Christian Psychology

Is "Christian psychology" Biblical or a contradiction in terms?  Do the Scriptures address "victimization" or the effects of sin? Christian leaders are being seduced by doctrines that psychologize and pathologize sin.  As sins are being redefined as "disorders" and "diseases," the message of Christ's substitutionary atonement is ineffective.  If gluttony is just an "eating disorder," and adultery is just "sexual addiction," and drunkenness is just "substance abuse," and homosexuality is misplaced "father hunger," and we are just making "wrong choices" and "engaging in self-destructive behaviors" rather than sinning, then we are never guilty of anything and Christ died for our sins in vain.

People who used to witness with the Word now leave their Bibles at home so they can proclaim another gospel, the gospel of self.  They promote the "healing of the inner child," "recovery of childhood memories," "self-love," "self-actualization," "self-esteem," "self-fulfillment," and "self-forgiveness."  What happened to dying to self, self-sacrifice, and self-forgetfulness?

So enamored are people of these itching-ear teachings that they no longer see unbelievers as lost sinners in need of a Saviour, but "hurting victims in need of a therapist."  How does one go from a diagnosis of "low self-esteem" to "godly sorrow (which) worketh repentance to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10)?

If today's well-meaning "doctors" use Scripture at all, they contort it to fit their psychological labels.  This is repackaged humanism.

Have you seen what is being published lately?  Racks and stacks of "Christian books" about journeying into your past, self-love, co-dependency, addictions, and twelve steps to . . . [anything].  These characterize today's victim mentality but contradict the Word of God, which tells us to die to self, forget those things behind, and reject the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God.

"Christian psychology" is a contradiction in terms.  It is as painfully ironic as the term "Christian secular humanist."  Will you help put Christ, the cross, and the Bible back in its proper place?  Who is the god of our churches today?  Christ or "Christian psychology"?  Let us get back to the Bible!

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