Integrating Psychology
The Question
Does the psychological community, in particular those who profess Christ and seek to integrate secular psychology with Christianity, have a basis in saying that secular psychology should be considered authoritative as a form of General Revelation? In this paper I seek to give a definition for General Revelation and Psychology; then I hope to draw a conclusion as to whether integration is possible between the two, based upon their distinctions.
General Revelation
What is General Revelation? General revelation is God revealing certain truths and aspects about His nature to all humanity, which revelation is essential and preliminary to God’s special revelation.[1] “The Heavens are telling of the Glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). General Revelation is God revealing himself (generally) to mankind through creation. Notice Psalm 19 says that the creation is continually “declaring the work of his hands”; according to this Psalm creation has a declaration that says, God has clearly revealed himself to mankind through the created material realm.
General Revelation declares to mankind who God is, in a general sense and thus creation condemns unbelieving mankind who reject the creator of all things. General revelation does not bring a salvific knowledge of God (by itself), but rather condemns unbelieving mankind who suppress that knowledge of God (General and Special); in light of the created world that God has clearly revealed himself through (Rom. 1:20).[2] Man is commanded to glorify God (1 Cor. 3:17) because God is created and sustainer of all things, including human beings. Thus mankind is condemned a second time for unbelief because God grants mankind the ability to comprehend God’s existence through creation, which should cause mankind to respond by giving God glory due to His name; regrettably, by unbelief mankind does not glorify God, but rather dishonors God. Greg Bahnsen rightly stated,
“Indeed, everything we do, whether in word or deed, comes under this command [to glorify God] (Col. 3:17)…Because everything and every area is created and ruled by God nothing is exempted from the requirements to be consecrated, or set apart, unto Him-we must be holy in “all manner of living” (1 Peter 1:15).”[3]
Psychology
What is Psychology? A basic definition for psychology is, the science of mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group.[4] There are many different types of Psychology, but our focus here will be on the “Counseling Psychology”.[5] The Counseling Psychologist can be found at most high schools, colleges, and a growing number of large businesses.[6] Counseling Psychology is distinct from other realms of Psychology by seeking to treat the more ‘day-to-day’ mental problems of the patient, rather than dealing with extreme behavioral issues, which is usually reserved for “Clinical Psychology”.[7]
Therefore psychology could be attributed to a “gospel” message for the mentally struggling atheist, who is seeking an answer to his or her problems outside of God. In Christianity one will seek, answers to problems through God’s Special Revelation, on the other hand, non-Christians seek answers outside of God’s Special Revelation. Psychology is therefore atheistic and allows individuals to rely on scientific methodologies, which ignore the supernatural found in religion and thus elevates the individual as the ultimate authority and source for power,
“Humanists for thousands of years have attempted to construct a naturalistic, psychological value system that could be derived from man’s own nature, without the necessity of recourse to authority outside the human being himself.”[8]
Integration
Can Psychology be integrated and be seen as a part of God’s General Revelation? The noticeable difference between Psychology and God’s General Revelation is its originator.
Psychology starts with the presupposition that mankind is autonomous and worthy of healing. Psychology allows mankind to demand mental healing, even if that healing is outside of Gods will. Therefore, psychology can be seen as an answer for those who deny God and would like a humanistic method for healing psychological problems.
God does not always grant the healing that Psychology demands; rather God has used mental illness to bring glory to His name (Daniel 4:31-33). Gods General Revelation points to the glory of God. Mankind as part of that creation, which bears the image of God, should seek to glorify God the same way non-human creation declares the glories of God. Integration is therefore not possible. General Revelation is God’s created material realm and Psychology is not a part of that material realm. Furthermore, Psychology cannot be seen as a part of God’s General Revelation in the metaphysical realm, because Psychology is a not a universal reality; rather mankind’s mental problems are the universal reality.[9]
Conclusion
The only place for Psychology is in Atheism and every religion that denies the true and living God. Atheism does not have God’s divine revelation nor Gods healing power. We can seek to heal and counsel those with mental problems, starting from Psychology or God’s Revelation, but not both. Psychology does not bring glory to God but brings glory to mankind’s wisdom. Scripture or Special Revelation is what God’s General Revelation leads us to and when used for counseling it brings God glory and keeps man dependent upon Him. Furthermore, mental healing and well being should be dependent upon the one who created the mind found in mankind. Can the creation know more about itself then its creator does? Psychology in our culture is not asking, how could we bring glory to God through Psychology; rather our Atheistic culture has turned from God and used Psychology as a way to suppress God and elevate mankind. The Church must therefore reject Psychology and stake it’s confidence on this, God has granted all that is necessary for life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
[1]Enns, Paul P.: The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Ill. : Moody Press, 1997, c1989, S. 156
[2] Prof. Timothy L. Dane, General Revelation and Integration, (Fall 1995) p 47
[3] Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen, “Always Ready” Directions for Defending the Faith (Nacogdoches: Texas, Covenant Media Press, .Nov. 1996), p. 42.
[4]Merriam-Webster, Inc: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, Mass. : Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003
[5] “Psychology,” Wikipedia website, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology#Counseling_psychology, accessed 03-16-09.
[6] Ibid.
[7] “A Guide to Psychology and its Practice,” Guide to Psychology Website, http://www.guidetopsychology.com/cln_cns.htm, accessed 03-16-09
[8] Erich Fromm, You Shall Be as Gods (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1966), p. 7.
[9] Christians believe sin entering the world is the cause of mankind’s universal mental problems.
very good, thanks Josh
Perfect timing!! As I was reading this article, I am sitting here with my Psychology book open skimming through it since it is required for me to take in school. Its obvious it takes a man-centered approach towards dealing with man and behavoirs of different people. I hope I can get through it without getting too many headaches