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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
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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
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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
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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.
This psychotherapy launched a thousand lawsuits. Numerous individuals, some I have known personally, have falsely remembered and relived horrendous experiences that never happened. However, these memories take a terrible toll on the patient, as they keep reaching into the past for answers.
The source of many recovered memories are the therapist’s leading questions. When combined with drugs, hypnosis and/or suggestive dream interpretation, therapists can easily produce false memories that seem quite real to their patients. Even though this therapy is dangerous, has been debunked and has been the cause of thousands of lawsuits against recovered memory therapists, many Christian counselors are still practicing it.
The gospel teaches us to unconditionally forgive all the real and imagined offences against us. There is not a single suggestion in the New Testament that we should go back to our childhood for healing. Rather, remember what Paul said:
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.
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1st Philippians 3:13-14
Dr. Robert Epstein, speaking against venting anger, says,
“The idea behind catharsis is that current psychological pain is the result of pent-up energy left over from unresolved trauma. Like a fluid trapped under high pressure, energy is vented when someone relives an old experience while expressing intense emotion.”
Many still believe that anger is some sort of force that you can bottle up, and that it is healthy to vent or let go. However, research has demonstrated just the opposite: when you express anger, it increases. When children, for instance, are encouraged to act out their anger, they become more aggressive and belligerent in their subsequent behavior. While people may initially feel relieved to "get it all out”, their anger does not go away. It actually (like an addiction) continues to grow and cause further problems.
The understanding that venting anger causes more anger does make sense, as all sin is addictive. The longer you practice any sin, the harder it will be to stop. However, with his help, God expects us to control our anger.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:
but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Proverbs 14:29
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Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. - Ephesians 2:3
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Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: - Ephesians 4:31
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But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. - Colossians 3:8
As we go to the Lord, asking for forgiveness and learning to forgive, He will replace our frustration with peace.
Modern Psychology is not scientific; Yahoo News shared what it thought was the abuse of a psychologist. The psychologist however, claimed the therapy was within ethical guidelines, which is it?
For an example of variations and integration, search Google for 12 step programs. You will find hundreds of them; many of these therapies plainly contradict each other. Actually, there are hundreds of different psychotherapies of all kinds. Some are simply ineffective; some are dangerous. With integrationists, as well as with other psychologists, truth is contradictory and changeable. New truth replaces old truth as new truth is theorized, conceived or discovered. Are you willing to depend upon a truth that is changeable?
Step 1. Go out and find someone you can help; minister to them freely
and sacrificially.
Steps 2-12 Repeat step one. If this 12-step program does not help you with your depression, go through the program again.
Christians have preached the Gospel of Jesus for nearly 2000 years. Countless people have been healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, uncontrollable anger and depression. This Gospel never changes.
When you go to a counselor week after week, what do you talk about? Since none of the founders of modern psychology were Christian, you probably did not talk much about Jesus.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. - Romans 8:7
It is unfortunate that today many Christian leaders have tried to integrate this atheistic philosophy into their gospel.
When you become a disciple of Jesus, what do you talk about?
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. - 2nd Corinthians 5:15
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And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. - Mark 12:30
To be always thinking on your dysfunction or on an overwhelming problem would have to be depressing, and at the least cause some sort of neurosis. To focus on God and His will, replaces depression with purpose.
There are Christian counselors who have rejected many of the tenants of modern psychology. However, there are still some major problems with problem-centered counseling.
The number one can describe six errors of problem-centered counseling. Therefore, I call them the one-errorisms. If problem-centered counseling did not have any other problems, these six alone would make it questionable for Christian use.
The one-hour restriction in a counseling session is for the counselor, not the patient. Supposing the counselor's patient is having a crisis and needs him while he is in the middle of counseling another patient? What if the patient is desperate and needs more time when it is three minutes before the next patient’s appointment?
It is not possible to have an intimate caring relationship with someone when you are seeing one patient after another, day after day, week after week, month after month. These relationships are always superficial, and seldom extend outside the counseling room.
Is this enough for someone in deep depression? Is the once a week schedule for the patient, or for the counselor? Do you think the counselor will be glad if his patient showed up at his house in the evening or on the weekend? This, like the structuring One patient after another, is because counseling is a business before it is a ministry.
This sets a pattern for long-term care. In time, this can develop into a dependency on the counselor instead of on the Lord. Compare this to a relationship of mutual care and encouragement by believers as they are growing together in Christ.
Most counselors charge the same amount per hour no matter what the particular illness is. However, nowhere in Scripture do we see the saints charge money to help the hurting. Nor did Jesus authorize charging fixed rates for delivering people from sin (the counselor may call it addiction, illness or some other name).
One may argue that you pay a pastor; why not pay a counselor? This will become a problem when the pastor starts charging a fee in order to attend his church.
This is the counselor-patient relationship. The counselor looks down on the patient because of all his knowledge and training, while the patient looks up to the counselor in complete submission.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. - Matthew 23:10 -12
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My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. - James 3:1-2
As disciples, we are the patient and Jesus alone is the wonderful Counselor. It is wrong to esteem men too highly: when we do, their failings cause others to stumble.
How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only - John 5:44
How do you know that your counselor is not suffering from depression, substance abuse or some other criminal or self-destructive behavior? If you do not believe this is a problem check out www.psychsearch.net to learn how serious the criminal behavior really is.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. - Psalms 119:11
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Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. - Hebrews 13:9
Paul shared the following admonitions in his letters to Timothy:
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, - 1st Timothy 6:3-4
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
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2nd Timothy 3:15-17
For nearly two thousand years, the Gospel of Jesus has delivered people from addictions and illnesses. He has given them sound minds. He has delivered countless believers, like myself, from mental illness. Finally, even in our trials He has given meaning and purpose.
You have a young women suffering from postpartum depression in your church. You can either
In order to see how you did on the test. Which of these options you would want done for you?
Written by Jeff Barnes
Thank you Martin & Deidre Bobgan for your ministry psychoheresy-aware.orgRecommended reading: Christ Centered Ministry or Problem Centered Counseling, by Martin & Deidre Bobgan.
