“Psychology is just sinful human beings sinfully thinking about other sinful human
beings.”
I’m in partial agreement with this statement. Both Christians and Psychologists
are human, and neither of us is perfect. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have all
sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (King James Version). Although we
have sinned, we should not be labeled or defined by our sins. Humanity is
inherently sinful; I disagree with the idea that psychology as a practice is “sinfully
thinking” about human beings. a Psychology is the practice of helping people.
This statement comes across as both skeptical and cynical. It considers the worst
in a person before seeing the best in a person. It appears that this perspective
was derived from a tainted experience or view of the field of psychology. Even
when we strive for neutrality our own values and worldviews are expressed in our
thinking (Entwistle, 2015, p. 196). We need to be aware of and evaluate the
presuppositions that we bring to the field of psychology (Entwistle, 2015).
I believe that there is a possibility that this perspective may have been developed
as a result of fear. Psychology is an area that many Christians and pastors may
not be too familiar with. There could be a fear of the unknown since the
approaches are vastly different from that of Christianity, which may result in
criticism and resistance. Fear can skew our perspective, limit our growth, and
hinder the learning process as it may cast a negative influence on the
understanding of the field of psychology (Nichols, 2010). a
My views align with the “Allies” model. I agree with the stance that God is
sovereign over all things and that through God’s perspective that all truth fits
together cohesively (Entwistle, 2015, p. 182). Various worldviews, human error,
limitations, and human understanding act as barriers in discovering the truth and
achieving successful cohesion (Entwistle, 2015). “Christians can benefit from
insights of secular individuals, while some techniques may clearly violate Christian
values, there are others stemming from a discernment of the workings of God’s
creation are applicable to Christians and non-Christians” (Entwistle, 2015, p. 194).
Scripture is inspired and useful in all areas, however, this does not mean that
scripture provides all the answers (Entwistle, 2015). The bible is not just spiritual,
it is practical.
Entwistle states that psychology is a means to explore and find practical methods
to understand human behavior (Entwistle, 2015). We should attempt to approach
this practical subject with neutrality and objectivity.
References:
Entwistle, D. (2015). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An
Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations and Models of
Integration. 3rd edition. Cascade Books.
Nichols, K. (2010). Untie the Fear Knots of Your Heart. Liberty University Press.
