jesusinsight

Summary

We explore the relationship between psychology, spirituality, and personal growth, particularly through a Christian lens, suggesting that while psychology has definite value in understanding and managing behavior, it is sometimes insufficient without spiritual intervention, specifically through Jesus, to fully overcome deep-seated traumas.

Developing awareness of one’s behavior and emotions is at times necessary for meaningful change. Without awareness, individuals may continue harmful patterns. Perhaps there is courage when confronting personal issues, including the role of spirituality.

While awareness is key, it is a development of that same ability we need. It is not enough though. We say what we would want from a moral point of view, what is good, but what do we do? Do we aim for insufficient goals? For instance, is it not necessary to aim for calmness in the storm, for stability, for love? Aiming to be a good person is a high level statement without further context. We need to make connections to have meaning, not theories. In the same light, is it not necessary to have spiritual development so that what is ineffective towards healing us is no longer hopeless – e.g. recurrent nightmares or traumas that just won’t mend.

By contrast, certain psychological profiles, such as narcissism, require a distinct approach and understanding. We advocate for a balanced integration of psychology and spirituality while achieving growth and functionality in life.

Psychology

I would like to immediately say that our behavioural conditions are complex and always have a uniqueness.  Text books do not heal. But more than this, various conditions may be too complex to simplify – like addiction. How can we treat a person with chronic manipulation with disdain as that for a drug addict?  Addictions are cruel and difficult to change. This is why people say addictions are chains. Chains literally cannot be broken – so what can break them? They won’t be broken while the addiction continues, which means behaviours can be highly unacceptable. If an adult does not admit to their shame, even though addicted, this is a gross abandonment of responsibility – in my view. How can a person find a grueling way out of addiction if they refuse to acknowledge their state? The manipulator has a perverse enjoyment that in my view cannot be broken until they admit complete, total , and utter failure. This is not a hypocritical position. I know failure and what follows after.

We benefit seeing a doctor for medical assistance, but may pull back from benefits of clinical psychology.

There is a stigma that says something must be inwardly wrong, highly personal as compared to taking medication for physical pain or repair. If others ask us to see a psychologist it is perceived as an admission to them that we are “less”, defective. These threatening dynamics are actually the fault of others, as psychology is none of this at all.

Another problem like any profession, relates to who is professional versus those without sufficient experience and insight. Everyone has the right to develop in their own field, but clearly there is a starting point for someone out of University. We hope that professions are fully aware of such development and how that should properly integrate with patients.

Methodology is also important. Someone telling you how to fix yourself is basically not an effective approach. A psychology session that stirs up emotions from the sands below the ocean, understanding dynamics of situations, presenting development via personal tools, these things help.

And, another problem is dollar cost. The government may not provide sufficient numbers of sessions at low cost, limiting effectiveness. Not everyone can afford help.

Psychologists do a mix of things, not just the old fashioned view we have of Freud with a patient on a couch. They may combine psychotherapy as part of their help to others. It is my personal view that all professions around psychology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry will have a range of people involved with particular viewpoints and effectiveness particularly focused to certain areas of life.

A patient may attach to a profession and person, naturally trusting the person helping them. But there are limits on effectiveness or even failures. Patients have the right to ascertain if they remain with a particular practitioner, and what advice they seek.

There are also issues we observe where we believe spiritual life makes change. Non-Christian folks may say such a process is from the human heart or spirit, or some other process occurring that brings such healing, which is a relevant perspective of course. We say there are traumas and ongoing issues that can come under the banner of change due to relationship with God. We are not saying to therefore exclude professions such as psychology at all.

Today, psychology is in our consciousness. In the New Testament, we see certain content that is along the lines of psychology, but it is not showing a fuller understanding of what we know today. Meaning, while it is interesting, it does have apparent fault in how we know human behaviour works today. While helpful to the reader, it still suggests some care around how we use scripture to “tell” others what to do, or how the content is limited to a specific situation rather than a whole lot more that is not addressed. This is not meant to be critical, but to question narrow views we may hold, and incorrect uses of scripture.

As time moved on into the twentieth century, there were significant Christian psychology developments seen with C.S. Lewis. These developments in my view are a bit too incomplete compared to the discipline we have today. I personally disagree with some of the ways some of his thoughts were constructed together. But, it was a significant development.

If a person is in distress, at what point is it chronic, moving into suffering. This is what happens with dementia. This is part of the reason why a person is placed into an environment that can look after them, thus reducing the level of suffering. Other people may see suffering and have ability to help. IN tis case the suffering is real, even though the individual with dementia does not know what is going on.

Being mindfully aware is also not enough. We often see connections between things that only then cause significant response. So, people look at a range of indicators, such as body language, not just feelings. Developing awareness is a journey. Doing something with awareness is a question. For instance, if we know we are placing too much stress to our own person, do we still do anything to pause or reduce stress? If we are aware another person does not want our help, do we change our approach?

Certain personality types will not engage with personal development. Similarly, as Christians we are presented with choices for our own development. Is there any purpose to saying these things, especially as they are very broad and limited statements? Perhaps we can move further into the realm of our hearts and seek with the promise from the Lord in finding. What we do not find we never know. However, not seeking means we may still one day see what we missed and be sorrowful. Today we have clearer understanding of psychology and can therefore take a healthy advantage of it just as doctors can help with physical ailments.

All things that are good, as we were created to do good, (this is scriptural) can help towards our development, and does not negate the Lord’s view of our future where He develops our faith in Him.

As a side-note, I have found over the years that presenting specific examples while providing content as I have above, while helpful, is at times not. There are many things we can say about topics such as arrogance, narcissism, addiction, abuse and so on with highly detailed examples. I have come to a point where I am not sure this helps, so I limit these kinds of details. I think they are a distraction from what we may think about. There is plenty of material on specific case examples, so I try to keep examples limited. I am not a psychologist, but aiming to provide things to think about that perhaps we generally do not consider, in the hope it helps us make better choices to further our development. Why? Because of my own struggles and observations, and my distaste for seeing harm to others, of which I have experienced and seen so easily done to others. Such bad behaviour has no scriptural basis. I just want people to see things more as they are, not for the sake of any agenda, but for more freedom from other people’s forms of control and injustice. The Apostle Paul was facing these issues all the time with his, the Lord’s beloved Church, so it is not new.

I find at times we see chronically bad teaching inflicted on younger people as well, who then are trained to grow up to think and then do the wrong things, such as an ideology that is not real. They are placed into corners, being told to formally proclaim and agree. For instance, as a young person I was told the Holy Spirit would only speak the truth to His senior people who followed certain rules. My conscience via the Holy Spirit was at odds so I was unable to follow a lie on a particular matter or belief system in distinct conflict with the witness within me. I was quickly ex-communicated in a very dangerous way, but I was unable to hack the truth within me. Fortunately the Lord protected me, but this was extraordinarily difficult for me as young person without the skills I have today. Over the years I had people who supported me in finding truth. This is the right thing for all of us to do. My belief is that we have been lied to about many things, and I am tired of anything that perpetuates that.