Either the church abdicated her responsibility in caring for the sheep, or the people did not want the church to be involved in their personal problems, so, as a result, the care of the mind, as well as the soul, came under the category of 'neurology' and neurologists were the ones who became responsible for not only the mind, but also the soul. At this point in History, people were not seeing the difference between the soul and the mind. If you had an emotional problem, only the neurologist could provide the proper help. The neurologist would be the one who would help your problem of anger. But, something else was happening in History. A man named Sigmund Freud rose up and challenged the medical field. Freud actually saw that people's problems cannot be solved with medicine. So, he comes up with an alternative to medicine called 'psychoanalysis'. His therapy consisted of the patient talking to an objective listener, with the goal being that the patient tells everything that he is aware of. So freud takes the problems of the soul away from neurology and creates a new category called, 'Psychology'.
Other psychological thinkers rose up as well. They all had one thing in common: They treated the problems of the soul with therapy instead of ministering the word of God to the soul. When they referred to the mind, it was really the category of the soul they were addressing for the most part. Scientists and doctors look for something tangible they can work with. If a person is sick, many times an antibiotic can help. If a person is depressed, lithium usually works. But what kind of a medicine can you give to a person to take away his anger problem? How do you help a child who is insistent on playing with toys instead of doing school work? How do you correctly label a problem like that?
This is many years later, and there is still influence of secular theology in our churches as well as in our thinking, generally thinking. Sometimes, I think people are well intended, but just don't use words carefully. They don't think through them. For example, I have heard people who are not Hindus, say something like, 'The next time around, I want to be a ____', or, sometimes we just use phrases like, 'What goes around, comes around.' Maybe there is some truth to it, but, the concept is based upon Karma, which ins't based on Scriptures.
The Therapeutic Movement has been the worst culprit of secular psychology that has seeped into the church. The basic idea leads people to believe that they are special, worthy, and in need of elevating their 'self-esteem'. This might not sound serious on the surface, but words like 'esteem' and 'worth' are worship words. This too can be tricky because it just sounds like we need to respect ourselves. But it has the connotation of elevating ourselves, rather than respect. Are we 'worthy'? In regards to God, we are unworthy. This word has led to a dangerous concept in the church, and I have seen this brought out in contemporary Christian music. It is very subtle, but, it turns the order of worship around. Songs like, 'We Are The Reason'* and even 'Above All'** can lead to dangerous thinking. Yes, God does love us as described in John 3:16. God is not our servant. I'm sure that these song writers probably love God and the words could just be a slip of the tongue. But the listener could misunderstand easily, especially if he doesn't have a good grasp on our need for salvation.
Bruce Ware gave a message and explained something helpful in this regard. He brought out the fact that many think that Jesus died because of a person's worth. In other words, Jesus' death was costly. A person's worth is valuable, therefore, Jesus died because we were full of value. But, the reason Jesus died was not because of our value, but because of our sin. Our sin is what cost Him His life. Bruce compared this analogy with the way we shop. We put an item in the cart, and we pay the price for the item in exchange for the item. But that is not how the Gospel works. I think this whole 'self-esteem' concept has brought this thinking about. That is why so many are missing the Gospel today. In a subtle way, we think we are the objects of worship and the Gospel is God's way of serving us and elevating us. It's not about us. It's all about God, and we are included in His plan.
Psychology is a modern day category that was brought about because the church dropped the ball when it came to doing Biblical counseling. Today, the church can bring Biblical counseling back to the church, and it should be brought back. It is the responsibility of the church to disciple people and minister to the needs of the soul. We can't just throw the baby out with the bathwater because psychology has done unbiblical things that have been brought into the church. Let's go back to the Bible and find the answers to the needs for the human soul. Let's be filled with the love of God for those who are hurting. Let's be patient with those who are wayward and not give up on working with them. Let's be careful to not adopt concepts that lead to self worship, but let us turn to God and let Him be the object of our worship. Let us pray for those who are doing 'Christian psychology' that they may be able to separate the truth from the lies as they seek to counsel and help people.
*We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live
(Avalon)
**Like the rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all
(Michael W. Smith)
Don't try so hard
God gives you grace and you can't earn it
Don't think that you're not worth it
Because you are
He gave you His love and He's not leaving
He gave you His Son so you'd believe it
You're lovely even with your scars
Don't try so hard
God gives you grace and you can't earn it
Don't think that you're not worth it
Because you are
He gave you His love and He's not leaving
He gave you His Son so you'd believe it
You're lovely even with your scars
Don't try so hard
(Amy Grant)
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