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Running Head: INTEGRATION PAPER
Integration Paper
Arin Kinney
Liberty University
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INTEGRATION PAPER
Psychology and Christianity are two topics that someone would not normally hear
together. Psychology is well known for its association with atheistic Psychologists such as Freud
laid out the foundation of psychology as a whole, but both studies of psychology allow
counselors and psychologists in this day and time, although some may not share the same
religious views as past psychologists. There are various models and disciplines of study that can
be viewed from different perspectives to represent and incorporate psychology and Christianity,
such as the enemies model, neutral parties model, spies model, allies model, rebuilders model,
and colonialists model. Upon consideration of the evidence from various disciplines of study, it
seems like the Allies model best captures the relationship between psychological science and
Christian faith, and that is the main topic that will be discussed throughout this paper.
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The study of psychology is associated with psychologists who were atheists, such as
Sigmund Freud who was sadly not a believer in Christ. The field of psychology is in a constant
state of change, while Christianity is always finding opposition. Being a follower of Christ
allows the opportunity on a spiritual level to change, just as psychology allows people to better
understand how they can change certain situations in life to better themselves. There are many
different accounts in the bible where stories were recorded about how individuals struggle in
their lives and how they got through it. When studying the situations of those accounts it can
begin to put together different perspectives and utilize our knowledge of psychology to help
readers better understand how they were really feeling. Although our situations in life may be
different than what others might be going through, the tools to help not only our individual
selves but others as well. Some of those tools in psychology and through Christianity, include
our knowledge of ways to help cope with different situations through psychology and having the
ability to pray and ask for healing or guidance in life. And that is where the Allies model comes
into play, because it has a need of reflecting the unity of truth.
The Allies Model
The Allies model reflects the unity of truth which gives readers the assumption that all
truth can and will originate from God (Entwistle, 2015). Some would like to think that the Allies
model is much like a puzzle piece with pieces that fit together perfectly. Sadly human error,
limitations, and understanding is beyond imperfection and can be flawed (Entwistle, 2015). This
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model is the most appropriate of the five integrative models that Entwistle gives readers the
presupposition that God’s truth exists in both “God’s word and God’s works” (Entwistle, 2015).
Entwistle tells readers that the telos of the Allies model seeks to be faithful to God in everyone’s
life, which includes the continuous study of the Bible. The author, Entwistle, attempts to balance
the preferences of theology and psychology by giving a suggestion about the prelacy of theology
due to the influence that it has on a person's worldview, but it never suggests that neither have
prelacy because God is the source of all truth in the world (Integrative, 2019). Entwistle (2015)
tells us that "allies strive to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, including
studying the book of His Works and the book of His Word. Our ultimate goals include serving
and praising God with all of our beings and fulfilling our call to love our neighbor. At the
disciplinary level, the Allies model aims to discern the underlying unity of truth and to use it for
godly ends” (Entwistle, 2015). The Allies model has two themes, the first shows unity within the
body of Christ and that anger that is not resolved over time will destroy that unity that was
created as seen in Ephesians 4. The second theme surrounding verses such as one found in
Romans being that need to mature into a Christ-like image. Children cannot manage their anger
very well, but through socialization and development over time they learn to restrain anger and
express it appropriately (Entwistle, 2015).
Psychology can sometimes be perceived as something that is strict as something for
people who are "crazy", but in all reality, psychology is open for all who are willing to learn. It is
in constant change every single day. Christianity, on the other hand, remains constant and whole
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just as Jesus is every single day. As said before the Allies model reflects unity between both
Christianity and psychology, but according to Entwistle “In this model, our allegiance is neither
to psychology nor to theology, but to God who reigns over all spheres of which we are subjects.
It is our Christian duty to engage psychology in such a way that we are faithful in discerning
truths about God’s world, utilizing and applying the unique methods of psychology in full
recognition of their limitations” (Entwistle, 2015). This quote gives readers a great perspective of
how the Allies model reflects on Christianity. People are able to see and learn how to integrate
the mostly secular study of psychology into a Christian perspective, this could be considered a
great strength of this model. A limitation to this model could be knowing the boundaries within
the model and knowing when to believe and not believe the things that are being utilized and
learned within the study of psychology. Within this psychological and theological reflections
both resemble guides to help better help, and discipline us in our human nature, whether it be
theologically or psychologically. Many people believe that psychological and theological
reflections do go somewhat hand in hand. Although they may seem to be completely different,
they both share the urge of wanting to know how better human behavior, and dive deeper in
wanting to figure out how to correct things in our lives whether it be spiritual or psychological.
For example, many pastors and leaders of the church are using psychological tests, such as the
Enneagram personality test, as a better way of understanding the people around them by making
them each take the test so that he can learn their personalities to place them in the precise spot
that they feel that they belong. The Enneagram test, which is not a faith-based test of any sort,
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ultimately gives me the confirmation that both the theological psychological reflections do in
fact take place together. The Allies model much life the enneagram test mention above gives
readers the results of Christianity and Psychology seek to find the truth. Although they do have
different backgrounds, in terms of science and faith, again they both share a common Author and
both describe single realities (Entwistle, 2015). Psychology being in the norm of a secular area of
study, still has the ability to come back and reflect how God see’s and how we should always
love ourselves and others, much like it says in 2 Timothy 1:7-9 “ for God gave us a spirit not of
fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about
our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God”
(ESV). This verse reflects the true essence of how everyone should face life and others around
them every single day because the Lord gave his people every ability to overcome the impossible
in life even if others do not walk the same path of life as the people around you.
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To conclude, psychology and Christianity are two topics that someone would not
normally hear together. But during this paper, it has been discussed how psychology and
Christianity unite in terms of the Allies model best captures the relationship between
psychological science and Christian faith. The Allies model reflects the unity of truth which
gives readers the assumption that all truth can and will originate from God (Entwistle, 2015).
And it perfectly reflects how everyone should view Christianity and Psychology as a whole.
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References
Entwistle, D. N. (2015). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction
to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, OR:
Cascade Books.
Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.livestransforming.com/integrative-approaches-to-psychology-and-
christianity/
