The science of psychology can offer up some very helpful explanations about why we act in certain ways. Knowing about our emotions and systems of thought can aid us in discovering tools that are useful for breaking out of self-destructive ways and addictions. But, Freud is no replacement for Jesus Christ! A couple of decades ago, in a search for ways to help hurting people, I learned from authors who detailed the various complexes, phobias, and relational problems that diminish the quality of peoples’ lives. However, there is no power for transformation like the power of salvation through Jesus Christ.
We must not be distracted from the true Gospel replacing spiritual transformation found in the Holy Spirit by turning Jesus into the Great Therapist. Men and women broken by the sin and evil of this world need more than a Therapist who understands! We all need a Savior who can reveal the deceptions of the father of lies. We need a Light to show us the Way, to life and to the love of our Father. I am not dismissing the value of the science of psychology as a tool for dealing with dysfunctional human behaviors! What I want us to know is that it has its limits and that at the end of the road of counseling, there is a lesser traveled Way to the Cross, where "anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, The Message)
The Therapeutic Jesus is a Friend that we talk to, sharing our burdens, finding love and understanding. So what's wrong with that? Nothing, except that He is more than a Friend. He is the Lord, the Savior, the Mediator who bridges the wide gap between us and our Creator! He not only listens with empathy, He is able to change us and heal us by giving us the Spirit to live in us! The Word says, "He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him." (Hebrews 7:25, NKJV) Another version states the wonderful promise like this - "Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. ... Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. ... he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins." (Hebrews 7:22-27, NLT)
Have you 'psychologized' Jesus?
Have you made Him a kind of super "Dr. Phil" without really realizing it?
Do you talk over your fears, problems, failures, and sins with Him but without the expectation that He can do more than just listen and advise?
He is the Lord of Glory who came to 'save us from our sins.'
The word from the Word is full of promise of inner change- "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. .... I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:10-11, NLT)
When you discover why you act in ways that are harmful, why you cannot trust others, why you are full of rage; learn and understand. Then, take it to Jesus Christ and pray for the power of the Spirit to begin working deeply in you to make you new. He can, and He will. Receive Him with new faith. Follow Him to the Cross, into suffering and death, and into a new life marked by the Eternal Life of the Spirit.
__________________
"Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
Ye ransomed from the Fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him, Lord of All.
All Hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name,
let angels prostrate fall,
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him, Lord of All!"
No comments:
Post a Comment