Christianity vs Psychology: 5 Models of Integration

David Entwistle lists 5 types of integrationists: enemies, spies, colonialists, neutral parties, and allies. Enemies are either psychologists or theologists who believe there is only one truth, and the other is a threat to real truth. Spies are psychologists who dabble with Christianity to learn some of its methods, such as forgiveness, but do not believe Christianity is a path of truth. Colonialists are Christians who see merit in some of the psychological methods for healing, but are wary of the practice. Neutral parties believe there is no overlap between the two disciplines. Both are parallel methods for seeking the truth. Lastly allies believe both are necessary fields which are best when working together. Neither has authority over the other.

I am a colonialist because I view psychology, as Entwistle (2004) states, through the filter of the Bible. I see the Bible as the closest representation of God’s truth. I see the world as progressing away from our Creator. I do not agree with Entwistle (2004) that to be a colonialist means that I am incompetent in psychology. Instead, I believe much of the methods prescribed by psychology can be misused if not taken in context with Biblical truths. We as Christian counselors must trust God’s Word and allow for His mystery when psychological or common sense explanations appear to discredit a Biblical interpretation. When there is disagreement between the two books, I believe it behooves us to give the Bible the benefit of the doubt. Certainly the Bible can be interpreted in multiple ways. Rather than assume a Biblical interpretation is wrong, I feel we as Christians should consider how that interpretation could have meaning in our lives. By allowing that we do not know what we do not know, we create an opening for God to work in our lives and the lives of others.

Entwistle, D.N. (2004). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.

The Two Books of God: The Word and His Works

I do believe that all truth is God’s truth (Entwistle, 2004). Both the book of God’s word and the book of God’s work allow us to see our Creator more clearly. However, Entwistle himself highlighted that the world as we see it has distanced itself further from the truth than the Bible could have been mistranslated. Because of this, I view the Bible as superior to lessons learned in this world. Early on in my walk, I did not believe in Satan. Everything was either of God or of my flesh. I now believe Paul as he wrote in Ephesians 6 that our fight is not against the world that we see, but against the evil in the spiritual world that exists all around us. I now view problems of the natural world, such as sickness or deceit, in a new dimension. These are to be tackled with natural means, such as medicine or intervention, as well as with spiritual warfare, such as prayer or fasting. The two worlds are interwoven, both of God. Both trusting in God’s Word and acknowledging the spiritual world require faith in God. Both produce an overwhelming peace in me that God is in control.

Entwistle, D.N. (2004). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.

My Sources of Truth

First and foremost I believe the Bible is the supreme authority when it comes to matters of relationship. God Himself is relational as the Trinity highlights. Throughout the Bible, there is God’s wisdom showing how to relate with Him and how to relate with others. The Bible is also my supreme authority with regards to morality. It is God’s direction for how we should live. I believe in empirical knowledge when it comes to the sciences. The Bible was not intended to answer all of the world’s mysteries. Instead, God provided us with the ability to discover His world through the sciences. I believe in personal experience when it comes to empathizing with others. Through my sufferings, I am more able to feel a person’s hurt and walk along side of him or her. It is reason that I am most skeptical in giving authority. With reason, we can too easily dismiss miracles. With reason, we can potentially limit our spiritual growth and faith in God. In all of these circumstances, I believe, as Entwistle (2004) states, that we must stay humble, keeping open the possibility that our thinking may be in error.

Entwistle, D.N. (2004). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.