Examination of Christian Education in Family Therapies and Marriage

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most thankful to my family colleagues and instructor for providing me assistance and guidance throughout the tenure of this research project. This research would not have been completed without their undue support.

DECLARATION

I declare that this study has not been published previously and represents my own work based on the secondary and the primary research analysis.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to understand the role of Christian education in family and marriage therapy. The research reviewed the biblical verses and scriptures to determine how well Christianity focuses on the importance of ensuring an unhealthy family and marital life. Assumption of the Christian and biblical therapy is that the biblical view encourages and support a healthier functioning. One of the most common religious methods employed are: biblical concepts, confrontation of sin, scripture, forgiveness, and religious imagery. In the bile, family is considered as a central organizing theme. The story line of the Old Testament is developed around two kinds of family lineage. The first is by the lineage of Abraham in which the heirs of Abraham are the main actors in the depiction of God's sovereignty, judgment mercy and the God's faithfulness to the family with whom he made a promise. The emergence of integrating faith into the counseling process has brought with it the incorporation of values, particularly spiritual ones to the foreground of psychotherapy to promote healing and growth. This awakening among counseling and psychology is cause for great celebration, but with it comes a great responsibility on faith based clinicians to be competent when dealing with ethical issues of client welfare and causing no harm to their clients.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Background1

1.2 Importance of Family of God in Christian family therapies2

1.3 Problem Statement3

1.4 Aim of the Study4

1.5 Research Questions5

1.6 Significance of the Study5

1.7 Theoretical View6

1.7.1 Christian Family Therapy Model6

1.8 Scope of the Study8

1.9 Research Study Execution9

1.10 Structure of the Research9

1.11 Possible Limitations of the Study10

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW11

2.1 Introduction11

2.2 Biblical Marriage Therapy11

2.3 Christian Psychology13

2.4 Factors Creating the Need for Therapy13

2.5 Understanding Christian Education for Family Therapy14

2.6 The need for Christian Family Therapy15

2.7 Situation of Family in the Current Society17

2.8 Concept of Family in Biblical Narrative18

2.9 Christian Education about Family and Marriage19

2.10 Bible's Teachings about Family20

2.10.1 Genesis 2:2420

2.10.2 Joshua 24:1520

2.10.3 Psalm 103:1720

2.10.4 Psalm 127:3-521

2.10.5 Psalm 128:321

2.10.6 Acts 18:821

2.10.7 Romans 8:1521

2.10.8 Romans 9:422

2.10.9 Ephesians 1:5 522

2.10.10 Ephesians 2:1922

2.10.11 Ephesians 3:14-1522

2.11 Importance of Christian education for Family Therapies22

2.12 The Challenge of Reality23

2.13 Importance of Religion and Spirituality in Clients' Lives and Therapy24

2.14 Implications of Christina Education for Couple and Family Relationships26

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY28

3.1 Research Design28

3.2 Data Sources29

3.3 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria29

3.4 Ethics, Validity and Reliability29

CHAPTER 4: INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF BIBLICAL VERSES31

4.1 Marriage and Family Therapies from a Christian Perspective31

4.2 Key Biblical Themes33

4.2.1 Infidelity in a Marriage33

4.2.2 Grace for Marriage35

4.2.3 Sanctity of Marriage37

4.2.4 Divorce38

4.2.5 Children Obedience40

4.2.6 Husband as the Head of the Family44

4.2.7 Jealousy in the Family45

4.3 Reflection47

4.4 Summarizing the Biblical education in Family Therapy49

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND ...