One’s biblical psychology is important in describing the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of people. This not only the case in devotional or academic literature; it’s also relevant in fiction.

The novel Cross Roads, by William Paul Young, goes to great lengths to describe the inner life and sanctification process of the main character, Tony who—for most of the book–is in a coma.

In this book, the way a person is described as three-in-one is basically in line with the holistic trichotomy perspective of this blog site. Briefly stated, man has three ontologically distinguishable parts (spirit, soul, and body), yet with two separable aspects (material and immaterial), yet one in personhood.

Chapter eight of Cross Roads is titled, What is the Soul of a Man?

The dream state character who symbolizes the Holy Spirit answers the main character, Tony:  “Trying to explain a human being… a being who is a unity, one, and yet comprising spirit, soul, and body, is like trying to explain God: Spirit, Father, and Son. The understanding is in the experience and relationship…

“Cabby [a mentally handicapped boy], like you, is a spirit interpenetrating a soul interpenetrating a body. But it is not simply interpenetration. It is dance participation… Anthony, like you, Cabby’s body is broken and his soul is crushed and bent, yet his spirit is alive and well. But even though alive and well, his spirit is submitted in relationship to the broken and crushed parts of his person, his soul and body.  Words are very inadequate to communicate sometimes.… You are an interpenetrated and interpenetrating whole, a unity of diversity but essentially a oneness.…

[Cabby’s] brokenness is just more obvious than yours. He wears it on the outside for all to see, while you have kept yours all locked away and hidden as best you know how. Cabby has internal sensitivities and receptors that are significantly more developed than yours. He can see things that you are blind to, can pick up on the good and the danger in people quicker than you, and his perception is much keener.  It is housed in an inability to communicate, a broken body and soul reflective of a broken world.” (New York: Faith Words, 2012, p.113,114)

Although Young (who also wrote The Shack) sometimes stretches imagination to the brink of unorthodoxy, he does a superb job dramatizing the complex process of the main character’s journey of faith, repentance and spiritual growth.

“We are created to live in an altar’d state—surrendered, yielded, free. The noun altar is usually understood to be a place of worshipful offering. Something of value is offered up and released on the altar. When we turn the noun altar into a verb—altar our fear, our failure, our possessiveness, our need to control—all those things that hold us captive and keep us from running the race at full throttle are released. Through careful exposition and biblical teaching, celebrated author and prayer expert Jennifer Kennedy Dean guides readers on a 40-day exploration of the Scriptures and what it means to truly live a life dead to flesh and alive to the spirit. Let the altar do its work in you, transforming fear to faith, worry to worship. Each time that old pattern starts asserting itself in your thoughts, overlay it with the new reality: I’m altar’d. Jennifer is known for her imaginative reframing of eternal truth, and again she gives us a powerful revision of an ancient symbol. She first introduced us to the difference between a prayer life and a praying life, and now leads us to the power of living in an altar’d state. ”
– From Praying Life Foundation

This is an excellent, insightful Bible study. Jennifer also uses the “spirit, soul, body” perspective to give additional clarity to the process of practical sanctification. For a ordering information and  sample chapter, click here. -JBW

Part of  “My Hope With Billy Graham” – an urgent new message of Hope from Billy Graham, featuring Lacey Sturm and Lecrae. ‪http://www.findingmyhope.org/‬

“With a perfect heart . . . to make David king” —1 Chronicles 12:38

What is the supreme purpose of our lives? The Israelites were of one heart to make David king. Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way?

Does this objective dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares? Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life? Does it decide for us the education of our children, the investment of our means, the friendships and associations of life, the whole activity, interest and outlook of our beings? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body-all we are, all we do, all we hope for-of one heart to make Jesus King?

A. B. Simpson,
Days of Heaven on Earth (Dec. 5th reading)
http://cmalliance.org/devotions/simpson?mmdd=1205

Grace Fellowship field staff member, Cherri Freeman, has written a significant and practical book on Christ-centered recovery–especially for mothers. The concluding three chapters address these issues through the facets of a mom’s body, soul, and spirit.

“When our children enter the bondage of addiction, it seems impossible to find any peace in our lives. Instead of still waters, we feel as if we are in the middle of a roaring river.

“The mother-child relationship is unique among all human relationships. Not only do our children share our bodies for nine months, they are a permanent part of our hearts. When they begin to make troubling choices, the desire to “fix” things often leads to the trap of codependency and enabling. We just want to make things better; however, that can be the worst thing that we can do for our child.

“Beside Still Waters: Finding Peace in the Midst of Your Child’s Addiction is a guide for mothers as they walk through the heart-wrenching times of their child’s addiction, dealing with topics such as denial, worry, enabling, guilt feelings,codependency, legal issues, signs of addiction, and more. Written from a Christ-centered, Bible-based perspective, it can be used by individuals or as the curriculum for a mothers’ support group.

“For families that are being torn apart by addiction, there is hope. Moms with kids in addiction need to know that they are not alone. Hope is found in Jesus Christ, and He desires to lead moms “Beside Still Waters” to whisper that message of hope to their aching hearts. Cherri Raws Freeman understands firsthand how addiction can destroy a family member. Growing up at America’s Keswick, she saw hundreds of lives that have been restored through victory in Jesus. She has also been on your journey as a mom. She has experienced hope and now wants to share that hope with you.
– Dr. Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick”
It can be ordered here: lovethemtolife.com

Dr. Charles Solomon addresses the relevance of the biblical model of man to a clarified teaching of redemption and sanctification.

Discerning the soul/spirit distinction is advantageous in Christ-centered counseling. Read and/or download his booklet here:

Di-or-Tri?…Do or Die?

Synechdoche is a figure of speech that occurs often in literature, including the Holy Bible. It is the convention of mentioning a part when the whole is in view, and visa versa. This explains how a part (such as the human spirit) can sometimes be used to include the soul, and sometimes body for soul. For example: “And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). That punishment obviously would include the material aspect of man, not just his soul. Thus, some interchangeable use of terms does not disprove that the human soul and spirit are ontologically distinct.

Consider how the persons of the Trinity are sometimes referred to by the names of the Others.

God is triune; He is three persons, yet one God.

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5).

The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of His Son. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts…” (Gal. 4:6).

The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Christ.  “Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1 Pet. 1:11).

The Son of God, Christ, is distinct person from the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16,17). But note how, since God is tri-une, the “Spirit” is used interchangeably with “the Spirit of His Son” as in the next verse in 1 Peter: “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into” (1 Pet. 1:12).

Isaiah uses the title “Everlasting Father” of Christ. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus identifies Himself closely with the Father. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9).

Yet, God the Son and God the Father are distinct persons in the Godhead: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:19-23).

However, note how the Son and the Father are spiritually united: “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20).  “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).

The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:4) yet is distinct from the Father who is also recognized as God (1 Cor. 1:3). “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:16,26).

Therefore, if terms can be used interchangeable of God the Father, Son, and Spirit without contradicting the doctrine of God’s tri-unity, even so some interchangeable usage of soul and spirit need not contradict the tri-unity of man (1 Thess. 5:23).

Dr. Norman Geisler presents the biblical doctrine of man in his extensive Systematic Theology. His description of the model of man is compatible with–or identical to–holistic trichotomy: one in personhood with two separable parts, yet three distinguishable parts (aspects).

“Each individual human being is a unity of soul and body, having a spiritual dimension and a physical dimension. Each partakes of the immaterial as well as the material, the angelic as well as the animal. As such, human beings are unique: each is a psychodynamic unity, a blend of mind and matter.

…At death, ‘The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it’ (Eccl. 12:7)…Paul speaks of ‘spirit, soul, and body’ forming an individual ‘wholly’ (1 Thess. 5:23); that is, these three aspects constitute one person.

However, within this basic unity is a tri-dimensionality, because a human being is self-conscious, world-conscious, and God-conscious. He can look inward, outward, and upward. But he is, nonetheless, one person, with one individual human nature.

Within the unity of human nature, there is also a basic duality. The unity of soul and body is not an identity of the two; the union is not an indissolvable one. As death ‘we are…away from the body and at home with the Lord'(2 Cor. 5:8)…The separation is only temporary: They await their reunion at the resurrection, when they will be brought back together permanently (1 Thess. 4:13-17).

Systematic Theology (One Volume Edition, pp636, 37 Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2002).

One of the drawbacks of the monistic view of man is that there is not adequate attention given to one’s distinct parts. The apostles Paul and Peter referred tp their physical body as a distinct and separable part of them–a tent (2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet.1:13,14). Some ministries specialize in the physical aspect of man but from a biblical perspective. However, they may totally miss the spiritual solution(s). The complete provision of God will include spiritual, soulical, and physical guidance. Here is a re-post from a health ministry about the role of nutrition:

The Truth About Depression (& the Natural Solution)

When the last leaves of autumn drop and the cold chill of winter sets in, many people start to feel a sense of melancholy. Combine that with fewer hours of sunlight and less time with nature and that sad mood might deepen into a feeling of depression that’s persistent and pervasive. Even the months after Christmas and the New Year affect many people, as their mood dies down with the holiday spirit. Although the “winter blues” are common, it’s estimated that around 19 million Americans suffer from depression at any point during the year.

Depressed individuals, in addition to their own suffering, find that their families, friends, colleagues, community and church members all become affected too. Their productivity deteriorates along with their social lives. But there is hope. The path to wellness is understanding what depression is and how to fight it using a safe, natural and sustainable approach.

read more

[This workbook applies an explicit spirit/soul/body model of man to discipleship and counseling.]

What is the Alpha Series? Is it a program? Is it a religion? The simplest answer is that the Alpha Series explains the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that ordinary people can understand and apply it to themselves. What makes the Alpha Series effective as a counseling model, discipleship course, training curriculum, or recovery tool is the fact that it is a practical application of the gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Romans 1: 16).

People are hungry for the gospel of grace but turned off by religion. Because the Alpha Series is not religious but biblical in nature most people will be receptive to the teaching regardless of their background and life experience. Religion is man’s attempt to manipulate deity by what he says or does. Biblical Christianity is a personal relationship with God based on believing in what He has done for us in Christ that we could not do for ourselves. The Alpha Series is simply an explanation of what the Bible says that God has done to make us worthy as persons. Whenever the gospel is taught it is the power of God that changes the lives of all who believe it.

The Alpha Series is constructed in three main parts. Part one describes the manner in which personal and relational problems develop from the core emotions of fear of rejection and fear of failure due to low self esteem. The insight gained in understanding how problems develop sets the stage for the application of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only workable solution. Part two provides a biblical foundation on which to build a healthy self-image based entirely upon our new identity in Christ. The good news of our union with Christ is applied to the daily task of allowing ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Part three carries the gospel of our new identity in Christ to the logical end of ministering to the needs of others. Having been assured of our personal security in all that God has done for us in Christ, we have the confidence and power to concern ourselves with helping others. True recovery is not complete until we learn to minister rather than manipulate. For additional information on the Alpha Series and its application visit the Alpha Ministries website at www.alphaministries.org.