SECULAR AND INTEGRATION THEORIES

S E C U L A R A N D I N T E G R A T I O N T H E O R I E S C O M P A R I N G A N D C O N T R A S T I N G P S Y C H O L O G Y A N D T H E B I B L E

Class 2.3 –Friday, October 18th

Pastor Kent Kloter

•What Psychology is NOT•What Psychology IS•Why compare and contrast•Discerning between theories

C L A S S G O A L S

What Psychology is NOTWhat Psychology ISWhy Compare & Contrast?Discerning between theories

W H A T P S Y C H O L O G Y I S N O T• Psychology has not been easily defined • Psychology is not static• Psychology is not a “hard science”, like math

D E F I N I N G P S Y C H O L O G Y

4

• Psychology is “the study of the soul”• Psychology is “the science of the mind”• Psychology is “All forms and methods of counseling and

psychotherapy that are founded on secular theories of behavior and thinking which attempt to change the way a person believes, processes thoughts, acts, feels or establishes values.” Ed Bulkley


1. What is their epistemology?2. What is their anthropology or view of man?3. What is the problem?4. Who is responsible?5. View of guilt? 6. What is the goal of counseling? 7. What is the method?8. Who counsels?

D I S C E R N I N G T H E O R I E SWhat Psychology is NOTWhat Psychology ISWhy Compare & Contrast?Discerning between theories

• Identify verifiable, organic causes of medical problems.•Helpful in describing observations of human behavior.•All research that is based on humanistic

epistemologies or world-views will eventually come to false conclusions and promote unhelpful and perhaps harmful solutions.• The psychological disciplines and solutions are not

needed to help God’s people fulfill their life-purposes. (2 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

W H Y C O M P A R E ?B E N E F I T S O F P S Y C H O L O G Y


"The real test of a theory or way of life, however, is not whether it can relieve pain, but what it says about the pain it can't relieve. And

this is where, I believe, psychology lets us down and Christianity supports us, for in psychology suffering has no meaning, while in

Christianity it has great meaning.”William Kirk Kilpatrick

W H Y C O M P A R E ?P S Y C H O L O G Y I S L I M I T E D


“Psychology should be a legitimate and very useful neighbor to the pastor. Psychologists may make many helpful studies of man (e.g., on

the effects of sleep loss). But psychologists – with neither warrant nor standard from God by which to do so – should get out of the

business of trying to change persons. It can tell us many things about what man does, but not about what he should do”

Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 12

W H Y C O M P A R E ? P S Y C H O L O G Y I S L I M I T E D


• Is your counseling different from _____________?• If so, how? • To whom will you refer?

•How can you discern the thoughts and beliefs of your counselee and your culture accurately?•How can you discern root problems and offer robust

solutions.•How can you discern between sound and unsound

resources?

W H Y C O M P A R E ?D I S C E R N M E N T


S I G M U N D F R E U D ( 1 8 5 6 - 1 9 3 9 )P S Y C H O A N A L Y S I S


• Epistemology – experience, reason• Anthropology –trichotomous animal, (id, superego, ego)• Problem – false guilt from the sub-conscious battle of id, ego

& super-ego; religion is a neurosis• Responsibility – not man, environment suppresses instincts• Guilt – imposed standards, dumb, illness, bad, should be done away with• Goal – unconscious becomes conscious, release repressed emotions; strengthen ego;

actualize potential• Methodology – psychoanalysis, psychotherapy; dream interpretations• Counselor - “secular priests”;, “secular pastoral workers, trained experts

• Epistemology –experience, reason• Anthropology –blank tablet, conditioned animal• Problem –environmental failure• Responsibility –not man’s (non-moral); environment• Guilt –not important, change standards according to client’s needs• Goal –make the unconscious conscious, release repressed emotions, rid of guilt,

client determines goals• Methodology –restructure environment• Counselor – technician,”priest-equivilents”, high control

B . F . S K I N N E R(1904-1990)RADICAL BEHAVIORISM


C A R L R O G E R S ( 1 9 0 2 - 1 9 8 7 )T H I R D F O R C E P S Y C H O L O G Y

• Epistemology –• Anthropology –basically good, potential, needs to mature• Problem –environment hinders; rejection• Responsibility –not man’s, victim• Guilt –not important, do whatever it takes • Goal –increase self-esteem & trust, learning; realize potential• Methodology –non-directive talk therapy; solution within, focus on

feelings, not facts• Counselor –mirror as client discovers through personal exchange


I N T E G R A T I O N I S T S

• Epistemology –man’s wisdom & the Bible; all truth is God’s truth• Anthropology –man is a passive victim• Problem –unmet needs, wounds, low self-esteem• Responsibility –varies, not man’s• Guilt –result of being unloved and feeling negative• Goal –improve quality of life, recovery• Methodology –Jesus meets needs, fills your “love-cup”• Counselor –Christian psychotherapist, professional


POPULAR ECLECTICD R . P H I L , O P R A H , 1 2 - S T E P , T E D - T A L K S

• Epistemology –science, pragmatism• Anthropology –animal, good• Problem –low self-esteem, lack of education, environment• Responsibility –not man, environment, past• Guilt –bad• Goal –improve quality of life, feel good about self• Methodology –varies; CBT• Counselor –expert


B I B L I C A L C O U N S E L I N GJ E S U S C H R I S T• Epistemology –the Bible• Anthropology –B.L.I.N.D.E.D., redeemable, image-bearer• Problem –“sin is the core psychopathology” David Powlison1

• Responsibility –individual• Guilt –universal but forgivable• Goal –the glory of God, discipling a disciple-maker2

• Methodology –ministry of the Word of God in community, i.e. discipleship• Counselor –fellow believers; the Body (Rom.15:14)


DepthPsychology

Behaviorism Third ForceBiblical

LEADER Freud Skinner Rogers GOD

MAN -Instinctual animal-Id-Superego-Ego

-Conditioned animal -Blank tablet

-Basically good -Potential within-Mature like a flower

-Created by God to glorify God

PROBLEM -Conflict between Id and Superego

-Environmental failure -Environment hinders -Fallen sinner by choice

RESPONSIBILITY -Not man’s -Not man’s (non-moral) -Not man’s -Man’s

VIEW OF MAN’S GUILT

-Result of imposed standards from others

-Not important (no evils) -Not important -Result of sin-Real

TREATMENT -Actualize potential-Strengthen the Ego-Make the unconscious conscious-Find source in insight & awareness

-Restructure environment-Client – determines what they want-Therapists – determines how it will be changed

-Help him realize potential -Solution within-Focus on feeling

-Justification by faith-Progressive sanctification-Spirit and Word-Focus on objective data

RESOLUTION OF MAN’S GUILT

-Cultural societal values and parents to blame

-Change standard according to client’s “needs”

-Take whatever steps necessary to achieve the goal of being comfortable with oneself

-Deal with sin-Deal with response

COUNSELOR -Expert -Technician -Mirror -Biblical Discipler/Counselor

PROBLEMS -Unbiblical anthropology-Promotes self-absorption, narcissism-Victim mentality

-Unbiblical anthropology-Manipulates through rewards & punishments-Ignores man as spiritual being-Victim mentality

-Unbiblical anthropology-Solution is within rather than in Christ-Victim mentality

-NONE that can’t be overcome by God, His Word, and His obedient children

From Grace Community Church

• Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:1-2)

• A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

T H E G O A L S :R E S T O R A T I O N , B E C O M I N G M O R E L I K E C H R I S T

18

S UMMAR Y

19

R E C O M M E N D E D R E S O U R C E S• Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands (ch. 4, 10, & 11)

Paul Tripp• �Let Me Draw You A Picture� article by Garrett Higbee• Counseling (ch. 9-11) John MacArthur• (written by Wayne Mack Instilling Hope, Collecting Data, and

Interpreting Counselee Data)

A D D I T I O N A L R E S O U R C E S• Critiquing Modern Integrationists by David Powlison• “How Does BC Differ from Psychotherapy?” David

Powlison –YouTube• “Abounding in Hope” Milton Vincent –YouTube

SECULAR AND INTEGRATION THEORIES

Documents

Transcript of SECULAR AND INTEGRATION THEORIES