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Sexual Health Meditation version 3..0

Rev. Dr. Glen Maiden PhD, DMin, CSAT, CMAT, CST, LHMC

This sexual health meditation can assist the reader with reflection on relational intimacy with God and sexual health with one’s partner.  The meditation follows the seven kinds of intimacy in Genesis 1-3.  Please circle yes or no when appropriate. When answering numbered questions; one means rarely, two means sometimes, three means often.

Sexual Health Meditation version 1.0

Rev. Dr. Glen Maiden PhD, DMin, CSAT, CMAT, CST, LHMC

This sexual health meditation can assist the reader with reflection on relational intimacy with God and sexual health with one’s partner.  The meditation follows the seven kinds of intimacy in Genesis 1-3.  Please circle yes or no when appropriate. When answering numbered questions; one means rarely, two means sometimes, three means often.

1. Sexual health is spiritual. “In the beginning God created….” Genesis 1:1

Do you feel fully present, compassionate, and aware when you are sexual? Yes or No

Is intimacy with God as meaningful for you as sex? Yes or No

Have you felt shame trying to stop unhealthy sexual behavior without success? Yes or No

Is the pursuit of sex more time consuming than intimacy with God and your community?  Yes or No

Do you sense the Holy Spirit down regulating your sexual neural pathways? Yes or No

Do you spend equal amounts on charitable giving and sexual health? Yes or No

My mind can’t stop thinking about past abuse and abusers. 1  2  3

I attach to abusive people quickly. 1  2  3

Chaotic dangerous people attract me. 1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score

2. Sexual health is beautiful. “God called it most excellent.” Genesis 1.31

My family and friends would say that I am sexually healthy and sober. Yes or No

Could you be arrested for your sexual behaviors? Yes or No

Prayer receives more focus than viewing erotic media. Yes or No

I have spent more money on sexual content

than charitable giving. Yes or No

I have traded for sexual favors. Yes or No

I have had sex with partners I barely knew. Yes or No

I am motivated by shame to please my partner. 1  2  3

My relationships tend to be abusive. 1  2  3

I may deserve the pain my partner gives me. 1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score

3. Sexual health is balanced. “And God rested.” Genesis 2.2-3

Involuntary sexual thoughts cross my mind and I can regulate them without acting out. Yes or No

At times my sexual behavior makes me sad. Yes or No

Sexual sobriety brings me pleasure ? Yes or No

Have you paid for sexual content? Yes or No

I can regulate my sexual sobriety for awhile, 

but heightened threat or anxiety causes me to act out. Yes or No

I have had more than one sexual partner at a time. Yes or No

I seem to date the same hurtful person over and over again. 1   2   3

I am often connect quickly and just as fast I can be cold about people I care for. 1  2  3

I can barely say no to a partner, and when I do, I feel shame.  1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score

4. Sexual health is compassionate. I will make a helper (partner/savior) (with whom 

he can share compassion.) Genesis 2.18

Would your partner say your sexuality is compassionate? Yes or No

Does your sexuality feel like trauma? Yes or No

Are you aware of your unhealthy sexual behaviors? Yes or No

I have paid for sex. Yes or No

I engage sexual content regardless of the feelings

of the people I love. Yes or No

I have sought sexual contact in public places. Yes or No

The partners I pick seem to lack compassion. 1  2  3

I feel I deserve harsh treatment from a partner. 1  2  3

I need to feel pain in sex. 1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score

5. Sexual health is pleasurable.  “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the 

east, in Eden (Pleasure); and there he put the man he had formed.” Genesis 2:8

Genesis 2.24-25

I enjoy mutual pleasure in sexual intercourse. Yes or No

I have injured myself or others emotionally

because of my sexual behaviors. Yes or No

I feel happy and balanced about my sexual sobriety. Yes or No

Do you spend time online seeking sexual content? Yes or No

The pleasure of using porn is greater than pleasing God and my family? Yes or No

I have injured myself or others physically

because of my sexual behaviors. Yes or No

I like the numbing feeling when I am in pain. Yes or No

When a partner hurts me, I take it with few boundaries. 1  2  3

Compassionate boundaries are hard for me. 1  2  3

I can tell my partner doesn’t enjoy pleasing me. 1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score 

6. Sexual health is a core value.

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one

flesh.  Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:24-25

When I think about sexual sobriety my first sensation is joy. Yes or No

My family speaks openly and positively about sexual health. Yes or No

My partner can turn me down for sexual intimacy and I don’t get angry. Yes or No

I teach the children in my family about abuse prevention. Yes or No

When I feel like acting out sexually in a harmful way, I have tools to regulate myself. Yes or No

Problematic Sexuality is not escalating in my life. Yes or No

Sexual intimacy is as important to me as other types of intimacy. Yes or No

I can talk about sexual sobriety with my partner in a healthy way. Yes or No

I feel panic when my partner rejects me for sex. 1 2 3

I can turn off websites with erotic content. 1 2 3

I can regulate my own sexual neural pathways. 1 2 3

7. Sexual health reconciles relationships.  “So God made clothing (royal robes) for the man and his wife, (covering their shame).” Genesis 3:21

I fell safe disclosing my sexual history with my partner. Yes or No

I fear lost employment or relationships 

because of my sexual behavior? Yes or No

Do you connect online for sex: pornography, cams, dating apps? Yes or No

I have hooked up for sex online with people I don’t know. Yes or No

I think I may have had sexual relationships with people

under the legal age limit. Yes or No

Even though I might get caught, I pursue

unhealthy sexual behaviors. Yes or No

If my relationships go well, I tend to cause chaos. 1  2  3

I will reconcile many times with an abusive partner. 1  2  3

My abusive partners seem to have similar looks and smell. 1  2  3

Total Yes

Total No

Numeric Score

Meditación de salud sexual

Esta meditación sobre la salud sexual puede ayudar al lector a reflexionar sobre la intimidad relacional con Dios y la salud sexual con la pareja. La meditación sigue los siete tipos de intimidad descritos en Génesis 1-3. Por favor circule sí o no cuando sea apropiado. Al responder preguntas numeradas; uno significa raramente, dos significa a veces, tres significa a menudo.

Meditación de salud sexual versión 1.0

Rev. Dr. Glen Maiden PhD, DMin, CSAT, CMAT, CST, LHMC

Esta meditación sobre la salud sexual puede ayudar al lector a reflexionar sobre la intimidad relacional con Dios y la salud sexual con la pareja. La meditación sigue los siete tipos de intimidad descritos en Génesis 1-3. Por favor circule sí o no cuando sea apropiado. Al responder preguntas numeradas; uno significa raramente, dos significa a veces, tres significa a menudo.

1. La salud sexual es espiritual. “En el principio creó Dios…” Génesis 1:1

¿Te sientes plenamente presente, compasivo y consciente cuando tienes relaciones sexuales? Sí o no

¿Es la intimidad con Dios tan significativa para usted como el sexo? Sí o no

¿Ha sentido vergüenza al intentar detener un comportamiento sexual nocivo sin éxito? Sí o no

¿La búsqueda del sexo consume más tiempo que la intimidad con Dios y su comunidad? Sí o no

¿Sientes que el Espíritu Santo regula tus vías neuronales sexuales? Sí o no

¿Gasta cantidades iguales en donaciones caritativas y en salud sexual? Sí o no

Mi mente no puede dejar de pensar en los abusos y los abusadores del pasado. 1  2  3

Me apego rápidamente a las personas abusivas. 1  2  3

Me atrae la gente caótica y peligrosa. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

2. La salud sexual es hermosa. “Dios lo llamó excelentísimo”. Génesis 1.31

Mi familia y amigos dirían que estoy sexualmente sano y sobrio. Sí o no

¿Podrían arrestarlo por sus conductas sexuales? Sí o no

La oración recibe más atención que la visualización de medios eróticos. Sí o no

He gastado más dinero en contenido sexual.

que las donaciones caritativas. Sí o no

He cambiado por favores sexuales. Sí o no

He tenido relaciones sexuales con parejas que apenas conocía. Sí o no

Me motiva la vergüenza para complacer a mi pareja. 1  2  3

Mis relaciones tienden a ser abusivas. 1  2  3

Puede que merezca el dolor que me da mi pareja. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

3. La salud sexual está equilibrada. “Y Dios descansó”. Génesis 2.2-3

Pensamientos sexuales involuntarios cruzan por mi mente y puedo regularlos sin actuar. Sí o no

A veces mi comportamiento sexual me pone triste. Sí o no

¿La sobriedad sexual me produce placer? Sí o no

¿Has pagado por contenido sexual? Sí o no

Puedo regular mi sobriedad sexual por un tiempo,

pero una mayor amenaza o ansiedad me hace actuar mal. Sí o no

He tenido más de una pareja sexual a la vez. Sí o no

Parece que salgo con la misma persona hiriente una y otra vez. 1 2 3

A menudo me conecto rápidamente y con la misma rapidez puedo ser frío con las personas que me importan. 1  2  3

Apenas puedo decirle que no a una pareja y, cuando lo hago, siento vergüenza. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

4. La salud sexual es compasiva. Haré un ayudante (compañero/salvador) (con quien

él puede compartir la compasión.) Génesis 2.18

¿Diría tu pareja que tu sexualidad es compasiva? Sí o no

¿Tu sexualidad te parece un trauma? Sí o no

¿Es usted consciente de sus conductas sexuales poco saludables? Sí o no

He pagado por sexo. Sí o no

Involucro contenido sexual independientemente de los sentimientos.

de la gente que amo. Sí o no

He buscado contacto sexual en lugares públicos. Sí o no

Los socios que elijo parecen carecer de compasión. 1  2  3

Siento que merezco un trato duro por parte de mi pareja. 1  2  3

Necesito sentir dolor en el sexo. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

5. La salud sexual es placentera.“Y el Señor Dios había plantado un jardín en el

al este, en el Edén (Placer);y allí puso al hombre que había formado”. Génesis 2:8

Génesis 2,24-25

Disfruto del placer mutuo en las relaciones sexuales. Sí o no

Me he lastimado a mí mismo o a otros emocionalmente

debido a mis comportamientos sexuales. Sí o no

Me siento feliz y equilibrado con mi sobriedad sexual. Sí o no

¿Pasas tiempo en línea buscando contenido sexual? Sí o no

¿El placer de usar porno es mayor que complacer a Dios y a mi familia? Sí o no

Me he lastimado a mí mismo o a otros físicamente

debido a mis comportamientos sexuales. Sí o no

Me gusta la sensación de entumecimiento cuando tengo dolor. Sí o no

Cuando una pareja me lastima, lo tomo con pocos límites. 1  2  3

Los límites compasivos son difíciles para mí. 1  2  3

Puedo decir que a mi pareja no le gusta complacerme. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

6. La salud sexual es un valor fundamental.

“Por eso el hombre deja a su padre y a su madre y se une a su mujer, y son uno solo.

carne.Adán y su mujer estaban ambos desnudos, y no sintieron vergüenza.” Génesis 2:24-25

Cuando pienso en la sobriedad sexual mi primera sensación es alegría. Sí o no

Mi familia habla abierta y positivamente sobre la salud sexual. Sí o no

Mi pareja puede rechazarme para tener intimidad sexual y yo no me enfado. Sí o no

Les enseño a los niños de mi familia sobre la prevención del abuso. Sí o no

Cuando tengo ganas de actuar sexualmente de manera dañina, tengo herramientas para regularme. Sí o no

La sexualidad problemática no está aumentando en mi vida. Sí o no

La intimidad sexual es tan importante para mí como otros tipos de intimidad. Sí o no

Puedo hablar sobre la sobriedad sexual con mi pareja de forma saludable. Sí o no

Siento pánico cuando mi pareja me rechaza por tener relaciones sexuales. 1 2 3

Puedo desactivar sitios web con contenido erótico. 1 2 3

Puedo regular mis propias vías neuronales sexuales. 1 2 3

7. La salud sexual reconcilia las relaciones. “Entonces Dios hizo ropa (túnicas reales) para el hombre y su mujer, (cubriendo su vergüenza)”. Génesis 3:21

Me sentí seguro al revelar mi historial sexual con mi pareja. Sí o no

Temo perder empleo o relaciones.

¿Por mi comportamiento sexual? Sí o no

¿Te conectas online para tener sexo: pornografía, cámaras, aplicaciones de citas? Sí o no

Me he conectado para tener sexo en línea con personas que no conozco. Sí o no

Creo que pude haber tenido relaciones sexuales con personas.

por debajo del límite de edad legal. Sí o no

Aunque me atrapen, persigo

conductas sexuales no saludables. Sí o no

Si mis relaciones van bien, tiendo a causar caos. 1  2  3

Me reconciliaré muchas veces con una pareja abusiva. 1  2  3

Mis parejas abusivas parecen tener apariencia y olor similares. 1  2  3

Total Sí

Número total

Puntuación numérica

I have been a pastoral counselor for over 30 years. In 2016 I began a faith based private counseling practice. Since that time, I have worked with the Oregon Board of Psychology to ensure that pastoral counseling does not cross boundaries with the practice of psychology. Pastors have an obligation to offer faith based counseling with clear separation from psychologists.

The Oregon Board of Psychology website states,

“Practicing psychology means rendering or offering to render supervision, consultation, evaluation or therapy services to individuals, groups or organizations for the purpose of diagnosing or treating behavioral, emotional or mental disorders.
 
It is unlawful to practice psychology or represent oneself as a psychologist without first being properly licensed by the OBOP. To “represent oneself as a psychologist” means to use any terminology, title or description of services incorporating the words “psychology,” “psychological,” “psychotherapy,” or “psychologist,” or to offer or render to individuals or to groups of individuals services included in the practice of psychology.” https://www.oregon.gov/psychology/pages/Board.aspx

In my practice I state clearly in correspondence that I am not a psychologist and I do not practice psychology. Specifically, my work does not diagnose or treat behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders.

Although I have used public domain assessments in the past, protected by first amendment rights, I have ceased to use assessments to create distance from diagnostic language. In the place of assessments I use spiritual reflections on Biblical concepts of temptation, fear, sadness, and sexuality.

My email credentials state specifically that my degrees touch pastoral counseling and not psychology.

I offer spirituality through prayer, Scripture, and compassionate support. Specifically, I follow the teachings of Christ in terms of anxiety regulation of Matthew 6:25-34.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Note the compassion of God to regulate worry. My pastoral counselees find this extremely helpful and transformational.

One reason pastoral counseling can be so successful is that people of faith tend to resist humanistic approaches to counsel.

Biblical concerns such as

Addiction

Abuse

Marriage

Sexuality

can be treated with prayer, scripture, compassion, and anxiety regulation.

 The centerpiece of Jewish and Christian masturbation theology unfolds in Genesis chapter 38. Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, marries a bride with Canaanite history.  Canaan was the offspring from the incestuous assault of Ham against his mother. Tbe region of Canaan is often an image of unhealthy sexuality and coercion in the Bible.  The vocabulary for sexual health and intimacy, YDA, does not appear in Genesis 38. The Hebrew words for genital sexual intercourse in this piece are, “he took her and went into her,” LQH, and BO. (BLB, Genesis 38:2; Strong’s H3947 and H935) This may connect a sense of unhealthy sexuality to the marriage.  Judah’s marriage yields three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah.   Onan is the principle player in Christian masturbation theology.

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also. (Genesis 38:8-10)

This unhealthy sexuality snap shot forms one of the most prolific misuses of Scripture over the last 3500 years. From this singular verse of the Bible Jewish and Christian theologies of masturbation developed impacting the current era. The plain reading of the text states that the Lord killed Er for unspecified evil acts. The word evil in the Book of Genesis up to this point means coercion or sexual abuse. The younger brother, Onan, refuses to impregnate his sister in law according to tribal custom. Onan too commits acts of coercion and dies.  The final scene in the snap shot shows Tamar coercing a pregnancy with her father in law Judah. She poses as a sacred sex trade worker to seduce Judah unknowingly for sex. Religious writers from many faith traditions for over 2000 years have mistranslated this single line of Scripture into a theology negatively effecting sexual health education for billions of people. 

As overview of culture in Genesis 38, ancient near eastern sexual health codes permitted a surviving family member to marry a brother’s widow.  This sexual health practice called levirate marriage occurs in many cultures for thousands of years until the present. The purpose brought financial stability for the widow with tribal protection. (Wikipedia_levirate marriage, 2021)

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 permits the brother of a man who dies childless to marry the widow.  This marriage of mutual consent called a YBM, or levirate marriage, allows  either party to refuse the union.

If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.  The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.” That man’s line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.

  Islamic Sharia Law too encourages similar consensual sexual health practices.

 O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good. (al-Nisa 4:19, Sahih)

The purpose of the consensual Jewish YBM and Sharia Law protected the widow ensuring  provision and protection. Offspring created inheritance rights, status, and security. Both sexual health traditions required mutual consent for the marriage of the widow to the brother in law.

The Judah unhealthy sexuality snap shot paints a picture of coercive sex beginning with Er and Onan through Judah and Tamar.  Er acts wickedly, RA, רע.  The  meaning of RA, evil, in the Book of Genesis is coercion or violent sexual abuse.   The text clearly states that God kills Er for unnamed acts of coercion and perhaps abuse. The snap shot then describes Judah forcing Onan, his son, to have intercourse with Tamar fulfilling the YBM or levirate marriage law. Onan does not consent to the forced marriage by Judah.  Onan practices coitus interruptus, withdrawing his penis from the vaginal barrel before ejaculation, when having intercourse with Tamar. He chooses not to conceive with Tamar and “spills his seed” at ejaculatory inevitability. The Hebrew words for, “spills his seed” are SHT ZRH, שחת זרע. The word for seed or semen is, ZRH, זרע.  (Strong’s, H2233)  SHT, שחת, appears 147 times in the Old Testament. All of the uses of this word carry the nuance of corruption or coercion.  (Strong’s, H7843) 

The intent of the Judah unhealthy sexuality snap shot may teach children about coercive non consensual sexuality. Er’s evil was unnamed acts of coercion. Judah manipulated Onan without consent to marry and conceive with Tamar.  Onan too according to the text bears guilt for coercive action.  Based on the limits of the text, the coercion appears to be that Onan did not assume the responsibility of fulfilling the levirate marriage law or YBM.  

What follows however, appears to be thousands of years of forced personal bias and sexual politics attached to this one line of Biblical text. Religious writers  assumed that Onan’s death sentence for evil was, “spilling the seed” or withdrawing the penis at ejaculatory inevitability called coitus interruptus. Church fathers, Popes, Christian medical professionals, and Evangelical authors then connected coitus interruptus with ejaculation of any kind. Numerous authors have ascribed the death sentence for ejaculation based on the misuse of a single line of Scripture called proof texting. 

The word masturbation did not appear in literature until the 17th century AD. The Latin word masturbation is a non Biblical term meaning, “destruction by the hand”. Theologians began to connect the made up term, masturbation, to Onan’s death sentence for coitus interruptus.  The context of the passage, however, appears to be another lesson reinforcing the evil of coercive sexuality and abuse. The Onan incident is not a genital self stimulation narrative. In addition there exists no support from other Biblical passages that God killed Onan for coitus interruptus. The judgment against Er and Onan has clear textual support on the basis of coercive sexuality and or violent abuse. No Biblical evidence supports the death sentence for coitus interruptus or genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation. The non Biblical term masturbation appears to be a political word misused by sex negative theologians. The 17th century word, “masturbation”, does not appear in or reflect the authoritative text of the Bible…anywhere. 

The translation method this work uses is called Biblical theology. This time tested process uses Scripture interpreting Scripture. When a passage requires clarity, other relevant texts compare for meaning. One can think of Biblical theology as a scientific way to study sacred literature with integrity.  The tension in this passage focuses on historic interpretations that God put Onan to death because he spilled his seed during intercourse, coitus interruptus. Therefore according to many authors any transmission of semen except for procreation is condemned by death. 

The circumstance of Onan’s death appears four times in the Old Testament. (Genesis 38:9-10; 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3) Two of the passages state that Onan simply died. (Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19) The Hebrew verb form used in these two passages is called, the Qal. This verb form shows that God did not act to end Onan’s life.  The text of Genesis 38:10 states that someone or something killed Onan. The final Onan passage of 1 Chronicles 2:3 mentions Onan, but does not state that the Lord killed him.  Rather, Er his brother was terminated by God. The author of Chronicles omits Onan from the consequences of direct judgement by God. The four texts agree that God did not kill Onan.

The one verse in question does not clearly state that Onan’s death was caused by God. The verse literally says in the Hebrew language, “He (Onan) did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and the thing which he did, killed him, even him.” Hebrew to English translators added the words as subject,“The Lord” to verse ten as the one doing the killing. The corruption and misuse of this passage began with the editing of the text by an unknown translator from the Hebrew text to English adding the name, “The Lord” as Onan’s executioner.  There are no direct statements in the Bible supporting that God put Onan to death.  All Biblical citations  state that God did not terminate Onan because he withdrew before ejaculation, also called coitus interruptus.

The energy spent on this verse matters for billions of people who look to the Bible for sexual health education. What the reader will see in the following history of masturbation theology is the threat of  divine death sentence and disease for ejaculation. Specifically, according to numerous historical writers, any sexual arousal or transfer of semen except for conception may bring the same consequences for death as Onan received.   One misused proof- texted verse of Scripture without support from the entirety of Biblical revelation created 3500 years of threat, violence, and sexual shame among people of faith.

A Brief Christian History of Masturbation Theology

The first part of the word, masturbation, derives from the latin word, manus, meaning “hand”.  The second part of the latin term, disturbare, means to disturb, demolish, or destroy.  Stupere connects to this word, meaning stupid or shameful.  The latin word masturbor then follows the meaning, “I shamefully defile myself, I masturbate.  The word masturbation first appears in 1711. Mastupration preceded the use of the term  masturbation first appearing in the1620’s. (Etymonline, Etymologygeek)

The Evangelical Christian books Every Man’s Battle and Every Women’s Battle reflect thinking on genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation from the 90’s.  Arterburn, the primary author for these books, reflects the cultural and Evangelical sexual politics of the era. Panic and crisis of the  80’s AIDS epidemic may have driven religious and political leaders to teach abstinence in favor of sexual health. Arterburn reflects,“Masturbation is a symptom of uncontrolled eyes and free racing thoughts.” He counsels that masturbation ceases when a man can “bounce” his eyes and take thoughts captive. (Arterburn, p. 112) He states that the only release from genital tension for a single man is the nocturnal emission. Arterburn does not permit males to masturbate/genital self stimulation even though he admits the Bible does not speak to it. Ethridge, Arterburn’s female counterpart and co author for Every Woman’s Battle, too instructs her readers not to masturbate.  She states, “Believe it or not no one ever died from not having an orgasm…once the sin of masturbation does know you by name , it will call, and call and call.” (Ethridge, p. 40.) Is it possible that the author may imply, “Believe it or not, some have died from an orgasm….” specifically Onan?  Etheridge states that treatment for masturbation is to “starve it to death.” (Etheridge, p. 41) Neither author believes genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation is an acceptable practice even though both admit the Bible gives no direction on the matter. 

The 19th and 20 centuries featured religious and medical practitioners contributing to the conversation of  genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation.

Doctor John Harvey Kellogg of the Battle Creek Corn Flakes fame (February 26, 1852 – December 14, 1943)  passionately campaigned against genital self stimulation. Kellogg legitimized his views by using medical language with citations proclaiming, “neither the plague, nor war, nor small-pox, nor similar diseases, have produced results so disastrous to humanity as the pernicious habit of onanism,” according to his source Dr. Adam Clarke. Kellogg made strong warnings against masturbation claiming  genital self stimulation could be fatal, “such a victim literally dies by his own hand.”  Kellogg believed the “solitary-vice” caused uterine cancer, urinary diseases, nocturnal emissions, impotence, epilepsy, insanity, and mental and physical pathologies, and dimness of vision.  In Plain Facts for Old and Young, Kellogg warns of the evils of sex. He crafted treatment plans to cure children from acting out in  the “solitary vice”. Kellogg prescribed as means of prevention: restraining a child’s  hands, protecting the genitals with patented cages preventing sexual contact, stitching the foreskin shut with wire, electrical shock, and circumcision without anesthesia. Kellogg himself underwent circumcision at the age of 37. (Wikipedia_history of masturbation, 2021) 

Following are Kellogg’s verbatim prescriptions preventing genital self stimulation.

“A remedy which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision, especially when there is any degree of phimosis. The operation should be performed by a surgeon without administering an anesthetic, as the brief pain attending the operation will have a salutary effect upon the mind, especially if it be connected with the idea of punishment, as it may well be in some cases. The soreness which continues for several weeks interrupts the practice, and if it had not previously become too firmly fixed, it may be forgotten and not resumed.  Further, a method of treatment [to prevent masturbation] … and we have employed it with entire satisfaction. It consists in the application of one or more silver sutures in such a way as to prevent erection. The prepuce, or foreskin, is drawn forward over the glans, and the needle to which the wire is attached is passed through from one side to the other. After drawing the wire through, the ends are twisted together, and cut off close. It is now impossible for an erection to occur, and the slight irritation thus produced acts as a most powerful means of overcoming the disposition to resort to the practice. In females, the author has found the application of pure carbolic acid (phenol) to the clitoris an excellent means of allaying the abnormal excitement.”

In Kellogg’s  Ladies’ Guide in Health and Disease for nymphomania, he recommended

“Cool baths; the cool enema; a spare diet; the application of blisters and other irritants to the sensitive parts of the sexual organs, the removal of the clitoris and nymphae….” (Wikipedia_wiki/John_Harvey_Kellogg#Masturbation_prevention, 2021)

Swiss physician Samuel-Auguste Tissot published L’Onanisme in 1760,  a  comprehensive medical treatise on the negative effects of genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation. Tissot believed that seminal fluid was an “essential oil” and “stimulus.”  According to Tissot, the loss of semen in large amounts could cause, “a perceptible reduction of strength, of memory and even of reason; blurred vision, all the nervous disorders, all types of gout and rheumatism, weakening of the organs of generation, blood in the urine, disturbance of the appetite, headaches and a great number of other disorders.” (Wikipedia_Samuel-August Tissot, 2021)

In the 17 century masturbation became synonymous with the Onan unhealthy sexuality snap shot of Genesis 38.  Although different behaviors, Coitus interruptus and genital self stimulation now become one idea. (Etymonline, 2021)  A 17th-century Puritan law code for the colonies of New Haven, Connecticut outlawed blasphemy, homosexuality, and genital self stimulation. The consequences for offenders? Capital punishment, the death penalty.  (Wikipedia_history of masturbation, 2021)

Before masturbation terminology appeared in the 17th  century early Christian church fathers contributed volumes of commentary. Many church authorities taught that genital self stimulation was a secret sin, injurious, prohibited, and corrupt. In the 14th century AD, Jean Gerson, crafted a confessional manual entitled, On the Confession of Masturbation. Gerson’s manual directs clergy to, ”insist that (male) penitents admit to the sin of masturbation, which…was deemed…even more serious sin than raping a nun, incest, or abducting and raping virgins and wives.”  (Wikipedia_masturbation, 2021) 

Thomas Aquinas, (1225-1274 AD) distinguished scholastic of the Catholic Church, authored the Summa Theologiae or Summa Theologica, The Summary of Theology.  “The Summa” intended to instruct seminarians and literate church members.  In Article Five, Aquinas discusses 13th century attitudes on the sinfulness of dreams producing nocturnal emissions. 

Article 5. Whether nocturnal pollution is a mortal sin?

“Objection 1. It would seem that nocturnal pollution is a sin. For the same things are the matter of merit and demerit. Now a man may merit while he sleeps, as was the case with Solomon, who while asleep obtained the gift of wisdom from the Lord (1 Samuel 3:5). Therefore a man may demerit while asleep; and thus nocturnal pollution would seem to be a sin.”  (Wikipedia_Summa_theologica, 2021)

Beginning in the 11th century Pope Leo IX regarded genital self stimulation as, “unnatural sex, murder, a diabolical practice, and the cause of two-thirds of all diseases and disorders including insanity, neurosis, and neurasthenia. ”  (Patton, 1985)

Epiphanius of Salamis in 375 AD stated that, ”They [certain Egyptian heretics] exercise genital acts, yet prevent the conceiving of children. Not in order to produce offspring, but to satisfy lust, are they eager for corruption” (Medicine Chest Against Heresies 26:5:2, 375 AD).  Lactantius, advisor to Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, in the fourth century AD added, ”God gave us eyes not to see and desire pleasure, but to see acts to be performed for the needs of life; so too, the genital [‘generating’] part of the body, as the name itself teaches, has been received by us for no other purpose than the generation of offspring” (Medicine Chest Against Heresies 6:23:18).  Clement of Alexandria in 191 AD stated that, “Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted, “ and, “To have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature.” (The Instructor of Children 2:10:91:2; 2:10:95:3, 375 AD)

Jesus does not speak on the matter of genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation. Neither New Testament writers nor Old Testament authors rule on genital self stimulation. Again, the primary Christian authoritative sources and accepted body of sacred literature do not regulate genital self stimulation.  The Old Testament passages connecting to transmission of seminal fluids can be found in the Levitical sexual hygiene code.

“‘When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.  Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening…When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening…These are the regulations for a man with a discharge, for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen….(Leviticus 15:16,17,18, and 32)

No mandates or commentary exist for genital self stimulation to orgasm with ejaculation in the entire Bible. The focus of transmission of fluids in Leviticus falls under the heading of hygiene and in this case sexual health hygiene. There are no death penalties in the Leviticus sexual hygiene code for the transmission of seminal fluids by any means.

Four characteristics frame the post modern sex addict in North America. According to Carnes (2016) the typical person with problematic sexuality comes from a Bible believing family with black and white shame based rules, deprivation, and sex negativity.  This work attempts to counter these underlying drivers of addict behaviors with sexually healthy Biblical conversations. The goal is to teach children that the sexual health positive big picture of the Bible reflects intimacy with God. This spiritual intimacy is beautiful, pleasurable, present in compassion, balanced, sexually healthy, and reconciles relationships. Rather than rigid shame based compliance to mandates, this work teaches children the health of consent with boundaries.  Instead of deprivation thinking, children are shown how to love and care for the image of God within themselves and others through sexual health hygiene. Sexual health can be only good reflecting the omni benevolence or complete goodness of the Creator. Sexual health is not a state of sin.

Clarke (2021), the author of Connection Theory, mentors clinical sexologists to examine, “the meaning” of a behavior in the assessment of sexual disorders. Does the meaning of one’s sexual health hygiene connect to the image of an omni benevolent Creator? Does the spirituality of one’s sexual health follow clear Scriptural support? Does the hygiene promote beauty and pleasure as opposed to neglect and shame?   Does the hygiene practice bring balance with compassion, or does the behavior become obsessive, problematic, and cause harm?  Is the outcome of one’s sexual hygiene restoration of health? Does sexual hygiene connect to the values of one’s family and community?  These questions of spiritual significance transcend the black and white shame based approach of many religious writers over the last 2000 years. Replacing shame based rules with compassionate boundaries, promoting sexual health hygiene in place of deprivation, and  connecting intimacy to sexual health  may help children by treating the underlying drivers of problematic sexuality.

This reflection helps people of faith meditate on temptation/external pressure, fear/internal anxiety, and sadness. You will find the complete meditation with Scripture on the app, Hope XP.

Temptation, Fear, and Sadness Meditation v. 2.0

Rev. Dr. Glen Maiden PhD, DMIN, CSAT, CMAT, LMHC

1.  My heart is troubled  by small things. 

2. I am often thirsty.

3. I feel no joy. 

4.  My breathing is rapid.

5.  I feel fatigued and can’t seem to get motivated. 

6. I am tempted to escalate when I get angry. 

7. I feel my body trembling when I am fearful. 

8. Resting is hard for me.

9. At times I can’t wait for fearful events to be over.

10.  I feel no pleasure about the future.
11. I am provoked to anger quickly.

12.  My fears fuel my actions.

13.  I feel extremely sad. 

14. I find that I am often impatient. 

15. I feel lightheaded.

16.  I have no pleasurable interests. 

17. I fear the future.

18. I am very sensitive to criticism. 

19.  I sweat when anxious. 

20.  Fear grips me without cause.

21. Life for me has little meaning. 

22.  Resting is difficult for me.

23.  My throat feels tight and it’s hard to swallow.

24. My tasks bring me no joy. 

25.  My heart races at times for no apparent reason.

26. I feel sad.

27.  I get angry quickly.

28. I feel panicky.

29 . I feel shame about me.

30. I find it hard to rest after I am fearful.

Total Temptation Score=____________________________________________

Total Fear Score______________________________________

Total Sadness Score_____________________________________________

The Bible reflects more than stories of our faith. The narratives connect us intimately with God. Spirituality is not the same as institutionalized religion. Our belief is intimacy with God. Following is a bullet point outline of seven kinds of intimacy found in the book of Genesis 1-3.

Spiritual Intimacy: Genesis 1:1-2 God created…Spirit hovers….

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

The Spirit hovers, MRHPHTH,  like a bird cares for its young, like a mother nurtures her child. The Hebrew word is intensive.  (BLB, Genesis 1:2)

Intimacy of Beauty: Genesis 1-2

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

Intimacy of Rest: Genesis 2:2

2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Rest is a common theme throughout the Bible. The down regulation of anxiety through rest is included in the Ten Commandments, the life of Israel, and the teachings of Jesus. Rest, recover, care for the image of God within.

Intimacy of Pleasure: 2:8

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 

The word Eden means, pleasure. (BLB, Genesis 2)

Intimacy of Compassionate Presence: 2:18

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

The first evil unpacks in the Bible, aloneness, isolation. The Creator God fashions a helper or savior for the male. The word EZER is used of God Himself as helper or savior.

Intimacy of Sexual Health: 2:23

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

The first couple is transparent, intimate, and one sexually.

Intimacy of Forgiveness: 3:21

20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

The final act of Genesis 3 is the covering of humankind’s shame. The Creator God sacrifices an animal and makes royal clothing for Adam and Eve. The word for clothing, Kitone, is the same word used for Joseph’s royal robe. (Genesis, 37:3)  The Fall from intimacy with God is corrected by the covering of shame. Good Creator does for humankind what cannot be done by themselves. (Volker, 2020)

A dear friend of mine is a retired Admiral. He made a statement that sticks in my mind. He said, “An admiral’s responsibility is not to be political, his duty is to protect the people.”

I feel the same about protecting the people I love and their freedoms. Truthfully, I am exhausted by the corruption and politics on par with the most devastating pandemic in my life time. The politics traumatize me.

Some data has emerged that may be worth your time. The allegation is that the technology for our elections has been compromised…for years.

What this means is that the future of your vote is compromised and your freedom.

I am not endorsing any candidate or party. They all disturb me deeply. You are my concern. The compassion I feel is about you.

This is a video link (please click on the home button at the bottom of this blog) high lighting what seems credible data about election technology. This is public domain content. If proved illegitimate, I will be the first to get on board. If the data is legitimate, then we have some work to do for our children and grandchildren.

I am endorsing no political platform or personality. My mind cannot permit me to do so. If you choose to click on the home button, can you think about your vote in the next election? Your children?

Here are some of my concerns, perhaps you may share them. Is there a rebuttal to this data on the failure of voting tech? Why are other platforms not responding to the allegations? Can we hear from other sources which can either lend credibility or begin a process of refuting these claims without using the conspiracy card?

I am not publishing comments so my friends will be protected from abuse. For those who may think I am supporting a specific candidate, I am not. However the truth lands, that is where I will make my home. If these allegations of voting technology failure are true, the court system will take several years to hear the allegations and rule. However, if the courts do find this technology is flawed, your vote and your children’s freedom may be secured.

In this video, I am sorry for the presenter. He is sincere, but it is hard for me to listen to him because behind his platform is an economy to sell his products. Is he posturing for personal gain? The video platform is a concern too. The media source gives me anxiety and triggers deeper warning signals of bias. The titles disturb me. The presenter is selling a book. These are all concerns and I acknowledge my dissent.

I welcome other media sources to contribute and I will post rebuttals to this data.

However the truth lands. I am ok with it. As of today, this post has not been censored. I did notice a friend attempted to post this video on social media and she was censored by the creators of the platform. Can the censors present credible data to refute this? If not…why?

After surviving one hateful outrage to my post, another friend asked to view the video contents. She stated that the presenter is “crazy”. I cannot vouch for his crazy but he is hard to listen to. He may not be crazy but I certainly feel awkward watching his show. My friend said she saw a New York Times rebuttal to the voting technology concerns so I followed that up today.

The New York Times followed up voting technology allegations with an article on November 16, 2020 citing 59 computer scientists who stated,

“To our collective knowledge, no credible evidence” that the election was rigged has been presented, 59 computer scientists and election security experts wrote in a public letter.”

Bryan Anselm for The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/business/election-security-letter-trump.html?auth=login-facebook

Then I saw this article dated February 2, 2018 by the New York Times stating that the voting technology is susceptible to fraud. The article cites that “official results” can be altered.

” …attackers could theoretically intercept unofficial results as they’re transmitted on election night — or, worse, use the modem connections to reach back into election machines at either end and install malware or alter election software and official results.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/magazine/the-myth-of-the-hacker-proof-voting-machine.html

I believe the New York Times. On November 16, 2020 59 computer scientists did not have enough data to determine voting machine failure. I also believe the New York Times when they report that voting technology can be manipulated. Also, in the New York Times archive search engine I could not locate the 2018 article citing potential liability and failure with voting technology. Did they remove their own article?

Let’s keep working on this. Be kind. Slander no one. Show compassion. My concern is your vote in the next election.

I am not supporter of the presenter, I do feel at this point he may have some content that can effect your vote in coming elections.

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The Bible and Sexual Health for Children Ages 4-10

This doctoral project examines the sexual health narratives of the Bible for parents, clergy, and counselors of children age 4-10.  With this project will be a parallel video series for children.

The objectives are:

to provide sex positive sexual health guiding principles for caregivers, clergy, and counselors of children ages 4-10 based on Biblical narratives, neuroscience, and clinical sexology.

to provide sex positive sexual health videos for children ages 4-10

Guiding Principles:

This doctoral project will not judge morality, the approach will be to examine sexual health narratives for guiding principles.  

The project will encourage parents and sexual health educators  to blend guiding principles with their own family mores. 

The project will focus on  sexual health as attachment through intimate relationships with their higher power, family and self.

This project will use Scripture to interpret Scripture in the tradition of evidence based Biblical Theology.

The project will examine Intimacy as theological hermeneutic:

The project will assess the sexual health narratives in terms of seeing our higher power, and being seen, “Seeing my partner, and my partner sees into me”, intimacy.  The current state of Evangelicalism is one of a loss of intimacy and PFC disablement.  Gray matter deficit of attachment disorder will be examined in terms of processing relationships. We will  assist caregivers to teach children to down regulate and connect to God in compassion in awareness.  The project will teach regulation of sexual neuro pathways through compassion, awareness, and balance.  

The prophets indicted the people of Israel for their loss of intimacy, lack of knowledge of God.   Hosea will treat the sex addiction of his partner with compassion and awareness. 

Intimacy disorder will be examined and recovering addiction by lowering shame, and connecting to intimate relationships.

The Biblical Narratives are:

The Law and Sexual Health

Genesis: Image of God as sex positive, sex as intimacy, a Christian history of Onan and masturbation, sexual health as narrative and not mandate

God is the greatest good one can think, God is healthy, then sexuality as the image of God is healthy,  personal responsibility in sexual health, incest narrative Noah,

Exodus: Healthy Boundaries, sexual health and the mandates

Leviticus: Sexual Mandates as sexual health conversation

Numbers: The Story of Our Families

Deuteronomy: Healthy Boundaries

The Prophets and Sexual Health

Joshua: PTSD and Sexuality

Judges as Sexual Nihilism

Samuel and Kings: King David and Dissociation: David’s gift was the ability to repent, become compassionately aware of God

Solomon and Addiction: Sexual Politics, Pornography as current sexo politics

Isaiah and sexual health images: Idolatry and Addiction

Jeremiah and sexual health images: Marriage and Idolatry Metaphors

Ezekiel and sexual health images

The Minor prophets and  sexual health images

The Writings and Sexual Health

Psalms

Proverbs

Song of Solomon  as Sex Addiction

Job

Ruth

Daniel and Intersexuality

Chronicles

The Gospels-Acts, and Sexual Health

Jesus and the Image of God: Single, celibate, without sex scandal, The Bridegroom Images

Jesus and Intersexuality: Matthew 19 and Acts: The Eunuch

Jesus and Fantasy Sex

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman John 4 Trauma Bonding

Jesus and the Woman caught in adultery; no condemnation

Masturbation in the New Testament

The Pauline Epistles and Sexual Health

No Judgment of the sexuality of others, rather the focus is personal responsibility and sexual health:  Romans 1-2

Paul and sexual health: Corinthians and boundaries, Galatians and the work of the flesh as limbic system, Ephesians mutual surrender, Timothy and boundaries

Singleness and Intimacy; Volker’s Eight Kinds of Intimacy

The General Epistles and Sexual Health

Revelation Sexual Health Images: The prostitute, the bridegroom, Rev 22 and sexually unhealthy exist outside the kingdom of God.

Literature Review

Catholicism and Sexuality

Protestantism and Sexuality: Martin Luther denouncing  clergy sex with boys

The 60’s sexual revolution

The 80’s AIDs epidemic

Y2K Internet sexual revolution

Japanese Study 2010

The Sexual Politics of Divorce within Evangelicalism

Christian History of Masturbation

 

You and I live in the golden age of recovery. Neuroscience has finally caught up with the recovery community and agrees that the brain can change. The toughest addictions can heal. Trauma can rewire into strength. The pattern of abusive relationships can end.

Trauma bonding is the neurological phenomenon of becoming attached to abusive relationships.  Look back at your life, family, coworkers…do you see a history of falling in love with abusive people?

During periods of trauma, the pituitary gland transfers neuropeptides, specifically oxytocin and vasopressin. These chemicals react to create the warm feelings of bonding. Your puppy cries, you pick it up and caress…the touch releases oxytocin and vasopressin to soothe pain.  The neuropeptides are the primary chemicals in the body to down regulate anxiety.

 

 

Grow up with caregivers who hurt you. The brain shapes to attach to them. Your body needs the down regulation from anxiety they provide. By the age of four the brain has shaped to how your caregivers soothed you.  If their touch came with anger, violence, or threat…you now have the potential to attach to abuse for the rest of your life…until you attend to the trauma bond.

So, you had great caregivers? You attach well to others, you feel secure?  These same neurological processes in Trauma Bonding can work whenever we experience trauma. The soldier who survives war becomes a mercenary. The survivor of sexual assault chooses the sex trade, the partner of an alcoholic remarries another alcoholic…and so on. The Trauma Bond is neuroscience 101 for any painful event.

Below I am listing the Twelve Steps for Trauma Bonding, 12TB.  I have worked these in my own life and with my clients for years. I would love your input.

Let’s work on step one today.  How do you feel about your relationships? Healthy? Unhealthy?  The trauma bond touches the earliest years of brain development before we have memory to recall.  Can you make a timeline of your relationships? Do you see patterns of hurt and violence?

The first step is bringing trauma bonds to conscious awarness so we can attend to them.

This is the hardest part for me…admitting that I am a magnet to attract abusive relationships and permit them to hurt me.

Hope is near. Admit. Pray. Give your trauma to God. He is near and can relieve you of the shame and pain. If not, get another Higher Power who can do this healing work.

Twelve Steps for Trauma Bonding (12TB)

1. We admitted we were powerless over our attachment to perpetrators – that our lives had become unmanageable by shame driven abusive relationships.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore our traumatic bonding to wholeness and sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the compassion of God as we understood God.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our shame based unhealthy relationships.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our shame based relationships.

6. Were entirely ready to have God transform our shame based trauma bonding to perpetrators.

7. Humbly asked God to remove our attachment to unhealthy people.

8. Made a list of all persons including ourselves we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people including ourselves wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory of our relationships and when unhealthy we  promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others with trauma bonds, and to practice personal contentment in all our relationships.

“My life has no meaning to God.”

You cannot argue with me that

“God has sympathy for my pain.”

Because at the end of the day

I loathe myself.

You see, I believed the lie that

His beauty and grace exist in me.

I need God Himself to show me

His kindness and

Hate cannot separate me from the truth of,

“I am created in the image of God”

Because no matter what

His Compassion cannot change my pain.

Looking at my reflection I question God asking if

“Am I a hopeless mess?”

Now, read this piece backwards.

“Am I a hopeless mess?”

Looking at my reflection I question God asking if

His Compassion cannot change my pain?

Because no matter what

“I am created in the image of God”

Hate cannot separate me from the truth of

His kindness and

I need God Himself to show me

His beauty and grace exist in me.

You see, I believed the lie that

I loathe myself.

Because at the end of the day

“God has sympathy for my pain.”

You cannot argue with me that

“My life has no meaning to God.”

Hope Institute for Pastoral Counseling and Professional Coaching (HIPC) is a ministry of Hope Gathering of Christ, a 501c3 non profit.

The vision of Hope Gathering of Christ reaches addicts, their families, survivors of the sex trade, and Native Americans with the compassion of God.

The HIPC mission statement is, “Passionately Leading Others into the Beauty of Holiness and Wholeness”.

Objectives:

to provide training for pastoral counseling and Christian coaching  using Scripture and current
neuroscientific research providing integrity through certification, licensing, and ordination.

to equip servants of the Gospel with transformational Biblical tools

to attend to the top reasons for the breakdown of the family by treating unhealthy sexuality and finances with healthy sexuality and a Biblical theology of money.

to increase the outreach of a local church

to deepen the spirituality of the counselor and coach with counselees and coaching clients

to provide certification and accountability for Pastoral Counseling and Coaching

to license gifted and qualified candidates for ministry

to ordain called and gifted candidates for the local church

to provide New Testament Greek, Old Testament Hebrew, and Biblical Aramaic consultation for key passages

to hold high ethical standards and evidence based best practices preventing liability for the pastoral counselor and church board; HIPC counselors consent to zero tolerance for abuse and “Do no harm” pastoral counseling practices. HIPC counselors agree to abstain from romantic conversation, sexual innuendo, or genital sexual intercourse with clients.

to provide household income for the pastoral counselor and coach using these tools

HIPC’s  curriculum covers four tracks over 48 one hour sessions. The tracks are:

Scripture and Neuroscience

Scripture and Sexual Health

Scripture and Trauma

Scripture and the Spirituality of Money

Please download the free app, HOPE XP, for curriculum specifics.

You will find the training intensely personal. Spiritual assessments are used to examine neurological financial wiring, sexuality, and relationship connections. You will be taught how God can change neuropathways Scripturally and neurologically.

Tuition is paid by way of suggested donation of:

2900 USD for 48 sessions including four tracks of study

Additional student fees are:

230 USD for graduation documents

87 USD for Paypal convenience fee: this fee can be avoided by using a check if you choose

Students will also need to purchase the books: The Treasure by Dr. Glen Maiden, The Body Keeps the Score by van der Kolk, Man’s Search for Meaning by Frankl. HIPC students report that the homework and preparation are not prohibitive for those in full time ministry or career.

Group sessions are accessed online with Zoom, a video conference chat platform. Each week your session and homework will be confirmed by electronic message.

Dr. Glen is an ordained Christian minister with over 35 years of senior pastor experience. He earned two doctorates: PhD in Clinical Sexology and Doctor of Ministry in the neuroscience and theology of recovery.  Dr. Glen earned certifications in Sex Addiction Therapy, Financial Disorders, and trauma treatment. He holds full licensure as a mental health counselor in the State of Washington.  He received his BA in Bible and Biblical Languages at Asbury University, Masters in New Testament and Christian Education from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry in the neuroscience and theology of recovery from Western Theological Seminary, and PhD in Clinical Sexology from the International Institute of Clinical Sexology in Miami, Florida.

Hope Institute for Pastoral Counseling and Professional Coaching (HIPC) es un ministerio de Hope Gathering of Christ, una organización sin fines de lucro 501c3.

La visión de Hope Gathering of Christ llega a los adictos, sus familias, los sobrevivientes del comercio sexual y los nativos americanos con la compasión de Dios.

La declaración de misión de HIPC es: “Conducir apasionadamente a otros hacia la belleza de la santidad y la totalidad”.

Objetivos:

proporcionar capacitación para la consejería pastoral y el entrenamiento cristiano usando las Escrituras y las
investigación neurocientífica que proporciona integridad a través de la certificación, la concesión de licencias y la ordenación.

equipar a los servidores del Evangelio con herramientas bíblicas transformadoras

atender las principales razones de la ruptura de la familia al tratar la sexualidad y las finanzas no saludables con una sexualidad saludable y una teología bíblica del dinero.

para aumentar el alcance de una iglesia local

profundizar la espiritualidad del consejero y entrenador con aconsejados y clientes de entrenamiento

para proporcionar certificación y responsabilidad para el asesoramiento y entrenamiento pastoral

licenciar a candidatos dotados y calificados para el ministerio

ordenar candidatos llamados y dotados para la iglesia local

proporcionar consulta en griego del Nuevo Testamento, hebreo del Antiguo Testamento y arameo bíblico para pasajes clave

mantener altos estándares éticos y mejores prácticas basadas en evidencia que eviten la responsabilidad del consejero pastoral y la junta de la iglesia; Los consejeros de HIPC aceptan la tolerancia cero para el abuso y las prácticas de asesoramiento pastoral de “no hacer daño”. Los consejeros de HIPC acuerdan abstenerse de conversaciones románticas, insinuaciones sexuales o relaciones sexuales genitales con los clientes.

para proporcionar ingresos familiares para el consejero pastoral y el entrenador usando estas herramientas

El plan de estudios de HIPC cubre cuatro pistas en 48 sesiones de una hora. Las pistas son:

Escritura y neurociencia

Las Escrituras y la Salud Sexual

Escritura y Trauma

La Escritura y la Espiritualidad del Dinero

Descargue la aplicación gratuita, HOPE XP, para conocer los detalles del plan de estudios.

Encontrará el entrenamiento intensamente personal. Las evaluaciones espirituales se utilizan para examinar el cableado financiero neurológico, la sexualidad y las conexiones en las relaciones. Se le enseñará cómo Dios puede cambiar las vías neurológicas bíblicamente y neurológicamente.

La matrícula se paga mediante la donación sugerida de:

2900 USD por 48 sesiones que incluyen cuatro pistas de estudio

Las tarifas adicionales para estudiantes son:

230 USD para documentos de graduación

87 USD para la tarifa de conveniencia de Paypal: esta tarifa se puede evitar mediante el uso de un cheque si lo desea

Los estudiantes también necesitarán comprar los libros: The Treasure por el Dr. Glen Maiden, The Body Keeps the Score por van der Kolk, Man’s Search for Meaning por Frankl. Los estudiantes de HIPC informan que la tarea y la preparación no son prohibitivas para quienes están en el ministerio o la carrera a tiempo completo.

Se accede a las sesiones grupales en línea con Zoom, una plataforma de chat de videoconferencia. Cada semana su sesión y tarea serán confirmadas por mensaje electrónico.

El Dr. Glen es un ministro cristiano ordenado con más de 35 años de experiencia como pastor principal. Obtuvo dos doctorados: Doctorado en Sexología Clínica y Doctorado en Ministerio en neurociencia y teología de la recuperación. El Dr. Glen obtuvo certificaciones en terapia de adicción al sexo, trastornos financieros y tratamiento de traumas. Tiene licencia completa como consejero de salud mental en el estado de Washington. Recibió su licenciatura en Biblia e Idiomas Bíblicos en la Universidad de Asbury, su Maestría en Nuevo Testamento y Educación Cristiana en el Seminario Teológico de Grand Rapids, y su Doctorado en Ministerio en neurociencia y teología de la recuperación en el Seminario Teológico Occidental, y su doctorado en Sexología Clínica en el International Instituto de Sexología Clínica en Miami, Florida.

Please contact Dr. Glen directly at pastorglenmaiden@hopegatheringchrist.com or 503-440-5532.

Comuníquese con el Dr. Glen directamente a pastorglenmaiden@hopegatheringchrist.com o al 503-440-5532.