WHAT IS TELEIOS THERAPY

Rickey Green is a Certified Teleios Therapist.  Call him today to set up an appointment for advice in this area of life.

Teleios Therapy was designed by Dr. Gary Jung as an alternative to therapies based on humanistic views of the nature of man. In a nutshell, Teleios Therapy is a strategy for restoring each individual to God's original design for his/her life. Teleios Therapy assesses the condition of the human spirit, temperament, character and personality. The Christian care-giver then reaches out with one hand to the person and with the other hand to the Lord - seeking to put those two hands together. It is in bringing people to the Lord Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor that allows the process of healing and wholeness to begin.

If you seem to be struggling through life and find that you do not seem to be able to become all you believe you are able to become then Teleios Therapy will be something that can be very beneficial.  It will point out your strengths and the weaknesses that are self defeating.  You may find weaknesses that you were not even aware of.  Once a weakness is identified then you will have the knowledge necessary to confront that weakness and correct an area of life that is preventing you from succeeding.  Teleios Therapy is offered free here at Christians in Action to help an individual strengthen their relationship with God, family, and friends. 

UNDERSTANDING THE DESIGN-GAP THEORY

God's Creation

The Bible teaches us that mankind is a special creation, not the result of evolution.

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:26-27).

The structure of man consists of three foundational elements: spirit, soul and body.

1) The spirit - The eternal, central element of a man's being.
2) The soul - Consists of the mind, will and emotions.
3) The body - The physical element.

God's Design and the Design-Gap

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). So begins the Operations and Maintenance Manual for mankind known as the Bible. The Master Designer of the universe has set forth in this manual all that is necessary to live according to His original design. As we examine the various aspects of our lives in the light of God's design for us, we will discover attitudes, behaviors and feelings that do not measure up to His standard. When we are measured against the standard of the Word of God it is these "gaps" that explain many of our stresses and distresses. It is by closing these gaps that true inner wholeness is achieved. I have identified four primary areas in which gaps occur: the spirit, the temperament, the character and the personality.

Gap #1 - The Spirit

In God's scheme of things His creation of mankind was unique. His decision to make man in His own image sets us apart from all other created beings. We were created to have fellowship with God. In order to walk in fellowship with Him (1 John 1:7), the issues of sin and rebellion must be dealt with (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:9). Even before Adam and Eve were in the garden, the Lord knew they would disobey and need a means to be restored to fellowship with Him. The Old Testament sacrificial system provided a temporary atonement, or covering, for sins but the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary was the ultimate means of that restoration.

As a result of the fall of man, all of mankind is now born with a darkened spirit. The void left by this non-functioning spirit can only be filled by God Himself. Man is thus born incomplete until that void is filled by the Lord. The process by which that void is filled is known as salvation or the new birth.

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again." The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit'" (John 3:3-8).

Man senses that there's something missing in his life. The human soul seeks to fill that void. In the absence of a viable spirit, the soul of man develops a coping mechanism called "the flesh."

When my son Patrick was born, his shoulders were too broad to fit through the birth canal. In order to save his life he had to be pulled out of the womb. In the process of freeing him, the nerves in his left arm were severed and his arm hung limp. This didn't distress him as a baby because he was unaware that this wasn't normal. Within six months partial usage of the arm returned, but he was unable to use certain muscles necessary for lifting. During the ensuing years Patrick developed a set of alternative motions to lift things. For example, he cannot lift straight up. He must move his arm away from his body a certain distance and then up. Patrick has learned to cope with his disability. In the same way, people will develop "mechanisms" and "alternative motions" to meet the psychological needs created by the void in their lives.

This coping mechanism, while it is filling a gap, functions as though no gap exists and does not acknowledge the darkened spirit. The flesh operates on the level of gratification of needs and wants based primarily on self, and secondarily on its impact on others.

When this gap is identified and filled by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the flesh does not cease to exist but continues to vie for control of the soul. The mind is in a constant battle whether to listen to the Spirit of God or the flesh (Romans 7 & 8). The Lord desires control. It is only as we, by an act of our will, choose to give Him control of our lives and invite Him to change us that restoration to His original design can be achieved.

Gap #2 - The Temperament

When we were conceived each of us received a unique blend of genetics which determined our height, body build, hair color, etc. In the same manner we have each received a set of psychological building blocks known as temperament. This God-given, in-born temperament sets the tone for our personality. Temperament includes a set of basic traits with corresponding psychological needs and wants. Each person will seek to fulfill these needs in his/her life. When temperament needs are being fulfilled in a productive and godly manner we refer to them as strengths. When temperament needs are being fulfilled in a non-productive or destructive (ungodly) manner we refer to them as weaknesses.

The biblical standard for our temperaments is to have all temperament strengths and no weaknesses. Weaknesses are to be identified and then given to the Lord who will empower us with His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:10). For instance, a person with a choleric temperament has a need to control his/her external environment. A temperament strength is to be well-organized and to follow through on plans. A temperament weakness is to be domineering and demanding of others.

When a temperament weakness is discovered, it becomes a prayer request. In giving our weaknesses to the Lord, He will exchange them for His strengths. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, one by one those weaknesses will be transformed into strengths and we will close the temperament gap.

Gap #3 - The Character

Our character consists of our attitudes, behavior and feelings. Character is a pattern of learned behavior based upon inborn temperament needs. It is shaped and molded by various influences. Internal influences involve our fallen nature and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. External influences include people, circumstances, the world order (kosmos), the devil and the Lord. External influences are commonly referred to as our environment.

The biblical standard for our characters is Christ-likeness (Philippians 2:5). God's standard is typified by the "fruit of the Spirit." "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." (Galatians 5:22-23). It is through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit that we can become truly Christ-like (Romans 12:2).

When an attitude, behavior or feeling is not in conformity with the Lord's standard of Christ-likeness, there is a procedure for closing the gap. Confession, repentance, forgiveness, empowerment and obedience are all elements of this process.

Gap #4 - The Personality

Personality is that which we express to other people. Character consists of learned behavior consistently applied to diverse situations. Personality is different from character in that it consists of situation-specific behavior. In various settings a person may present an entirely different personality. Personality can range from transparent, where a person's character is revealed, to full-masking, where none of a person's true character is revealed.

The biblical standard for our personalities is full transparency. We are to be who we really are (our character) in all situations. When our characters are Christ-like we need to display them so all can see our "treasure." "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). The fragrance of Jesus needs to be sensed, not the perfume of ourselves diluting the aroma. "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

When we discover a "mask" in our personality, our prayer should be that of David: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

If you discover you are masking in an area of your life, ask the Lord to reveal the reason for your masking. When He shows you where the gaps in your character are that you do not wish to reveal to others, then ask the Lord to help you close those gaps. It may be that you have put forward a mask as a defense mechanism against others seeing the real you because you fear rejection. Ask the Lord to guard your heart and protect you from the attacks of others. Whatever the reason for the masking, confess your sin, commit to transparency and appropriate s power to change.