Dr. Worthington’s lecture on forgiveness demonstrates a Levels of Explanation
approach by relating Christian Faith and Psychological Research. The biological
level of explanation was indirectly referenced when Dr. Worthington spoke on how
not forgiving can negatively alter health. Holding on to grudges is detrimental to
mental, physical, and spiritual health if people are less willing to forgive. Just as
there is no big or little sin, the amount of hurt should not depend on how to
retaliate. He gave a plethora of examples of how people had given their issues to
God, whether they wanted God to put c His wrath on them or the weight was lifted
off them and whatever God deemed as suitable punishment was left up to him to
decide. The lecture was very thought-provoking because, in his inquiries, it would
be straightforward to pick some truth from multiple answers. It is true how
consideration is given to those that have hurt us; in the way, they seek our
forgiveness. We are more inclined to forgive someone who shows great remorse. c
Scripturally, we are instructed to disregard but how to forgive is when psychology
must guide that action. There are various ways to achieve this forgiveness; one
could be led by deciding to do what is right, whereas emotions direct the other. It
is not good to hold on to those negative emotions, and the healing can begin once
the decision is made to forgive.
Dr. McMinn demonstrates an Integration approach in his Positive Psychology and
the church through optimism regarding what is a person’s issue. According to
(Johnson, 2010), Committing to integrating faith and learning is committed to
totality in living a Christian life. He explained how positive psychology can
balance faith and promote contentment and individual success.” As with anything
else, Satan’s purpose is to make us forget about everything in our life that is going
well but focus on how everything has taken a turn for the worse. This lecture
focused on what occurs within the dialogue of science and faith; the church and
positive psychology were allowed to use what is done in a private setting can be
supported by the church. With the implementation of the Integration View of
Psychology, the word of God is not ignored, but it is unspoken that spiritual
guidance is the ultimate source needed to tread through life’s obstacles; the
psychological piece is necessary to display how the actions and reactions are
triggered. In collaboration with the biblical truth with psychological findings,
systems can be created to guard God’s teachings and embrace acknowledgment
that psychology can coexist. According to (Schnitkler et al., 2017), “Psychology of
religion has started to uncover how prized moral virtues such as humility and
gratitude are cultivated in life-long processes of group-supported ventures of
individual development. Dr. McMinn relayed that we perceive ourselves in not
statistically accurate ways. God’s demonstration of humility is portrayed when he
rode in on a donkey. We would have pulled out all the stops and made a grand
entrance, but He did not have to make his presence known; He had nothing to
prove.
From the views of Dr. Worthington and Dr. McMinn, it was evident that the paths
are distinct and take diverse methods to travel. Eventually, they will arrive at an
area of similarity but possess different approaches. The question of whether one
way is right and the other is incorrect is tough to decipher. There is no win-win
with either of these views because they are artificial. An older minister who
rendered sermons at my father’s church often referred to the scripture about an
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. He would say jokingly, “If we take that
scripture out of context, we would all be blind and toothless.” From then until now,
this statement resonated with me from then until now about how we should not
try to hurt someone just as they hurt us. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord (King
James Bible, 2008, Deuteronomy 32:35). If we allow God to fight our battles, some
stressors that lead us to seek psychological support could be lessened. The trials
of life are meant to enable us to recognize and rely on the strength of our Father,
and where we see to the corner, He can see around the corner.
References
Johnson, E. L., & Myers, D. G. (2010). Psychology & Christianity: Five Views
(Second ed.). IVP Academic.
Schnitker, Sarah & Emmons, Robert. (2017). The Psychology of Virtue: Integrating
Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion. Psychology of Religion and
Spirituality. 9. 239-241. 10.1037/rel0000133.
King James Bible. (2008). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769).
