The supreme aim of pastoral counselling is to facilitate the process of spiritual growth, sanctification and spiritual maturity in order for the counselee (in this instance a woman) to fulfil her purpose for which she has been created. For the co-dependent woman believer, dysfunctional and sinful behavioural patterns form a hindrance in this spiritual process.
The central theoretical argument of this study is that pastoral counselling can be used effectively to guide women believers who experience co-dependent spiritual and emotional problems, to healing, transformation and spiritual growth. The aim is to determine the effect of co-dependency on the spiritual dimension of the woman believer and to establish pastoral guidelines for her spiritual growth and maturity.
With a view to a better understanding of the nature and the extent of co-dependency, this study moved from the context to the text and the first objective was to explore related disciplines before biblical perspectives on co-dependency could be revealed. According to this meta-theoretical research, co-dependency mainly originates from dysfunctional families and entails one or more addictive conditions. These behavioural patterns mostly result in developing a false identity and is characterised by denial, worthlessness, unhealthy boundaries, defective self-assertion and dependence on others for acceptance to the detriment of self. Women believers often incorrectly justify their co-dependent behaviour from Scripture, which is indicative of a distorted understanding of God and possible pathology of belief.
The second objective was to establish Scriptural perspectives with regard to co-dependency and subsequent influences on the spiritual dimension of women believers. Co-dependency appears intergenerationally and is rooted in sinful behavioural patterns.
According to the Bible this sinful behaviour indicates an independency from God which is part of the effect of the fall of man. The family of David is a good example of the influence of the sin of parents on their children to the third and succeeding generations. For the purpose of this study the co-dependent behaviour of the women descendants of Sara were explored,
The results of the empirical study confirmed the basic and meta-theoretical research which established that co-dependency negatively affects the spiritual dimension of women believers.
The third objective was attained with the integration of the basic and meta-theoretical information in a hermeneutical way, in order to establish, among others, the following pastoral guidelines for the counselling of co-dependent women believers:
- to identify intergenerational co-dependence behavioural patterns, distorted concepts of God and pathology of belief;
- to establish healthy boundaries; and
- to establish their new identity in Christ Jesus. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/3634 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Bosch, Iréne |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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