This is a guest post by my friend, Edy Sutherland. You can visit her website and follow her on facebook.
Spiritual First Responder
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)
All wilderness leaders need to have some training in first aid. Knowing how to assess and treat minor injuries and keep serious casualties stable can make a difference. Each emergency situation will be unique. The basic guidelines for practicing first aid help determine the priorities of treatment in each case.
An Initial Spiritual Exam
Similarly, because wilderness ministry leaders are concerned with spiritual formation of people, we must make an initial examination of the spiritual wellness of our participants. Innumerable emotional injuries and ailments possibly affect the potential for transformative growth in each person.
Assess if there are any immediate priorities to be stabilized. Take note of the symptoms. Then begin a basic treatment plan .
1. Consciousness: Determine if there is any response to the gospel?
SIGNS:
- “God is just a crutch.”
- “The Bible is written by a bunch of men telling stories.”
- “There are many ways to get to God.”
SYMPTOMS: Unbelief & Rebellion
TREATMENT:
- Provide a clear explanation of grace.
- Allow grace, the gospel message, to be lived out.
- Be prepared with answers to questions about the Bible, the Trinity, and so on.
- Provide an invitation to receive Christ.
2. Pulse: Determine if there is a right understanding of the heavenly realm?
SIGNS:
“There is no hell because God is a God of love.”
“There is no absolute right and wrong.”
“I am a good person, so I will be okay.”
SYMPTOMS: Unbelief & Rebellion
TREATMENT:
- Explain the battle going on for souls.
- Expose sin against God’s perfect nature.
- Recognize the truth is veiled to those that are perishing.
3. Check Breathing: Is there anything obstructing the intake of the Word of God?
SIGNS:
- “I don’t need to go to church. I find God in the wilderness.”
- “I know that Jesus is real but so is karma.”
SYMPTOMS: Ignorance, Confusion, Dependence
TREATMENT:
- Provide individual attention.
- Be gentle.
- Teach and model Biblical truths.
- Develop new habits that become daily rhythms.
4. Bleeding: Have they allowed legalism, hypocrisy, or suffering to harden their heart toward God?
SIGNS:
- “I didn’t know the Bible said that.”
- “I’ve been hurt by Christians. I don’t need others to teach me.”
- “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?”
SYMPTOMS: Ignorance, Confusion, Dependence
TREATMENT:
- Stop the bleeding with compassion and loving kindness.
- Explain a right understanding of Jesus’ love.
- Pray for protection.
- Feed nourishing amounts of God’s Word.
5. Shock: Is there evidence of fear, anxiety, or anger toward exploring the things of Christ?
SIGNS:
- “Religion is the cause of all wars.”
- “Christians are mean to homosexuals.”
- “Anyone can believe what they want.”
SYMPTOMS: Ignorance, Confusion, Dependence
TREATMENT:
- Offer reassurance and a stable, safe place to be messy and ask questions.
- Demonstrate being in relationship with a mature believer is safe.
- Teach about how Jesus taught His disciples in relationship.
- Establish habits of building a personal relationship with Jesus.
Action Steps
- Write down these five steps along with their suggested “symptoms” and “treatment” on a note card to keep in your Bible for future reference.
- Update and personalize your list and include Scripture you find helpful to address the “Obvious Signs”, i.e. the questions people have that need answers from Scripture.
