Theology and psychology: Enemies or allies?

Are theology and psychology enemies or allies?

Theology and psychology are not opposed to each other, but sometimes there is a sense of suspicion when it comes to integrating theology with psychology. Much of this can be traced back to the Enlightenment, and eventual separation of the church (theology) from the sciences. So how can Christians think about the relationship between theology and psychology today?

Some Christians think there should be a complete rejection of secular psychology. Others attempts to keep the two disciplines separate. Efforts are made, by many, to integrate them in some manner. (For a comprehensive understanding and critique of several of these theories, I encourage you to read Psychology and Christianity: Five Views.) 

We are able to hold together theology and psychology, if we approach both in the right way. First, let's talk about theology.

Learning how to interpret the Bible

My seminary professors equipped me to handle the Word of God, by encouraging me to approach the Bible with humility, an attitude of curiosity, and an understanding that true theological reflection can never be separated from a relationship with the triune God himself.

It is impossible to “figure out” our theology apart from God. As God is infinite, the task of learning about him is also infinite – it will never be finished! My professors also emphasized that we are constrained by our own human limitations as well as our time and place in history. Thus, we need to carefully consider the historical, cultural, and literary contexts of the verses we are reading, lest we misinterpret the meaning. 

As we engage in theological reflection (a fancy word for thinking about God), we must be open to the fact that we may have some of our theology wrong. As we humbly approach the Word of God with God, we may be led toward repentance and ultimately to revise our thinking and understanding. 

As David Entwistle, author of Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, wisely points out, “we must guard against confusing the authority of Scripture with our theological interpretation of Scripture.”

When I began to approach the Word of God with this new understanding, it was freeing––but also scary. Freeing, because I knew that God welcomed my questions, but scary, because I learned that certain beliefs I had always assumed were “biblical” were actually more cultural than anything. However, the process of letting go of my long-held beliefs and assumptions has grown my understanding of God, who is ultimately far beyond our human comprehension. 

Integrating theology with psychology 

Now how does this have anything to do with psychology? A lot, actually! 

As I worked through my counselling courses, my professors often required us to integrate our theology into our academic research papers. I was forced to think about how the Word of God related to the research and clinical practice of counselling.

For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) states, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

How was I supposed to reconcile the psychological research that grief must be both embraced and expressed to move toward healing with a verse that appears to go against any kind of expression of grief? A cursory approach to Scripture would be unable to resolve the tension between these two ideas.

However, what does the rest of Scripture say about grief? Scripture must be interpreted within the context of other Scripture. The laments in Psalms, Job, and Lamentations also contribute to a scriptural understanding of grief. These could change my understanding of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Does God truly require me to be thankful and joyful every single moment of my life without ceasing? The Bible is full of paradox––two seemingly opposite ideas that can be true at the same time.

Further, my classes exposed me to the idea that truth about God can be discovered through all of creation, which is known as “general revelation.” In Romans 1:20, we discover that God infused his truth into all of creation: “Since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, his divine power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made."

Although truth is revealed through both Scripture and creation, this does not mean that both of these sources are equally authoritative in all aspects of life.

For example, if I have a rare genetic disease, the Bible does not contain a detailed treatment manual for treating it. The field of medicine—part of God’s general revelation—provides greater guidance in this matter.

However, for matters related to repentance and salvation, the Bible (special revelation from God to humans) is our instructional guidebook. It can get more complicated, however, when the topic we are looking at is not so cut-and-dry. 

Mark McMinn and Clark Campbell, two top scholars seeking the integration of psychology and theology, pose the following questions: 

• What does each discipline say about the issue? 

• Are they in competition with one another, or can they somehow complement one another? 

• Is each perspective equally reliable and valid? 

• If not, how much should each perspective be relegated? 

These are difficult questions, and it is important to note that not all Christians will agree on the answers. Again, this is why it is so important to humbly wrestle through these questions with God—the Author of all truth. 

The process of integrating theology and psychology is like a puzzle; all the pieces of knowledge from different sources all fit together somehow, and figuring it out is the task. I do not have all the pieces to the puzzle—only God does. 

Over time, we may get more puzzle pieces as our understanding of God grows and changes as we learn more about his creation. This opens the door to consider that the study of both science (psychology) and theology can influence each other. David Entwistle, in his book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity,  asserts that because psychology and Christian theology “come from different directions, with different assumptions, methodologies, and goals, they provide unique perspectives that together have the potential to provide a more complete picture than either would provide in isolation.”

How Christians could engage with psychology

In terms of how Christians in Canada view mental illness, we’ve made progress. For the most part, gone are the days when medication was viewed as contrary to God’s will. Many people now recognize that humans are not exclusively spiritual beings, but also physical, mental, emotional, and relational.

Many would now be comfortable referring others to a mental health professional—just as we would encourage those suffering from cancer to seek medical attention.

However, we need to loosen our grip on the idea that psychological findings are always contrary to Scripture. They may be, or even appear to be, at first.

Should we allow the truth of Scripture to challenge these findings? Definitely.

But will we do the reverse, and allow the psychological findings to challenge our interpretation of Scripture?

Will we be humble enough to admit that perhaps our understanding is wrong?

Will we be brave enough to face these intimidating questions that have the potential to challenge our faith?

Psychology and theology are not enemies, but, in fact, work together to help us grow in our understanding of people and Scripture.