#10 Psychiatry Out of Control
Dr. Stephen Phinney: Some believers may turn to psychiatry and psychotherapy, furthering their hidden habits of laziness. There is a better solution!
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NOT I, BUT MY PSYCHIATRIST!
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
(Galatians 2:19-21)
In the past two decades, droves of self-proclaimed “Christians” have increasingly turned to psychiatrists and psychological therapies to address their mental and emotional struggles. While seeking professional help is not inherently wrong, there is a growing concern that this reliance may overshadow the transformative power of the indwelling life of Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
The Bible teaches that Christ’s presence within believers offers profound peace, healing, and guidance. By depending more on human wisdom and less on the divine life of Christ, Christians may miss out on the fullness of spiritual renewal and the deep, abiding relationship with God that brings true wholeness. Believers need to balance the benefits of professional mental health support with a steadfast trust in the indwelling life of Yeshua, allowing His presence to be the ultimate source of their strength and healing.
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (James 3:15)
Authentic believers are called to depend on the indwelling mind of Christ for mental healing and renewal. The Bible teaches that the mind of Christ, which resides within every real-deal believer, offers profound wisdom, peace, and transformation. By aligning their thoughts with His, believers can experience a deep sense of mental and emotional well-being that surpasses human understanding. This divine connection provides clarity, strength, and comfort in times of distress, enabling believers to navigate life’s challenges with a renewed perspective. Embracing the indwelling mind of Christ allows believers to tap into the limitless resources of God’s love and mental healing, fostering true psychological healing and spiritual growth.
I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. (Romans 7:23)
The Classic Excuse | Believing What the Mind Says
Some believers may turn to psychiatry and psychotherapy, furthering their hidden habits of laziness.
While these therapeutic practices can offer valuable insights and support, they should not replace the transformative power of the indwelling life of Christ. The Bible calls believers to submit to Christ’s authority and allow His teachings to guide their lives. By relying solely on human wisdom and neglecting the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers may miss out on the profound spiritual growth and healing that comes from fully embracing Christ’s lordship. It is essential for believers to seek a balance, ensuring that their pursuit of self-understanding is rooted in their relationship with Christ and His authoritative Word and NOT in finding a label for their passive resistance.
Labelling My Excuses
Passive resistant believers may seek a professional “label” or diagnosis to excuse irresponsibility and avoid accountability for their actions, past and present.
By obtaining a psychological or medical explanation for their behavior, they might feel justified in neglecting their responsibilities or failing to address personal shortcomings. This tendency can lead to a reliance on external validation rather than seeking transformation through the indwelling life of Christ. The Bible calls believers to take responsibility for their actions and to seek God’s guidance in overcoming challenges. By depending on Christ’s strength and wisdom, believers can find true healing and growth rather than using professional labels as a means to evade the transformative work that God desires to accomplish in their lives.
The Misnomer of Self-life control!
While beneficial in certain contexts, the methods of psychiatry and psychology can sometimes lead individuals away from the empowerment of Christ from within. These approaches often emphasize self-awareness and self-control, which can inadvertently foster a reliance on one’s own abilities rather than on the transformative power of the indwelling life of Christ. By focusing on human wisdom and techniques, believers may find themselves prioritizing self-life control over the divine guidance and strength that comes from a deep relationship with Jesus.
This shift can result in a diminished experience of Christ's peace, healing, and empowerment. It is crucial for believers to remain anchored in their faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and empower them while discerningly integrating professional support when needed.
Most believers DO NOT want others telling them what to do!
Many believers struggle with the idea of surrendering control and allowing Jesus to guide their lives. This resistance often stems from a desire for autonomy and a reluctance to submit to any authority, even that of Christ.
The teachings of Jesus call for a life of obedience, humility, and self-denial, which can be challenging for those who prefer to rely on their own strength, understanding, and desires. It is a covert form of rebellion against God’s authority. This reluctance to be directed by Jesus can hinder spiritual growth and the experience of His transformative power. It is essential for believers to recognize that true freedom and fulfillment come from yielding to Christ’s loving authority and trusting in His perfect wisdom and guidance.
CHILDREN THAT REFUSE TO GROW UP
Dependence on psychological theory can sometimes lead to covert manipulation, where individuals use these theories to justify pursuing hidden desires and avoiding the challenges that God allows for their growth.
By focusing on self-centered goals and personal comfort, believers may attempt to escape God’s refining process to shape their character and faith. This reliance on human wisdom can obscure the truth that God works all things together for His good and the good of those who love Him. When believers prioritize psychological theories over the transformative power of Christ, they risk missing out on the deeper spiritual growth and fulfillment that comes from trusting in God’s perfect plan and allowing His purposes to unfold in their lives.
I need a “mommy” more than Jesus!
Many believers slip into the mommy syndrome, actively using the human psychobabble of exclusive labels to heal their broken minds. Men seek out a woman to be responsible in areas in which they are irresponsible. Women classically become dominant mother figures to replace proper Biblical womanhood, meaning they enable men to remain children who refuse to grow up. In both cases, this leads to unhealthy marital and interpersonal relationships.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The bottom line for authentic believers is that they should not seek out psychiatry and psychological labels as a means to excuse themselves from growing in the indwelling life of Christ.
While professional help can be beneficial, it should not replace the transformative power of Christ within, nor should it excuse their behaviors of being responsible in the Biblical mandates of Yeshua/Jesus.
True spiritual growth comes from embracing Jesus’ teachings, submitting to His authority, and allowing His presence to guide and heal the mind and body. By relying on psychological labels to justify their actions or avoid responsibility, believers will miss out on the profound spiritual renewal and empowerment that comes from a deep, abiding relationship with Christ. It is essential for believers to prioritize their faith and trust in the indwelling life of Christ as the ultimate source of strength and healing.
Depending on Christ’s mind from within empowers believers to rise above the limitations and excuses of the self-life, leading to true spiritual growth and allowing Yeshua to develop a sound, responsible mind.
In the past two decades, droves of self-proclaimed “Christians” have increasingly turned to psychiatrists and psychological therapies to address their mental and emotional struggles. While seeking professional help is not inherently wrong, there is a growing concern that this reliance may overshadow the transformative power of the indwelling life of Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
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I'll agree with this only because of how psychiatry affected my life prior to being a Christian and what I knew I had to do once a Christian. The best thing that ever happened to me was winding up in a church that truly discipled its members with foundation classes and other things to be sure they understood. I knew I still had an anger issue and nothing worked before. So I went to a Christian counselor at the church and we figured out the key I had been missing all those other times was a relationship with Christ. Jesus is the key. So I did not need anger management sessions, I just needed to continue in growing my relationship with Jesus through discipleship.