John Regier's material, Biblical Concepts in Counseling (BCC), takes us away from the attitude of praise, and gives permission to feel bad. The more we dwell on something, the stronger it gets. We are to praise God in all things, at all times.

BCC invites us to feel our bitterness and resentment. God tells us to lay aside all bitterness, anger, and negative feelings. If He is not willing to give us the power to do that without going through this healing process, He definitely would have told us this in Scripture. All those Scriptures that tell us not to give in to anger would be mockery if it were not in fact possible to do that in His strength.

BCC actually increases the sense of wrong done to you because you are told to focus on it. It seems that the stronger the feelings of pain that can be generated, the better. That goes against the Biblical admonition of overlooking a wrong done.

BCC encourages us to focus on this pain for 30 days, looking for healing in the arena of pain. It does not emphasize true dying to self. It redefines dying to self as being willing to pay the pain debt. True dying to self is turning away from thoughts of self and pain, and trusting God to take care of the past. God heals us as we trust and praise, not as we wallow in pain.

BCC implies that the pain and abuse we have suffered in the past, and the lies that were implanted during this pain is what makes us sin today. This victim mentality provides a subtle excuse for our behavior. It doesn’t emphasize that we sin because we choose to sin. Our sorrow should be for our sinfulness, not about our pain. BCC makes healing from pain a goal, rather than serving others and glorifying God. God tells us that we will have to suffer emotional and physical pain in this life, as this is what helps purify us.

BCC declares its goal is to relieve past pain. That is not the Christian’s goal. Our battle is not with our pain, and generating forgiveness for the wrong done to us. Our battle is to repent of our sins, surrender our selfish will, and accept God’s forgiveness for our sins. As we appreciate what Jesus has done for us, His forgiving love flows into our hearts. The concept of receiving forgiveness through paying the debt for pain is totally unBiblical.

BCC teaches the false premise that we are called to pay the debt for the pain that others have caused us. God tells us that Jesus paid the debt for all sin, and He bore all our grief. We shouldn’t take to ourselves credit for what He has already done.

BCC can be easily tied to other new age and spiritualistic teachings. It is riddled with theories that go back to Freud and Jung, who were ungodly men.

BCC makes no difference between the converted and unconverted. It promises healing to all who will follow the technique, regardless of their commitment to following Christ in every area of their lives. BCC exalts itself as superior to prayer and Bible study. It makes it seem that unless you use this method, you cannot find true healing and release.

BCC does not emphasize the true way to living a life of victory, which is abiding faith, continual dependence, and walking with Jesus through His sustaining power.

BCC does not truly exalt the cross of Christ and the blood of Jesus as our source of cleansing and victory. We cannot kneel at the cross and still feel our pain. We cannot have a heart-appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice and still focus on our pain. To turn to our pain is to turn from Jesus.