Psychology and the Christian
Many Christians are skeptical of psychology. They have good reason to be. Some academic branches of the field, like evolutionary psychology, have accepted the theory of evolution and consider all human behavior as developing from the drive to survive, without reference to a moral standard or the existence of a Creator to whom all human beings are accountable. Others have had experiences with mental health clinicians who have, directly or subtly, attempted to undermine their belief in God, or have labeled as "good" behaviors which God calls "evil" and labeled as "evil" behaviors which God calls good (Isaiah 5:20). But consider that any resource the Creator gives can be used for evil purposes. Medical science, which is used to cure horrible diseases, is also used to carry out abortions, for example. The wonders of the internet are often used to facilitate the distribution of child pornography or identity theft. Psychology is no different from any other human endeavor; it can be used for good or bad.
As a discipline, psychology, when properly used, can be of tremendous benefit in fostering mental health and in bringing healing from past hurt and trauma. Through years of study, students of behavior have come to understand much of how human beings are put together psychologically, how we function, what goes wrong and why, and how people heal from psychological damage. Some of this knowledge is independent of a person's religious perspective and can be utilized in a similar manner across many different religious perspectives. Ethical psychologists who are culturally competent are trained to respect all world-views, and to practice psychotherapy within the world-view of each individual client--including the Judeo-Christian world-view. Christians have the additional advantage of having a relationship with the Creator and all of the spiritual resources provided by Christ to facilitate that relationship, the most important of which is the Holy Spirit. These spiritual resources, combined with the knowledge of psychology, are a particularly powerful combination which God can utilize to bring healing for emotional wounds.
As a discipline, psychology, when properly used, can be of tremendous benefit in fostering mental health and in bringing healing from past hurt and trauma. Through years of study, students of behavior have come to understand much of how human beings are put together psychologically, how we function, what goes wrong and why, and how people heal from psychological damage. Some of this knowledge is independent of a person's religious perspective and can be utilized in a similar manner across many different religious perspectives. Ethical psychologists who are culturally competent are trained to respect all world-views, and to practice psychotherapy within the world-view of each individual client--including the Judeo-Christian world-view. Christians have the additional advantage of having a relationship with the Creator and all of the spiritual resources provided by Christ to facilitate that relationship, the most important of which is the Holy Spirit. These spiritual resources, combined with the knowledge of psychology, are a particularly powerful combination which God can utilize to bring healing for emotional wounds.
Psychotropic Medication and the Christian
I've always believed in a healthy amount of personal transparency in my preaching ministry-my wife says it's been too much. So her skin was crawling when I shared in a message several years ago that I had struggled with a major depressive episode in the mid-1990s and had taken the SSRI anti-depressant Paxil. But Debbie's response was mild compared to the anger engendered in a congregational member, who, immediately after the message, cornered me in the hall to inform me that she and her family would be leaving the church. "Why?" I asked. "Because no Christian should take antidepressants," she said firmly. "Your problem with depression is a spiritual problem. You need to be more devoted to God."
I took a deep breath, and tried to explain to this passionate, Jesus-loving woman that depression could certainly be related to spiritual malaise, or to demonic warfare, or to trauma, losses, unemployment, family history, or some nasty combination of factors. But whatever the etiology, when depression is at its worst it becomes a biological challenge to the body. Moderate to severe depression represents an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain that makes it nearly impossible for us to think Christianly or do things to help ourselves to a state of contentment. Often severely depressed individuals cannot get out of bed, let alone "recall God's promises." "If your pancreas was not working correctly," I asked her, "And your blood sugar was out of control, wouldn't you take insulin?" In fact, wouldn't a refusal to take insulin, under those circumstances, actually be an ungodly refusal avail ourselves of God-given resources to care for our bodies?
I'm sure that the analogy made no impression on this particular parishioner, who, more than anything else, may have been just disillusioned with the humanness of her (now former) pastor. But many Christians today, in the context of a society increasingly turning to medicine to solve behavioral problems, are rightly suspect of mood or behavior-altering drugs. My perspectives are these:
1. That no medication, in and of itself, is likely to be the sole or sufficient solution to a mental health condition.
2. That some psychiatric conditions absolutely require medication, whether the individual is a Christian or not. Examples include Schizophrenia and Bipolar I disorder.
3. That in many less-severe cases psychotropic medications can be useful supports and adjunct treatments as believers work to improve their lives and their emotional functioning through behavioral changes and counseling.
4. That Christians who are good stewards of their bodies will use every means available to worship our Creator by enjoying this precious life he has given us.
The choice then, to take psychotropic medications, is both a healthcare decision as well as a discipleship and stewardship decision. It needs to be made in the context of an individual's relationship with Christ. I don't know about you, but when I stand before the Lord for his performance review, I want to be able to say that I did my best to walk with him--using every resource he made available to me, and trusting him to make those resources useful as they relate to my physical health.
I took a deep breath, and tried to explain to this passionate, Jesus-loving woman that depression could certainly be related to spiritual malaise, or to demonic warfare, or to trauma, losses, unemployment, family history, or some nasty combination of factors. But whatever the etiology, when depression is at its worst it becomes a biological challenge to the body. Moderate to severe depression represents an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain that makes it nearly impossible for us to think Christianly or do things to help ourselves to a state of contentment. Often severely depressed individuals cannot get out of bed, let alone "recall God's promises." "If your pancreas was not working correctly," I asked her, "And your blood sugar was out of control, wouldn't you take insulin?" In fact, wouldn't a refusal to take insulin, under those circumstances, actually be an ungodly refusal avail ourselves of God-given resources to care for our bodies?
I'm sure that the analogy made no impression on this particular parishioner, who, more than anything else, may have been just disillusioned with the humanness of her (now former) pastor. But many Christians today, in the context of a society increasingly turning to medicine to solve behavioral problems, are rightly suspect of mood or behavior-altering drugs. My perspectives are these:
1. That no medication, in and of itself, is likely to be the sole or sufficient solution to a mental health condition.
2. That some psychiatric conditions absolutely require medication, whether the individual is a Christian or not. Examples include Schizophrenia and Bipolar I disorder.
3. That in many less-severe cases psychotropic medications can be useful supports and adjunct treatments as believers work to improve their lives and their emotional functioning through behavioral changes and counseling.
4. That Christians who are good stewards of their bodies will use every means available to worship our Creator by enjoying this precious life he has given us.
The choice then, to take psychotropic medications, is both a healthcare decision as well as a discipleship and stewardship decision. It needs to be made in the context of an individual's relationship with Christ. I don't know about you, but when I stand before the Lord for his performance review, I want to be able to say that I did my best to walk with him--using every resource he made available to me, and trusting him to make those resources useful as they relate to my physical health.