We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Church Has Taken In A Trojan Horse


Evangelicalism has opened its gates to a Trojan horse.  This horse is not a literal wooden horse filled with enemy soldiers, but is the teachings of modern psychology.  The integration of modern psychology with the Bible is indeed one of the most challenging issues facing the Church today.  Some Christian psychologists have become so beloved that to criticize them would be almost like criticizing the Bible itself.  While their intentions may be good, intentions are not the issue.  The issue is whether today's Christians are mixing men's ideas with the Bible.  Amazingly, most Christian leaders today who rightly cry so fervently against false teachings are saying little if anything about the subtle shifts in biblical interpretation that undermine the faith of millions.  In many cases it reflects a lack of awareness and understanding of the teachings of psychology.


David Tyler & Kurt Grady, Deceptive Diagnosis: When Sin is Called Sickness, p.50

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was young I wanted to be a psychologist. I think because of the major depression in my family. Thank goodness it didn't work out. I agree, I see a lot of psychology in the church. It overlaps with a lot of new age stuff with the positive thinking and positive affirmations, using words to shape reality, visualization, and the message that goes with it of you doing things to 'solve' your problem. You use words, you love yourself.....You don't rely on Jesus and allow him to shape and mold you, you trust in yourself to do it - missing the whole mark and leading people to be utterly lost.
When I decided to turn to Jesus Christ and forsake the world - that's when the depression and anxiety left. It was then that i was able to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:7. All that psychology stuff keeps you in bondage and from Jesus Christ, the true healer.

Ron Livesay said...

As a long-time Christian school educator, I found it necessary to continually push back against all of the pop-psychology that was continually pushed in books and even at Christian school conventions. It was as if "self-esteem" was the most important thing we should work toward in the lives of our students. http://buffalonoise.blogspot.com/2015/01/pauls-view-of-himself-high-self-esteem.html

Joe said...

I majored in psychology and learned one very important thing: modern psychology is 95.987% bunk...by my actual count. It is mostly imagination and ideology.

Ron Livesay said...

Well said, Joe. I also majored in psychology, and by the time I was finished, my conclusion was the same as yours. The problem I had was the draft was hanging over me, so by the time I realized the stupidity of psychology, it was too late to change my major without adding a couple of semesters, which would have caused me to get drafted before I finished college. Even though I have no use for psychology, I know the Lord had a plan in it all.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

I never went to college, but I have studied the psych field for almost 15 years, and one of the first books I studied was a friend's college textbook, "Psychology 101." The more I studied the field, the more I learned what a fraud it is.

For those who haven't had the opportunity to read them, a few years back I did a series about psychology and how it is not only unscientific, but also anti-Christian. They can still be found under the label on the left, "Psychology."

Pyredancer said...

The churches can speak out against psychology all it wants, but it needs to be treated as a sin at least as bad as porn.

Church discipline and nothing less is appropriate. People going to them need to be corrected and those who actually are psychologists need to be expelled from the churches before those wolves do more damage to the believers.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Pyredancer,

I think you are quite harsh. People are deceived by the world to think that the psych field is scientific. I don't see where it is a sin, rather it is a skewed ideology built on ignorance.

A little grace goes a long way while at the same time trying to educate people as to the dangers of psychology.