the study of the soul.
The soul is made up essentially of the mind and the heart. The heart in the Bible usually represents the will or the faculty with which we choose between right and wrong and good and evil.
What is the difference between between psychiatry and psychology?
The suffix "-iatry" means healing or medical treatment, and "-logy" means study of." So psychiatry is the medical treatment of the psyche (soul-mind), and psychology is the study of the psyche (soul-mind). Psychiatrists have a M.D. and give out drugs. Psychologists usually have a PhD. and they talk to their patients.
Psychology is a legitimate study. What better book to go to in order to study the mind or soul than the Bible, which has so much to say about the mind.
Paul wrote in 2 Tim: 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
So Christians have a sound mind which is a gift from God.
Paul exhorted in Romans, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.&emdash;Romans 12:1-2
On the other hand from this Scripture we can conclude that conformity to the world results in the degeneracy of the mind.
Isaiah promised peace of mind in chapter 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." On the other hand those who have a troubled mind must not be focused on God or actually putting their faith in him.
Paul wrote in Phil 4 the prescription for good mental health: 6Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8Finally, 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. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
We have all seen the defiant grinning face of the Arizona murderer, Jared Loughner, who shot the congresswoman last year. His is a frightening face.
Yet it is a mirror reflecting the soul of every sinner or unbeliever although most sinners wear a more pleasant mask. The wisest philosopher of the ancient world was Solomon, who said, "The heart of the sons of men is of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live."--Eccles. 9:3.
According to Paul, "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God."--Romans 8:6. To be carnally minded is to mind the things of the flesh, which are our passions and physical appetites, which results in death. Enmity is hatred. All unbelievers hate God.
The problem of the Arizona shooter was that he was living selfishly that is independently of God. All selfish men hate God and are hostile to him and to all righteous authority. If one does not love God, he will hate God's creative order including his fellow man, who was made in the image of God.
The murderer was a moral madman. According to the 19th century theologian and revivalist Charles Finney, "Moral insanity is a state in which the intellectual powers are not deranged, but the heart refuses to be controlled by the intelligence and acts unreasonably as if the intellect were deranged."
Finney continues, "All sinners, without any exception, are and must be mad. Their choice of an end is madness. It is infinitely unreasonable. Their pursuit of it is madness persisted in. Their treatment of everything that opposes their course is madness. All, all is madness infinite. This world is a moral Bedlam, an insane hospital where sinners are under regimen. If they can be cured, well. If not, they must be confined in the mad-house of the universe for eternity.
The only reason why sinners do not perceive their own and each other's madness is that they are all mad together and their madness is all of one type. Hence they imagine that they are sane, and pronounce Christians mad. This is no wonder. What other conclusion can they come to unless they can discover that they are mad?
But let it not be forgotten that their madness is of the heart, and not of the intellect. It is voluntary and not unavoidable. If it were unavoidable it would involve no guilt. But it is a choice made and persisted in the integrity of their intellectual powers, and therefore they are without excuse.
Sinners are generally supposed to act rationally on many subjects. But this is an evident mistake. They do everything for the same ultimate reason and are as wholly irrational in one thing as another. There is nothing in their whole history and life, not an individual being that is not entirely and infinitely unreasonable. The end is mad; the means are mad; all, all is madness and desperation of spirit. They no doubt appear so to angels, and so they do to saints; and were it not so common to see them their conduct would fill the saints and angels with utter amazement."
On the other hand, saints have been given a "sound mind."&emdash;2 Tim 1:7. We Christians exercise self-discipline, self-control and sound judgment, which is sanity. Indeed, we look hard and long into the face of Jesus Christ. We are to be the mirror reflecting his soul, his innermost being.
Paul taught us that we Christians have "the mind of Christ."&emdash;1 Cor 2:16. Therefore, we follow sound reason and are not under the control of passion and the lusts of the flesh. Our desires and passions are well regulated by conscience, reason and God's moral law. We mind "the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."&emdash;Romans 8:5-6. We have peace of mind. We are not suffering from "mental illnesses." We are mentally stable.
Paul urged, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5)." Jesus humbled himself and willingly made himself of no reputation to serve God and mankind. Men without God are overcome by pride and desire to be served whether than serve. Consequently, they are living contrary to the way they were intended to live and will have poor mental health, which in fact is a wicked mind.
What often passes as mental illness is usually irresponsible, rebellious and ungodly behavior. Mental disorders are typically the result of sin or wrong choices, that is selfish choices.
Psychiatrist, Dr William Glasser, wrote a book called, Warning: Psychiatry Can Be Hazardous to Your Mental Health
The forward to the books says, "The medical approach to mental distress is based on unproven hypotheses, in particular the theory that the fundamental cause of mental distress is biological, either a biochemical imbalance, a genetic defect, or both. Psychiatry has convinced itself and the general public that this hypothesis is not a hypothesis but a proven fact.
Decades of intensive psychiatric research have failed to establish a biological cause for any psychiatric condition. The lack of biological evidence is confirmed by the extraordinary fact that not a single psychiatric diagnosis can be confirmed by a biochemical, radiological, or other laboratory test.
William Glasser's years of inquiry and questioning have culminated in the development of what he calls choice theory. He cogently argues that what medicine has labeled as mental illness is in reality varying degrees and expressions of unhappiness. He points out that medicine's preoccupation with mental ill-health means that people searching for the opposite-mental health and well-being&emdash;receive little meaningful guidance from the medical profession."
Glasser himself writes, "Happiness or mental health is enjoying the life you are choosing to live, getting along well with the people near and dear to you, doing something with your life you believe is worthwhile, and not doing anything to deprive anyone else of the same chance for happiness you have."
Just what is normal behavior, anyway? What is the standard of normality? It seems that psychiatrists consider the lowest common denominator amongst human beings at a particular time and place in social history and claim that is normal behavior. For instance, when I studied introduction to psychology as an undergraduate in the early 60's, there was a unit dealing with abnormal behavior and within the unit was a chapter on homosexuality. I also studied psychology and counseling as a post graduate student in the early 70's at Indiana State University. Suddenly, in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association declared that homosexuality was no longer deviate behavior, not because of any scientific breakthrough, but by giving into political and social pressure from the homosexual community.
The Christian standard for normal behavior is Jesus Christ; he had reason to be clinically depressed throughout most of his ministry, especially in Gethsemane and at Golgotha. He could have given into despair but he refused. On the cross, they attempted to give him a stupefying drink but he received it not.&emdash;Mark 15:23. Jesus was the most normal human being that ever walked the earth, who "was tempted in all way like we are."&emdash;Heb 4:15. He showed us how we are all supposed to live and can live through faith and trust in his Holy Spirit.
Paul suffered much for his witness for the Lord, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. . .16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."&emdash;2 Cor 4.
There is a lack to teaching today as to who we are and can be in Christ. Hence, we have a lot of weak minded Christians who are tormented by the devil; no one has taught them on how to resist his wiles. We have others in our midst who profess faith in Christ but who are practicing sin, which result in guilt. Too often in our churches we are failing to address the issue of sin and guilt and the result is poor mental health.
In 1973 psychiatrist Karl Menninger penned the following words in his book Whatever Became of Sin?: "The very word, 'sin,' which seems to have disappeared, was once a proud word. It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word. But the word went away. It has almost disappeared - the word, along with the notion. Why? Doesn't anyone sin anymore? Doesn't anyone believe in sin?"
I am weary of hearing so many people, especially when they are professing Christians, tell me they are bipolar, schizophrenic, or depressed. Then they are always coming up with some new mental disorder. And I am hearing it more and more each year. In my youth people that the psychiatrists and their disciples like to label today as mentally ill; we considered to be simply strange, odd, eccentric, peculiar, etc. Frankly, I enjoy the company of people who do not fit into the general mold.
In 1973 in my home town, Terre Haute, IN, they built a mental health center, called Hamilton Center. Hamilton now has 650 staff and centers throughout the state. I think that it is significant that 1973 was the time when marijuana and hallucinatory drugs were moving into the mainstream of society, as was the sexual revolution. Sin results in guilt and guilt can weigh so heavily on one's mind that it can drive him out of his mind. The solution is not more drugs; the solution is the Cross.
Psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Szasz, in his book Psychiatry: The Science of Lies teaches that "Mental illness is essentially a disease invented by psychiatrists, unless one is using the term in the metaphoric sense. Mental illness is a social or psychological construct; it is something invented; it is not scientifically measurable. A disease is something one catches contrary to his will or it is a malfunction of bodily parts such as the heart, liver, lungs, the colon, the bones, the blood, the brain, etc."
It is my understanding that what is labeled as mental illness is usually misconduct. Mental illness is to psychiatry what alcoholism is to medicine. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to physical deterioration of the liver and brain cells. However, what is generally called alcoholism should be called drunkenness, which is a sin, which is misbehavior. Alcoholism is not a disease. The problem is not essentially physical but moral. And so it is with what is called mental illness; it is a moral or spiritual problem, not essentially physical. Of course, immorality can be physically destructive to the brains, heart or liver.
When I took a class in pastoral counseling at the Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio, the professor invited a mental health professional to speak on situations which we ministers would not be qualified to handle. The woman also advised us of certain people we would not be competent to counsel, whom we should refer to the mental health professionals. I responded that the mind included the soul and that as a minister of the gospel I thought that I could handle any mental problem of my parishioners with Truth and the Power of the Holy Spirit. I suggested that the mental health expert should send her hard clients to the ministers of the gospel, instead of us sending our cases to her. I have not encountered any situation where someone had mental issues that I thought was beyond the power of God.
Now, this is not to say that there could not be such a severe malfunction or deterioration of the brain, which may occasionally be bad enough to make a person not accountable for his actions. If this be the case, I would prefer to say that one has a diseased or ill brain instead of being mentally ill. In cases such as these then a medical doctor might help if prayer fails.
Also, there are circumstances in which any normal person may become temporarily depressed, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or some failure in our life, etc. The problem becomes when he cannot function. He cannot work. Some claim to be unable to rise from their bed over a period of weeks when there is nothing physically wrong. One has to wonder if what is often diagnosed as mental illness is in fact not malingering which is feigning a mental problem in order to avoid work or duty or gain sympathy or drugs.
Jesus was exceeding sorrowful even unto death when he entered Gethsemane. But after agonizing in prayer while his disciples slept he awoke them and said, "Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" He faced his foes and went unto face his trials and carried the weight of the Cross.
From the loneliness of a Roman prison Paul wrote to the Philippians 4:, 4"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Paul counseled the Philippians to rejoice as he warned them that the Christian walk was one of suffering. We should be able to rejoice in suffering because suffering for Christ's sake builds character.
The Roman Catholic Church had wisely trusted in the confessional to keep parishioners mentally stable by freeing them from guilt. But these days even within Catholicism the confessional is usually deserted. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, had his societies in which believers would regularly gather and confess their faults to one another and exhort each other to spiritual growth.
The world may need the psychologists and psychiatrists because carnal men do not think that there is an answer or help for them through Christ and his Church. But a professional counselor and his patient meeting for regular sessions is not going to have the positive effect which one may have by being an active part of the Body of Christ, meeting corporately and in small groups on a weekly basis or regularly meeting with one's pastor. Psychiatrists and psychologists have become the priests and pastors of the modern world.
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." Commentators define double mindedness as having two souls. What James call double mindedness today is usually classified as some sort of mental disorder or illness.
These days we hear a lot about bipolar, or manic-depressive which is defined by the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders as a "mood disorder that causes radical emotional changes and mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows. The majority of bipolar individuals experience alternating episodes of mania (an elevated or euphoric mood or irritable state) and depression."
If there was ever anyone who could have been diagnosed as bi polar or paranoid schizophrenic, it would be King Saul. He was subject to violent mood swings. Saul started well but his pride became his downfall. He usurped the priestly office by offering up a sacrifice unto God and he disobeyed the Lord in not utterly destroying the Amalekites. He spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. God demanded complete obedience; Saul believed partial obedience was enough. Regrettably, most teachers instruct that we cannot completely overcome sin in this life. In our churches partial obedience is considered adequate. But our minds tell us differently; not to listen to the voices of reason and conscience will result in "disorder of thought," which ends in aberrant behavior, which psychiatrists describe as mental illnesses or mental disorders.
Just after Samuel anoints David to succeed Saul as king, "14The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."&emdash;1 Samuel 16.
Indeed, when the young shepherd boy David played his harp, "Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." I wonder if the decadent music such as rock n' roll has not stirred up evil spirits tormenting many weak minded youth.
Later, Saul becomes so jealous of David's exploits that twice while David is playing his harp the evil spirit from God comes upon Saul and he throws his javelin at David with the intent to kill.
Isn't it odd that neither spiritual men like David nor Samuel could properly diagnose that Saul was mentally ill? Sadly, in the end Saul falls on his own sword. Does anyone suppose that if Saul had had the myriads of meds available today that his end could have been different? Or if men had been more understanding and caring concerning his paranoid schizophrenia that somehow he would have gotten better? Or if perhaps things would have been different if Saul's attendants could have referred him to a psychologist instead of an uneducated shepherd boy? Alas, in the end, not even David's harp could calm Saul's rebellious soul.
It may be that many professing Christians are suffering today because of lack of discernment in pastors, who have been more influenced by modern psychology than they have the Scriptures or the Spirit of God.
Peter warned, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith."&emdash;1 Peter 5:8-9.
By being sober (exercising self-control and mental discipline) and staying alert, we can overcome the tormentor of men's souls. We must with determination stand firm against the devil by exercising all the means of grace.
James teaches us on how to be victorious over the devil, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."&emdash;James 4. Remember, James taught in chapter 1 that, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Is not schizophrenia just a new label for double mindedness, fermented wine in new wine skins? When we submit to the God, the devil will flee according to the Bible. If we are overcome by Satan, it must be that we have not fully submitted to our Creator.
We need to correctly discern the evils Christians face; the source of which is the world (especially worldly thinking), the flesh (the natural appetites out of control) or the devil. Too bad the Bible did not inform us of all these mental diseases. Did God not know about them or was he waiting for the likes of Sigmund Freud, who was an atheist who denied man's free will, to come along to deliver us all?
Psychiatrists usually fail to make a proper distinction between the brain and the mind. The mind is to the brain as to what the pianist is to the piano. They are not one and the same. If there is bad music, usually the pianist is the problem, not the piano. Now a piano can be out of tune. But tuning it up is simple enough. Someone could take a sledge hammer to the piano so that even the maestro cannot make it sound beautiful. Some people might have brain damage as a result of a blow to the head, birth defect, the deterioration of old age, too much drugs and alcohol or whatever, but I am convinced that this is not usually the case with most patients under the care of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
Mental illness is a very timely subject in the wake of the Arizona killer, who is usually spoken of as mentally ill by the media and both liberal and conservative politicians. I do accept this diagnosis. He is not sick; he is evil. He is a cold-blooded killer, who should be executed as quickly as possible. Psychological examinations have determined that as of now he is not fit to stand trial. If he is tried, there will likely be some sort of bogus insanity defense, which makes it likely that he will be hospitalized the rest of his life at tax payers' expense.
With the passage of the heath care bill, we have lost any semblance of separation of state and medicine in this country. The final peg has been hammered in for the establishment of what Dr. Szasz calls "the therapeutic state." Increasingly we may experience the medicalization of all criminal behavior. Lawbreakers will be considered, not as criminals but as sick. We have been headed in this direction for decades. Dr. Szasz concludes, "The legal system recognizes the elementary distinction between innocence and guilt. The psychiatric system does not: it proudly rejects the concept of personal responsibility. Crime is a well-defined act. Mental illness is an ill-defined mental state."
A Christian ordered by a court to be psychoanalyzed could be in trouble if he is truly reflecting the character and ministry of Christ.
Jesus was considered to have lost his mind by his own family, "Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered. . . When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind (beside himself)."&emdash;Mark 3:20-21
Not only his family, but the doctors of the law said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."&emdash;Mark 3:22. This accusation is equivalent to being called mad or mentally ill today.
In many states family and lawyers could combine forces to have anyone who behaved like Jesus forced to submit to a mental health evaluation and be pressured to taking drugs. This has happened to a friend of mine. He considers himself to be mentally healthy but he is under court order as a mental health patient. His dilemma is that if he is compliant to their treatments, he is sick. But if he rejects their diagnosis, he is in denial, which is also a symptom of mental illness.
Dr. Szasz is fond of saying, "If you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you have schizophrenia."
Modern psychiatry is attempting to make the human condition a disease. Times of sorrow, frustration, anxiety, desperation, disappointment, failure, sickness, bewilderment, restlessness, and irritability are all a part of life. Giving oneself over to these things, especially when one is physically healthy and has food, clothing and shelter, is not necessary. These conditions can be overcome by sheer will power. The Christian has not only the power of the will but he has the power of God within to make him more than a conqueror.
Jesus' many physical healings serve as parables to us of how we might be made whole from our spiritual weaknesses, failures and infirmities, our "mental illnesses," if you will. Christians are at times weak in the spirit, blinded to truth, crippled by the tests and trials of life, and maybe even at times paralyzed by fears (phobias); we sometimes face debilitating circumstances. But full provision is made for our healing and victory, if we attend to it. There is a caveat; Paul was not delivered from his thorn in the flesh; but nor was he ever overcome by it. God's strength was made perfect in Paul's weakness.
The man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:2-9) had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus asks him a revealing question, "Do you want to be healthy?" Evidently, Jesus knew that some people do not have the necessary will to be made whole; they are given over to their infirmities. Their illnesses give them an excuse to stay in bed and not to perform their responsibilities. Was this the case with this man? We are not told. But, unfortunately, often in life's tests, weaknesses and temptations, there will be no one to comfort or help, especially if we have had a trial that lasts for years. Often the attitude is, "everyman for himself." Nevertheless, Jesus did not console the man or accept his excuse, whether valid or not. Jesus merely spoke the Word, "Rise up, take up your bed and walk."
And immediately the man was made well, and took up his bed and walked. Jesus did not resort to natural means of medication. He did not even tell him to get into the pool! He commanded him to do three things, "Arise, pick up your mat and walk." What if the man had responded, but I can't? Would he have ever walked?
One of the most effective things I know of when we are going through trials is to remember that there are always those who are suffering more than we are. If we will get our attention off our own issues and attend to the business of the Lord by bearing the burdens of others, our own troubles will fade away. We need to get up and carry on with the work of God, even when we think we cannot.
Peter and John healed the man at the temple lame from birth by speaking the word to him, "In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk."&emdash;Acts 3. There was man born a cripple at Lystra; Paul healed him, when he perceived that the man had faith to be healed. Paul simply said, "Stand upright on thy feet." And the man received the strength to leap and walk.&emdash;Acts 14.
Taking the many examples of bodily healings of Jesus and the Apostles, the Pentecostals and the Charismatics emphasize physical healing with much more limited results than Jesus and his disciples. Certainly, we do not want to forget any of the benefits of the gospel, whether physical or spiritual.
Isaiah prophesied, "Surely, the Messiah hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows."&emdash;Isaiah 53. Jesus' sufferings on Mt. Golgotha were more mental and spiritual than physical. He was subject to rejection, aloneness and abandonment. He may have been tempted with delusions and discouragement. Yet with all the mental anguish, he endured and commended his spirit into the hands of the father. He was ultimately victorious in overcoming the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. As we trust in him, we can be more than conquerors of anything God or the devil sends our way.
My message on good mental health is intended to be an encouragement, not an attack on the mental health profession. I want to inspire to courage and hope. According to Merriam Webster a synonym for encourage is to hearten which implies "the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal."
A second definition Merriam Webster records for encourage is "to spur on." When the rider spurs his horse, it causes some discomfort to the horse but it may be the difference needed as to whether or not he wins the race. Mental health professionals engage in virtually endless talk and or medication. Medication does not cure the problem. It merely alleviates certain symptoms but often not without bad side effects either physically or psychologically. God's way is to set free and bring deliverance.
Often people do not want to be spurred on; they are content to remain where they are, even if is a state of sin or misery. To be spurred on does require them to leave what has been described as their comfort zone.
In Hebrews chapter 11 Paul sets the stages for looking on to the cross by cataloging the heroes of the faith who prepared the way for Jesus' suffering by enduring great hardships and trials and difficulties.
Paul opens chapter 12 of Hebrews by referring to them: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
Paul encourages us to put aside every hindrance and sin and run with endurance until we finish our course. I doubt if any of us are facing any trials comparable to what the hall of famers overcame or that any of our family or friends are up against such opposition at they were. One needs to read and reread and ponder these key chapters of the Bible daily until one gets the victory.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
How did Jesus endure such sufferings that none of us have faced? He focused not on his present difficult circumstance, but he looked to his future resurrection and ascension and glory. He scorned the shame of the Cross, the nakedness, the cruel mocking and scourging, the bonds and imprisonment, the temptations, the forsaking of friends, the shame of false witnesses and accusations and on and on it went, not just after his arrest but throughout his whole ministry, beginning with the humiliation of his Incarnation.
"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
So when you are overwhelmed and are faint consider Jesus and reflect on the great cloud of witnesses who overcame before him. Many of them were even homeless, "wandering about in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Nevertheless, they maintained a "good report through faith." Yet they had not "received the promise." We live under a better covenant with better promises we ought to have a more victorious report than they. Murmuring, complaining, malingering and excuse making has become a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.
Talk about contradictions in the Bible? In Hebrews 12:3 we find the greatest contradiction of them all that sinners would oppose the very one that gave his all, including his reputation and his life in order to help them.
"Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.' Indeed, you have not, so lay aside your clinical depression, ADHD, psychosis, mania, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or whatever and man up. Let the mind of Christ be in you and be obedient even if be unto to death (Phil 2:5-8). Certainly, at the very least we all must be dead to sin. And who knows but what some of us will not be called to martyrdom for Christ's sake?
Psychiatrists, psychologists and sociologists usually argue over nature or nurture. Typically, they claim that man's behavior is the result of a combination of the two, heredity or environmental factors. Most all of them miss the predominate factor which is choice. Men do what they choose to do. As Dr. Glasser teaches, "Accepting that everything you do is a choice is the cornerstone of mental health. This is teaching; it isn't therapy." We all have good and bad genes and good and bad environmental influences. It is our choice which we will follow.
Dr. Glasser teaches "nothing changes in your life if you continue to believe you stop at a red light because it's red instead of because you chose to stop." Either way you are safe. But it makes a huge difference in your life if you think your behavior or mental condition can be determined by something or someone outside of yourself. An individual who always says that this person made me happy or that individual upset me is denying that he is responsible for his own behavior. Adam who blamed his wife for his disobedience is an example of this denial. Of course, Eve blamed the serpent whom she should not have been listening to in the first place.
Most psychiatric disorders gain legitimacy in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). But as Dr. Peter Conrad wrote in The Medicalization of Society, "Despite its claims to psychiatric authority, the DSM is not a scientific document but a 'mix of social values, political compromise, scientific evidence and material for insurance forms.'"
I reference professionals such as Glasser and Szasz and Conrad to illustrate that not all psychiatrists and social scientists are in agreement with the alleged mental illnesses found in the DSM. These men provide good advice from their stand point as humanists, who believe that that we are responsible for our own mental health and to maintain the right state of mind which can lead to happiness despite adverse circumstances. However, the Christian must understand that ultimately one cannot be in a right state of mind without a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which fully provides for victory over sin, the torments of a guilty conscience and the wiles of the devil. Only though knowing the Prince of Peace can we have a peace of mind which passes all understanding.
The following is an ideal prayer to establish good mental health: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.--Ps 139:23-24
The Desire to be Wise
We find the earliest example of man desiring to be wise in his own power in the Garden of Eden:
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
We find in the Garden of Eden, the serpent, Satan, deceiving Eve. Part of his deception involved the desire to make oneself wise. He told Eve that if she partook of the tree, then her eyes would be opened and she would be wise knowing good and evil. Instead of relying completely on God’s providence in guiding the first couple in the things they should do, they rebelled and desired rather to decide for themselves what was right and wrong. They wanted to have the free will to decide on what was good and evil.
Therefore, we find in the original sin in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve desired to be wise and lean on themselves to decide on what was good and evil. This sin is akin to anybody who rebels from the authority of God’s word and decides to make up his or her own mind concerning what is the proper course for their life. Christian psychology fits this category. Instead of relying on God and His word in deciding on the proper course of life and what is right and wrong, they have replaced the authority of God’s word with the world’s wisdom of psychology.
Colossians 2:8-10
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power
We come now to a very clear and direct command from God’s word not to be spoiled by the philosophy of men. We find in this passage that a Christian can be threatened with being spoiled with philosophy and vain deceit that comes after the tradition of men. Philosophy literally means ‘love of wisdom’. It is also interesting to note the term vain deceit. Any teaching that is not solidly based on the Bible is vanity. By definition, it is based on man’s belief that he is capable and wise enough to decide for himself what is right and wrong. This is vanity and pride.
The rudiments, or basic elements, of the world can never replace teaching from God Himself. There are many deceivers now in the world that bring to us teaching that is outside of the bounds of the Word of God (1 John 2:18-19). However, we need no other teacher than the Holy Spirit Himself (1 John 2:26-27). We are already complete in Christ. In the Bible, we have Christ in written form with us today. Jesus, as the Word of God, is the bread of life (John 6:31-35). It is by this bread that we are to live. Man shall not live by physical bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God (i.e. the Bible – see Mat 4:4).
With the admonition in Col 2:8-10 in mind, we should be very cautious about relying on ministries that come bringing their own philosophies and wisdom. In reading the literature of Christian psychology ministries, it becomes very obvious that what is being taught is based on the author’s own insights and insights he has learned from the secular profession of psychology. These insights are based on the training he has received in the universities of the world. Oh yes, there are religious terms and phrases tossed about in their literature and teaching, but it should be admitted that the focus of their teaching is not on expository teaching of Bible passages but rather on their own philosophies.
Instead of diligently studying and investigating the Scriptures concerning a topic, Christian psychologists use their own teaching first. Secondly, they may sprinkle a few verses in their teaching to keep the appearance of being Christian.
The Wisdom of the World is Futile
A notable teaching in the word of God is that of the world’s wisdom is futile in understanding spiritual matters. It is important to look at the Scripture’s teaching on this matter since Christian psychology is, by definition, based on worldly wisdom.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
We see that the natural course of man is to rely on his own understanding (Pr 3:4-7). Man has become vain in his own imaginations. Mankind today professes that they have the answers to the world’s problems. In this they have professed themselves to be wise. We find many ‘doctors’ of psychology who by calling themselves ‘doctor’ have claimed to be wise in solving the sin problem of man. Sadly, these doctors are also prevalent in Christianity today.
In reality, these doctors who proclaim themselves to be wise are fools. They explain away the sin problem in man by their theories and worldly methods. They often rationalize sin. They do not understand the depravity of the unsaved man and the incredible, powerful working of God in each and every Christian’s life through the Holy Spirit. Each Christian has the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). They are being gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ (2 Cor 3:18, 4:16). God is at work in them both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
These psychology ‘doctors’ have exchanged the glory of the working of God into idols of worshiping their philosophies. Their own philosophies and wisdom have become their idols. Instead of relying on God’s Word to bring holiness into the life of a Christian, they rely on their own idols of philosophy and wisdom. On the contrary the Bible teaches us the following:
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you‑ward.
The Bible teaches us that the conduct we have in the world should be based on the grace of God and not fleshly wisdom. We should not seek out the Christian psychologists to cure our spiritual ails. Rather, we should diligently seek out the grace of God as we are commanded. We should be diligent to study God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15) which is the precious milk by which we grow (1 Pet 2:2). We must be careful to guard the Word of God which has been given to us. We must flee from the empty and godless chatter of the world’ wisdom (1 Tim 6:20).
The Foolishness of the Teaching of the Cross
The Bible records in 1 Corinthians a significant comparison between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. Please consider carefully the following:
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
To those who are not saved, the teaching contained in the Bible is as foolishness. Although the Bible is the very source of wisdom and knowledge, many have departed for the wisdom of the world and have discounted the Bible as foolishness. However, Christ is the power of God and in Him is hidden all the riches of wisdom.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
In this passage, we find that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Our faith in the Christian walk should not rest with the wisdom of men. To the unsaved, the wisdom of man is important. However, as believers, we are to place the wisdom of man in its proper position. This position is far secondary to the wisdom of God. Because we have the Spirit of God indwelling us, we are able to understand spiritual truth and apply it to our life. We have the mind of Christ and are in no need of running to the world’s wisdom.
Christian psychologists unfortunately mix the wisdom of man into the Christian faith. Instead of relying on the indwelling Spirit of God and the Word of God alone, they need to resort to their worldly techniques and philosophy to attempt to make the Christian more holy. Moreover, Christian psychologists’ ministries generally focus more on their own wisdom than the wisdom of the Word of God.
An Example from Hosea
In the book of Hosea, we find an interesting example of the evil of using the world’s wisdom rather than relying on God’s wisdom. Consider the following passages:
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
The book of Hosea is concerned with Israel prior to their captivity by Assyria. This was a time of great apostasy for the church of God. They were involved in all types of idolatrous practices. When ill befell them, the Bible records that they went to Egypt and Assyria for help. God condemned this activity.
This is an important truth for us to understand. The significance of Israel going to Egypt and Assyria for help was that they were heathen nations. True, the wisdom of these nations was great. But, it was man’s wisdom.
We see here an example of the church of God resorting to the world’s abilities and wisdom instead of relying on God. This is a striking parallel with Christian psychology today. Instead of relying on the word of God alone, these ministries run to the Egypts and Assyrias of the day for help.
Christian Psychology Replaces Biblical Sanctification
We come to an interesting question. Why does Christian psychology flourish in the church today? Why is it that this sort of ministry seems to thrive while Bible preaching ministries are relegated to a secondary status? When we consider the example of Israel in the Book of Hosea, a possible answer to these questions arises.
We saw in Hosea that the nation of Israel at that time was by and large apostate. In other words, Israel was the nation of God but were in rebellion to God and on their way to destruction. On the other hand, we saw that the true believer will have the mind of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The true believer will want to study God’s word to understand what the will of the Lord is. Therefore, it becomes a strong possibility that the reason that a believer would want to delve into Christian psychology and in some cases dedicate his whole life and ministry to this endeavor is that the Word of God no longer holds a high position in his life. In other words, he may be on the road to apostasy.
The emphasis of a ministry that is based on Christian psychology is to help people become more holy. However, they lean on the world’s wisdom more than the wisdom of God and his Word. Instead of relying on expository teaching of the Bible, they use the world’s wisdom to try to make people more sanctified. In a sense, they resort to an ‘ear-tickling’ type of message (see 2 Tim 4:3). Instead of letting the Bible speak out concerning sin and the fact that Christians are to flee from sin, they provide rationalistic reasons for deviant behavior. Instead of calling on people to cry out for repentance, they teach self-worth and self-esteem.
Although I am convinced that Christian psychologists are genuinely trying to help people, they may have unwittingly become deceivers.
- God uses the Word of God to make believers holy – Finally, it is important to understand the fact that it is the Word of God (i.e. the Bible) that God uses as the instrument to instruct and lead believers. The Bible is very powerful and important in each believer’s life. The fact that God has indwelt and is actively at work in each believer results in the believer being a disciple of Christ (see John 8:30-32). The following verses testify to the fact that it is the Bible that God uses to sanctify believers:
hology is bringing to us. It is empty and godless chatter that the Bible warns us to flee from (2 Tim 2:14-18, 2 Tim 3:13).
We must not be strayed from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor 11:3-5). The message of the Bible, although quite voluminous, is very simple. That is, man is in utter rebellion to God in his sin. God must initiate salvation for man otherwise he would not be saved. Additionally, God must initiate sanctification for the believer so that he will become more holy. On the other hand, we have Christian psychologists coming to us with a very complicated message of man’s psyche, personality profiles, techniques for self-esteem and corrective measures to make man more holy. We become wearisome with their plethora of books (Ecclesiastes 12:12). In short, their message is not simple. It brings us the complicated maze of the world’s wisdom. As Christians, we are to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. By doing so, we destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).
Since Christian psychology ministries have the overall goal of making believers more holy, it is important at this point to clearly discover from the Word of God what the Biblical method is for a Christian to become more santified. Is it following a ministry that on the surface sounds Christian, but is in reality based on the wisdom of man? Or is there another method that God would have us involved with to become more holy?
The Biblical Method of Sanctification
- God dwells in all true Believers– The Scripture is very clear that God dwells in the believer. The following verses are offered to document the fact that if one does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling, then he cannot be a Christian (see also Eph 1:13, 17-18, Col 1:27, 1 Cor 2:12, 2 Cor 5:5, 1 John 3:24, 4:4, Jude 19-20, 1 Cor 3:16, Luke 11:13):
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you… Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
From the above Scriptures, we see that God indwells each and every believer. But, the fact that God indwells the believer is not, in and of itself, ample proof for learning why believers live a life of overcoming sin.
- God works in each Christian – Next, it is important to observe from Scripture that besides indwelling each true believer, God also is at work in each believer. Notice the following verses:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Ro 8:14-16 (see also Gal 4:6)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
In these verses, it is evident that God is at work in the lives of believers in order to mold and shape them. God uses situations in life to teach the believer how to be more and more holy. God also chastens His sons in order to teach them holiness (see Heb 12:3-11).
The reader is referred to the following verses for additional Scriptural proof that God is at work in every believer’s life: Ro 5:5, 2 Thess 2:17, 1 Thess 2:13, 5:23, 2 Cor 2:14, 3:18, 4:16, 5:14-15, 13:4, Luke 11:34, Heb 2:11, 9:14, 10:14, 13:20-21, Titus 2:11-12, 2 Pet 1:3-4, Col 1:29, Ro 8:11, John 12:24, 14:26, 15:26, 16:13, Ps 16:2, 37:5-6,23-24, Ez 36:27, Eph 1:3,1:19,3:7,4:16,5:25-27, Gal 4:6, 4:19, 1 Cor 2:16, 12:6,11,13, Phil 1:6,11, 1 Pet 2:5, Gal 2:8,21, Phil 3:21, 1 Cor 15:10
- God uses the Word of God to make believers holy – Finally, it is important to understand the fact that it is the Word of God (i.e. the Bible) that God uses as the instrument to instruct and lead believers. The Bible is very powerful and important in each believer’s life. The fact that God has indwelt and is actively at work in each believer results in the believer being a disciple of Christ (see John 8:30-32). The following verses testify to the fact that it is the Bible that God uses to sanctify believers:
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
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, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Other verses that testify to the fact that the Bible is the instrument that God uses to sanctify believers are the following: Ps 119, Heb 5:11-14, Titus 1:1, John 6:63, James 1:21, John 8:31-32, 1 Tim 6:3-4, Eph 5:25-26, 2 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 3:18, Ps 1:1-4, Heb 4:12, Joshua 1:8, Ro 10:17, John 17:17.
The Bible is our Counselor
We should now see that the way a Christian becomes holy is through the Word of God. If a believer is truly saved, he will have the indwelling Holy Spirit and God will be at work in the believer to make him more holy. The word of God is the instrument that God uses to teach the believer the will of God. The Bible is the source of wisdom.
In fact the Bible refers to itself as a counselor:
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Therefore, we should be wary of sitting at the feet of any other counselor except the Word of God. When we earnestly seek to know God through His word, we will assure ourselves that we are in the will of God and the counsel of the Word of God is valuable to building ourselves up.
The Sufficiency of Scripture Illustrated
A final illustration of the sufficiency of Scripture is in order. We find two miracles that the Lord did that help illustrate for us that the Word of God is sufficient for our spiritual nourishment. The miracles of feeding of the four thousand (Mk 6:42, Mat 14:20, Lk 19:17) as well as the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand (Mat 15:37) record that the multitudes who were fed were satisfied with the loaves of bread that Jesus miraculously provided for them.
When we understand the spiritual message for us in these miracles, we find that the loaves of bread refer to the Word of God (see Mat 4:4, John 1:1,6:31-35). We find that these miracles are an example of the growth of the kingdom of God. It teaches us that it is by the Word of God by which the Gospel is spread. When we are nourished by the bread of life, we both become saved and it is beneficial for our spiritual growth. When we eat of the true manna of the bread of life, we need not look beyond our own backyard of the Word of God. We need not look to the world’s wisdom and Christian psychologists for our sanctification.
Summary
Where does this leave us? We saw that the Scripture teaches us that we should not be led away by the traditions and wisdom of men. We should look toward Christ as the bread of life for our spiritual nourishment. We saw that God’s plan of sanctification involves the indwelling Holy Spirit which works in all true believers. It is the word of God which is the instrument that God uses to lead Christians to become more holy in their conduct. It is not the wisdom of men that leads us to holiness.
Sadly, we saw that a reason that many people flock to the altar of Christian psychology is that they may find the Word of God ineffective in their lives. They may be unable to understand it. They may find it an archaic collection of thoughts that just aren’t applicable to them anymore. However, the true believer will have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). The true believer will want to learn the Word of God and be a disciple of Christ (Mat 28:19-20, John 8:30-32). True believers will always want to set their minds upon the things of the Spirit (Ro 8:5). As a true believer, we must make sure of our election and calling. We must strive to learn God’s word for by it we are sanctified. As our Lord prayed: sanctify them in the truth, thy word is truth (John 17:17)!
Is it wrong to read Christian psychology literature or listen to these ministries? No, nothing is unlawful in itself. However, not all things are useful for edification and building up. Instead of wasting our time in the pursuit of the worldly wisdom of Christian psychology, let us strive to study the Word of God. In so doing we learn the will of God and overcome the flesh.
