General
Where can I listen to Truth.Love.Parent. with AMBrewster?
Click here to see a list of the most popular places to access TLP.
Will TLP review my book?
Perhaps. While we generally prefer to receive books from publishers, we do accept some books directly from authors. Feel free to send it along. Though we cannot guarantee a review, we can at least guarantee that we'll give it a look and consider it. Click here for more information.
Does TLP have a Press Kit?
Click here for both our online and PDF versions of our Press Kit.
Does TLP accept gifts and donations?
|
Your gifts and donations are greatly appreciated! We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry, and our budget is currently covered solely by one-time donations, the monthly giving of our TLP Friends, and the sacrificial investment of TeamTLP.
To learn how to become a TLP Friend, please click here! |
|
What is a TLP Friend and how do I become a one?
Click here to learn how TLP couldn't function without our totally awesome Friends!
What denomination is TLP?
- Truth.Love.Parent. is a parachurch organization and is therefore non-denominational.
- Our Special Guests represent various denominations within the Body of Christ.
- However, our doctrinal statement most closely resembles baptistic creeds and confessions.
TeamTLP
Who is AMBrewster?
AMBrewster is the president and executive director of Truth.Love.Parent., host of its award-winning podcast, biblical family counselor, professional speaker, and creator of The Year Long Celebration of God and Sanctified Sustainability.
Who's part of TeamTLP?
Counseling
Does TLP charge for its biblical counseling?
- Any and all questions submitted to [email protected] will be answered for free by one of our volunteer biblical counselors.
- TLP Friends from Tier 50+ and higher receive free biblical counseling sessions with our lead counselor, AMBrewster.
- Face to Face Counseling sessions in person or via Zoom have a fee.
- The TLP Mentorship Program also has a fee. This program is a coaching program associated with our Truth.Love.Parenting Courses and interpreting The Insight Tool.
Ministry Stances
What are TLP's views concerning abortion?
We hold to a completely biblical understanding of life. No human is an accident. They are all created in the image of God at the moment of conception. Children are not a part of their mother's body, and they should never be treated as a mere body part. Killing an innocent human being is a sin and should never done. We are a pro-life ministry who celebrates physical life so that everyone can have the chance to know spiritual life through faith in Christ.
Please click here to learn more about what it means to have "spiritual life."
Please click here to learn more about what it means to have "spiritual life."
What does TLP believe about the Bible?
We believe the Bible, as comprised of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, is the Word of God. Every single word thereof is inspired (verbal - I Corinthians 2:13, Matthew 5:18), and every single word is equally inspired (plenary - 2 Timothy 3:16). Inspiration may be defined as the supernatural out-breathing of the Holy Spirit whereby the sacred writers were divinely influenced and supervised in their production of Scripture. During this process the Holy Spirit restrained them from error and carried them along in their choice of words, by virtue of which their original autographs are given divine trustworthiness, and yet they remain consistent with the different personalities and stylistic peculiarities of the Biblical authors. All of this culminated in the writing of propositional truth-claims via the confluence (as opposed to cooperation) of Divine/human authorship. We do not believe, however, that God dictated the words of Scripture. The Bible does not read like, communicate as, nor follow the form of dictated materials. Since God is sovereign and omnipotent, the human authors were able to use their own words whilst God had already, divinely chosen each word they would utilize before the foundations of the world.
Due to the fact that God (Who is omnipotent, eternal, and perfect) breathed out the Scripture (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21) it is both inerrant (without error) and infallible (incapable of error). The Bible is true in everything it affirms, whether in doctrine, Christian living, history, geography, or science. Though it must be remembered that only the original manuscripts were inspired, all accurate copies and translations of the autographs can be said to be inspired in a derivative sense (inasmuch as they are faithful to the original).
We believe God has providentially preserved His Word through secondary causation. In the totality of the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic extant manuscripts we believe we have reliable and trustworthy translations in various human languages which are faithful to the original text of Scripture. While we do not possess the original autographa we do have the original text among all the manuscript evidence (John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19; II Timothy 2:15).
We believe the Word of God is self-attesting and self-authenticating (John 10:35; 17:17) and therefore, does not need verification from any external source. Believers are able to recognize the authority of God's Word through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (I John 2:20-21; I Corinthians 2:4-5). Though unbelievers may understand the meaning of Scripture (John 5:39-40), only a believer can grasp the true significance of Scripture through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:14).
The Bible is a clear, finished, and complete revelation entirely sufficient for its divinely intended purpose to instruct (perspicuity - Psalm 119:105, 130) the believer in all matters regarding the faith, godliness, and spiritual welfare (II Timothy 2:15).
Due to the fact that God (Who is omnipotent, eternal, and perfect) breathed out the Scripture (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21) it is both inerrant (without error) and infallible (incapable of error). The Bible is true in everything it affirms, whether in doctrine, Christian living, history, geography, or science. Though it must be remembered that only the original manuscripts were inspired, all accurate copies and translations of the autographs can be said to be inspired in a derivative sense (inasmuch as they are faithful to the original).
We believe God has providentially preserved His Word through secondary causation. In the totality of the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic extant manuscripts we believe we have reliable and trustworthy translations in various human languages which are faithful to the original text of Scripture. While we do not possess the original autographa we do have the original text among all the manuscript evidence (John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19; II Timothy 2:15).
We believe the Word of God is self-attesting and self-authenticating (John 10:35; 17:17) and therefore, does not need verification from any external source. Believers are able to recognize the authority of God's Word through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (I John 2:20-21; I Corinthians 2:4-5). Though unbelievers may understand the meaning of Scripture (John 5:39-40), only a believer can grasp the true significance of Scripture through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:14).
The Bible is a clear, finished, and complete revelation entirely sufficient for its divinely intended purpose to instruct (perspicuity - Psalm 119:105, 130) the believer in all matters regarding the faith, godliness, and spiritual welfare (II Timothy 2:15).
How does TLP address modern sexuality?
*The cultural context of the Twenty First Century makes it popular, and politically expedient, to adjust traditional views of gender, sexuality, and counseling. Many fashionable views abound. In particular, numerous voices in our culture embrace, as normal and proper, same-sex desires and behavior, same-sex marriage, transgender identification, and malign — as evidence of ignorance and cruelty — efforts to counsel people away from such behaviors.
As a ministry bound by the authority of Scripture, and our own guiding documents which grow out of these Scriptures, Evermind Ministries rejects any demand that we conform to cultural pressure to embrace any of these unbiblical views of gender, sexuality, and counseling. We desire, instead, to reaffirm the following theological and practical commitments.
I. Theological Commitments
II. Counseling Practice
Evermind Ministries and all counselors and counseling centers believe that homosexual desires and behavior are at odds with human joy and flourishing. Based on that reality we believe that it is an act Christian love to call to repentance those struggling with homosexual sin. We further believe that it is unkind and unloving to fail to point human beings to the goodness of God’s commands concerning gender, sexuality, and counseling. We do not participate with or cooperate in any efforts to prepare for or perpetuate same-sex relationships. In that light we believe that a uniquely Christian form of counseling faithfulness regarding this issue requires:
*This statement was borrowed and adapted from a similar statement published by ACBC.
As a ministry bound by the authority of Scripture, and our own guiding documents which grow out of these Scriptures, Evermind Ministries rejects any demand that we conform to cultural pressure to embrace any of these unbiblical views of gender, sexuality, and counseling. We desire, instead, to reaffirm the following theological and practical commitments.
I. Theological Commitments
- God created every person in His own image as male or female. This sexual distinction and complementarity establishes a normative connection between biological sex and gender. (Genesis 1:26-27)
- The fall of mankind corrupts this created good in both physical and spiritual realities creating confusion and pain in the lives of each person who struggles with the difficulty of physical brokenness regarding gender, and the torment of sinful desires regarding sexuality. (Genesis 3:1- 7; Romand 3:9-18; 5:12-17)
- In the midst of a broken and fallen world, God’s Word continues to affirm the sanctity of one’s biological sex. Because of this reality, the Bible affirms that marriage is exclusively between one man and one woman for life. Marriage is thus the only proper context for sexual desire and behavior. (Mark 10:1-8)
- The Bible regularly and consistently condemns same-sex attraction and behavior as sinful, requiring repentant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. (Romans 1:18-27; I John 1:8- 9)
- Though we reject any triumphalism that insinuates easy, quick fixes, Evermind Ministries wholeheartedly affirms the biblical truth that the powerful grace of Jesus Christ is able to change and purify the desires of those struggling with same-sex attractions and behaviors. (I Corinthians 6:9-11; II Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:1-17)
II. Counseling Practice
Evermind Ministries and all counselors and counseling centers believe that homosexual desires and behavior are at odds with human joy and flourishing. Based on that reality we believe that it is an act Christian love to call to repentance those struggling with homosexual sin. We further believe that it is unkind and unloving to fail to point human beings to the goodness of God’s commands concerning gender, sexuality, and counseling. We do not participate with or cooperate in any efforts to prepare for or perpetuate same-sex relationships. In that light we believe that a uniquely Christian form of counseling faithfulness regarding this issue requires:
- An affirmation of God’s goodness in creating mankind as male and female.
- A rejection that a human being could possess a gender other than the one indicated by biological sex.
- A rejection that homosexual desires, behavior, or marriage is an acceptable or moral lifestyle.
- An affirmation that the Christian process of change is often lengthy and is ultimately incomplete in this life.
- An affirmation that the powerful grace of Jesus Christ ultimately and certainly sanctifies the most engrained sinful desires, including homosexuality. A Christian can know meaningful change in this life and will know the fullness of change in the life to come.
*This statement was borrowed and adapted from a similar statement published by ACBC.
What is TLP's stance on mental disorders and medication?
*We live in a broken world full of people suffering with profound trouble and intense pain. One manifestation of that brokenness is the problem that our culture recognizes as mental disorders. Increasing numbers of people are diagnosed with these complex difficulties, which require wisdom and multi-faceted care. We confess that, too often, the church of Jesus Christ has not been recognized as a source for profound hope and meaningful help for such difficult problems. We further acknowledge that many Christians have contributed to a negative stigma attached to such diagnoses through simplistic understandings of these problems, and have offered solutions grounded in ignorance.
As an organization committed to pursuing excellence in biblical counseling Evermind Ministries calls upon faithful Christians to grow in the twin tasks of understanding complex problems and learning skills to address them in the context of counseling. As an organization committed to the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling we believe that the Bible provides profound wisdom to guide us in caring for people diagnosed with mental disorders.
One example of this wisdom is the biblical teaching on dichotomy. The Bible is clear that God created human beings to consist of both a body and spirit. These two parts together form the soul. To be a human being is to exist in these two constituent parts, which are separable only at death. Even after death, Christians confess that the bodies and spirits of human beings will be restored at the Last Day. This biblical truth points to the high honor and regard that God gives to both the physical and spiritual realities of humanity. [1]
A theological reality like this one requires Christians to honor both body and spirit as crucial to human existence. Christians, therefore, should respect medical interventions as a fully legitimate form of care for those struggling in this fallen world. Examinations by medical professionals are crucial adjuncts to a biblical counseling ministry as they discover and treat, or rule out physical problems, which lead many to seek counseling help.
Another example of this biblical wisdom is the teaching in Scripture on the dynamic nature of problems that we experience in a fallen world. Human beings have difficulties, which always carry physical and spiritual implications. Both aspects need to be addressed in an appropriate fashion. Human beings experience problems with spiritual implications for which they are morally culpable and must repent. Human beings experience other physical and spiritual problems, which are not a consequence of their sins, are not their fault, but which are painful realities that attend life in a fallen world. [2]
This theological reality requires Christians to approach problems in a complex way, rather than a simplistic one. Christians understand that some spiritual realities will require a rebuke, but others will require encouragement in the midst of pain. Still others will require help in the midst of weakness.
Christians today live in a secular and therapeutic culture, which lacks the sophistication of the Scriptures in understanding these matters. This culture attributes physical causation to many problems ignoring their spiritual roots and implications. This practice is confusing and unhelpful since the Bible teaches that not all serious problems are biological/medical problems. The Bible’s teaching on humanity leads us to conclude that many problems are physical in nature, many others are spiritual in nature, and each of these affects the other. God’s Revelation in the Scriptures about the complexity of humanity forbids the secular reductionism that makes all problems merely physical.
The contemporary language of mental illness is one example of this reductionism. The compendium for mental illnesses that our culture recognizes as authoritative is The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual makes many accurate observations about the manifold problems that afflict people. For biblical counselors, however, the DSM paints an inadequate and misleading picture. It fails to express, recognize, or understand the spiritual aspect of problems that afflict people.
Because of that failing it cannot offer clear help and hope for people diagnosed with its labels. While some of the disorders listed in DSM are medical in nature, many others are not. Even when the problems in DSM have a physical component the spiritual and Godward elements of humanity are not addressed by the DSM, which biblical counseling must take into account. Christians must be committed to a way of understanding and speaking about complex problems that is more likely to lead to real and lasting change than that recorded in the various editions of DSM.
In light of these realities, Evermind Ministries endorses the following standards of belief and practice for its counselors and counseling centers that would care for people diagnosed with the complicated problems identified as mental disorders.
[1] Genesis 2:7; Matthew 10:28; I Corinthians 7:34; II Corinthians 5:1; I Timothy 4:8
[2] Matthew 5:8; 26:38; II Corinthians 7:9-11; I Thessalonians 5:14
*This statement was borrowed and adapted from a similar statement published by ACBC.
As an organization committed to pursuing excellence in biblical counseling Evermind Ministries calls upon faithful Christians to grow in the twin tasks of understanding complex problems and learning skills to address them in the context of counseling. As an organization committed to the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling we believe that the Bible provides profound wisdom to guide us in caring for people diagnosed with mental disorders.
One example of this wisdom is the biblical teaching on dichotomy. The Bible is clear that God created human beings to consist of both a body and spirit. These two parts together form the soul. To be a human being is to exist in these two constituent parts, which are separable only at death. Even after death, Christians confess that the bodies and spirits of human beings will be restored at the Last Day. This biblical truth points to the high honor and regard that God gives to both the physical and spiritual realities of humanity. [1]
A theological reality like this one requires Christians to honor both body and spirit as crucial to human existence. Christians, therefore, should respect medical interventions as a fully legitimate form of care for those struggling in this fallen world. Examinations by medical professionals are crucial adjuncts to a biblical counseling ministry as they discover and treat, or rule out physical problems, which lead many to seek counseling help.
Another example of this biblical wisdom is the teaching in Scripture on the dynamic nature of problems that we experience in a fallen world. Human beings have difficulties, which always carry physical and spiritual implications. Both aspects need to be addressed in an appropriate fashion. Human beings experience problems with spiritual implications for which they are morally culpable and must repent. Human beings experience other physical and spiritual problems, which are not a consequence of their sins, are not their fault, but which are painful realities that attend life in a fallen world. [2]
This theological reality requires Christians to approach problems in a complex way, rather than a simplistic one. Christians understand that some spiritual realities will require a rebuke, but others will require encouragement in the midst of pain. Still others will require help in the midst of weakness.
Christians today live in a secular and therapeutic culture, which lacks the sophistication of the Scriptures in understanding these matters. This culture attributes physical causation to many problems ignoring their spiritual roots and implications. This practice is confusing and unhelpful since the Bible teaches that not all serious problems are biological/medical problems. The Bible’s teaching on humanity leads us to conclude that many problems are physical in nature, many others are spiritual in nature, and each of these affects the other. God’s Revelation in the Scriptures about the complexity of humanity forbids the secular reductionism that makes all problems merely physical.
The contemporary language of mental illness is one example of this reductionism. The compendium for mental illnesses that our culture recognizes as authoritative is The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual makes many accurate observations about the manifold problems that afflict people. For biblical counselors, however, the DSM paints an inadequate and misleading picture. It fails to express, recognize, or understand the spiritual aspect of problems that afflict people.
Because of that failing it cannot offer clear help and hope for people diagnosed with its labels. While some of the disorders listed in DSM are medical in nature, many others are not. Even when the problems in DSM have a physical component the spiritual and Godward elements of humanity are not addressed by the DSM, which biblical counseling must take into account. Christians must be committed to a way of understanding and speaking about complex problems that is more likely to lead to real and lasting change than that recorded in the various editions of DSM.
In light of these realities, Evermind Ministries endorses the following standards of belief and practice for its counselors and counseling centers that would care for people diagnosed with the complicated problems identified as mental disorders.
- Biblical Counselors must acknowledge that human beings struggle with physical and spiritual problems.
- Biblical counselors shall encourage the use of physical examinations and testing by physicians for diagnosis of medical problems, the treatment of these problems, and the relief of symptoms, which might cause, contribute to, or complicate counseling issues.
- Biblical counselors shall help their counselees respond biblically to physical problems, but deny that spiritual interventions are the only proper response to problems with a medical element. They reject any teaching, which excludes the importance of the body and the goodness of God, which leads to the blessing of medical care.
- Biblical counselors reject the notion that medical interventions solve spiritual problems. They embrace the use of medicine for cure and symptom relief, but deny that medical care is sufficient for spiritual problems, which require Christ and his gospel for ultimate relief and lasting change.
- Biblical counselors shall be committed to counseling those with medical problems, but should not attempt to practice medicine without the formal qualifications and licensing to do so. When they have questions or concerns of a medical nature they should refer their counselee to a competent medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.
- Biblical counselors shall nurture a spirit of humility, understanding many issues at the nexus of body and soul defy simplicity. They recognize that many problems are combinations of physical and spiritual issues. Others are problems, which are not easily identified as one, the other, or both.
- Biblical counselors do not reject the true observations found in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but do reject that DSM is an authoritative guide for understanding the cause and treatment of complex problems of human behavior, thinking, and emotions. They affirm that God’s Word in Scripture serves as this authoritative guide. Biblical counselors move toward using biblical language to refer to the counseling problems that people face. They are committed to applying the Bible to an understanding of the causes of and treatments for these problems.
- Biblical counselors are committed to biblical discernment in understanding the nature of spiritual issues, and to dealing with sin through gentle, Christ-centered correction.
- Biblical counselors are committed to biblical discernment in understanding the nature of spiritual issues, and to dealing with suffering through Christ-centered encouragement.
- Biblical counselors are committed to biblical discernment in understanding the nature of spiritual issues, and to dealing with weakness through loving care in the context of the body of Christ.
[1] Genesis 2:7; Matthew 10:28; I Corinthians 7:34; II Corinthians 5:1; I Timothy 4:8
[2] Matthew 5:8; 26:38; II Corinthians 7:9-11; I Thessalonians 5:14
*This statement was borrowed and adapted from a similar statement published by ACBC.
Does TLP encourage corporal punishment?
We never use the word "punishment" to apply to the discipline in which God desires parents to engage (Ephesians 6:4). Our approach to the topic of discipline is robustly biblical, and though it may include legal and biblical forms of "spanking" from time to time, such discipline is only one of many Christ-honoring forms of discipline that should be utilized by godly parents. You can learn more about our biblical approach to discipline here.
Miscellaneous
What is the Amazon Associate Affiliation?
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Click any Amazon link at TruthLoveParent.com, shop as usual, and TLP will receive commissions off all of your sales! Click here to learn more.
