How Can I Change?/The Battle Against Sin

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}}In his book titled ''A Nation Of Victims: The Decay Of  
+
}}In his book titled ''A Nation Of Victims: The Decay Of '' The American Character, ''author Charles Sykes makes '' the following observation: “Over the last half century, the triumph of therapeutic thinking has been so complete that it is frequently taken for granted; what began with Dr. Freud is now the staple of daytime television talk shows, routine in politics, almost reflexive in matters of criminal justice and ethics.”<ref>Charles J. Sykes, ''A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the American Character ''(New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1992), p. 33.</ref>  
-
The American Character, ''author Charles Sykes makes  
+
-
the following observation: “Over the last half century, the  
+
-
triumph of therapeutic thinking has been so complete  
+
-
that it is frequently taken for granted; what began with  
+
-
Dr. Freud is now the staple of daytime television talk  
+
-
shows, routine in politics, almost reflexive in matters of  
+
-
criminal justice and ethics.”<ref>Charles J. Sykes, ''A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the American Character ''(New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1992), p. 33.</ref>
+
-
Whether or not you’ve heard the phrase, you’ve no  
+
Whether or not you’ve heard the phrase, you’ve no doubt encountered therapeutic thinking. It shows up in the courtroom when a serial killer’s attorney asks for leniency on the grounds that his client was routinely abused by an alcoholic father. It claims most of us grew up in “dysfunctional” families, thus offering a ready-made explanation and excuse for our behavior. Rather than emphasizing personal responsibility, it stresses the way we’ve been psychologically affected by others or by our environment. As social scientist Dr. James Deese notes, therapeutic thinking “is so ingrained in modern American attitudes as hardly to be challenged.”<ref>Ibid.</ref>  
-
doubt encountered therapeutic thinking. It shows up in  
+
-
the courtroom when a serial killer’s attorney asks for  
+
-
leniency on the grounds that his client was routinely  
+
-
abused by an alcoholic father. It claims most of us grew  
+
-
up in “dysfunctional” families, thus offering a ready-made  
+
-
explanation and excuse for our behavior. Rather than  
+
-
emphasizing personal responsibility, it stresses the way  
+
-
we’ve been psychologically affected by others or by our  
+
-
environment. As social scientist Dr. James Deese notes,  
+
-
therapeutic thinking “is so ingrained in modern American  
+
-
attitudes as hardly to be challenged.”<ref>Ibid.</ref>
+
{{LeftInsert|'''Meditate on  
{{LeftInsert|'''Meditate on  
Line 39: Line 21:
can we protect  
can we protect  
ourselves from being  
ourselves from being  
-
taken captive?}}Surprisingly, the one institution best equipped to challenge the therapeutic trend has actually contributed to its  
+
taken captive?}}Surprisingly, the one institution best equipped to challenge the therapeutic trend has actually contributed to its popularity. I’m speaking of the Church. Rather than expose the errors of psychotherapy, the American Church in most cases has given uncritical acceptance...though there are some outspoken exceptions. In his book ''Biblical '' Medical Ethics, ''Dr. Franklin Payne comments, “Psychotherapy, as psychology and psychiatry, needs the '' most critical and detailed examination by evangelical Christians...Many Christians are influenced more by the concepts of secular psychotherapists than by the Word of God.”<ref>Franklin E. Payne, Jr., M.D., ''Biblical/Medical Ethics: The Christian and the Practice of Medicine ''(Milford, MI: Mott Media, Inc., 1985), p. 155.</ref>  
-
popularity. I’m speaking of the Church. Rather than  
+
-
expose the errors of psychotherapy, the American Church  
+
-
in most cases has given uncritical acceptance...though  
+
-
there are some outspoken exceptions. In his book ''Biblical  
+
-
Medical Ethics, ''Dr. Franklin Payne comments, “Psychotherapy, as psychology and psychiatry, needs the  
+
-
most critical and detailed examination by evangelical  
+
-
Christians...Many Christians are influenced more by the  
+
-
concepts of secular psychotherapists than by the Word of  
+
-
God.”<ref>Franklin E. Payne, Jr., M.D., ''Biblical/Medical Ethics: The Christian and the Practice of Medicine ''(Milford, MI: Mott Media, Inc., 1985), p. 155.</ref>
+
{{LeftInsert|"Evangelical and charismatic Christians  
{{LeftInsert|"Evangelical and charismatic Christians  
have unguarded borders where psychological  
have unguarded borders where psychological  
-
ideas easily slip over."<ref>William K. Kilpatrick, ''Psychological Seduction: The Failure of Modern Psychology ''(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1983), p. 24.</ref><br>'''—William Kilpatrick'''}}I’ve met many of the Christians Dr. Payne is describing. Not long ago I was asked to speak at a men’s retreat in another church. At the  
+
ideas easily slip over."<ref>William K. Kilpatrick, ''Psychological Seduction: The Failure of Modern Psychology ''(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1983), p. 24.</ref><br>'''—William Kilpatrick'''}}I’ve met many of the Christians Dr. Payne is describing. Not long ago I was asked to speak at a men’s retreat in another church. At the end of one session I was approached by a man who introduced himself and then began telling me about his difficult situation. He had grown up in a dysfunctional family. He was a codependent. He suffered from low self-esteem. In the space of the first two minutes he must have used almost every psychological buzz word in existence.  
-
end of one session I was  
+
-
approached by a man who  
+
-
introduced himself and then  
+
-
began telling me about his  
+
-
difficult situation. He had  
+
-
grown up in a dysfunctional  
+
-
family. He was a codependent. He suffered from low self-esteem. In the space of the first two minutes he must have  
+
-
used almost every psychological buzz word in existence.  
+
-
It was an awkward encounter. I wasn’t eager to dis-  
+
It was an awkward encounter. I wasn’t eager to dis- agree with him or correct him. I had never met the man before, and I wanted him to experience my care and concern. But as he went on and on it seemed obvious he assumed I agreed with him. And I didn’t. Why? Though he spoke psychobabble fluently, his diagnosis omitted any reference to the “S” word....  
-
agree with him or correct him. I had never met the man  
+
-
before, and I wanted him to experience my care and concern. But as he went on and on it seemed obvious he  
+
-
assumed I agreed with him. And I didn’t. Why? Though he  
+
-
spoke psychobabble fluently, his diagnosis omitted any  
+
-
reference to the “S” word....  
+
{{LeftInsert|<big>1</big>What things in Jesus’ life might  
{{LeftInsert|<big>1</big>What things in Jesus’ life might  
Line 75: Line 35:
-
}}Sin.
+
}}Sin.  
-
Such omissions regrettably are the  
+
Such omissions regrettably are the norm today in popular Christian literature and radio talk shows. We are pursuing a deeper understanding of ourselves (as defined by the recovery movement) rather than a deeper conviction of sin (as defined in Scripture). We have become more concerned about our own needs and feelings than about the character and commands of God. No wonder we aren’t maturing as he intends.  
-
norm today in popular Christian literature and radio talk shows. We are  
+
-
pursuing a deeper understanding of  
+
-
ourselves (as defined by the recovery  
+
-
movement) rather than a deeper conviction of sin (as defined in Scripture).  
+
-
We have become more concerned  
+
-
about our own needs and feelings than  
+
-
about the character and commands of  
+
-
God. No wonder we aren’t maturing as  
+
-
he intends.  
+
-
=== Our Most Serious Problem ===
+
=== Our Most Serious Problem ===
-
Writing a century ago, J.C. Ryle offered a sharp but  
+
Writing a century ago, J.C. Ryle offered a sharp but simple explanation for the deficiencies he observed in the Church: “Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies and false doctrines of the present day...I believe that one of the chief wants of the church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin.”<ref>J.C. Ryle, ''Holiness ''(Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England: Evangelical Press, 1979), p. 1. </ref>If this was accurate during his generation, how much more so today.  
-
simple explanation for the deficiencies he observed in the  
+
-
Church: “Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of  
+
-
most of the errors, heresies and false doctrines of the pre-
+
-
sent day...I believe that one of the chief wants of the  
+
-
church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clear-
+
-
er, fuller teaching about sin.”<ref>J.C. Ryle, ''Holiness ''(Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England: Evangelical Press, 1979), p. 1. </ref>If this was accurate during  
+
-
his generation, how much more so today.
+
-
But we’ve gone a step further. Contemporary teaching  
+
But we’ve gone a step further. Contemporary teaching about self-esteem has replaced the doctrine of sin. Consider this remark from one well-known author:  
-
about self-esteem has replaced the doctrine of sin.  
+
-
Consider this remark from one well-known author:  
+
-
I don’t think anything has been done in the name of  
+
I don’t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality, and hence counterproductive to the evangelistic enterprise, than the unchristian, uncouth strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.<ref>Robert Schuller, quoted by Michael Scott Horton in ''Made in America: The Shaping of Modern American Evangelicalism ''(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991), p. 78.</ref>  
-
Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality, and hence  
+
-
counterproductive to  
+
-
the evangelistic enterprise, than the  
+
-
unchristian, uncouth  
+
-
strategy of attempting  
+
-
to make people aware  
+
-
of their lost and sinful  
+
-
condition.<ref>Robert Schuller, quoted by Michael Scott Horton in ''Made in America: The Shaping of Modern American Evangelicalism ''(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991), p. 78.</ref>
+
-
{{LeftInsert|"To say that our first need in life is to  
+
{{LeftInsert|"To say that our first need in life is to learn about sin may sound strange, but in the sense intended it is profoundly true. If you have not learned about sin, you cannot understand yourself, or your fellow-men, or the world you live in, or the Christian faith. And you will not be able to make head or tail of the Bible. For the Bible is an exposition of God’s answer to the problem of human sin, and unless you have that problem clearly before you, you will keep missing the point of what it says...It is clear, therefore, that we need to fix in our minds what our ancestors would have called ‘clear views of sin.’"<ref>J.I. Packer, God’s Words(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981), p. 71. </ref><br>'''—J.I. Packer'''}}
-
learn about sin may sound strange, but in  
+
-
the sense intended it is profoundly true. If  
+
-
you have not learned about sin, you cannot  
+
-
understand yourself, or your fellow-men, or  
+
-
the world you live in, or the Christian faith.  
+
-
And you will not be able to make head or  
+
-
tail of the Bible. For the Bible is an exposition of God’s answer to the problem of  
+
-
human sin, and unless you have that problem clearly before you, you will keep missing the point of what it says...It is clear,  
+
-
therefore, that we need to fix in our minds  
+
-
what our ancestors would have called  
+
-
‘clear views of sin.’"<ref>J.I. Packer, God’s Words(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981), p. 71. </ref><br>'''—J.I. Packer'''}}
+

Revision as of 15:31, 30 May 2008

 

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In his book titled A Nation Of Victims: The Decay Of The American Character, author Charles Sykes makes the following observation: “Over the last half century, the triumph of therapeutic thinking has been so complete that it is frequently taken for granted; what began with Dr. Freud is now the staple of daytime television talk shows, routine in politics, almost reflexive in matters of criminal justice and ethics.”[1]

Whether or not you’ve heard the phrase, you’ve no doubt encountered therapeutic thinking. It shows up in the courtroom when a serial killer’s attorney asks for leniency on the grounds that his client was routinely abused by an alcoholic father. It claims most of us grew up in “dysfunctional” families, thus offering a ready-made explanation and excuse for our behavior. Rather than emphasizing personal responsibility, it stresses the way we’ve been psychologically affected by others or by our environment. As social scientist Dr. James Deese notes, therapeutic thinking “is so ingrained in modern American attitudes as hardly to be challenged.”[2]

Meditate on

Colossians 2:8. How can we protect ourselves from being

taken captive?

Surprisingly, the one institution best equipped to challenge the therapeutic trend has actually contributed to its popularity. I’m speaking of the Church. Rather than expose the errors of psychotherapy, the American Church in most cases has given uncritical acceptance...though there are some outspoken exceptions. In his book Biblical Medical Ethics, Dr. Franklin Payne comments, “Psychotherapy, as psychology and psychiatry, needs the most critical and detailed examination by evangelical Christians...Many Christians are influenced more by the concepts of secular psychotherapists than by the Word of God.”[3]

"Evangelical and charismatic Christians

have unguarded borders where psychological

ideas easily slip over."[4]
—William Kilpatrick

I’ve met many of the Christians Dr. Payne is describing. Not long ago I was asked to speak at a men’s retreat in another church. At the end of one session I was approached by a man who introduced himself and then began telling me about his difficult situation. He had grown up in a dysfunctional family. He was a codependent. He suffered from low self-esteem. In the space of the first two minutes he must have used almost every psychological buzz word in existence.

It was an awkward encounter. I wasn’t eager to dis- agree with him or correct him. I had never met the man before, and I wanted him to experience my care and concern. But as he went on and on it seemed obvious he assumed I agreed with him. And I didn’t. Why? Though he spoke psychobabble fluently, his diagnosis omitted any reference to the “S” word....

1What things in Jesus’ life might

cause a counselor to recommend that he join the “recovery movement”?


Sin.

Such omissions regrettably are the norm today in popular Christian literature and radio talk shows. We are pursuing a deeper understanding of ourselves (as defined by the recovery movement) rather than a deeper conviction of sin (as defined in Scripture). We have become more concerned about our own needs and feelings than about the character and commands of God. No wonder we aren’t maturing as he intends.

Our Most Serious Problem

Writing a century ago, J.C. Ryle offered a sharp but simple explanation for the deficiencies he observed in the Church: “Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies and false doctrines of the present day...I believe that one of the chief wants of the church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin.”[5]If this was accurate during his generation, how much more so today.

But we’ve gone a step further. Contemporary teaching about self-esteem has replaced the doctrine of sin. Consider this remark from one well-known author:

I don’t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality, and hence counterproductive to the evangelistic enterprise, than the unchristian, uncouth strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.[6]

"To say that our first need in life is to learn about sin may sound strange, but in the sense intended it is profoundly true. If you have not learned about sin, you cannot understand yourself, or your fellow-men, or the world you live in, or the Christian faith. And you will not be able to make head or tail of the Bible. For the Bible is an exposition of God’s answer to the problem of human sin, and unless you have that problem clearly before you, you will keep missing the point of what it says...It is clear, therefore, that we need to fix in our minds what our ancestors would have called ‘clear views of sin.’"[7]
—J.I. Packer

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
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