A Reflective Paper On Integration

No doubt that in the book written by David N. Entwistle Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, the author leaves the truths embodied in his book. Truths that for many to this day are still trying to accommodate in their vast knowledge they have concerning the psychological science. Many still fail to understand that both psychology and theology when they go hand in hand they can become allies in treating those who for one reason or another have external and internal conflicts.

Enwistle’s book, Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (2010) is a text that explores integrating psychology and Christianity. We start out by learning about integration related to both psychology and Christianity. Is this a thing? Is integration between these two subjects a subject itself? Enwistle explores through time to reveal how psychology and Christianity have been both closely studied and intertwined throughout time. Enwistle (2010) defines Christian psychology as “ a commitment to a Christian worldview that shapes how psychology is studied and applies, and that recognizes that there are specific Christian resources that uniquely reveal crucial aspects of what it means to be human (p. 14). Those in the psychology or counseling field who are also Christian have unique and different approaches but they draw from both Christianity and psychology to help them succeed.

After reviewing the important concepts of the Hawkins and Clinton book, I was able to finalize the 8 most interesting points. During the book review, it was mentioned that as Christian counselors, we need to maintain a steady pace with the progression in research, practice, and treatment (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p. 2). From my understanding, enhancing our counseling methods and incorporating valuable resources, will result in a more spiritual work in the ministry of counseling.

The Christian Psychology view by Roberts and Watson, have a more historical and philosophical approach. They do not deny modern psychology, but argue that psychology has been around for the past 2500 years. For example, he brings up issues relevant today with the Sermon on the Mount instead of the science offered by todays establish psychologist. Roberts and Watson also claim that Christian psychologist should approach psychology with the bases of the Christian tradition. “Christians must approach the subject matter of humanity embracing what God has told us about what it mean to be fully human first; that then is our framework for engaging psychology as a social science” (p. 183). Roberts and Watson purpose a two-stage method: “to first appropriate the resources of the rich, Christian psychological tradition, and then to employ it in the advance of empirical science and applied science” (p.184). This is how a Christian understanding of the person can come to hypotheses that can be tested, therefore advancing our comprehension on humans.

Today, the integration of Christianity and psychology is becoming more increasingly recognized. The integration begins with understanding the sinful state of the human condition as viewed from a biblical perspective. It continues with being faithful to Christian stewardship and not only embracing theology but also the psychology of human behavior (Entwistle, 2015). A more accurate and complete understanding of human nature and function is provided through the integration of Christianity and psychology. The Allies model confirms that Christian theology and psychology are both subject to God’s authority, and exemplifies the best integrative relationship between Christianity and psychology (Entwistle, 2015). This paper will discuss the integration of Christianity and psychology through the Allies model. It will define integration, review reasons and explanations of why Christianity and psychology should be integrated. As well as look at different methods of knowing, the Allies model concept, and the two books idea along with strengths and weaknesses of this model.

In his book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, David N. Entwistle explores the necessity of integrating psychology and Christianity, the worldview issues, philosophical foundations, models of integration and discusses the difficulty in doing so. It is often thought that there are secular jobs, such as a psychologist or counselor, and there are ministry jobs. Entwistle points out that God has gifted each with abilities and those abilities are best used to serve God and others.

Bob Kelleman, in his book Gospel-Centered Counseling, suggests that a study of human mind is not a product of modern psychology. However, men’s attempt to know and understand human suffering and problems began even far back from Greek philosophy. Thus, Paul rightly says in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (KJV).” However, it is certainly true that rise of psychology in modern era restricted the use of counseling to a secular world, while breaking a tie between counseling and religion in its usage. Secular society claimed counseling has no place in religion, its usage and methodology can be utilized and systemized only by pure science. This is how Christian ministry began to lose a counseling in its domain.

I personally enjoyed reading Entwistles’ book “Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical foundations and models of integration. I did have a difficult decipher his “language” and found myself having to read a sentence more than once. I really enjoyed seeing Entwistles’ points about integrating psychology and Christian theology. I realize as a future Christian counselor is will be very important for me to effectively integrate the two and without knowledge on how to achieve that I will not be doing my clients any good. Although I did enjoy reading this book I did feel that there was not enough emphasis on faith and the Holy Spirit. I definitely agree that our worldview influences our perspectives but I also feel that the Holy Spirit is changing those perspectives as well. Because we are humans we have a sinful nature and because of this nature we can only help someone to a certain point. The Holy Spirit is there guiding us and giving us the discernment that we need in difficult situations. I feel that the Holy Spirit should be a key player in any counseling situation and should have been discussed more in this book. I understand that integration was the main topic but our worldview is not the only thing that sways our perspectives. As stated early I really did enjoy reading Entwistles book. I completely agree that we have to be faithful to his

In this paper, I discussed my personal theory regarding the integration of Christianity and psychology, as it relates to my beliefs, and how the summation of these two components will be reflected in my future counseling practice. I considered several factors that were critical to my personal counseling theory. First, I considered the human personality, such as, individual differences, motivations, and human development. Each person is unique; however, both Christianity and psychology have discovered common threads that are woven throughout the human race, and I believe that information is imperative to the counseling process. Next,

David Enwistle (2010) in Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity challenges the reader to look at the idea that psychology and Christianity are at odds with one another when it comes to the idea of psychology. He states that it may be impossible for both to coexist because of the differences seen within both. Psychology is based strictly on truth, and Christianity is based solely of a person’s faith. According to Enwistle, (p. 32), “a historical survey would suggest that they have been both at various times over the past centuries”. This would suggest that the church and man at different times have accepted both, but a various periods, the church has not accepted psychology as a viable method of dealing with emotional turmoil.

Summary of Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity In David Entwistle’s (2010) book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity he addresses, as the title suggest, the integration of Psychology and Christianity. Psychology and Christianity, as pointed out by Entwistle (2010), have often been considered enemies. The two appear to be at odds with one another because they both deal with the basic questions about life and they approach these questions differently. Psychology uses the human experience to gain understanding, while Christianity puts God in the center of all understanding.

McMinn tells how psychology, theology, and spirituality are used and how they should be used in Christian counseling. A Christian counselor has to look at not necessarily psychology and theology in a counseling session but how religion and spiritually is brought into the session. McMinn (2011) states, “Religious interventions require us to understand spiritual formation, place priority on personal spiritual training as well as professional development, challenge prevailing models of mental health, work toward a stronger scientific base, and sensitively recognize ethical issues” (p. 26). Counselors need to work on their own spiritual foundation so they can are able to help clients. This consists of prayer, scripture, redemption, sin, forgiveness, and confession (McMinn, 2011).

McMinn and Phillips’ work listed in their book “Care for the Soul” helps me to understand the integration between theology and psychology. In the context of pastoral counseling, both theology and psychology can be used as interpretive frameworks that can be treated individually in terms of its distinctive methods, aims, norms and linguistic conventions. However, it is important not to separate the two conceptual frameworks from each other when we seek to understand persons in their psychological and spiritual wholeness. Psychological discourse should be placed into the larger theological framework of meaning. The integration of the theological and psychological modes of discourse should not be striving only for systematic or conceptual idea, but to apply them in practice at the level of personal integration in intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. The skill of using these ways of thinking and speaking becomes a part of who the pastoral counselor is, part of the counselor’s ordinary way of functioning.

The book showed favor for psychology unlike counter parts such as Jay Adams in the 1970s however, it was still “screened through the Word of God ”. The work was seen as highly simplistic but it was still able to intertwine modern psychology with a Christian lens. His writings also contained a vast amount of biblical quotes while still lightly touching on the complexities of the nervous system, sensation, learning and motivation. In 1954-1955 a small group a conservative Christians came together to discuss the links between psychology, psychiatry and religion. As a product of this meeting the Christian Association for Psychological Studies was formed.

In conclusion the model of historical integration question: is science enemies or allies? Christianity and psychology are needed and can be engrafted together to provide doctrinal truth as well as worldly truth. There are several types of counseling with several challenges and risks. Integrating psychology and theology were said to be a slow process but there is a need for it. Medication may be needed by a client for mental health issues as well as other health issues and counseling, rather secular or Christian counseling the concern should be for the client’s well-being and restoration.