Consider the following quote from the late Dave Hunt, a prolific Christian writer, found  in his book entitled “”Psychology and the Church:”

Christian psychology is an attempted marriage of the Bible to theories of the atheistic inventors of psychology (who were committed not to righteousness but to unrighteousness). It is worse than trying to mix oil and water; it is the attempt to blend the Word of God with atheism and occultism. This is impossible to do honestly. Even “Christian psychologists” themselves admit they can’t quite find a way to put that mixture together. Yet no one seems to care that the very term “Christian psychology” is a deceit. After trying for decades to mix this devil’s brew, Gary Collins admitted: “It is too early to answer decisively if psychology and Christianity can be integrated.” 14 Then why keep trying? What is the motive? Why is anyone attempting this impossible and incompatible partnership? It has succeeded because those who call themselves Christian psychologists and promote it in the evangelical church want legitimacy and respect both in the world and in the church. But Scripture declares, “whosoever … will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

I have several perspectives on this. Here is one of them.

The bible teaches that we are a 3 part being: spirit, soul and body.

Yet it gives no detailed specifics as to how each part operates.  Scripture reveals  that the heart of man is desperately wicked for example. Where is the heart? what is its functions? why is the heart desperately wicked? The answers to these questions are in the bible, but they are practically hidden, like gold, difficult to unearth.

Then Sigmund  Freud comes along, an atheist.

Freud describes the three parts of man as ID, EGO, AND SUPEREGO. Freud explains how these three parts function. I find that helpful. He talks about defense mechanisms, an unconscious way that we all protect ourselves from the truth. We make up our own stories to comfort ourselves and this comes from the unconscious side of our inner nature. Interesting and deep stuff, to say the least.

Freud tries to help the person by dealing with these unconscious conflicts, yet the bottom line is that the bible has the answer. WE ARE ALL SINNERS. WE can dress up our sinful hearts in order to manage our lives in socially acceptable ways,  but in essence,  sin uncleansed by the blood of the Lamb si will forever be an obstacle.

Simply put, THE DETAILS ARE NOT IN THE BIBLE.

SO FREUD HELPS. YET TO GET ANY POSITIVE FRUIT FROM PSYCHO-ANALYSIS, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT FREUD IS A SINNER ALSO, AND AS  CHURCHFOLK HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO COPE WITH  SINNING PREACHERS, WE EAT THE  MEAT BUT SPIT OUT THE BONES.

Personally SPEAKING, the Lord shared with me the reasons why as a professional therapist, He did not want me to attempt to perpetuate a marriage between my secular profession  and my spiritual calling as a minister. He revealed several key reasons.  For the sake of this particular discussion,   the main reason is that psychology is an attempt to resolve the rational and emotional conflicts within the soul of a sinner.  While psychology attempts to help the sinner to control himself and manage his dark nature,. Christian counseling is a renewal of the mind of a born again person who has received a  As such, the rehabilitative process is to walk in the spirit, so as not to fulfill the lust of sinful flesh. This is the challenge of Christian growth and renewal.

Freud’s teachings are premised in how to consciously handle the unconscious. His philosophy is  that which is conscious is conscious.  That which is unconscious is unconscious.  Nevertheless,  the Lord Jesus Christ said “that which is flesh is flesh.  That which is spirit is spirit. You must be born again.” Simply put, psychology is needed to help the sinner to manage and  control his darker nature.  The bible serves as a guide to a born again believer on how to overcome both the flesh, temptation and the devil.

Since I work with both the sinner as well as the saved, I find that both psychology and the bible are invaluable, as long as I don’t seek to mix or synthesize them.

If you are seeking to know and control yourself, whether sinner or saved, RESCUE can help ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE THERE IS TELEPHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS.  Give us a call at 1-888-818-1117 or complete the contact form below.