Attempts to reconcile Christianity to psychology will actually have the effect of undermining the Christian point of view. The most obvious example of this undercutting is provided by the psychological emphasis on self-acceptance. Although there are many kinds and types of psychological theories and therapies, this remains a prevalent theme. It is very nearly the First Commandment of the psychological society that we should accept ourselves as we are. We are urged to greater self-awareness n the happy assumption that we will like what we find. We are, as the saying goes, OK. We just have to learn to be ourselves.
In contrast, Christianity starts off by saying that we’re not OK the way we are. There is something wrong with us—a twist in our natures. And the twist is not removed by liking yourself, but by starting to live in Christ. There are plenty of reasons why Christians ought to be happy about themselves, but those reasons are linked to the fact that we’ve been rescued from the fate of just being ourselves, and they have very little connection with psychological rationales for self-love. Christians are not supposed to facilitate the growth of the old self. They’re supposed to give it up and put on a new self. Whether you accept the Christian version of the human situation or the psychological version, one point should be clear: if they psychological point of view is the correct one, then the good news of the gospel is reduced to the status of nice news—“nice” because there was never anything wrong with us in the first place. And if there’s nothing wrong with us, why this business about the crucifixion and redemption? OK people don’t need a savior.
The main practical effect of this psychological infiltration has been a lowering of the consciousness of sin among Christians.
William Kirk Kilpatrick, The Emperor’s New Clothes: the naked truth about the new psychology, ppg.20-21
3 comments:
It’s interesting it’s been over twenty years since the last show of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
I’ve been reading recently about another Mr. Rodgers and it’s quite concerning what his influence might be.
It’s not only Psychology the world turns to but increasingly now it promote the Psychedelic.
God’s word about the true condition of man is increasingly lost. It’s all about self-love!
Here is a quote I read today…
“Rodgers said he believes his experience with ayahuasca and winning the MVPs were connected. He also said he believed his mental health improved as well.
"To me, one of the core tenets of your mental health is that self-love. That’s what ayahuasca did for me, was help me see how to unconditionally love myself. It’s only in that unconditional self-love, that then I’m able to truly be able to unconditionally love others. And what better way to work on my mental health than to have an experience like that?" he said at the time.
"The greatest gift I can give my teammates, in my opinion, is to be able to show up and to be someone who can model unconditional love to them. I mean, obviously it's important I play well and show up and lead and all that stuff, but they won't care about what you say until they know how much you care."”
Hi Sierra,
EGADS! My November 2011 series on psychology shows similar teachings. And yet people suck right into it.
Thank you for your continued discernment work. It’s so refreshing to read content that exalts the Lord Jesus and biblical truth while exposing the gross theological errors that are abounding within the church. Far more damage is being done by those within the church than by those without!
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