Comparing the Five Views
Christians Take to Psychology
By Eric L. Johnson
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Levels-of-Explanation Model
Major representatives
David Myers
Malcolm Jeeves
Most common Christian position
among Christian college psychology
faculty
Levels-of-Explanation Model
Humans are best understand in
terms of a hierarchy of levels or
disciplines of relative complexity
that should not be confused
Theology
Psychology
Biology
Chemistry
Therefore, one’s faith should not
affect the other levels or disciplines
Levels-of-Explanation Model
Strengths
1. Takes science and research very seriously
2. Allows all scientists to contribute to their discipline,
regardless of worldview differences
3. Avoids problems with misinterpreting the
Bible, like what happened regarding the
earth’s position in the solar system
4. Has shaped contemporary psychology in areas like
psych. of religion, forgiveness, and values in
therapy
Levels-of-Explanation Model
Weaknesses
1. Prevents worldviews from exercising influence,
except for secularist worldview!
2. Secularism is unfair to Christians. Forbids Christians
to work within their worldview/prevents use of
Christian values in public mental health facilities
3. Excludes Bible from contributing to psychology
4. Can easily lead to syncretism and the importation
of modern values regarding topics like
homosexuality (D. Myers)
Integration Model
Major representatives
Bruce Narramore
Mark McMinn
Everett
Worthington
Stan Jones
Dominant approach at Christian graduate schools
Integration Model
Major Orientations
1. Interdisciplinary Integration (majority position)
Goal is the integration of psychology and theology
2. Worldview Integration (Jones & Butman, 1991)
Goal is the proper interpretation of modern
psychology according to a Christian worldview
3. Ethical Integration (popular among postmoderns)
Goal is to live Christianly in one’s personal
and professional life
Integration Model
Common Slogan
“All Truth is God’s Truth”
Key Insight
God is glorified when Christians make use of
his truth
Limitation
The way the slogan is often used seems to
imply that all secular psychology is true
Integration Model
Comparing Quality of Integration
1. Strong Integration
Christian thought makes a real impact
Examples: Jones & Butman, McMinn, Tan, Sandage
2. Weak Integration
Christianity makes no substantial impact
Examples: Carter & Narramore, and many
who use the term
Integration Model
Strengths
1. Takes science and research seriously
2. Allows Christian faith to reinterpret psychology
3. Recognizes the role of God’s “creation grace” in
culture and science
4. Seeks to engage the culture and impact
contemporary psychology
Integration Model
Weaknesses
1. Assumes a dualistic separation between biblical
research and research on human beings
2. Assumes that modern psychology is the real
legitimate version of psychology/Allows
secularism to set the agenda for psychology
3. Minimizes the distorting effects of sin on our
understanding = the “Antithesis”
4. Poor integration undermines the lordship of
Christ and the impact of redemption (esp. in
counseling)
Modern Pastoral Care Model
Major representatives
Howard
Clinebell
Anton Boisen
Don
Browning
Integration with Liberal Theology
Modern Pastoral Care Model
Strengths
1. Demonstrates more rigorous thinking than
most evangelical counseling books
2. Evidences significant familiarity with modern/
postmodern psychology
3. Demonstrates considerable psychological
sophistication
Modern Pastoral Care Model
Weaknesses
1. Integrates modern/postmodern psychology
with liberal theology
2. Insufficiently critical of modern/postmodern
psychology. Like liberal theology, it basically
embraces contemporary thought, and
jettisons historic Christian beliefs and values
Biblical Counseling Model
Major representatives
Jay Adams
David Powlison
Ed Welch
Wayne Mack
Biblical Counseling Model
Counseling that is based exclusively
on the Bible (and theology)
Concern about the influence of
secularism on modern psychology
So, skeptical about integration
Sin is the primary focus of counsel
So gospel is the primary solution
Biblical Counseling Model
Common Slogan
“The Sufficiency of Scripture”
Key Insight
Scripture is authoritative and necessary for Christian
counseling bec/ it is God’s soul care guidebook
Limitation
The way the slogan is often used seems to imply
that the Bible is scientifically sufficient and its
content directly addresses all counseling matters
comprehensively
Biblical Counseling Model
Major Orientations
1. Traditional Biblical Counseling (Adams, Mack)
a. Anti-psychology, anti-licensure, anti-medication
b. Assumes a dualistic separation between biblical
research and research on human beings
c. Negativistic, judgmental tone towards others
d. Superficial understanding of sin
* Focus on behavior
* Repent and all will be well
* Lack of awareness of subtle, remaining sin
Biblical Counseling Model
Major Orientations
2. Progressive Biblical Counseling (CCEF, SEBTS, CBS)
a. Very cautious about modern psychology, but
more open to learn from extrabiblical sources
b. Greater willingness to dialogue with others
c. More sophisticated understanding of sin
* Focus on the heart
* Focus on “idols”
* Willingness to develop relationship
and take as long as necessary
Biblical Counseling Model
Strengths
1. Bible is God’s word for soul care;
BCM takes the Bible seriously
2. Wary of the implicit worldview influences of
secularism on modern psychology;
Want to avoid syncretism
3. Strive for a theocentric approach to soul care that
sees sin as our worst problem and Christ’s
work as the cure for the sin-sick soul
Biblical Counseling Model
Weaknesses
1. Has not given enough thought to relation between
creation and redemption
2. Has not given even thought to relation between
God’s word in creation and God’s word in
Scripture
3. Overemphasizes the “Antithesis” and its effects
and underemphasizes “Creation Grace” effects
4. So typically not theocentric enough
Christian Psychology Model
Major representatives: Classical
Apostle Paul
Julian of
Norwich
Soren
Kierkegaard
Augustine
John
Bunyan
Christian Psychology Model
Major representatives: Contemporary
Paul J.
Watson
Robert
Roberts
Diane
Langberg
Larry
Crabb
Paul
Vitz
Christian Psychology Model
Relation to Integration and Biblical Counseling
1. A middle way between both models that seeks to
build on the strengths of each and avoid their
historic weaknesses
2. Yet, rightly interpreted, there is no fundamental
incompatibility between all three models—just
difference in focus and location in culture
Integration = Doing research and professional counseling in
the public square
Biblical Counseling = Work in the Church, Bible-based
Christian psychology = Doing research and professional
counseling in Christian contexts (churches, counseling
centers, colleges and universities)
Christian Psychology Model
The agenda of a Christian Psychology
The ongoing development of distinctly Christian
psychological theory, research programs, and
soul care practice.
Christian Psychology Model
The agenda of a Christian Psychology
A Christian psychology will be shaped primarily by the Christian
Scriptures, as well as Christianity’s intellectual and ecclesial traditions.
However, a Christian psychology will also be critically informed by other
relevant sources of psychological truth, particularly its own reflection,
research, and practice, but also the psychological work of other traditions
(e.g., secular psychology), philosophy, human experience, and the other
human sciences.
While God’s understanding of human nature is the goal of a Christian
psychology, given human finitude and the existence of distinct Christian
traditions, a Christian psychology will actually consist of many different
perspectives found within the historic Christian Church.
Christian Psychology Model
The agenda of a Christian Psychology
A Christian psychology will not differ noticeably in
every respect from modern or postmodern
psychology.
Only where the psychological feature is
worldview dependent
Christian Psychology Model
What areas of psychology are not so
worldview dependent?
1. Biological mechanics: genetics and
neuropsychology, drive motivation
2. Psychological mechanics: animal learning,
memory, reasoning, intelligence, language,
emotion, school learning, action
3. Social processes: family influences, group
dynamics, social skills, social influence
Christian Psychology Model
What areas of psychology are more
worldview dependent?
Those that are…
the most subject to sociocultural influence
the most complex
the most existential
and the understanding of which is the most
value-laden
Christian Psychology Model
What areas of psychology are more
worldview dependent?
1. Higher human motivation/uniquely human
2. Personality structures and processes
3.
4.
5.
6.
Psychopathology
Definitions of human maturity and flourishing
Healing of the soul/Psychotherapy, counseling
Interpretation of complex social phenomena
like attribution, love, relations between
motives, and ethical and spiritual dynamics
Christian Psychology Model
What major distinctives will characterize
a Christian psychology?
1. God is the center of human life
2. Humans are situated within a grand theo-drama
in which the triune God is gradually and
increasingly manifesting himself and his glory.
This theo-drama can be summarized as
creation, fall, redemption, and consummation
Christian Psychology Model
What major distinctives will characterize a
Christian psychology?
3. Creation: Humans are made in God’s image
4. Fall: Humans are sinners and primordially alienated
from God and neighbor
5. Redemption: The appropriation by faith of Christ’s
work of redemption is necessary for proper
human maturity, coping, healing, and
strengthening—of great importance for counseling
Christian Psychology Model
What major distinctives will characterize
a Christian psychology?
6. Consummation: Human life is eschatological—
oriented to an eternal future with God
7. A four dimensional relational model of human life
Triune
God
Self
Others
Material Universe
A Four-Dimensional
Relational Model
(In contrast to the one- or two-dimensional models
of secular psychology)
Christian Psychology Model
What major distinctives will characterize
a Christian psychology?
8. A multi-level, hierarchical, holistic model of human
nature
Soul
{
Body/Brain
Spiritual
Ethical
Psychosocial
Biological
Spiritual
Ethical
Psychosocial
Biological
Christian Psychology Model
A Strategic Vision for Christian Psychology
1. We need contributors from multiple vocations:
psychologists (researchers are especially
important), counselors, philosophers, theologians,
pastors, spiritual directors, educators, public
policy specialists.
2. We need contributors from multiple historic
Christian traditions.
Christian Psychology Model
A Strategic Vision for Christian Psychology
3. We need Christian theory-building, research programs,
and specific clinical strategies and detailed
treatment protocols and paradigms that flow from
a Christian understanding of human beings.
4. We need a two-track approach
a. To and for the Christian community/the Church
Christian Psychology Model
A Strategic Vision for Christian Psychology
4. We need a two-track approach
b. To and within the larger Western psychological
community
* Contributions to mainstream journals/books
In areas where there is less worldview dependence
In areas where there is more worldview dependence
* Involvement in public mental health:
Towards pluralistic centers, no longer secular