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By: B. Pollard
This resource is available from the Fundamental
Evangelistic Association
Fundamental Evangelistic Association
P.O. Box 6278
Los Osos, California 93412 U.S.A.
Telephone 805-528-3534
Fax 805-528-4971
"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" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE seeks to warn Christians that when they turn from the Word of God to the words of men, they are inviting a "corrupt mind" and a blurred identity. The "bad behavior" this article refers to is functional, having no basis in physically measurable ailments.
In these days of increasing mental and emotional conflict and strain, many people, including Christians, have been encouraged to turn to psychology, psychiatry and psychoanalysis for the solutions to their problems. This is a dangerous trend for at least four reasons:
FIRST: Because the fields of psychology, psychiatry and psychoanalysis are highly speculative, radically experimental and anti-biblical in their basic theoretical suppositions;
SECOND: Because the accepted authorities in these fields start from the unscriptural and anti-biblical theory of evolution, denying man's present spiritual need and eternal existence;
THIRD: Because these programs, including so- called "Christian Psychology," invariably result in giving the changing theories of men precedence over the unchanging Word of God;
FOURTH: Because it leads people to seek the solutions to their problems apart from submission to the Word of God and the Spirit of God, leaving them with a false hope and a rude awakening.
Consider the answers to these questions.
Man's Question: WHAT AM I?
The Bible says...
MAN IS THE CREATION OF GOD WITH BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT-
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23. See also Genesis 1:26; 2:7.
Psychology says...
MAN IS A CREATURE OF EVOLUTION WITH BODY, MIND AND PERSONALITY-...
"Another very important influence came from Darwin and the theory of evolution. For if all animals are blood relatives in respect to bodily structure must they not be the same in respect to behavior and mentality? -DR. ROBERT S. WOODWORTH
"Darwin...kept a diary of his infant son.... This record was one of the sources for the beginning of modern child psychology. -DR. ROBERT L. WATSON
Man's Question: WHAT IS MY GOAL IN LIFE?
The Bible says...
TO GLORIFY GOD-
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. "1 Corinthians 6:20. See also 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Psalm 73:24, 26.
Psychology says...
TO ADJUST TO MY FELLOW MAN-
"Of course, to win for one's self a place in society and so transform one's nature that it is more or less fitted to this existence, is in every instance an important achievement."-DR. CARL G. JUNG
Man's Question: WHO IS MY SUPREME AUTHORITY?
The Bible says...
GOD-
"I am the Lord thy God.. .Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:2, 3. See also Ephesians 1:4, 11.
Psychology says...
MAN-
"...psychotherapists are now permitted by tacit agreement, to set the standard of what is right and wrong. -DR. L. B. LEFEBRE
Man's Question: WHAT IS MY STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR?
The Bible says...
THE WORD OF GOD-
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
Psychology says...
THE NORMS OF SOCIETY-
"People whose behavior differs widely and steadily from social requirements are called 'abnormal .' Since societies differ in their requirements, an act that is normal in one place may be abnormal in another." -DR. A. P. SPERLING
Man's Question: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING MY GOAL?
The Bible says...
SIN-
"...there is none righteous, no, not one....For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10, 23. See also Romans 7:11 and James 4:17.
Psychology says...
BAD BEHAVIOR-
" which falls into three general classifications: Neurosis, psychosis and mental illness. "If anxieties and confusion therefore seriously interfere with one's life, he is considered emotionally or mentally ill."-DR. CLYDE NARRAMORE
Man's Question: WHY DOES "BAD BEHAVIOR" EXIST?
The Bible says...
A SINFUL HEART-
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
Psychology says...
SEX, ENVIRONMENT, POWER DRIVE, OUR CULTURE, ETC.-
"The most specific example of the negative effects of religion as a force of repression and control appears in Freud's discussion of civilized sexual morality and modern nervousness. He deplores Western religious controls...which are so rigid and unnatural that the sexual abilities of individuals is impaired, perverted or neuroticized."-DR. WAYNE OATES
Man's Question: WHAT CAN EFFECTIVELY CHANGE THIS SINFUL BEHAVIOR?
The Bible says...
FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST-
"Wherefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. See also John 3:3, 16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Luke 4:4.
Psychology says...
FASTENING GUILT ON PARENTS OR SOCIETY; FREEING REPRESSED DESIRES; DRUGS;
PSYCHOANALYSIS; SENSITIVITY TRAINING; GROUP THERAPY; ETC.- "And until one has 'worked through' and resolved his guilt in the face of mankind, he is not fully healed and whole. -DR. O. HOBART MOWRER
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
THE HOLY BIBLE - inspired by Almighty God
or PSYCHOLOGY- invented by sinful man
It is essential to recognize that the BIBLE and PSYCHOLOGY represent two contradictory views of God, man, sin, the Bible and eternity. This makes it impossible to reconcile or combine the two as is being attempted in so called "Christian Psychology." Regardless of the sincerity of the people in these fields, they literally become the "High Priests of Humanism." God's people need to be WARNED!
