This sentence led me to think about the objectivity of truth “any investigation of
these processes [exploration of norms and behaviors] without beginning with
Scripture will lead to only error. Truth is not subjective.” a Johnson (2010), in his
book Psychology and Christianity: Five Views, explains five different perspectives
on the connection between the discipline of psychology and the Christian faith: a
level of explanation, integration, Christian psychology, transformational
psychology, and biblical counseling.
a a a a The integration view has science and research as primary sources of
knowledge, allowing interpretation of scientific findings through the Cristian
lenses (Johnson, 2010). With God as the author of all truth, science would merely
reflect His authorship (Johnson, 2010). This statement contradicts your previous
quote, which asserted that the beginning of any investigations should be based on
the Scriptures to prevent possible errors.
a a a a I find the truth to be something extremely subjective. For instance, one of my
favorite examples is the concepts of ethics and morals across the world. The
same solution to a problem can be seen as unethical and immoral in the United
States but utterly acceptable in third-world countries. In a situation like this, I find
it hard to assert who holds the truth. Even the Scripture can be somewhat subject
to interpretation, considering the lack of objectivity in many verses. Of course, this
is only “my truth” based on my life experience and limited understanding of the
world and the Scriptures. Your discussion regarding Wolters and a Biblical view
regarding the academic discipline created a solid framework to help me imagine
the structure and order of creation along with the direction to/opposing
redemption. You described the tangled webs of truth and the brokenness of
relationships and how the academic discipline could be used to bring redemption
and restoration in the workplace, through a corrected lens of a creation view.
I believe academia and other disciplines were ordered from the beginning of
creation (after the fall in the Garden of Eden) since the command was given to be
fruitful, to multiply and to replenish (MEV, Gen. 1: 28). a I speak that, because even
though God rested, the bible states later God gave different responsibilities and
called some to be teachers (MEV, 1 Cor. 12: 28).
One discipline that is constantly needing to be multiplied is worker. Workers are
needed in the education field and they were needed in the bible. The bible states
Jesus sent out disciples and prayed for more workers (MEV, Luk. 10:2). However,
multiplication must be based on quality of harvest and not just quantity. This also
aligns with the Biblical view that in order to grow, some branches, in Jesus, must
be pruned to produce more fruit (MEV, John 15: 2). This is similar to Wolters
(2005) view that history is not to be destroyed but reformed in Jesus's
redemption.
Only by taking the truth of the Biblical view into the workplace as the disciples
took the word into the world can the brokeness within the institutions must be
transformed from the inside out. In doing this, we must recall God looks at the
heart and motivations of the people.
Biblical leaders of unsaved institutions (governments) gave favor and promotion
to many such as Shadrach, Meschach, Abednego, Daniel (MEV, Dan. 2: 49) and
Joseph after their institutions prospered from following creation advice (MEV,
Gen. 41). However. biblical leaders such as Saul a used his infuence to reject David
and his government received demotion and ultimate death (MEV, 1 Sam 16: 1).
The Grand Narrative provides the modern view of order that was created in the
garden of Eden to appeal to the masses. a I heard a saying that if doing the same
thing is not giving the desired results, do something different. The goal in the
workplace is not to destroy history and create a new blueprint. The goal is
ultimately to bring creation into the workplace and provide new wine for new
wineskins (MEV, Mat. 9:17). While reviewing your discussion, the discerning truth
stood out as the initial point for adding some understanding to psychology.
According to scripture, the time will come when man wants to hear everything but
the truth(King James Bible, 2008, 2Timothy 4:3). I truly believe that God’s word
fulfills itself because everyone is engulfed in seeing every point of view but the
truth. This is partly because the world we live in is so accepting of everything. The
accountability to standing for what is right has now become standing up for
whatever you want to believe, whether it is right or wrong. God’s word is the only
truth that does not need validation. It can stand alone even when some do not
believe it.
The broken relationship piece of the puzzle is an enormous piece to decipher.
God instituted marriage years ago, but man has put his spin on it. Now we have
open and same-sex marriages, to name a few, artificial. The bible speaks about
how many disregard God’s righteousness to establish their righteousness(King
James Bible, 2008, Romans 3:10). Marital relationships are not the only
relationships being destroyed by Satan. Are those relationships with our fellow
man. There is no way we should profess our love for God and cannot stand the
sight of our brother or sister.
I am an advocate for the integration of psychology and Christianity. Integration
reveres science and research with high regard, comprises culture, and influences
modern psychology. The main strengths of this view include allowing the Christian
faith to re-explain psychology and recognize the role of God's "conception grace"
in philosophy and knowledge (Johnson, 2010).
References
King James Bible. (2008). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769).
Johnson, E. L. (Ed.). (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five Views. InterVarsity
Press.
Modern Evangelism Version, Breakthrough Jubilee Bible, (2014). Military Bible.
Wolters, A. M. (2005). Creation regained. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. Eerdmans
Publishing Co.
Johnson, E. L. (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five views (2nd ed.). IVP
Academic.
