Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy
to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man. - Luke 21:36
Modern psychology often contradicts the basic teachings of Jesus Christ. This study looks at some of the differences.
Removing personal suffering is the goal. Modern psychology tries to build you up by telling you how good you are (high self-esteem); this is supposed to make you feel good. Often, when counseling fails to help the patient, the patient is medicated. While medication may deaden the pain, drugging does not deal with and often increases the underlying problems.
God meant our suffering to bring us closer to Christ. The hard times will build character in our lives if we let them.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [temptation here means struggles against sin or adversity] knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. - James 1:2-4
AND
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: - 1st Peter 1:6-7
AND
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
Suffering is neither inevitable nor forever. Some may say that they cannot forgive, however Jesus heals through forgiveness. Teaching us, and empowering us to forgive, as he forgave us, removes the bitterness that is a major cause of depression. Moreover, the realization that Jesus has forgiven us gives healing, where self-justification and self-esteem does not.
Jesus heals by giving us a reason to live. Many of our young people are finding out that living for pleasure is not enough. For those who find it, serving the Most High God, Who created heaven and earth, gives real meaning to life.
Jesus gives us the power to overcome sin in our lives. Often our suffering is a direct result of our sinning. Jesus defines right and wrong, and then gives us the power to overcome.
Psychologists call sin by other words such as 'addiction' or 'disease'. This often places the responsibility of sin on someone or something else. Modern psychology offers about 400 different and ever changing types of psychotherapy, many of which are contradictory one to another. While a few therapies, like the 12 step program, may allow religion, most of those that do will let you appeal to any God or force in your life as a source for healing.
It grieved Paul that the people would not let the Lord heal them. Quoting Isaiah, he said:
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. - Act 28:27
Later Paul told Timothy:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
- 2nd Timothy 1:7
You can personally experience as sound mind (the power to do the right thing), in your own life. The millions of recovered alcoholics, drug addicts, and other deliverances, prove this power is real.
Modern psychology teaches that we should love ourselves. Often we hear the question asked, "How can we love others as ourselves if we do not love ourselves first?” The way this teaching has permeated Christianity, one might think that this was Jesus' central theme; however, it is actually a doctrine of modern psychology.
In fact, Jesus teaches us quite differently, in the Gospel of Matthew we read:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. - Matthew 16:24-25
Paul also condemned the love yourself mentality, he could not have said it any clearer:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, - 2nd Timothy 3:1-2
As clear as Paul's teaching is on self-love, some still prefer man's fallible and ever-changing wisdom to that of God's unchanging Word.
Most psychologists, even Christian ones, teach that self-esteem is essential to a healthy mind.
Recently the headlines of a news article went something like this: "Students in the US may have some of the lowest grades in the industrialized world, but they do feel good about themselves.”
Some recent studies suggest that self-esteem training may be harmful. It leads many students to overestimate their abilities. Our jails are full of people with high self-esteem. One study even shows that people with high self-esteem are more likely to be violent or racist.
Scientific American reports that teenagers "with high self-esteem are less inhibited, more willing to disregard risks and more prone to engage in sex." (Exploding the Self-Esteem Myth, Jan. 2005; www.sciam.com).
In spite of this, many psychologists still believe that high self-esteem is essential to mental health.
The Gospels teaches us humility, Jesus said:
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. - Luke 17:10
In the Gospel of Matthew, the centurion answered Jesus:
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. - Matthew 8:8b
Rather than rebuking the centurion on his low self-esteem, Jesus commended him on his faith. John the Baptist, in another example of faith, said:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. - Matthew 3:11a
Paul also urged in his letters:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. - Philippians 2:3
Speaking of himself, Paul said:
O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? - Romans 7:24
If Jesus really did die a horrible death for our sins, we have nothing of ourselves to be proud about. When you get your doctrine from Jesus, you will know to take you mind off yourself.
Since its early days, psychotherapy centered its therapy on past problems. Somewhere in the past is the key that will unlock the … well, I do not know, but for $85 and one hour with a psychologist, you can find out.
The Gospel teaches that there comes a time to forget the past, especially the problems. Quoting the apostle Paul:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
- Philippians 3:13-14
AND
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
- Philippians 4:8
We must forgive others for past wrongs and then move on. If someone needs to forgive you, reconcile and then move on. Do not keep revisiting these wrongs.