No, I do not agree with the negative critique of psychology. There are truths
in this opinion statement regarding psychology. Certainly, humans are sinful
and can think sinfully, and psychology is a man-made discipline seeking to
understand human nature. However, the principal object of study in
psychology is humanity; humans are God’s creation. The study of psychology
is then the study of God’s creation as my worldview adheres to a literal
hermeneutic of the creation account: “So God created mankind in his own
image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created
them” (New International Version, 1984/1973, Genesis 1:27).
d d d d d d In summary, psychology is the study of God’s pinnacle of creation:
humans. Further, an assumption in my anthropology is humans have been in
a fallen state since the fall of man as recounted in Genesis 3. Thus, the
study of humanity provides a means to view and understand God’s creation
in both a spiritually regenerated state for those who believe and a spiritually
unregenerate state for those who do not believe. Paul spoke of the
spiritually regenerate (believers) waiting for their bodies to be regenerated
like their spirits have been because of their belief in the Messiah: “[W]e
ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait
eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies (New
International Version, 1984/1973, Romans 8:23). All of humanity was born
into sin and live in a fallen world, where both nature and human nature
yearn to be free of sin and the effects of sin: “For the creation was
subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one
who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its
bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of
God” (New International Version, 1984/1973, Romans 8:20-21). Therefore,
psychology is the study of God’s crown of creation, humanity, yet in a fallen
state.
d d d d d d My views align most with Allies, an “integrative model of
disciplinary relationships” (Entwistle, 2015, pp. 246-264). The Allies model
affirms the truth of the Bible and also supports the truths found in the
psychology, as this model assumes truth is from God and points to His
authorship. Entwistle summarized the manner in which the integrative model
views truth or knowledge: “In our humble efforts, though, the integrative
model implies that there is no valid distinction between ‘sacred’ and the
‘secular’ (2015, p. 264). All truth is from God because God is truth. When
Christ was on the earth, Peter said the following about Jesus, which attests
to God’s truthfulness: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his
mouth (New International Version, 1984/1973, 1 Peter 2:22). Before Christ
came to earth, Isaiah prophesied about Jesus: “He was assigned a grave
with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no
violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth” (New International Version,
1984/1973, Isaiah 53:9). Therefore, when Jesus made statements about
himself, individuals can know these statements are true because in Christ no
deceit was found: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (New
International Version, 1984/1973, John 14:6a). God is both the creator of life
as described in the book of Genesis as well as the embodiment of truth as
explained in the book of John. Thus, all truth is from God, and there is no
need of a division between sacred and secular truth or knowledge. All truth
is possible because of God, whether individuals acknowledge this reality or
not.
d d d d d d d Furthermore, when individuals study humans, they are studying a
creation of God, which for believers can be an act of worship unto God.
Entwistle (2015) made a similar statement: “We who explore the book of
God’s Word and the book of God’s Works likewise perform a divine service
of worship as we explore the glory of God as it is arrayed before us” (p.
264). Not only do I not agree with the negative critique of psychology that
is the subject of this discussion, but I also recognize and underscore the
pivotal perspective missing: One’s work in psychology can be a true act of
worship for the Creator. For example, Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend wrote the
book, How People Grow: What the Bible Reveals about Personal Growth, to
provide a systematic theology of growth that supports their psychology
surrounding growth. Cloud and Townsend contend, “[T]his entire book is our
answer to these questions [surrounding the integration of psychology and
theology]” (2001), p. 200). Interestingly, they reveal no matter where the truth
is found, psychological research or some other venue, the observations
reveal God and the truths found in the Bible (Cloud & Townsend, 2001).
Thus, psychology can be an act of worship.
d d d d d d Another example of interdisciplinary study reflecting God’s truth is
found in support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Bill Wilson, co-
founder of AA, wrote a tribute to the importance of gratitude for sobriety
and for living life well. Krentzman (2019) explained: “This qualitative analysis
of Wilson's writings on gratitude produced a conceptual framework depicting
the nature of gratitude in Alcoholics Anonymous that closely follows
religious, philosophical, and psychological theories of gratitude” (p. 459). The
Bible has affirmed this truth for centuries: “[G]ive thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (New International Version,
1984/1973, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Further, Paul reiterates the importance of
giving thanks to God even in troubling situations and God will provide His
peace: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus” (New International Version, 1984/1973, Philippians 4:6-
7).
d d d d d d Psychology, a behavioral science, continues to reflect God and His
ways. Science reveals the author of life; therefore, the study of psychology
can truly be an act of worship and connection to the Almighty. Paul
proclaimed this truth while in Athens as recorded in Acts 17: 24-28:
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven
and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is
not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself
gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made
all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out
their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did
this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find
him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and
move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are
his offspring.’ (New International Version, 1984/1973).
References
Cloud, H., & Townsend, J. (2001). How people grow: What the Bible reveals
about personal growth. Zondervan.
Entwistle, D. N. (2015). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity:
An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of
integration (3rd ed.). Wipf & Stock Publishers.
The Holy Bible, new international version: Containing the old testament and the
new testament. (1984). International Bible Society. (Original work published in
1973).
Krentzman, A. R. (2019). A full and thankful heart: writings about gratitude
by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder, Bill Wilson. Addiction Research &
Theory, 27(6), 451–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2018.1547816
