Promoting the Unity of the Spirit in the Counseling World
October 27th, 2008[Authored by Dr. Eric Johnson, SCP Director, and professor at Southern Seminary]
Some Christians in the field of psychology and counseling have been waging a cold war with each other for over 40 years—proponents of particular approaches who have been deeply distrustful of those who hold other positions.
Nearly a decade ago, Stan Jones and I helped to put together Christianity and Psychology: Four Views (Johnson & Jones, 2000). This book allowed representatives of the four major approaches that Christians take to psychology to present their positions and interact with one another. They included Levels-of-Explanations, Integration, Christian Psychology, and Biblical Counseling. (BTW, we are currently working on a 2nd edition with five views.) One might think that such a book would promote division between those holding different positions. But it was our contention that serious, respectful interaction promotes mutual understanding and a greater appreciation for the strengths of positions other than one’s own.
The Society of Christian Psychology began around five years ago to promote and pursue the project of a Christian psychology. However, it has never been our intention to discredit the other approaches. While we believe the Christian psychology position has distinctive merit, we also recognize there are good reasons to hold the other positions. As a result, it has been the aim of the Society to draw together and work with biblical counselors and integrationists. Last year and this year we have had bloggers for the Society from both of those approaches. One of the blessings of our last few SCP conferences has been the participation of biblical counselors and integrationists, along with Christian psychology proponents, in workshops and preconference seminars, and even as keynote speakers.
Those who insist there is only one correct model will not appreciate what the Society is doing here. Ideologues on the fringe often enjoy their perceived “superiority” too much to let it go. But God is calling his people in our day to be peacemakers within the Christian community. It has to begin here, with us. Thankfully, there appears to be a growing consensus among those who recognize the Bible is foundational to a Christian understanding of psychology and counseling and who also value good science, that is bringing together folks from different positions, and helping them to figure out how they can encourage and even learn from each other.
Such mutual respect does not mean we ignore our differences. Genuine dialogue assumes there are differences in perspective and understanding, and a strong commitment to God’s truth assumes that some are necessarily closer to that truth on some issues than others, leading sometimes to vigorous disagreements. But so long as we treat one other as brothers and sisters in Christ, Christian love need not fear to disagree. Such fear is another kind of vice: cowardice. Christian maturity entails the ability to hold one’s beliefs confidently, while respecting the non-essential beliefs of other Christians, always being open to grow and see things better. As a result, let us keep learning how to listen to all of those psychologists and counselors who take their Christian faith seriously.
November 6th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Eric,
As always, I appreciate not only the content of what you write, but also the spirit in which you communicate. Your humility and bridge-building resonate with me.
Your readers might find my series of blog posts on “The Future of Biblical Counseling” of interest as they relate to your post. They can find them at:
http://www.rpmbooks.org/blog.html
Or, they can read a shorter, one-part PDF version at:
http://www.rpmbooks.org/documents/The_Future_of_Biblical_Counseling,_Kellemen.pdf
Bob Kellemen
January 19th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I checked on what you’ve been writing and I found something of interest.
One problem that repeatedly presents itself in debates between Christians is a brittle defensive insistence on the clear and pure correctness of one’s favorite doctrines.
I think the chief culprit in this problem is an unwillingness to face the most serious implications of the reality that once one moves beyond the face of the biblical text one is venturing into risk-prone territory–because one is using one’s mind, an instrument subject to limitations benign and malignant.
I am reasonably confident that Augustine was right most of the time, but he made some serious errors–and the typical Christian scholar should be so fortunate as to be right as often as Augustine was.
There needs to be more discussion, among Christian intellectuals, of grace in the intellectual life, and the courage to rely on that grace. I assume that charity toward other Christians in their differences of opinion would naturally follow from deep reliance on that grace.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Daniel,
Well said and would that we all believe that more discussion and more grace was needed among Christian intellectuals. You are right in that far too often we present a brittle defense.