Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity Essay Example

able to look through our window to decide how we see our view as it relates to the world.

According to Entwistle (2010), everybody has a worldview or a window through which he or she sees the world. This picture of the world through our very own window is an accurate indication of our morals and viewpoints and how we are able to reflect and see the world. These morals and viewpoints are a result of learned behavior through our own life experiences that shape us into the people we are today. In the first chapter of this book it basically challenges Tertullian’s rhetorical question, “What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? This makes the claim that Christian faith is enough, that “human reason and biblical truth are basically irreconcilable” (Entwistle, 2010, p. 8). Entwistle concluded that one can be both a Christian and a psychologist, but that integration is best considered “as both a noun and a verb” (p. 16). Integration is both discovered as something that already exists, and it is also “something we do as we create ways of thinking about, combining, and applying psychological and theological truths” (p. 16). Dr.

David Enwistle stated that our world views come from the things we learn from our experiences, culture and education as opposed to simply choosing them. According to Entwistle, for the most part people are unaware that their views on everything are sorted through these windows, which together alter and make clear our understanding of what we perceive. (p. 63) He stated that, “We will sometimes have to live with ambiguity and uncertainty, but we affirm that God is

the author of all truth. ”(2010, p. 271).

The personal episode that my life connects with in this book is where Entwistle stated, “As systems of thought, both psychology and Christian theology provided useful perspectives through which we can study and understand human behavior, and together they can give us a more complete and accurate picture of human nature and functioning than either perspective can provide alone. ” (p. 3) I married my high school sweetheart and the Lord blessed us with two beautiful children. We had a good Christian upbringing and a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was killed instantly at age thirty-seven by a semi-truck driven by a seventy-two year old man with poor vision. After reading the truck driver’s court deposition, I realized that he had no remorse for what he had done. I became extremely angry, bitter, and confused. I felt so alone, hurt, helpless, and I had trouble sleeping. I had so many questions like why my husband? As a devout Christian, I believed that my faith in God would see me through. Unfortunately things got extremely worse. After one year of suffering, I sought the help of a Christian counselor who used both psychology and Christian theology in my plan of treatment.

He helped me to see that I must forgive this man in order to allow God to begin the healing process in me. God has been very clear about forgiveness. He has given us specific instructions in numerous Scriptures, all of which can be summed up in just one word -- forgive! God's Word says, "And when you stand

praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25 KJV). After I truly forgave this man, I moved closer to God. I began to “cast all my cares upon him”. 1 Peter 5:7) I began to rest in him, knowing that He would protect me.

I realized that I had no strength left and “His strength is made perfect in my weakness. ” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I truly believe that the integration of psychology worked for me better than each of the perspectives could have provided individually. Reflection David Entwistle’s book did not mention anything about the indwelling power of The Holy Spirit in the process of integration. The Holy Spirit is a provider of knowledge, clear perception, direction and judgment in the counseling process.

I have found that some Christian’s do not think that they need a counselor if the Holy Spirit is their counselor. If I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the author, I would have a discussion about why he chose to omit the importance of The Holy Spirit in the therapeutic process. The Holy Spirit is our personal guidance counselor. John 16:7, 13 (NIV) Says, "But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he

hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. " Jesus said, "I'm going to send the comforter (counselor) to you, the Holy Spirit whose truth will come and he will guide you. " This is what enables us to abide in the truth by walking with Jesus, and protect the truth, by defending it against false teachers and false religions. It is so important for us as Christians to students of God’s Holy and Divine Word. By studying God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, we are assured victory in any situation. Application

As a result of reading David N. Entwistle’s book, I can see that looking at things from different directions can sometimes lead to surprising discoveries. (p. 1) This book go on to tells us that there are two books of God: His word and His works (Entwistle, 2010). “Psychology deals with God’s works and theology deals with His word. Our work as Christian counselors is to understand both books and integrate them mutually so that we can use both books to assist our clients. ” My integration activity has been in the sales world and my approach has been more of a Colonialist.

According to Entwistle, The colonialist model has one discipline colonizing or taking control and prominence over the other. The sales world’s dealings entail activities not usually talked about in God’s Word other than the primary principles used in carrying out our daily activities. God’s Word does not speak about how to get ready for quarterly sales reports. However, I see my activities as bringing Christian principles into a worldly society. As

I mature as a counselor, I must revise my thoughts and opinions to look at my day as operating with the interaction of God’s Word and God’s Work.