved, who were (before salvation) dead in sin but are now dead to sin (Rom 6:1-2, 7, 11; Eph 2:1-5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 2:24).
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. . . . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom 6:6-7,14)
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin [when ye were lost], but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin [at salvation], ye became the servants of righteousness. For when ye were the servants of sin [when ye were lost], ye were free from righteousness. . . . What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin [since salvation], and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom 6:17-18, 20-22)
The following content of major unscriptural and heretical “counselling” errors taught and propagated by Regier and Froese are based around the “inner healing” movement which comes from new age and eastern mysticism, and will be covered here in more detail. Majority of the content is from the counselling material published and taught by Regier and utilized by Froese, so equally applicable.
“Generational Sins/Problems,” which involves praying over the sinful activity of family members (even those that are deceased) and asking God to forgive those family members and furthermore seeking the cause of present issues as filtered down the generational lines.
Deliverance from Demonic “Strong-Holds,” which are apparently areas of continual struggle in which Satan has bound the believer and they cannot get free.
Listening Prayer Therapy/Inner Healing to determine what the exact inherited problem is from parents or other family members. This is typically done through visions including visions of “image“ “Jesus.”
The Birth of Regier’s Counselling Heresy and ExtraBiblical Revelation.
Obviously all these teachings are unscriptural and even demonic. They are a “Christianized” version of psychology and a form of New Age (some New-Age healers site John Regier as a major mentor in their journey to the new age (for instance here) and are “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1) that need to be rejected and separated from. Better yet, expose these dangerous errors (Rom. 16:17; Ju. 1:3).
1. The Occult Heresy of Generational or Past Sins/Curses.
In a nutshell, “Generational Sins/Problems,” involves praying over the sinful activity of family members (even those that are deceased), typically parents or grandparents, and asking God to forgive those family members for the purpose of your healing of whatever problems it is that you are having in your life. Their memories apparently need “healing." This heresy holds to sins and curses being passed from parent to child and attempts to pinpoint the cause of present issues as filtered down through the generational lines. As if inherited sin is part of your DNA.
Here is an example from George Froese's 2017 Ministry Newsletter, a testimony that is loaded with unBiblical teachings and psychoheresy. The bottle neck is finally broken when past sins are regurgitated and dealt with thanks to the Theophostic counsellor, and the man received his heart back from his horse:
The process utilized to bring up that past sin of allegiance to a horse was that of Theophostic counselling, allegedly producing “inner healing.” What this individual needed was deliverance from their sin and a new heart which is possible only through true conversion. If this person was actually saved, his horse wouldn’t have his heart anymore. He has clearly never been born again, and going to false teachers such as George Froese for counselling advice makes this poor soul a two-fold child of hell. He is never handled according to the truth of Scripture but given false assurance. This is all very wrong.
The teaching of “generational sins/curses” is psychological based and purely humanism, and its not Scripture-based nor is it of God. Its roots are found in Roman Catholicism's “Generational Healing Prayers” and from witchcraft, both of which pray for the forgiveness of other people, even the dead, and bringing up their sins. Counsellors are not the only people who teach this heresy. A number of popular “evangelical” / Charismatic false teachers and preachers propagate it, including Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Paul and Jan Crouch, Tony Evans, T.D. Jakes, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Creflo Dollar, John Wimber, David Seamands, Henry Wright, “pastor” Paula White, and Beth Moore, to name a few. These, like Regier and Froese, let professing believers think that their sin problems could very well be a result of their ancestors. In so doing they deflect responsibility for a persons actions before God, and create a false and perverted gospel at the same time. The people are encouraged to find root causes of certain sins, which is actually Freudian fruit (e.g. Freud taught “focus on past pain . . . find the root cause . . . achieve inner healing").
Why would a true born again Christian dwell upon another persons sins from the past, whether dead or alive, or even dwell on their own sins and activities of their past, if they are truly saved? And then make resolutions over things they have no control over, or for the professing saved Christian — sins that God already forgave and healed at salvation? If a family member gave “ground to the enemy” (like Regier and Froese teach) what on earth does that have to do with me?! This is ridiculous and wicked, not only unBiblical, but also demonic. NO true believer has ever been in bondage to the sins of other people. Period. This teaching of Regier and Froese is a lie. Other peoples sins have no bearing on me personally whatsoever!
And true salvation does deliver and free from all sin ever committed and ever will be committed. It results in the cleansing and forgiveness of ALL sins. Sins from the past should never be dwelled upon because they are forgiven, cleansed and washed away forever (Ps. 32:1-2; 103:12; Is. 1:18; 53:5-6; Jn. 13:10; 15:3; Ac. 13:38; Rom. 4:6-8; 6:1-18; 7:6; 8:2, 10-11; 2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:12-14; 2:12-14; Heb. 10:16-23; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Pet. 1:9; 1 Jn. 2:12; Rev. 1:5-6). God has forgiven the born again blood-bought grace-saved saint, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps. 103:12). The complete forgiveness of sins, past, present and future, occurs at salvation, and of course men like Regier and Froese reject this cardinal teaching of scripture, which dovetails with their rejection of eternal security, which dovetails with their embracement of heresies like pursuing after generational sins for inner healing. They don't know inner healing because they have never been born again. The repentant sinner is removed from darkness forever and is in the light. He never stops being light (1 Th. 5:4-11). This is where the victory lies: in true salvation, in the new birth, not in finding forgiveness of “generational sins” garbage! Furthermore, salvation permanently delivers from the power and dominion of sin (Rom. 6:1-23), with the old man crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24).
In one book we read of a testimony concerning this by an Amish couple who had attended a Caring for the Heart ministries (CFTH) seminar:
“After Thomas and Fransene had been married eleven years, they attended a Caring for the Heart seminar, led by John Regier, and were taught tools to reach into the past for unresolved issues and bring them to light for healing.” (Suzanne Woods Fisher, “The Heart of the Amish: Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of Forgiveness,” p. 62)
This is unBiblical and even demonic. Sin comes from our flesh and that which is supposedly unresolved in some distant past has been forgiven by God, that is if you are truly born again by the Spirit of God in one instantaneous moment in time (2 Cor. 6:2; Ti. 3:3-7; Jn 3:3-21). If something is brought to light through God’s Word, that’s one thing, but that doesn’t happen in these “counselling" sessions, or by these certain “tools” which bring “visions” and accessing a subconscious realm! The apostle Paul in his mature age said that he still struggled with his flesh (Rom. 7:15-25) which wars against the spirit (Gal 5:17) but he did NOT blame it on his past nor on other people, and definitely NOT on “generational sins.” The truth is our flesh is crucified with Christ at salvation (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24), and it doesn’t resurrect back to life! When we sin, we sin against God primarily (1 Sam. 15:24) and its always because of the lusts of our flesh. When king David prayed his prayer of repentance in restoring his fellowship with the Lord (not salvation) he prayed:
“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Ps. 51:2-4)
He prayed this in spite of having sinned grievously against other people through adultery and even murder. He said it was against God and God alone that he had sinned. Born again Christians can and will still sin some sins, even though they have the indwelling Holy Spirit (unlike the O.T. saints) and that is solely because of the lusts of our flesh, not for any other reason (Rom. 13:14; Jam. 1:13-15). In this prayer of David, he was asking God to restore his fellowship and "the joy of thy salvation" (v. 12). Nothing about using “tools to reach into the past for unresolved issues and bring them to light for healing” as they claim. Nothing about “generational sins/ curses” and that also fits into the rest of Scripture.
Never at any point in the history of mankind was there a need to access any known or unknown unresolved sins. You can't change that one iota. The need for salvation, the new birth and its effects also has never been any different in any age. Jesus Christ has defeated death and nailed the sins of every saint on the cross. “It is finished” Christ cried from the cross of Calvary. Every repentant sinner that surrenders to Jesus Christ as Lord and is truly regenerated, is freed forever from the power, penalty and dominion of sin! (read Rom. 5–8). Victory over and freedom from sin which is received by the true believer at the moment of salvation, is explained in Rom. 6, 7 and 8 (e.g. 6:1-23; 8:1-4, 9-11, 37).
It is unsurprising that unscriptural “Christian Counsellors” like George Froese and John Regier reject the eternal security of salvation, believing that salvation could be lost (a perverted and false gospel), which is a major tool on their belt in keeping people in bondage to sin, to the flesh, to the devil and to death. Of course, as already mentioned, they also do not believe that God forgives all sin forever at salvation, which consequently means their are yet in their lost spiritual condition and under bondage of sin. "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." (2 Pet 2:19). They have no Redeemer for their future sins, since Christ’s sacrifice was completed and perfected once for all. They are hypocrites that have never been born again and live under a false hope.
This whole system is in fact about pushing blame upon others for their own sins and problems. This attempt to shift responsibility for current failures to someone else is reminiscent of Adam's attempt to shift the blame for his sin to Eve. This is psychoheresy. The James Dobson false gospel of "self-esteemism." This kind of "I-inherited-from-my-parents" or “my-grandparents” view of sin is a popular explanation for all sorts of behaviour within many "Christian" psychology circles as well. It is used to explain so-called mental and emotional illness, chronic sickness, all sorts of female problems, rebellious children and teenagers, etc. Confession of sin however means to agree with God against my action. It is the opposite of making excuse for my sin. Making excuse and blaming others is the way of Adam and that is exactly what this heretical teaching (“generational sins”) advocates. Our first father blamed his wife for the sin, while she blamed the serpent (Gen. 3). Unsaved people have a natural tendency to follow in these unwise footsteps and make excuses for their sin, but this is a symptom of their walk in darkness not in the light while a true Christian does not walk in darkness, for he has been delivered permanently from darkness (see Pr. 4:18; 13:9; Matt. 5:14-16; 6:22-24; Lk. 11:33-36; Jn. 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, 46; 1 Th. 5:2-8; 1 Jn. 2:8-11). This is what this ungodly teaching is actually advocating for: walking in darkness, but such is the way of false professors.
Those advocating the heretical view of “generational sins/curses” will quote from Ex. 20:5:
"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."
Proponents of this view believe that if a parent's or grandparent’s (etc) sinned and the curse power is not specifically covered and removed by renouncing it, a Christian in that blood lineage can be oppressed by such a past. There are at least four reasons why this view is unscriptural and a twisted application and wresting of this passage:
(a) First, when a person becomes a born again Christian, he is delivered from all his sins, including curses, and he is not ever oppressed again or cursed regardless of someone else (or even of self for that matter), nor can he ever be demon-possessed. The Bible does not recognize “generational sin” as a special category of sin that has not been dealt with by the cross and thus at salvation. When a repentant sinner is saved, he becomes dead to sin, and is freed from sins power and dominion forever. He is freed from sin forever. He is no longer in the flesh. He is in the Spirit. That is the new and only nature. See Rom. 6:1-23; 7:4-6; 8:1-16; 1 Pet. 2:24.
(b) Second, it is wrong to assume that Ex. 20:5 refers to God "visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children" because of inheritance, rather than because each successive generation learns from their parents patterns of sin, and then chooses to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and mothers. It seems clear from the passage that the basis of God's judgment or blessings are based upon the choice of each successive generation's decision to follow after the sins of their ancestors or to flee to the throne of God’s grace. This corresponds also to other teachings in Scripture, when we rightly divide the word of truth. Thus, the mode of transmission of sins is not because the children are under a curse from a sin committed by the parent; instead, the sin is conveyed through the child learning the sin patterns from his parents and choosing generation after generation to persist in them (i.e. "of those who hate Me"). Some kind of mystical or curse transmission is not taught or implied from the text! Ezk. 18:2-20 says that God curses each Israelite individually for his own sins and not specifically because of something that their fathers may have done. God specifically states in v. 4 that "all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine." The Lord goes on to declare that if the son does right in contrast to the parent's sins, then "he shall surely live.”
(c) Third, the statement of Ex. 20:5-6 (see also De. 5:9-10) is within the context of the Lord's treaty-covenant with Israel, which promised specific blessings or curses for obedience or disobedience. Therefore, the jurisdictional scope of this passage is limited to Israel and cannot be applied in a universal sense to humanity in general as a timeless principle, since Gentiles are not Gods people in their unsaved estate. Were it to be a universal principle, then it would have been stated somewhere in the Bible and given to mankind in general. Also, if this was universal (even though the passage does not mean what is alleged in the first place), then it would probably be repeated throughout Scripture. Since it is restricted to Israel, it only occurs in relation to them and that is because of their convents with God.
(d) Fourth, Ezk. 18 speaks against this misuse of passages such as Ex. 20:5, and to the general atmosphere of people today and evangelicalism and counselling methods in particular as purveyed by individuals like George Froese and John Regier, and the false gospel of self-fulfillment instead of the true gospel of self-abandonment. Instead of accepting responsibility for their deeds and behaviour, people adapt the ancient proverb of the Israelites: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge” (Ezk. 18:2). In other words, blame my bad behaviour on others. The effect however doesn’t follow the cause. A parent eating sour grapes doesn’t cause a child’s teeth to be set on edge. No, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:” (Ezk. 18:4). Blame only empowers bad and then worse behaviour. Every single person is completely responsible for their own deeds and attitude, irregardless of the unsound fables of counsellors scratching people where they itch (2 Tim. 4:3-4). What is best is listening to the counsel of the Lord, not only for the Israelites, but or all people, “I will judge you, . . . every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezk. 18:30-32). That is the only Biblical response that God wants, not playing blame games. Modern proponents of this psychoheresy should listen to what God says about this proverb: “As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel” (Ezk. 18:3). Stop teaching this generational sin heresy!
The idea that a Christian might have to be delivered specifically from a specific sin or curse, which salvation in Christ Jesus would not have taken care of, is not found or implied in Scripture even remotely. In fact it goes against everything salvation is and there is not even one example in the entire Bible of a saved person being under someone else’s sin or curse, which has to be "broken" by distinct confession or Christian exorcism. The only curses which the Bible treats as effective are those uttered by God and every born again believer is blessed forever and never under the curse again. Curses of all kinds can be uttered over a believer continuously during his entire life, but they will never impact his life. They are delivered "from the evil" by God the Father (Jn. 17:15) for “Evil pursueth sinners” (Pr. 13:21a). Further, the Bible promises to believers “that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 Jn. 5:18). “The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” (2 Th. 3:3).
These deliverance teachers say that the Christian must specifically renounce those sins that are bringing alleged curses and/or problems or they will not be free. That is to say, they must have a separate, post-salvation deliverance from certain sins. Yet if this is true, then Christ's work really did not forgive the repentant sinner of all their sins. If this is true, then a person would need to specifically go back and name all past sins in order to be saved or have freedom from the consequences of those sins. This is completely contrary to the entire teaching of Scripture, that Christ died once and for all sin—past, present and future—and that we are forgiven and delivered from all of our sins at the point of salvation, the new birth.
According to these psychological gurus, not dealing with “generational sins and curses” will produce spiritual (demonic) strongholds, which is the next section.
2. The Heresy of Spiritual (Demonic) Strongholds.
On John Regier’s CFTH website (under Biblical Philosophy), we read:
“Spiritual strongholds stem from giving ground to the enemy through specific activities that allow the enemy to influence people. These may include, but are not limited to, involvement in the occult, rebellion, drugs, etc. (Eph. 4:27, I Sam. 15:23).”
The new birth actually delivers from “the occult, rebellion, drugs, etc.” Saved people are no longer partakers of the "occult, rebellion, drugs, etc" (1 Pet 4:2-4; Eph 5:5-8; Gal 5:19-21). Ironically, what Regier is promoting is philosophies from the “occult.” “Strong-holds” is also defined by John Regier in one of his presentations as “An area Satan has you bound, you can’t get free” and again uses Eph. 4:27 (“Neither give place to the devil”) in an attempt to build support for his theology by misusing and redefining the Greek word translated “place”, which he says means “territory, strongholds,” etc. But that is not what this word means. It means "opportunity," -- to not give the devil an opportunity to influence the born again believer to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, which then means to not live godly, holy and righteous, as the grace of God does lead and teach (Ti. 2:11-14). It means to “not give provision to the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof” (Rom. 13:14b). To take a verse and interpret it privately and not rightly divide the word of truth, is not wise and is the hallmark of a false teacher, who is both “unlearned and unstable”, who will “wrest” “some things hard to be understood . . . as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” which is an “error of the wicked” (2 Pet. 1:20-2:1; 3:16-17). This is the start of heresy and cults, and true believers are warned to “beware”, because they can be “led away with the error of the wicked” and thus “fall from [their] own stedfastness.” (2 Pet. 3:17). The solution for the true believer? “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:18). Notice that the solution is not rote prayer, not counselling sessions, not visions, not praying for the dead or other peoples sins, not anything but growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ which happens by obedience to Gods Word and walking in the Spirit (Eph. 4:17-32). And that is done through the Word of God! “All the counsel of God” is applied and utilized in the Christian life. No more is needed. Salvation creates a completely new creature in Jesus Christ; old things are passed behold all things are become new! (2 Cor. 5:17). A person that is still under the “stronghold” of Satan is lost, for “that wicked one toucheth him not” that is “born of God” (1 Jn. 5:18).
Naturally, if one thinks there are “spiritual strongholds,” deliverance must be necessary. These type of ministries will attempt to sell “formula sanctification” through such means as rote prayers and vain repetitions that will bring success and blessing (seen in other “evangelical” examples such as “Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson, which is also popular at EMBC and EMC churches). ‘If you do this and repeat this and pray this, then success’ is what these type of things lead to. Regier does this likewise in his seminar presentation, giving prayers as a formula for success in overcoming “strongholds.” In one case he challenges the student “to carry a prayer in their pocket and pull it out and read it to help overcome lustful thoughts if they are allowed over 4 seconds to rest in the mind.” (Counselling Material). There is no scriptural support for this. it does fit with the quick prayerism and easy believism “salvation" that runs rampant through “evangelical” churches today. The Bible says every thought (not 4 seconds, but immediately) needs to be brought into captivity and we do it through meditating upon God’s Word day and night as commanded in the Scriptures (De. 6:5-7; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; I Tim. 4:15), which God puts in our heart as we study and obey.
Furthermore, “strongholds” are often purported to be caused by demon possession, which then inevitably leads to the necessity of “deliverance” of these demons. It is not difficult to see how all this teaching is intertwined with the false teaching that Christians can be demon-possessed. It is however utterly impossible for a true born again Christian to be demon possessed, for the following reasons:
(a) Because the Holy Spirit of God indwells the believer, in his inner man (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:16) and this seal is upon the believer until the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). The devil can only inhabit an empty house (Matt. 12:43-45). The body who has the indwelling Holy Spirit is not empty. The Spirit of God never leaves this residence until the day of redemption, which is either death or the rapture (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30). The Spirit does not take up residence in a temple along with the devil and the devil cannot take up residence where the Holy Spirit indwells.
(b) The only means a demon could possess a child of God was if that child could lose his salvation and thereby lose the indwelling Holy Spirit and the seal of the Spirit, which is the earnest of the Father. But we know that Gods Word says that its impossible for His children to ever lose their salvation, to ever stop being sealed by the Holy Spirit; therefore its impossible to be possessed by the devil. In the OT on the other hand, born again children of God, could lose the Spirit (it would come upon believers but could leave) but still never be possessed with an evil spirit, due to God's protection. There is no example of this occurring in the OT.
(c) The born again Christian has been delivered from the power of darkness. This is a truth that is immediately effective at salvation (Col. 1:12-13).
(d) Biblical examples of demon-possessed people were never true believers, but false "Christians" and proven to be so. The Bible makes this clear, seen for instance in Judas Iscariot (Lk. 22:3-6; Matt. 27:1-4). For this reason and also the reason of Jesus warning about demons being cast out and then returning (Lk. 11:24-26), we find absolutely no instructions in the NT epistles about how to cast out devils. They are cast out properly through the preaching of the gospel, whereby sinners are set free eternally from the power of the Devil (Col. 1:13; I Jn. 2:13-14; 4:1-4; 5:18). The man mentioned in Lk. 11:24-26 was never saved, for when the evil spirits return they find him empty. Empty of what? Empty of the Spirit of God and empty of any other demons. Therefore he returns into this man, along with even more than at the beginning, and this mans condition turns out worse than at the first. Born again believers "Give thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Col. 1:12-13).
(e) The devil has no power over the born again Christian. True converts overcame the devil at salvation (1 Jn. 2:13-14; 4:3-6), and “that wicked one toucheth them not” (1 Jn. 5:18). “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.“ (Rev. 21:7). It is at salvation when we inherit all things and become Gods son and He our Father. The devil is overcome at salvation (see 1 Jn. 2:13-14: 4:4; Rev. 12:11). “I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. . . . I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 Jn. 2:13-14). Both the “have’s” italicized here by this author are Greek perfect tenses. The perfect Greek form is the verb tense used to indicate a completed, or "perfected" action or condition. The word perfect means complete, and the perfect tense is a completed action with ongoing results into the present and perpetually into the future. The perfect tense is a primary tense because it emphasizes the present, or ongoing result of a completed action that was determined in the past, which is salvation. 1 Jn. 4:3-6 shows this as well: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [“spirit of the antichrist” v. 3 — the devil]: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” And And Rev. 12:11b, “they overcame him [the devil — vv. 9-10] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;” All these passages refer to the completed action of overcoming that occurred at salvation and continues on in the true born again believers life perpetually.
Generational sins and curses caused most often by spiritual (demonic) strongholds must be dealt with through the occult practice of listening and visualizing prayer therapy and inner healing, and that brings us to the next section.
3. The Occult Practice of Listening and Visualizing Prayer Therapy / Inner Healing in Theophostic Counselling.
From Wikipedia: “Theophostic Prayer Ministry (formerly Theophostic counseling) was developed in the United States during the mid-1990s by Ed Smith, a Baptist minister. Its name comes from the Greek theo (God) and quasi-Greek phostic (light), and it is often associated with the Christian Inner Healing Movement. Smith says people are being delivered from phobias, depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, dissociative personality disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sexual addiction, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and homosexuality through Theophostic principles. The name Theophostic is a registered trademark.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophostic_Prayer_Ministry).
What is described below under this point, is all part of the Theophostic Counselling process. The above wikipedia link describes a step by step process on how its typically performed, though that may differ from the Regier technique.
There are a number of different therapies classified under "memory-healing" psychotherapy but of the most deadly are "regressive" therapies designed to probe the "unconsciousness” for buried memories which are allegedly causing everything from depression to fits of anger or sexual misconduct, etc, some even supposedly preventing salvation, and must, therefore, be uncovered and "healed." These “therapies” also known as “theophostic counselling” have been masquerading under Christian terminology and turning professing Christians from God and His Word to self. They, which is majority of them, are also kept in the dark as to their true spiritual condition.
A central belief of listening and visualizing prayer therapy or inner healing psychology is that we are the way we are because of past hurts that need to be healed through reliving the past and bringing Jesus into past events. As obvious as it is that this “therapy” runs contrary to the Word of God, “inner healing” beliefs and techniques continue to deceive professing Christians. But it is important to bear in mind that by this I'm merely referring to people that profess to be Christian. Many are not true Christian at all, hence the continuing bondage to sin and oppression of Satan in their lives and their non-victorious lives dominated by sin, lusts of the flesh, past grievances and mental imbalance. Because of either ignorance or rebellion and a refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender to Him by true saving repentance and faith, for whatever reason, these simple-minded followers replace that which is Scriptural with a placebo that mimics the new birth, yet remains in darkness. Rather than finding the truth in God’s Word and seeking after Him and striving to enter in the narrow path (Lk. 13:23-30), they flock after the voice of strangers and false teachers like Regier and Froese (Jn. 10:1-5; De. 13:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; Rom. 16:17-18). That is the most tragic of all I believe and the fact that teachings like this exist, reflects this truth. I do however believe that at least some who are caught up in all this, are seekers of the truth and all they might need is some guidance in revealing the truth to them.
So what exactly is “inner healing” therapy and how does it work practically? The basic teaching of “inner healing” is the theory that salvation or healing comes through the uprooting of negative memories or "hurts" caused by others in childhood or previous generations of family members (generational sins/curses) that are supposedly buried somewhere in the "subconscious" from where they tend to dictate our behaviour without us even knowing it, typically creating spiritual strongholds. Therefore, the blame for one's bad behaviour (aka "emotional problems") in the present is placed upon others (who are perceived to have sinned against us in the past or indirectly through “generational sins”) rather than upon ourselves where it belongs (cf. Ezk. 18 and Rom. 3). It’s not difficult to perceive the psychological aspect within this teaching.
Counsellors like Regier and Froese believe that there is some repressed memory that we have—which we might not have any conscious memory of—that we need to uncover so we can get freedom from it and be healed (e.g., childhood sins or issues, “generational sins” and “curses” committed by my ancestors, namely parents, grandparents, all of which are considered to be spiritual strongholds). The counselled are encouraged to find the root cause of these certain sins through memory prayer (praying along with the counsellors usually or sometimes alone) and subconscious meditation, which will bring about visions and dreams about these past hurts/sins or generational hurts/sins and pinpoint what they are. In reality, it is a “Christianized” or “spiritualized” form of Repressed Memory Therapy which is largely based upon hypnosis and was first brought into the mainstream by the ungodly humanist and psychologist Sigmund Freud (click here for further info). The inner healer counsellor is convinced that present problems in them he counsels are expressions of past wounds that must be healed before the person can overcome problems of living and get on with life (I.e. healing of memories and emotions). In this practice, the professing believer is being taught to focus on their past pain and hurts, negative feelings and emotions, and achieve “inner healing” through the use of occult procedures. This so-called deliverance method, “Inner healing therapy,” is an offshoot of Freudian and Jungian theories rooted in the occult; it is a deceptive combination of Freudian psychology and occult visualization.
In order to "heal" these "diseased memories” or “locked hearts” (common language used), the occult technique of listening prayer and visualization (which is in reality a type of sorcery or divination which has been used by shamans, witchdoctors, and sorcerers for thousands of years, and is specifically forbidden by the Word of God) is frequently used to recreate a distressful childhood scene or visualization, or a “memory” of a previous transgression of someone or a generational sin, and then either asking Jesus or producing "image" Jesus (if one is a professing Christian) and bringing Him into the past situation as a "spirit guide”/"healing agent," and then asking Him to sanctify the event, forgive the person who supposedly caused the hurt and sin, and in many cases even alter the reality of the situation in the subject's mind, all so that the subject might be "delivered" from the "crippling emotional pain" associated with the past negative experience that supposedly brought the "diseased memory" in the first place. Charismatic Roman Catholics memory-healers employ the same techniques, but generally substitute Mary for Jesus as the "healing agent" whom the subject meets in the dream or fantasy. One of the seemingly attractive forms of inner healing is to have Jesus enter a painful scene from the past, where the “inner-healer” helps the person recreate the memory by having Jesus do or say things that will make the person feel better about the situation. Some “inner-healers” will even regress people back to the womb and lead them through "rebirthing" by guided imagery and imagination.
“Inner healers” or “Theophostic counsellors” have destructively impacted secular society for decades and now for the past decade or so taking their devastating toll into professing churches. What they are doing is extremely unscriptural; bordering on, if not entirely, demonic activity. We noted that the “inner healing” is achieved through “Listening Prayer Therapy,” which is praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit about a specific question, and then receiving an instant, direct revelation to something unknown. A few massive red flags. (a) Saved people pray according to God’s will to have their prayers answered (1 Jn 5), and this is NOT praying according to His will! (b) Not only against His will because of the request but also because they are praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit which on its own is unBiblical—we do not pray to the Holy Spirit or to Jesus Christ but to the Father in the name of Jesus which is according to His will— it’s not a coincidence by any means that this occult practice attempts to bypass the Father (see Jn. 10:1-5). (c) Note also the the direction answered in the revelation received, which isn’t to the already revealed and completed Word of God (which is completely sufficient for all faith and practice, which means its 100% applicable to every issue of this life), but to new revelation through visions or dreams or voices.
And who is even to say that their supposed “memory” is even true? And irregardless, if these people were truly born again, then all the sins and bad memories and “pains” and “hurts” have already been permanently forgiven and healed. There would be no need to access forgotten or forgiven memory through some unscriptural and occult manner. But that’s where the root problem lies. Its mostly false professing believers being counselled by false teachers, by wolves in sheep’s clothing, those who come with the voice of a stranger (Jn. 10:1-5). God’s way to discern truth is testing it by the Word of God and the testing reveals this to be utterly untrue and the entire process, completely unscriptural.
This unBiblical practice of inner healing of memories, or emotions at its “Christian” roots was designed by pioneers of the New Age movement and has been widely accepted and adapted by so-called churches (especially charismatic and “evangelical”) and “counselling” ministries due to the influence of the anti-Christian and occultist Agnes Sanford and her book “The Healing Light,” in spite of her self-admittance of bring demon possessed at the time of writing the book. Catholics also use the same method, but pray to Mary. The occult uses the same method, but pray to a familiar spirit (unclean spirits—demons). Unsurprisingly, New-Age healers site John Regier as a major mentor in their journey to the new age due to this teaching! (source). Many who write about this method also favourably talk about “calling something up.” Again, this is demonic. None of this is taught or practiced in the Word of God! But it does have its roots in the teachings of lost demon-possessed anti-Christians (Freud and Jung) and occultists, like Agnes Sanford. Popular counsellors and authors of this include not only John Regier but also Bill Gothard, Leanne Payne, Ed Smith (who coined Theophostic Counselling), and John and Paula Sandford. Many that followed Gothard now follow Regier. After the death of Agnes Sanford it was carried on by those she influenced, such as lay therapists Ruth Carter Stapleton (the now deceased sister of Jimmy Carter), Rosalind Rinker, John and Paula Sandford (currently of Elijah House, a demon-deliverance and memory healing center in Port Falls, Idaho), William Vaswig (of Renovaré fame, which is serious heresy), Rita Bennett, and others. John Wimber, David Yonggi Cho, the late Robert Schuller, and Norman Vincent Peale are some of the most well-known pop psychological and heretical practitioners of inner healing, but it has spread widely in so-called evangelical circles in a more sophisticated form through such "Christian" psychologists as David Seamands, Henry Norman Wright, and James G. Friesen, as well as a number of lay therapists like Fred and Florence Littauer. Two of David Seamand’s books, Healing for Damaged Emotions and Healing of Memories, are considered the "inner-healer's bibles" in today's psychologically-oriented pulpits and I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if both were found in Regier’s and Froese’s libraries nd referenced in their material.
To develop further understand of this teaching, it helps to know who Agnes Sanford was, since the teaching was mainly introduced into churches by her book “The Healing Light,” a book she wrote while demon possessed. Sanford was a Pentecostal (which is extreme heresy), was continually under the spells of visions and visualizations which is of the occult. She was laden with every sort of error and heresy imaginable. She claimed God is energy like electricity and a force, that God is nature, and that we are all part of God, like little gods. She allegedly even had an experience where she was one with God and a snake. She was into Unity, Spiritualism, Occultism, and practically every evil and heresy that opposes true Christianity imaginable. Sanford’s pastor Morton Kelsey was a lost apostate (not surprising), a mystical Episcopal priest and also a proponent of the heresies of the occultist Jung and a Jungian Psychologist. These are ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, yet they are the authors behind the counselling philosophy and practice of John Regier and George Froese.
What is being taught as inner healing of some past issue or memory is nothing but basic psychological sorcery, which is an attempt to manipulate some potential reality or illusion of the past, present, or even future, and denies God's omnipotence by implying that He needs our "creative visualization" in order to apply effectively His forgiveness and healing, while simultaneously setting the “counsellors” up as gods who can, through prescribed rituals, use Him and His power as our tools. In reality this is nothing but "Christianized psychoanalysis" that uses the power of suggestion to solve so-called problems, which the technique itself has many times created. Both John Regier and George Froese encourage and teach this occult practice of “Inner Healing/ Listening Prayer” and Visualization (“Theophostic Healing”) in their counselling and Regier in his seminars and manual “Biblical Concepts and Counselling” (which Froese also uses religiously for his counselling sessions) and these practices come largely out of Agnes Sanford.
This heresy is entirely divorced from the reality of scripture but it tickles the ears of the unsaved (2 Tim 4:3-4). Among favourite Scriptures used to “support” this heresy are Jn 14:27; Lk. 4:18-19; Rom. 12:2; and 1 Cor. 13:11 but they are completely butchered and eisegetically wrested out of their context and meaning, which is always the work of people who do not understand the truth which are false teachers (2 Pet. 1:20; 3:16-17). Jn 14:27 and Lk. 4:18-19 refer to conversion and 1 Cor 13:11 and Rom 12:2 have nothing to do with memory healing or inner healing or theophostic counselling. Using Biblical words or passages to pull the wool over peoples eyes doesn’t change the fact that these men are heretics and we always know a false teacher by his false doctrine (Matt 7:15; 1 Jn 4:1; 2 Jn 1:9-11; 2 Tim 3:5-9; 4:3-3) and corruption of Scripture (2 Cor 2:17; 2 Pet 1:21; 3:16-17; cf. 1 Jn 2:20-21; Pr 8:8-9; 22:20-21).
Indeed the Lord Jesus heals the broken heart, and indeed He gives peace and guidance but this has nothing to do with the practice of “inner healing” unless of course we are referring to the great supernatural and dramatic healing work that the Lord does at the very moment of our conversion, the new birth, which healing happens at one moment in time and continues on in that persons life forever. These things are done by the Lord Jesus at salvation, in perfection as well, like we see all miracles done by Jesus. He perfectly spiritually heals every person that comes to God for salvation (and that doesn’t necessarily mean medical healing, besides mental health, see Jam. 5:16, but spiritual healing only which does include the mind since the mind and heart are connected — “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.“ 1 Pet. 2:24). See also Isa. 53:5; Jn. 12:40; Lk. 4:18; Ac. 14:19; 28:27. God’s healing at salvation is very much different than that of this pseudo “inner healing” by these “counsellors.” The past is forgiven and forgotten in salvation in those who are truly born again, so the very concept of this practice is very revealing to the corrupted and dark spiritual estate of majority people who fall into this practice. Theophostic counselling also subverts the truth of forgiveness of sins and freedom from what we “were in the flesh” (Rom. 7:4-6) and points people back to the flesh, which in the born again redeemed saint of God is “crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24). Few things could be more toxic to a Christian (or even a lost person for that matter) than this type of heresy.
As mentioned, salvation brings about God working miraculously in our innermost being through the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit and therefore brings about what some may call "inner healing." But that’s where the similarity ends regarding what the Lord does and what the inner healers do. The similarity is only in the use of the words "inner healing," but that’s why it is so deceptive. People assume that, because Jesus works on the inside, all “inner healing” so-labeled by these counsellors must be from Him. This is naive and simple minded thinking. While the inner healing movement claims to be Christian and even uses a great deal of Scripture and brings a visualized “Jesus” onto the scene — the inner healing movement comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil. It relies on psychological and new age ideas and techniques gleaned or absorbed from the world. It appeals to the flesh because the flesh would rather be humanistically and psychologically "healed" than reproved of sin and permanently healed through Jesus Christ (see Jn. 3:19-21). And, it often uses Satanic methods of suggestion and occult visualization to achieve its purpose. All bad and very unscriptural.
These men claim that one must uncover memories of past abuse in order to have a right relationship with God. Where does the Bible say that? The fact that they say this reveals their complete inability of understanding salvation. In contrast, Paul forgot the past and pressed on toward the prize (Phil. 3:3-14) promised to all those who are born again and thus love Christ's appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8). The past is of no consequence if Christians truly are new creatures in Christ for whom "old things are passed away [and] all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). In other words, those that embrace this heresy expose themselves to be unsaved feigners. Searching the past in order to find an "explanation" for one's present behaviour conflicts with the entire teaching of Scripture. Those that follow through with this unscriptural teaching and practice may perhaps appear to have been helped (like all the other self-help heresies rampant among “evangelicals” such as the books “Love and Respect” and “Five Love Languages,” but it’s only for a season and worst, it robs the poor soul of the true Biblical solution that they actually need which is the new birth through the Lord Jesus Christ. What matters is not the past, but one's personal relationship to Christ now because salvation delivers from all sins and transgressions and afflictions, etc, permanently, so that all saved people are “free from sin” (Rom 6:18, 22, 7) and “dead indeed unto sin” (Rom 6:11) and no longer under its power, “For sin shall not have dominion over you:” (Rom 6:14) because “our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Rom 6:5-6). “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22).
So what does the Bible say specifically about all this “inner healing” theophostic counselling? We are definitely not to communicate with “principalities . . . [and] powers, . . . [with] the rulers of the darkness of this world, [with] spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Entering a mindless space in prayer in the pursuit of a vision of some elapsed memory is little different than contemplative prayer, and its inviting demonic spirits. The Word of God alone is to guide and lead us in this life, not the techniques and procedures and teachings of counsellors or psychologists: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). “[God’s] word is a lamp unto [the born again believers] feet, and a light unto [his] path.” (Ps. 119:105). People only truly and Biblically change by the preaching of the Word (Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 1:21; 1 Pet 1:23-25; Ti 3:3-7) as we see in Acts 2, 5 and 7 and everywhere else and then repenting unto salvation (Ac. 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31; 20:21; 26:18-20; Matt. 21:28-32; etc). It is the pattern throughout the Bible. There is no other means needed or commanded. Rom. 12:2 tells us that the true born again believer is transformed by the renewing of his mind, which occurs through the Word of God, to know the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and not by this toxic and dangerous garbage. This is not some “healing of the mind” through subconsciously invoking memory but the healing of the mind and heart that occurs at conversion followed by continual growth and change that must occur in our minds and hearts as we grow in holiness and godliness and righteousness, as we separate from sin, from the world and error (Ti. 2:11-14; Rom. 12:2a) THROUGH the Word of God (which is the KJV in English), not through counselling sessions that use the ways of the heathen and ungodly strategies to bring out emotional and psychological and even diabolical effects.
Regressing into the past, rummaging about in the unconscious for hidden memories, conjuring up images, experiencing the agony of such nightmares, and believing lies, resembles only the work of Satan, NOT the Holy Spirit. An imaginary memory created in a highly suggestible activity or environment will only bring imaginary healing. Even if the memories were truly reliable, which they are not, the solution to the problem does not lie in the past or in what other people have supposedly done to us. It is not the sins of others that separate us from God, and ultimately from each other, but our own sin and own sinful reactions.
4. The Birth of Regier’s Counselling Heresy and ExtraBiblical Revelation.
All the “counsellors” and alliance offices that work through John Regier’s Caring for the Heart Ministry, are the disciples of Regier. With very few exceptions, they teach predominantly word for word from his books, and not only is the teaching scripted and parroted, as if robots, even their websites are practically identical all containing identical phrases such as “We do not judge a person for where they have been, but seek to follow the direction of the Lord to resolve and lead individuals to freedom. (Galatians 5:1 John 10:10),” etc, which in itself is unscriptural and goes completely against their alleged claims of leading people to “freedom.” How can you lead a person to freedom without judging where they came from?! No man can be saved without acknowledging and turning from their sinful and wicked condition and coming to conviction over it through the preaching of Gods Word (Rom. 10:9-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Jn. 16:7-11; 2 Tim. 4:2-4), and that requires judging and preaching against sin and worldliness and evil. Saved people do judge because it is commanded in the bible and loved by God (read all these passages: Lev. 19:15, 35-37; Pr. 21:3, 15; Ze. 8:16; Matt. 7:15-20; Jn. 7:24; Lk. 12:57; Ac, 17:11; Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 2:15; 5:3; 6:2-5; 10:15; 14:29; Phil. 1:9-10; 1 Th. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:1-2; 2 Jn. 1:9-11; etc), while lost false pretending “believers” do not but rather have great spite for it. They hate it because their sins and error are exposed by the light (Jn. 3:19-21) and they have contrived “another Jesus” in their mind, through “another spirit” (2 Cor 4:4). Before someone can be saved they must first judge themselves to be exactly who they are: “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9) and the true servant of Christ helps that process by pointed preaching against their sins and evil and love of self and love for the world, which of course requires judging. Therefore, “he that is spiritual [saved] judgeth all things,“ (1 Cor. 2:15a) because he has “mind of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 2:16). In fact, "It is JOY to the just to do judgment:" (Pr. 21:15), for true godly “love . . . abound[s] yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” (Phil. 1:9-10). What they are actually doing is making lost people two-fold children of hell and inoculating them to the true gospel of salvation, not only directly in their teaching but also in treating lost people as if they are saved.
Shockingly, though not surprisingly, many of the teachings promoted by John Regier have come by extraBiblical revelation. He claims they are derived from direct revelation of God, resulting in his books “Twelve Locked Hearts” and the “Counsellor’s Manual,” both of which are used and sold by George Froese. This point alone confirms Regier as a false teacher since God’s revelation is completed and the canonization of Scripture is finished (e.g. Rev. 22:18-19). People like Regier and Froese are attempting an experience with God and direct revelation from God beyond Scripture. But when you go beyond Scripture, you go beyond the God of Scripture, and you open yourself to angels of darkness masquerading as angels of light (2 Cor. 11:12-15). Saved people don’t do that but those who pretend to be saved, who pretend to be “ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor 11:15), they are the ones guilty of it. God’s Word is closed to them, in spite of them spending time in it, so they seek extraBiblical revelation.
It started with what Regier claims in his teachings that he used to preach and pray with people, but it didn’t work. Wow. Obviously Mr. Regier doesn’t trust in the Lord and the sufficiency of His infallible Word. So he prayed and asked God to show him why it didn’t work, and how he could help people. He says apparently one day God began to reveal to him the truth and the result of that newfound revelation is the materials he puts out such as “Twelve Locked Hearts,” and “Counsellor’s Manual.” A new truth, something not found in God’s Word because preaching and praying apparently didn’t work, even though the Bible says it does work and it is Gods methods in helping people. Very convenient indeed and simple-minded people swallow it up lock-step. If it had in fact been God who revealed to him why his preaching and praying wasn't working, God would have pointed him to the Holy Scriptures alone, not anywhere else including some new extra-biblical revelations! That is the Biblical pattern. God does NOT work outside of His Word. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted Scripture. Satan rebounded with scripture himself but misquoting and misapplying it, while using it to tempt God and pursue selfish endeavours. We find the same pattern among false teachers, including Regier, who turn people away from God and the truth of His Word (the opposite obviously of what Christ did and born again believers do) while quoting Scripture albeit misinterpreting, misapplying and misusing it, wresting the Word of God to their own destruction (mimicking the MO of Satan). The very fact that what “God” had apparently revealed to him required to be written down and is now found in a book outside of the Bible, clearly reveals that it was anybody BUT God that gave him this supposed revelation (see again Rev. 22:18-19). Any extra-Biblical revelation, regardless how “good” it might appear to man, is not of God (Rev. 22:18) but of “Satan [who] is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14-15). God’s revelation is complete but the problem with Regier is he doesn’t hear Gods Word, while “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye [men like Regier and Froese] therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (Jn. 8:47).
The demonic influence on Regier is further exposed by the fact that one of the “revelations” that he allegedly received from God required the use of Listening Therapy Prayer. Wow, as if God is the author of error! Satan is very subtle and is a master of misapplying Scripture, and ANY teaching regardless how close it comes to the truth (and it can come very close as we see in Satan’s temptation of Christ—Matt. 4:1-10) is not of God. It is either “another gospel” or “another Jesus” or “another spirit” or a combination of these (2 Cor. 11:3-4), but it is not truth no matter how close it comes nor how much bits of truth is mixed into the porridge of error. Faith only comes through one means and that is through the actual preaching and reading of the completed canon of Gods inspired, persevered, inerrant and infallible Word (Pr. 22:17-21; Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25) and that word must be known in truth (1 Jn 2:20-21; Jn 8:31-32, 43, 47; Pr 22:20-21) to be taught in truth, rightly divided (2 Tim 2:15) and not privately interpreted (2 Pet 1:21) or wrested like the unlearned and unstable do (2 Pet 3:16-17).
It appears that “another spirit” visited Regier and brought him revelations that mixed truth with error. That’s got Satan’s signature written all over it. Of course the devil never comes with blatant error, for then it would be outright rejected, but rather subtly and deceptively twists the truth of God’s Word ever so slightly, and packages it in a beautiful charade. That is exactly what he did with Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:1-6) and has been doing ever since through the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life (1 Jn. 2:16; cf. Matt. 4:3, 5-6, 8-9) - the nature of lost man (1 Jn 2:15-17; 1 Cor 2:14).
This is the typical pattern of false teachers and cults who will come up with some movement or teaching that is not found in God’s Word through “revelations” that they claim come from “God.” It’s so predictable, it’s practically scripted. The very same thing occurred with Ed Smith, who came up with this counselling heresy pf Regier and Froese. He claimed that God gave TheoPhostic counselling (“inner healing”) to him. He says, “After I had searched long and hard for that ‘better’ method, He [God] gave me TheoPhostic so I would have no room to boast” (Ed Smith, Beyond Tolerable Recovery, p. 31). Okay, how humble of Smith. He says that, wait for it . . . while boosting! He was chosen specially to reveal this new extraBiblical teaching. Smith tells in detail and with the use of metaphors how “God was revealing this method to me” (ibid, p. 32). Elsewhere in the manual Smith refers to “God’s gift of TheoPhostic therapy” (ibid, p. 17). Developing a teaching based upon extra-Biblical revelations from God, and that incorporates a bit of God’s Word into humanistic and psychological philosophy, which seems to come subtly close to the truth, is what all false teachers and “Christian” cults have in common (e.g. Mormons, JW’s, SDA, “Christian” Science, etc). Cults use God Words to support and endorse their teachings. But are they of God? No they are not and that is easily provable because God's Word is not powerless or unknown. Of course cults teach some truth, but they mix a bit of truth with error and they twist and wrest God’s Word out of its context and wrongly divide it (2 Pet. 3:16-17), and they don’t point people to the cross and blood and sufficiency of Christ and to the truth and sufficiency of Gods Word alone but rather to man and man’s programs (typically including their church) and what man can do for them (like praying with them for repressed memories and thoughts to be brought out and healed). And that is exactly what these so-called revelations of Regier’s do as well. The counsellor becomes the “little saviour.” Consider this testimony for instance:
“John has often been the last resort for many couples. Through his abiding faith in God he has helped find solutions to impossible situations.” (source).
What would those couples have done had it not been for the “little saviour” Regier? Only Regier could solve the impossible situation, not God and His Word, even though God’s Word is clear that only God can do the impossible: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Lk 18:27). The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ is not “the last resort” but the ONLY resort! This is a good example of what humanism/psychology does -- cloaked in spirituality, providing a help-means to people who cannot (allegedly) be helped by the Bible. It’s completely demonic, of the devil, as it replaces the sufficiency of God’s Word with man and his worldly wisdom.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matt 22:29)
What Regier doesn't readily foreclose is the ideas he is presenting are not just his ideas. Ed Smith and Art Zeilstra have similar ideas, and they come from Agnes Sanford and others. They try to say that it is all divine revelation. Ed Smith would say that he received his theophostic counselling method by divine revelation. But when you look at what he writes, he claims that its a wonderful and new breakthrough in therapy. Some of these counsellors, maybe most, like Smith, try “all kinds of therapy, basically every kind that is out there”because God’s Word is not sufficient for them and its closed to them, although with their words they will attempt to persuade but their actions are quite the opposite. The Scriptures are used as a crutch to serve their selfish and ungodly desires, just like the Word of God warns, "that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts" (2 Pet 3:3). Smith was dabbling into evil, Satanic therapies in an effort to help people, and then claims to have had this divine revelation, which is theophostic counselling, using scripture completely wrested to support his new philosophy.
ANY person that must seek extra divine revelation is not of God and doesn’t know the true and living God of the Bible. God’s Word is completed and everything there is for man to know about God and the things of God and spirituality, is found in the completed canonization of Scripture. Salvation starts a brand new life with Christ and God’s Word becomes all-sufficient for all faith and practice. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed [i.e., the Old Testament and the New Testament] belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (De. 29:29). Those that have been truly born of God will never pursue extra-Biblical revelations, nor will they seek counsel from counsellors that teach these heresies.
It is also thus unsurprising that men like Regier and Froese use practically any perverted version of the Bible. That dovetails with the rejection of the sufficiency of Scripture.
Some of the associations of these men is that of false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15-20; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). As noted, Regier is influenced by and connected with the ungodly and demonic teachings of “Christian” science Agnes Sanford and also directly influenced by the heretic Henry Wright, who allegedly teaches people to deal with the “spiritual roots of disease” in his “Be in Health” seminars by identifying all sorts of demons and such. Wrights web site says, “We are dedicated to the eradication and prevention of all spiritual, psychological, and biological disease. . . . Pleasant Valley Research and Publishing provide materials designed to promote Wholeness in mankind.” We see nothing like this in the apostolic doctrine. It is heresy. It’s also blatant lies. Steve Stutzman (Strait Paths Foundation), a heretic in his own right for a lot of reasons, also has influence in these circles and teaches the same unbiblical garbage as Regier and Froese.
Another thing that Regier doesn’t readily foreclose is the ecumenical and deeply compromised “evangelical” college and seminary he graduated from is steeped in psychology (source) and other heresies (although he might not have attended these classes, the influence would have certainly been there).
There are many other false practices and doctrines and damnable heresies embraced and taught by these men, such as the shallow and false gospel that excludes important parts of the gospel (such as true repentance, eternal security, fruits of true conversion, worshipping God in spirit and in truth, Christ’s Lordship, etc), unconditional love and forgiveness, lots of psychoheresy, ungodly CCM music, tons of misuse and perversion and wresting of Scripture, etc. There are many reasons to “withdraw (separate) thyself" from these men who “teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;” (1 Tim. 6:3-5).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 Jn. 4:1)
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; (1 Tim. 4:1-2a)
Finally, in conclusion, it is foreseeable that erroneous and unscriptural teachings such as these, “Christianized” forms of psychology and worldly ways, have established themselves in “evangelical” churches, and are openly and passionately received (such as at EBMC and EMC), considering other psychological heresies have been embraced and taught at these churches for many years already, through the likes of James Dobson and Focus on the Family, Larry Crabb, Henry Wright, David Seamands, Promise Keepers, “Marriage” conferences by Steve Stutzman (Strait Paths Foundation) and Dwayne Sensenig (Arrows of Truth Ministry) and Merv Tuplin and Craig Hinman (Heart Care Ministries), etc.
“Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Lk. 6:39)
Although all these things mentioned here are erroneous, unscriptural, and dangerous, this last point alone should cause any person with any reverence and love for God’s Word and fear of the Lord, flee from these false teachers. God does not give further revelation after the canonization of Scripture was completed with Rev. 22:21. Any man that claims this, regardless how “minor” it may seem, is a false teacher, plain and simple.
It is not difficult to see why many “Evangelicals” and Catholics and Charismatics love these unscriptural practices of “inner healing” and “listening prayer.” The teaching has little to say on the glorious doctrine of justification by the grace of God, through repentant faith which is a free gift of God, which produces a new life that doesn't need this heresy — it completely contradicts what happens at salvation and is produced from that moment on till the end of life. The true born again believer stands righteous in Christ, has peace with God; his guilt has been cleared and is never again under condemnation (Rom. 5:1; 8:1). He is forgiven and cleansed for all eternity (1 Cor. 6:11). He has been delivered from both the penalty and power of sin for ever (Rom. 6:1-23). He does not look to some counsellor for “inner healing” for peace or deliverance from afflictions. In Christ he has become a brand new creature with all old things past away and all things become new (2 Cor. 5:17) and has peace with God for all eternity. His old man is crucified with Christ, and remains crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24). God has dealt with his past and is with him in all his present difficulties and trials (1 Cor. 1:6-9; Eph. 3:20; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; 1 Th. 2:13; 5:23-24; 2 Th. 2:12-17; 3:2-3; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18; 1 Pet. 1:5; Heb. 13:20-21). The Holy Spirit is the believers seal, Comforter, and Teacher of the Scriptures and Guide all the days of his life. Nothing else is needed (1 Jn. 2:20-21, 27). Eph. 2:1-10 and Rom. 6:1-23 explain what happens at salvation and how we are delivered from all bondage, and all sin, and have everything we need to live the Christian life for Gods glory. That (along with many other things) is all very obviously missing in the lives of the counsellors and the people they counsel. Thus it comes as no surprise that these very same techniques used and taught by Regier (and thus Froese) “work” equally well for the Christian and the non-Christian, as they say. That oughta raise some red flags to anyone with spiritual discernment, and it does buttress my above statement on them not understanding salvation and its effects.
Men like John Regier and George Froese should give heed to the warning found in Pr. 13:13 of God’s Word:
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”
These men are “false teachers,” (2 Pet. 2:1), “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,” (Ti. 1:10) who have given “heed to seducing spirits” (1 Tim. 4:1) and “commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Ti. 1:14), peddling their “damnable heresies” (2 Pet. 2:1) and “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1) “corrupt[ing] the word of God” (2 Cor. 2:17), “[lying] in wait to deceive” “by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness” (Eph. 4:14b), and must therefore be “rebuked sharply” by “sound doctrine” for their “mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.“ (Ti. 1:9-14). They “have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim 3:5).
Two recommended videos on this subject and exposing John Regier are Inner Healing Exposed Part 1 and Inner Healing Exposed Part 2
If interested in further reading on these dangers, I would suggest this book: http://www.pamweb.org/e-books/TPC-webbk.pdf
5. Conclusion and True Counselling According to Scripture.
Is there potentially benefit to what men like George Froese and John Regier are doing? Not according to Scripture. Not only no benefit but damage instead. Often very destructive damage, of the kind inoculating lost people (false pretending “believers”) to their true need of conversion, and also providing entirely wrong advice and direction to true Christians. There are a lot of reasons why their counselling system is against Scripture, but we don’t need a lot of reasons to separate and warn of his public ministry. The Bible says “no other doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3) is to be allowed and Froese and Regier embrace false doctrine. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; . . . Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Tim. 6:3-5).
No such “Christian” counselling or psychology is Biblical. It is firstly built upon a faulty foundation (invented by humanistic Christ-rejectors, pioneered by new agers that hate God and reject Christ, that combine human wisdom with bits and pieces of the Bible). Secondly, it incorporates the teachings and techniques of the heathen world to gain insight into peoples “emotional” and “spiritual” problems. Thirdly, it draws its concepts from the occult and thus is rooted in the occult. In other words, it is demonic. As mentioned, some of Regier’s methods and teachings come from the false teacher and demon possessed Agnes Sanford. Instead of allowing the Scriptures to control ones life, these “deliverance” counselling ministries are seeking their followers to be controlled by their emotions from the past, through “generational sins” and “strongholds.” They proclaim "freedom" but actually create bondage. It is very wrong and unscriptural and goes against everything salvation is and does. Paul declared “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded” (Phil. 3:13-15a). Regier is doing the very opposite of God’s Word. This “Christian-psychology” deception leads people away from the truth of God’s Word, and that is precisely Satan’s goal. False teachers come up with this type of humanistic counterfeit because they have no power through God’s Word and Spirit. And that is because they are lost. These are ungodly people that hunt for the restless soul that is “tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” (Eph. 4:14). They teach false doctrine and mislead others, and “they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:18).
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” (Pr. 14:15)
Friend, the most important question in the world to ponder is this: Have you ever been born again, been regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God and made a new creature in Christ Jesus? Do you have life, eternal life? Do you know where you will spend eternity? It’s either heaven or hell, and you must know today. Do you “know God, or rather are known of God” (Gal. 4:9)? Have you obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and sought after Him who is most Majestic to behold and full of Glory and Truth, the Saviour of the world, the Great I am?
This is the counselling of the Counsellor, the Spirit of God, who wants to save you from your sins.
Could you say with the Pslamist,
“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” (Ps. 66:16)
If no is your answer to these questions, the question you must ask yourself is, “how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33b).
The answer is through the new birth. Jesus said, “except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:7). To be born again is to be “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn. 1:12-13).
Then we must ask, how can a “man be born again,” to be “born . . . of God”?
To be born again, to be converted, is to have the Lord Jesus’ blood wash away your sins (Is. 1:18), and that requires “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ac. 20:21). The infallible Bible, the sole and sufficient authority for the Christian’s faith and practice (2 Tim. 3:16-17), teaches that by means of the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Lk. 24:44-48), God justifies or declares righteous all who come to Him in true repentance (Is. 55:1-7; Lk. 13:3,5; 14:25–15:32; Jn. 3:19-21) and trust in the blood of the Redeemer (Jn. 3:15-18; Rom. 5:1). Justification is received simply by repentant faith in Christ, apart from good works (Eph. 2:8-9) and religious rituals, including those ordained by God (Gal. 2:16; 5:4-6), such as believer’s immersion (Rom. 6:1-7) and the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:24-25). All who have been justified are eternally secure (Jn. 10:27-30). And those who believe or teach a false gospel will be eternally damned (Gal. 1:8-9), and heretics must be rejected (Ti. 3:10).
God decreed that the redemption Christ purchased on the cross would be received by “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ac. 20:21). One repents of his sin and self and places his faith in Christ for salvation at a particular moment of time (2 Cor. 6:2); repentance and faith express two aspects of the one heart response to receive Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12; 6:37), so that those who truly repent will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who truly believe in Christ have repented. Repentance, from man’s side, is the foundation of salvation (e.g. Matt. 21:28-32; Lk. 5:31-32; 13:1-5; 16:30; 24:47), hence why Jesus’s ministry of preaching was entirely based around repentance (Matt. 4:17), as was the Apostles when He sent them out (Mk. 6:12) and John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-12). The Bible warns that “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3) and “he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). It also states, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Ac. 3:19), and “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (Jn. 3:36).
One cannot repent, that is, turn from his sins (Is. 55:7; Ezk. 33:11; Rev. 2:22; 9:20-21) and self (Lk 14:25-15:32; Matt 10:32-39; Mk 8:34-38), without first genuinely seeking after God (Pr. 8:17, 35; Isa. 55:6) and believing and receiving God’s Word as truth (2 Th. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:23-25) and fearing God with trembling and sorrow (Ps. 25:12-14; Pr. 14:27; 22:4; Ac. 13:26; 19:17; 2 Cor. 7:10), with a poor broken and contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Is. 61:1; Matt. 5:3-4; 21:44) acknowledging ones desperately wicked and ungodly and sinful state and life before God (Jer. 17:9; Ps. 32:5; Rom. 3:10-20); nor can one believe or trust in Christ to save him from sin’s penalty without wanting the Saviour to free him from sin’s enslaving power (cf. Matt. 21:32; Ac. 19:17-19; Ti 2:11-14); nor can one believe in Jesus Christ as their new Master without turning from the old master, which is the world (Matt. 6:24).
“God . . . now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Ac. 17:30)
What exactly does it mean to repent? Saving repentance is granted by the goodness of God (Ac. 11:18; Rom. 2:4), where a sinner, fully believing what God's Word says, agrees with God that he is lost, is as wicked as the Bible declares (Lev. 26:40-41), and is headed to and worthy of eternal hell fire (cf. 1 Ki. 8:47-48; Lk. 5:32; 2 Tim. 2:25), turns from his sins and self (Ezk. 14:6, 1 Th. 1:9; Rev. 16:11) with godly contrition, compunction and sorrow over his sins (2 Cor. 7:9-11) does deny himself by losing his life and dying to himself, for Christ and the gospel's sake (Mk. 8:34-37; Lk. 14:25–15:32; Jn. 12:25), thus turning to God in surrender and humble submission to Him unconditionally as Lord (1 Th. 1:9-10; Ac. 9:4-6; Rom. 14:11), fully believing and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone in what He did on the cross for his sins (Ac. 3:19 and 4:4; 20:21). The Lord Jesus Christ declared:
“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life [wants to live his own way and will not turn to God’s way] shall lose it [in hell]; but whosoever shall lose his life [surrender to Jesus Christ] for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it [have eternal life]. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk. 8:34-37)
When people turn from their sins and surrender to Jesus Christ, God immediately changes them so that those who “repent and turn to God” will “do works meet for [i.e. befitting] repentance” (Ac. 26:20) and “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8), “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10). While doing good works is not part of repentance but a result of it, all who truly repent and believe in Christ will immediately manifest their change of heart in a changed and fruitful life for God (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:17; Jam. 2:14-26; Col. 1:4-6; Mk. 4:20-19; Lk. 8:15-16; Matt. 3:8; 7:15-20; 21:41-44; 2 Cor. 9:10; Jam. 3:17). “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (Jam. 1:18).
Everything becomes new when a lost sinner gets saved.
“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezk. 36:25-27)
Friend, if you are unsaved my heart pleads for you urgently.
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” (2 Cor. 5:11a)
Please take God’s Word (the King James Version in English) and read these things carefully for yourself. Study the Word of God, His truth. Ask God for light and understanding. Seek after Him with all your heart and soul. He promises that if you do so, you will find Him and find life. Turn and forsake all, flee in sorrow from your sins, and self, and stuff, and from your family, and anything else you hold idolatrously dear to your life, and flee to God by faith in the precious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and He will save you. He will save you from His wrath and from both the power of sin and the penalty of sin, which is death and hell. You will never regret it even for a second but you will forever regret not doing it as you’re thrown into utter darkness, separated eternally from God and His grace in the eternal furnace of fire, where the flames of torment are never quenched and the worm dieth not, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever. This is very sobering my friend and you must take heed to it. Self-righteousness or acts of self-preservation won't save you.
I beseech thee dear friend to urgently read Luke 16:19-31, then Romans 3:1-31, then Mark 8:34-37, then Luke 14:25 to 15:32 and then John 3.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Is 55:6-7)
Your life is hanging in the balance and hinges upon it. Repent or perish is the warning of God! For,
“behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Cor. 6:2b)
Please read the following Gospel Tract on how you can be born again: How A Sinner Can Be Saved and Have Eternal Life
More to come…. A second part that will investigate deeper into the material produced by John Regier and used by George Froese.
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