Welcome to the Ordained Chaplains podcast. My name is Daniel Whyte III. I am the president of Gospel Light Society University. We are going through the book “Out of the Depths: An Autobiographical Study Of Mental Disorder And Religious Experience” by one of the pioneers of chaplaincy, Dr. Anton T. Boisen. This is episode #68.
Our Scripture Verse for today is Psalm 37:23-24 which reads, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”
Our Ordained Chaplains quote for today is from Charles Spurgeon. He said, “I note that some whom I greatly love and esteem, who are, in my judgment, among the very choicest of God’s people, nevertheless, travel most of the way to heaven by night.”
In this podcast, we will continue discussing the book “Out of the Depths” by Anton T. Boisen. We continue today with “Chapter 4: A Little-Known Country” (Part 17):
The other proposition is that concerning treatment. He recognizes three stages in the process of cure:
1. There must be absolute frankness and truthfulness on the part of the patient, understanding of the trouble on the part of the physician, and the attempt to bring into clear consciousness the dimly understood ideas which should prevail.
2. He holds that in practically every case of successful treatment in which the sex instinct is involved, the patient’s affections are transferred to the physician. This, he says, is a fact that must be frankly recognized and wisely utilized as fundamental to the process of cure.
3. Re-direction or sublimation or elimination of the transference as soon as the right time comes. This marks the completion of the process of cure.
As I understand my own case, that it precisely what has been happening. Therein lies the explanation of the recent smash-up. May it not be the destruction or sublimation of the transference relationship and the completion of a process which has been going on for many years? That, at least, is the interpretation I had arrived at before I ever heard of Freud. I am glad to receive support of this sort. It makes me feel as in the days of old when I was working on some difficult problem in algebra, and then after getting my answer, I would turn to the key in the back of the book and find that my answer was right. But this is a problem on which I have been working for eighteen years.
My idea of the “family of four” would then be an attempt to express this principle. The idea I had in mind would be this, that there are those for whom the hope of salvation is involved with sexual love. This fact must be recognized. This does not mean, however, that such a desire should be gratified. If it is the right kind of love, it would not demand that. On the other hand, it must not be killed. The surgeon’s knife and the methods of fear and repression are not the right treatment, but frankness and co-operation. It seemed to me then that the finest men and the finest women are precisely the ones most likely to respond to the appeal of weakness and of need. Such a response has had blessing attached to it, but it has also meant sacrifice which should not have to be made. Of course, in my abnormal condition I went too far and attempted to universalize my own experience, but may there not be some element of truth in this crazy idea?
In our next podcast, we will continue with Part 18 of Chapter 4, “A Little Known Country”.
—PRAYER—
Now, if you have come across this podcast, and do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Until next time, my friend, God bless!
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