Christians believe truth is truth and God is the author of all truth. God is the author of Scripture, but also the author of creation. All sciences and studies that investigate the nature of creation, from biology to physics, to mathematics to astronomy, or even medicine and psychology are products of God’s truth. Hence, when contradictions appear between faith and science, the contradiction is not the truth of God, but errors of men. The error either lies in poor interpretation of Scripture, or poor application of science. In this short blog we will define what integrated Christian Counseling entails as well as examine it’s critical importance in psychology and counseling.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Distrust of the Scientific Method within Christian Communities
Since the age of “reason” as well as the scientific revolution, the empiric method emerged. The empirical method of science is not the enemy to the faith, but when molded by agnostic or atheistic minds, it can be utilized to remove God or any theological and metaphysical ideals. This is simply because the empiric method is a tool to examine the natural world not the metaphysical one. It is based on observation through the senses, it is tested, verified and proposed as theory to later be seen as a law. It dismisses past superstitions, or over-emphasis on attributing natural occurrences as spiritual. As a tool though, it has a purpose but when its purpose is used to analyze all of human experience that is spiritual or metaphysical, then it no longer serves a purpose. This is the error of many atheistic or agnostic scientists. Their religion and altar becomes the empiric method and anything that does not fall under its shadow is dismissed as myth or fantasy.
Naturally then, many Christians may fear the chosen weapon or tool of the scientist, not so much because of the weapon itself but because of who wields it. By rejecting modern empiricism, the Christian isolates himself or herself from many truths of God’s creation. Whether a natural law was observed by an atheist or agnostic has no bearing on its reality and truth in the natural world and its conformity to the natural law. So when studying theology, or Sacred Scripture, one enters into a new science, one that is not based upon the scientific method, but one that is based on different levels of human experience, as well as the virtue of faith. This does not make Theology inferior, for it is the highest science because its end object is God.
Modernism attempted to bridge empiricism with faith, but the failure of this heresy lies in the fact that is placed theology as well as Sacred Scripture second to empirical verification. It retained spiritual experience to only vital immanentism, where faith and belief was constrained only to human subjective experience. Modernists refused to correlate miracles and acts of God with natural science. They mused that since God is the author of both natural science and theology, then theological stories that support supernatural events are impossible since they go against the empirical method. Because of this, modernists rejected many stories of the Bible as myths, as well as even doubting the Resurrection of Christ. Since supernatural events cross into the threshold of the natural law and its world, they reduced faith to only subjective experiences that could not contradict the laws of nature. So while still remaining theists, they limited God’s power in the natural world and attempted to re-interpret Scripture to meet the demands of the empirical method. As stated earlier, sometimes improper interpretation of Scripture and its miracles can lead to a conflict with the natural world and its laws, but the Modernist heresy not only re-interpreted the Bible, but outwardly placed it under the foot of empiricism. By reducing anything of supernatural power to mere mythical language, it violated Scriptures integrity and denounced God’s power over nature.
I do not suggest such an extreme and heretical approach to implementing true science with faith, but instead presents a more complimentary approach that respects dogma, morality and teachings of Scripture with the natural and health sciences of the world. This protects both Scripture from heretical rebranding, but also accepts the many truths discovered by science through the empirical method. They both can stand side by side because God is the source of both.
So, while many fundamentalist Christians suffer from a complete distrust of science in the fields of natural history, geology, evolution, and other sciences, it is important to not simply disregard these findings based upon the name of the person who presented it. In fact, disregarding is not only dangerous to truth, but it can also limit those within the faith in their own exploration of Scripture, as well as misuse of it. For instance, while integrated Christian Counseling endorses both science and the Bible, it does not look to find all answers about physical and mental health, or the natural world in the Bible. The Bible is collection of sacred books, inspired by God and written through men, to lead one to spiritual salvation. It was never intended to become medical manual or science text book. The Bible teaches foundational aspects about humanity’s broken condition due to sin which is a crucial starting point, as well as laying foundations on morality and good living, which serve as important launching points in counseling and psychology.
Types of Approaches
Contrary to popular belief, psychology did not start with Sigmund Freud. While Freud and even Alfred Adler raised the level of psychology to a deeper empirical science, there idea of helping people through mental and behavioral issues was done well before them within the Christian tradition. From the Patristic Fathers and throughout the history of the Church, spiritual direction and moral guidance has been a hall mark of helping individuals find balance and peace. Christian Counseling thus has existed for centuries before the new findings about the brain and psychology of the human person. These new findings are helpful and can only add to the richness of a theologically based Christian Counseling.
In psychology there are various approaches, schools of thought and therapies. One needs to merely look at the differences between psychoanalytic theories to more modern human centered theories or even behavioral and cognitive therapies. No true school holds a monopoly on what is the best type of counseling. There are important truths found in all schools of thought that help in certain cases, despite the fact that certain counselors and psychologists may adhere to one primary school. So to truly find one counselor in this day age who adheres to one school of counseling and psychology is more rare. The same can be said with Christian Counselors.
All Christian counselors believe that God and biblical sources are the foundational piece. They believe a Christo-centric world view to manage counseling. The basic premise is humanity is broken through sin and as a result of sin, all evil and suffering exists. The extent to which everything clinically is a product of sin differs. While sin is the source, there are still detailed explanations about why we suffer. If one goes to a physician, whether religious or not, the physician consults medical practices consistent with evidence based support and testing. Obviously, the ultimate first cause of sickness is sin but that diagnosis is redundant in healing. Sin is the cause of it all but helping one heal is based on the proper medicine for the acute condition. The same is true for Christian Counseling that is integrated. It acknowledges sin as the root and also encourages Christ like remedies in the moral life to produce true change, but it does not ignore the pathologies or issues that exist within the brain, or the numerous case studies that show productive therapeutic results.
With that said, some schools of thought within Christian Counseling are far more biblical and suspicious of modern psychology, while other schools are far more welcoming. Biblical Counseling in its truest sense is one of the far right extremes. I would consider it more extreme because it finds all answers in Scripture. It is more suspicious of the empirical sciences and looks to find most of life’s solutions in Scripture. Strictly Biblical Counselors will resort to more faith based answers than modern psychological therapies. This is not to say Scripture does not provide a broad frame work of moral information to cultivate healthy change in life, but in extreme cases, it can look to replace even proven modern methods. Obviously someone facing depression, or PTSD or extreme trauma will benefit from Scripture. One can even find helpful concepts and soothing ideals of love. However, Scripture does not provide guidelines for treating depression or PTSD which are issues associated with the brain’s chemistry. While Scripture supplies a strong foundation, it is not meant to be utilized as if the DSM-5 to treat pathology.
From the opposing side, Christian Counseling falls also into some who apply the Levels of Explanation approach. This approach accepts the human condition based on Scripture, but is more interested in approaching mental health through the secular psychological schools of approach. For a Christian, it may not be enough biblical based or emphasized.
Within the middle ground exists Christian Psychology which embraces the entirety of Christian thought on people helping and implementing also modern psychology, as well as Transformational Christian Counseling that uses Scripture to help transform a person spiritually from their issues. The integrated Christian approach best captures Scripture, the Christian tradition and modern psychology.
What one tends to see are more clinical counselors in levels of explanation, as well as more devout clinical professionals in the integrated approaches, with more pastors strictly within the biblical approach.
Like secular psychology, no one school holds a monopoly on what is best or better, but it depends on the person’s needs and faith base. AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program is more so based within the integrative school. This is especially so because AIHCP certified healthcare and mental health care professionals with academic background. Nevertheless, many pastors still see the value of AIHCP’s program since it believes in a strong biblical presence. Biblical exegesis and Biblical advice protects the person from the advice of the world which in secular society can break from the morality of God’s law. Christian Counseling adheres to Christo-centric ideals of behavior and necessary changes. Underuse as well as overuse of Scripture in counseling can produce negative things. If overused, good and proven therapeutic strategies can be overlooked with suspicion, while if under used, the strong moral tradition of Christianity can be ignored. The importance of mental care but infused with spiritual care to produce true transformation via the Holy Spirit is essential in change. One cannot simply rely on physical and mental remedies but also spiritual wellness and healing. Christian Counseling that is properly integrated can achieve both.
Of course, not all Christian Counselors are clinical and because of this can be limited within their scope of practice, but those with clinical licensures can employ these ideals to their clients who wish for a Christian perspective and also require therapies beyond the scope of a minister or pastor. And also important to remember, whether clinical or only pastoral as counselors, all schools of thought, whether secular, religious, or both, must adhere to the ethical and legal standards of the profession.
Conclusion
When counseling acknowledges the Christian tradition, as well as the broken human nature and sin, then it has a true foundation to find true healing for the person at every level of existence. Integrated Christian Counselors, utilize Scripture, Christian tradition and modern psychology to present the most holistic and best healing practices to mind, body and soul. It presents a perfect balance to the client. It understands that God is the author of both Scripture and psychology and that they can compliment each other in the full healing of a person. Incorporating various techniques and principles from all schools of psychology, as well as Christian counseling approaches can be useful in giving the best client care. Whether pastoral or clinical, all Christian Counselors are called to apply good Biblical morality and best tested therapies to their client while adhering to counseling laws and ethics.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Please also refer to these text books for more information on Integrated Christian Counseling.
Our text book for SC570
Collins, G. (2007). Christian counseling: A comprehensive guide. Thomas Nelson
and
Johnson, E., Ed (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five views 2nd Ed. IVP Academic
For other Christian Counseling based blogs, please review
Christ and Integrated Christian Counseling. Access here
Brain and the Soul. Access here
Additional Resources
“Integrative Therapy”. Psychology Today. Access here
“Therapy Types and Modalities”. Psychology Today. Access here
Collinsworth-Cobarruvias, S. (2018). “Biblical Foundation for Christian Integration: A Theology of Christian Counseling”. Access here
Zarbo, C. et, al. (2015). “Integrative Psychotherapy Works”. Front Psychol. 2015; 6: 2021. National Library of Medicine. Access here