Life's Tough Questions

108 Pages·2010·0.58 MB·English

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Life’s Tough Questions 1

Life’s Tough Questions

What The Bible Says About…..

Suffering
Depression
Demon Possession
Abortion
Suicide
Pastoral Care and Death Issues
Mental Illness

Dr. Steven Waterhouse
Th.M., D.Min.

Westcliff Press
P.O. Box 1521, Amarillo TX 79105
2 Life’s Tough Questions

Suggested Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Waterhouse, Steven W.
Life’s Tough Questions
207p. 21.6cm.
Includes Biblical References
ISBN 0-9702418-6-0
1. Pastoral Counseling
2. Depression, Mental – Religious Aspects
3. Suffering - Religious Aspects
4. Abortion – Religious Aspects
5. Bereavement – Religious Aspects
6. Pastoral Theology.
Suggested Library of Congress Number BV4012.2
Suggested Dewey Number 253.5
Life’s Tough Questions 3
About The Author

Dr. Steven Waterhouse has served as the Pastor of Westcliff Bible Church in
Amarillo, Texas, since 1985. He has degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary
(D.Min.); Capital Bible Seminary, Lanham MD (Th.M. in Hebrew and Greek); Spring
Arbor University in Michigan (B.A. Social Science); and Cornerstone University in
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Information about this book and others written by Dr. Waterhouse can be accessed
at his web site: www.webtheology.com

Other Titles By Steven Waterhouse

• Not By Bread Alone; An Outlined Guide to Bible Doctrine
• Jesus and History; How We Know His Life and Claims
• Strength For His People; For theFamilies of the Mentally Ill
• Holy Matrimony; The Image of God in the Family
• Blessed Assurance; A Defense of the Doctrine of Eternal Security
• Outside the Heavenly City; Abortion in the New Testament
• What Must I Do To Be Saved; The Bible’s Definition of Saving Faith

(Available on amazon.com or at www.webtheology.com)
____________________________________________________

First Edition 2005

Copyright 2005 by Steven W. Waterhouse

This book or portions thereof may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. It is requested
that any such reproduction or distribution be on a non-profit basis.

Westcliff Press
P.O. Box 1521
Amarillo TX 79105
1-806-359-6362
[email protected]
www.webtheology.com

ISBN: 0-9702418-6-0
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2004116500

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible,
Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995

Note: Minor variations exist because the NASB undergoes periodic refinement.

Cover by Slawomir Konieczniak, Poland
4 Life’s Tough Questions

Acknowledgment

The congregation of Westcliff Bible Church,
Amarillo, Texas deserves praise for allowing
pastoral energies to be devoted to
Bible study and for the
financial backing of Bible research.
Life’s Tough Questions 5

Editor’s Note

This book has been published to help. It is a compilation of Dr. Waterhouse’s several papers written over time as an
extension of his ministry to the families of the mentally ill. In his book, Strength For His People, Dr. Waterhouse, drawing
upon his experience of growing up with a schizophrenic brother, provides Biblical counsel for families who find themselves
faced with the devastating need to care for a family member who has been afflicted with mental illness. Life’s Tough
Questions extends this ministry into the areas of suffering, depression, the recognition of demon possession, suicide
prevention, and counseling for those who must minister to people who have lost a loved one or may themselves be close to
death. To these subjects have been added Dr. Waterhouse’s thesis on the abortion issue, which looks at the sanctity of life
viewed from the original Hebrew and Greek languages that mention the unborn.

Included is a work entitled “Square One Theology”, written by E. Jay O’Keefe, a founding elder of Westcliff Bible
Church. “Square One” is a fitting supplement to the counseling papers of Dr. Waterhouse, having at its foundation the
undeniable fact that “God is in control and has my best interest at heart”.

The defining characteristic of Dr. Waterhouse’s writing is that whether Bible Doctrine or counseling, it is without
exception based directly upon Scripture. The reader will find that for every paragraph within this text there is always
supporting Biblical evidence, and may be assured that whatever the counsel, explanation, or application, it will never be
based upon anything but God’s Word.

The author and the congregation of Westcliff Bible Church commend to the reader their hope that “Life’s Tough
Questions” will provide blessing and help for those who are in need.

Alan N Good, Editor
6 Life’s Tough Questions

Life’s Tough Questions

What The Bible Says About…..

Dr. Steven Waterhouse

Table of Contents

Page

Suffering; What Good Is It? 9

Depression; Biblical Causes and Counseling 23

A Sermon on Jonah 69

Demons or Mental Illness 85

The Sanctity of Life 125
A Sermon on the Right-To-Life

Pastoral Care and Death Issues 149

Families of the Mentally Ill 171

----------------------------------------

Appendix: “Square One Theology” 197
(By E. Jay O’Keefe)
Life’s Tough Questions 7

Additional organizations for assistance

Care Net
109 Carpenter Drive, Suite 110
Sterling VA 20164
[phone]

Focus on the Family
9605 Explorer Drive
Colorado Springs CO 80920
[phone]

NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington VA 22201
[phone]

Paul Meier Clinics
2099 North Collins Boulevard, Suite 100
Richardson TX 75080
[phone]
8 Life’s Tough Questions
SUFFERING;

WHAT GOOD IS IT?

Why doesn’t God finish the devil and end all suffering?

This study was prepared for
lectures at Capital Bible Seminary, Lanham, MD
and for pastoral care for those in pain.
Life’s Tough Questions 9
SUFFERING;
WHAT GOOD IS IT?

Introduction

The Old Testament Book of Job illustrates that even if we do not know why God permits a
given case of suffering, we know how to endure (Job 13:15). Job trusted God even when he did not
understand following the pattern given in Proverbs 3:5,6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean
not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths
straight”.

In helping others who suffer, it is best if counselors remain silent about mysterious aspects
(Job 13:5). However, unlike Job’s friends, counselors today have the complete Scriptures. We may not
know all the secrets about God’s ways (Isa. 55:8, 9), and caution is in order in categorically diagnosing
God’s purpose for another’s hardships, but the Bible gives possible reasons and benefits for suffering.
“Seeing in a mirror darkly” is an improvement over total darkness.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, BUT…(Psa. 34:19).

Sixteen points suggest answers as to why God continues to allow suffering.

1. Suffering destroys the illusion of self-sufficiency and keeps us totally dependent upon God.

• He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did
your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but
man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord [Deut. 8:3].

• And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from
exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep
me from exalting myself....And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness” [2 Cor. 12:7, 9].

• When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee [Psa. 56:3].

• Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” [John
6:68].

2. Suffering teaches us to pray.

• Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to
mistreat them....So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the
church to God [Acts 12:l and 5].

• And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt” [Matt. 26:39].

3. Suffering causes us to study the Bible.

• It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes [Psa. 119:71].