Psychology and the Christian
Unknown Author
Table of Contents
Psychology and the Christian
The path of the true Christian through this world has always been fraught with difficulties and dangers. The fowler has set many snares; the enemy of souls is ever on the alert to turn the feet of the unwary into bypaths of darkness and sorrow. “But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul” (Ezek. 33:5). For the young believer the matter of an education often becomes a very serious problem. One who is seeking to walk in the fear of the Lord will need to be deeply concerned before God as to what course of studies he should undertake. If led to decide on a certain field of occupation and to proceed with the educational preparation, the heart and mind will need to be steeled with spiritual determination not to allow any subversive influences to have their power over him, and to seek, by the grace of God, to hold firmly to that principle. The writer has of late had his attention drawn to the subject of psychology and feels led to offer a note of warning in regard to that and other subjects which enter into many courses of study.
But let us first consider the question: What is a true Christian?
Many profess to be Christians who have not “passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). They have not been born again —become new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). They are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Word of God states clearly that “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9).
Those who are real Christians know, love and cleave to the Lord Jesus Christ — “the way, the truth, and the life.” He is “the true light,” and they are “the children of light” (Luke 16:8).
Now being a Christian is not a matter of education or intellect, as “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25). “Ye need not that any man teach you” (1 John 2:27). “He that is spiritual discerneth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15, margin). “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
The Christian is “not of the world” (John 15:19; 17:16), and therefore should test everything as to whether it is “of the world” or “of the Father” (1 John 2:16), as “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), and he, through subtlety, allures unsuspecting souls. The study of psychology, philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, biology, zoology or physiology may appear to be harmless and quite attractive, yet it may be but the first step which leads the soul into doubt and perhaps infidelity. It has been truly said, “Education has not drawn men closer to God, but rather the reverse.”
The truth of God is not incompatible with true science; therefore, in all fairness to psychology, insofar as it is scientific (based on facts), its conclusions may be useful. One does not wish to belittle any sound principles when properly used. Even psychologists, not a few, lament the appropriation of their teachings by the psychic cults and in the publications of occult. Yet psychology peculiarly lends itself to these nefarious agencies.
In the sphere of higher education the study of psychology is esteemed highly as being among the most valuable sciences, so much so that any who dare to differ are considered to be unenlightened. Its influence is penetrating and flourishing in almost every field of education and practice. Its study is not only interesting, but to many minds so fascinating that the deeper one gets involved the more his mind is carried away by it. From this lust of the mind the denial of the truth may result (leprosy in the head, Lev. 13:44).
Because of its many phases, psychology is not easy to define, but in general it may be simply stated as being the study of and the attempt to ascertain the causes and effects of human thoughts and actions. It seeks to explain life with the object of guiding behavior, and therefore enters into almost everything.
Its books are legion. In comparing what was written and taught over a range of many years, one finds a babel of hairsplitting criticisms of criticisms, all seeking to repudiate hypotheses, theories, principles and terms once held to be sound or “scientifically proved” by their predecessors.
In a leading university textbook on educational psychology published in 1940, “independence of all gods” is claimed as the scientist’s right in order to carry on “unbiased investigation of facts.” It is further stated that “man has inhabited the earth for millions of years”! In accord with most of “higher education,” this book leans on the lie of evolution to explain existence and development, and even confidently asserts its expectation that psychology is to guide the future improvement of the race! Little do they reckon on what God’s Word declares as to the coming of the Lord, the great tribulation and the judgment of this world. “They have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jer. 8:9). “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22).
More recent advances are now claiming to overthrow “the animal instinct theory” by explaining both the physiological and environmental factors that cause animals to behave as they do. Thus they set aside the fact that God has created them so, and for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11).
Webster’s dictionary says, “Psychical is of, or pertaining to, the living principle in man.” But psychologists fall short of humbly acknowledging the shameful principle of SIN, which motivates the race of fallen Adam. Man is essentially selfish, full of self-love, self-gratification, pride, deceit and violence, in opposition to God and His Son. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). “Out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts. . . . All these evil things come from within” (Mark 7:2123). “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). “In sin did my mother conceive me” (Psa. 51:5). “Behold, I am vile” (Job 40:4).
Psychologists attempt to analyze and explain the various types of mind of the adherents of the many different religions, while not declaring but ever evading the universal root, SIN: and they evade God’s remedy which is alone found in the Christian faith. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and [Jehovah] hath laid on Him [that is, Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). All under “the first man Adam” are lost; all under “the second man . . . the Lord from heaven” are saved (1 Cor. 15:45,47; Rom. 5:1219).
In the darkness of pride one writer on psychology boldly claims that Christianity is a hindrance to receiving the “increased light” of science! But the Word of God says, “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20).
Thus psychologists shut their eyes to God’s Word; their evolution denies His creatorial work that “He spake, and it was done” (Psa. 33:9). Yet they presume to establish theories which are to improve mankind! The setting aside of God and the deification of man are ever the aim and work of Satan (“ye shall be as gods,” Gen. 3:5), and will be increasingly so until the overthrow of world religion, civilization and all the world kingdoms by the judgment of the Lord when He returns to reign as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16; Matt. 25:31-46).
Psychology and modern higher-criticism (infidelity in the pulpit — “blind leaders of the blind”) go hand in hand. Psychic art is taught in seminaries and practiced by many known as D.D.s. Isaiah describes them as “blind . . . ignorant . . . dumb dogs . . . greedy dogs . . . shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain. . . . Come ye, say they . . . tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant” (Isa. 56:1012). Their optimism is oblivious to God’s coming judgment. Jude continues: “These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts . . . having not the Spirit” (Jude 8,10,19). “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23).
How much better is it to be humbly taught by the blessed, unerring Word of God, which is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12), and to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5).
Dear young Christian, if you are contemplating taking a course in some university for self-advancement, remember Lot in Sodom (Gen. 19; 2 Peter 2:78). Beware of “science falsely so called” (1 Tim. 6:20). “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit” (Col. 2:8). “I am jealous over you with godly jealousy . . . but I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:23). One is only safe when found “casting down imaginations [reasonings], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). If, in a desirable and suitable field of study, you must take a required subject to complete your course, seek to check its postulates by the unerring Word of God, which lives and abides forever.
“Knowledge puffeth up” (1 Cor. 8:1).
“Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not” (Jer. 45:5).