Introduction

The content of this book is a collection of documents I have written over a period of time while seeking God's guidance for the proper order and content for a book that seeks to establish the relationship between the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) developed by Mr. William T. Powers, the Responsible Thinking Process® (RTP) developed by Mr. Ed Ford, and the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God (the Bible) developed  by God Himself.  It is my considered opinion that both PCT and RTP are founded in biblical principles.  In an attempt to bring my thoughts together, I find myself doing the same thing  L.S. Chafer did in his 8 volumes of Systematic Theology -- redundancy, redundancy, redundancy.  Chafer's eight volumes were later edited and the redundancy was removed--much to my displeasure and much to the detriment of the thought processes that went into the points that Chafer made in each volume of the expanded edition.  While cheaper to print and purchase, the two volume set left much to be desired in determining Chafer's thought processes that led him to his doctrinal statements and conclusions.  So, I am stating here in the beginning that what appears to be redundancy--and perhaps is--is calculated to be just that--redundancy, and the purpose of this redundancy is to show the path of reasoning that has led me to my statements and conclusions.

My recommendation to you:  do not allow yourself to become distracted by redundancy so that you miss the point being developed through redundancy.  That would result in "not-seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees."  I once preached an evangelistic sermon with the larger part of my extended family present.  Throughout the course of my message,  I continually made a grammatical blunder by saying, "It is Him . . . It is Him . . . It is Him."  At the conclusion of the service, I was greeting the congregation at the exit door, and a favorite Uncle of mine, and a much shorter man in physical stature, reached up and pulled my head down and gently whispered in my ear, "Learn to say, 'It is He, not it is Him.'"  My thought over all these ensuing years has been, "I wonder if that's all he heard?"  He could very possibly have missed heaven because he couldn't see the forest-for-the-trees.  Please, don't allow redundancy to cause you to miss-the-forest because you can see past the trees.

While the intent of this book is to show the link between the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT), the Responsible Thinking Process and the Bible (RTP), the first few chapters are designed to present the bigger picture of human history and why mankind is even alive on planet earth.  Only then will it become evident why PCT and RTP have any relevance insofar as man is concerned.  If it were not for the truth regarding the bigger picture of human history, PCT and RTP would just be the thoughts of two men whose thoughts are no more relevant that the thoughts of any other person with an idea on a similar subject. Quite the contrary.  Human history has been decreed by the Living, Creator God of this universe, and mankind is not an accident, having evolved from somewhere.  Man is here on planet earth with a divine purpose and human history is running its course of divine purpose.  The early chapters of the book discuss these purposes and set the stage for the relevance of both PCT and RTP to man and human history.   May God the Holy Spirit illuminate your mind to the truth contained in the following pages of this book.

A Note Regarding the Theological Content Expressed in This Book

The theological content of this book is that held by the author of this book.  As the author, I am aware that others may disagree; however, my theological understanding is my perception, and that of those who disagree is their perception.  If we disagree, let us agree to disagree.

I would, however, offer this one cautionary note--as a matter of my perception.  Christianity is not a religion.  Man attempts to reduce it to a religion among many religions; however, the Creator God of this universe would strongly disagree with this reduction.  Christianity is not a religion.  It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is in hypostatic union (He's the God-man: different from God in that He is man, and different from man in that He is God); He is the unique Person of the universe.  Religion is "man by man's efforts trying to gain the approbation (approval) of God, while Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ attained by faith alone in Christ alone--"not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)  I seek not religion.  I seek the Person of Jesus Christ and His life.  With the Apostle Paul, I say, "For me to live is Christ, . . ." (Philippians 1:21)

Thanks for your interest in my ministry and the things I have written for the edification of the body of Christ.

Resting in Him,

Dr. Jim