PSYCHOLOGY
-another gospel

“the rise of Psychology in churches occurs when men

will no longer endure sound doctrine.”

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Do we understand people better now we

have created hundreds of labels?

Or will our ignorance of the human heart increase in direct proportion to new discoveries and findings of the mental

 health experts?

 We'll look at:

1. Differences between Psychology and God's Word - the KJV

2. Why Pastors let Psychology into their churches

3. Commonly held beliefs

 

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“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
 

“Full well ye reject the commandment

of God, that ye may keep

your own tradition.”

(Mark 7:9)

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A COMPARISON OF PSYCHOLOGY WITH
WHAT THE KING JAMES BIBLE SAYS:

PSYCHOLOGY

GOD’S WORD (BIBLE)

1. Man is good

Man is a sinner

 Man is guilty, vile & helpless (Rom 5:19). The marriage of psychology and God's word is like oil and water & God's Law of Separation says the mixing of opposites brings disaster. Christianity + Psychology will produce confusion, false hope and breakdown

 .. what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Co 6:14

2. Sin is renamed

Sin is named sin

Psychology calls sin dysfunctional or antisocial behavior. Jesus died for sins not these. As the knowledge of sin comes from a knowledge of God's law (Rom 3:20) and as psychology rejects God’s laws, it is a Godless system of understanding man. Psychological diagnosis and treatments are also Godless. Man’s problems are sin generated and need the sin solution - the shed blood of Jesus.

3. Man evolved and not accountable to God

Man created and accountable
to God

This is why men like evolution.

4. Sin is accepted, condoned, adapted to and not confronted

Sin is not accepted, is confronted
and dealt with Biblically

 Counsellors listening to and not challenging sin are sinning. Counselors can set themselves up as authorities, weighing up in their mind what the lesser of two evils might be and giving assent e.g. a daughter is living in adultery but he's kind to her.

5. Man is the authority

The King James Bible is the authority

 Freud, Rogers, Maslow and Jung were pagans & psychology is the Western world's disguise for spirituality. Psychology is the best the world has to offer and is only concerned with the relieving of man’s conscience - not obedience to God's laws.

6.The old man not dead

The old man is dead

 Gal 4:19 echoes Paul's sentiments. The Bible says that for the Christian, he no longer lives (Gal 2:20). Psychology seeks to resurrect the old man. Salvation by psychology lies in man's past, but the Christians' lies outside of himself in Christ.

7. Destroys hope

Gives hope

 Psychology renames sin and thereby destroys any hope of dealing with it. Labeling depression, homosexuality, schizophrenia, stress, anxiety, drunkenness, guilt, worry, lust and feelings of failure as sins can only bring hope. 

8. Uses the Medical Model

Uses the Biblical Model

  The Medical Model (disease comes from without) destroys hope and places people in therapy with no promise of resolution. This model of labeling e.g. schizophrenia, produces a condition whereby the problem actually becomes worse. The Biblical Model says that sin comes from within. We sin because we are sinners. Schizophrenia is the result of sinful responses. The Biblical Model gives hope.

9. Despair and breakdown remolds the client

Breakdown & Despair brings the client to the cross

 A person in despair is ideally suited to Biblical counseling when they see that old habits/ways/ patterns have failed.

Despair in the form of serious sickness, grief, financial loss, divorce, loss of job or depression, offers the Christian counselor an opportunity to re-orient a life according to the Bible.

10. Raises self-esteem

Demolishes self-esteem

 Self-esteem is not a Bible term. The writer of When I survey the Wondrous Cross didn't get it wrong with the words and pour contempt on all my pride. Issac Watts' hymn Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed rightly talks of such a worm as I. At the Cross, self-esteem dies & remains dead.

11. Forgiveness may be sought from others

Forgiveness sought from God then others

Psychology says that everyone is responsible for how they feel and apologies may be unnecessary i.e. we don't hurt others but they choose to be hurt and that's their problem. Feeling sorry and remorseful and apologizing is only horizontal. True repentance is vertical and is directed toward God. 

12. Counseling without the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit present as God's word is used.

Counselors can be sure when they use God's word, the Holy Spirit will be there to guide and convict.

13. No true love for client

True love for client

 True love for a client is to label sin as sin. Many counselors side with clients because of sin in their own life or fear of the client's reaction.

14. Emotions & feelings –" feel right to do right "

Uses facts to confront sin for repentance

 Psychology uses what people feel as a basis for decisions. Psychology avoids giving advice, judgments and applying God's word. Psychology gets people "to feel right to do right.’’ Biblical counseling does the opposite. Is "stop doing, repent and you'll be right’’ (1 Peter 3:10-11.)

15. Clients may get worse unless referred

Clients get worse unless referred to the cross

 The characteristics of a good counselor is a Godly man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures (2Tim 3:15-16). "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." Ps 37:30-31

 

16. Counselors are non-directive and are reluctant to give advice

Counselors are directive, know God's word and give instruction

 The Biblical counselor gives God's advice, confronts sin and knows the Scriptures. Psychologists cross their fingers and hope people will discover their own "cure". The client needs to listen to Biblical words of counsel, reproof, commandment, and instruction (2Tim 3:16). 

17. Won't take people seriously

Take the client seriously

 To inform a client early in an interview that their problem seems to be the result of sin, does not discourage but gives hope. Homosexuals lose hope because counselors are reluctant to call it a sin. Not calling a problem a sin only magnifies the problem.

18. Guilt is explained away

Eliminate guilt by confession of sin

 Guilt not dealt with Biblically, will fester and torment. Biblical counseling ensures spiritual surgery whereas psychology only inoculates. Supporting a client's right to feel injured says no ­one is to blame. Guilt needs to be taken to the Cross as a sin – any other way is temporary at best.

19. Incorrect diagnosis of cause

Correct diagnosis of cause

 Counselors may diagnose the symptom but misdiagnose the cause. It's like a doctor who correctly identifies polio but proceeds to give the patient a flu needle and hopes they'll get better. 

20. Use the word "why"

Use the word "what"

 Do we need to know why we get angry? No! God gives us the reason. We were born in sin. God says stop it.     See Eli in 1 Sam 2:23,24.

21. Counsel for socially-acceptable behavior

Counsel for holiness and righteousness

 God calls us to righteousness & holiness not earthly happiness. Many people attend counseling to feel better, happier or look for ways to accommodate their sin. 2Tim 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine".

WHY PASTORS LET PSYCHOLOGY

INTO THEIR CHURCHES.

1.           GREED!
Pastors want big, modern, relevant churches. Psychology counseling attracts people, creates dependence and more offerings.

2.           LACK OF MONEY!
Over budgeted churches can get Government money with psychologists on staff.

3.           SECRET SINS!
Pastors have secret sins and won't call sin for what it is. Psychology terms are far more acceptable.

4.           UNSAVED!
Unsaved pastors prefer psychology to the Bible.

5.           FEAR!
Speaking against psychology would halve the congregation and halve the offerings. Many congregations want to have their ears tickled, and accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn aside to myths     (2Tim 4:1-4).
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Prov 14:12)

6.           DISTRUST!
Pastors won't trust God's description of man and think it's too harsh to tell people what God requires of them through his word -the KJV.

7.           INTELLECTUALISM!
Psychology arises in churches filled with the professionals with degrees. It's seen as a science because it's offered at university.

8.       NO King James Bible and NO RAPTURE!
Psychology NEVER arises where pastors are KJB, Pre-Millennial & who see 3 separate plans for 3 groups - Church, Gentiles and Jews
(
1 Corinthians 10:32).

9.           IGNORANCE and LAZINESS!
Many pastors are spiritually ignorant of Satan's devices.

 

 COMMONLY HELD BELIEFS

1.            Good counseling use psychology and the Bible!

1.            Wrong! A system that won't recognize sin, hell, the blood & faith alone - has nothing to offer. May as well ring the Hindus, Catholics, JW's, SDA's, Mormons or Satanists for help. (Colossians 2:8)

2.            Psychology has a lot to offer!
Sure! If a pastor won't preach sin, God's wrath, hell, damnation, the blood and faith alone.

3.            Psychology has a high rate of success!
No! Untrained people often have better results.

 

4.            Society has become more complex!
No! Society's got worse: man's still the same though - guilty, vile and helpless! (Rom 5:19)

5.            Knowledge outside the Bible can help - what about medicine!
If so, God's a liar (2Tim 3:16-17). Man can't even handle what's in the Bible. Besides, the Bible is a book of salvation not medicine.

6.            The Bible is too harsh - too black and white!
Correct, especially if you're not saved (Gal 2:20).

 

7.            We'll filter psychology through the Bible!
If only! Psychology wouldn't get through!

8.            Some therapies tie in with the Bible!
No they don't, although Satan will appear as an angel of light

(
2Cor 11:13-15) pushing his Trojan Horse through the church door!

9.            People need time to process grief & pain!
Correct! If they won't repent of sin, bitterness, unforgiveness and anger.

10.       People with problems can be mentally ill!
Mental illness is connected to unconfessed sin.

11.       God wants us to “feel good” about ourselves!
No! He wants us to trust the blood of Jesus.

12.       Raised self-esteem makes better Christians!
No! No self esteem makes for Bible Christians.

13.       I can't worship God with low self-esteem!
Correct! You can't! You need no self-esteem.

14.       We can't love others if we don't love ourself!
No! The commandment says to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus is aware we already love ourselves more than anything or anybody.

15.       We're precious! Jesus didn't die for junk!
He did! Worthless sinners like you and me (Rom 5:8).

16.       Pastors can't be deceived!
Wrong! The Bible is full of such accounts.

17.       We'll chew the meat and spit the bones!
Psychology is leaven not bones and that can't be spat out! This worldly saying doesn't apply here.

18.       Psychology helps to understand people!
Yes! If you can't see man as guilty, vile and helpless.

                   


HARLEY HITCHCOCK

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