"The entrance of thy words giveth light (Psalm 119:130)."
Doctrines of Demons and Mental Health
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." {Colossians 2:8 NKJV}
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons . . . " {1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV}
Doctrines of demons are evident in many facets of society. But nowhere are they more obvious than in the "science" of psychology and the field of mental health care. Let's examine some of these doctrines.
Psychology is a science: I once had another Christian tell me that she regarded psychology as "a science." Really? A science? Can Christians really believe that secular mental health treatment is just like a physical health problem? That a psychologist is just another doctor? Yes they can. But let's examine the issue.
Sigmund Freud, the founder of the modern mental health movement, made no secret of his antipathy toward religion. He regarded religion as " . . . the universal obsessional neurosis of humanity."1
Psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz put it this way: "It [psychology] is not merely a religion that pretends to be science, it is actually a fake religion that seeks to destroy true religion . . ."1
In attempting to evaluate the status of psychology, the American Psychological Association appointed Sigmund Koch to plan and direct a study which was subsidized by the National Science Foundation. This study involved eighty eminent scholars in assessing the facts, theories, and methods of psychology. In 1983, the results were published in a seven-volume series entitled Psychology: A Study of Science. Koch describes the delusion in thinking of psychology as a science:
"The hope of a psychological science became indistinguishable from the fact of psychological science. The entire subsequent history of psychology can be seen as a ritualistic endeavor to emulate the forms of science in order to sustain the delusion that it already is a science."
Dr. Koch later stated that, while psychology, generally, is not science, there are aspects of psychology that do meet the criteria of true science.
The dictionary defines pseudoscience as "a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific." Pseudoscience, or pseudoscientism, includes the use of the scientific label to protect and promote opinions which are neither provable nor refutable.
One aspect of psychology riddled with pseudoscience is that of psychotherapy. Had psychotherapy succeeded as a science, we would have some consensus in the field regarding mental-emotional-behavioral problems and how to treat them. Instead, the field is filled with contradictory theories and techniques, all of which communicate confusion rather than anything approximating scientific order.
Psychology, and its active arm of psychotherapy, have indeed adopted the scientific posture. However, from a strictly scientific point of view, they have not been able to meet the requirements of true science.1
Mental health problems require treatment by a mental health professional. Nothing in the Bible supports this.
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life (2 Peter 1:3 NLT)." Mental health issues are usually the result of God's discipline and/or spiritual warfare. Secular professionals cannot understand or address spiritual issues.
Competent Christian counsel is useful—but it is often hard to come by.
Licensed Christian counselors usually combine secular psychology with the Bible.
Combining a psychological theory, with biblical truth, makes Scripture largely ineffective:
"And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NASB)."
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV)."
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect (1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV)."
Mental health symptoms involve a 'chemical imbalance' and require the use of psychotropic medication. The need for psychotropic drugs is highly suspect in light of Scripture. Jesus said: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32 NKJV)."
There is no support for the use of a psychotropic drug, in Scripture, except for the bitter in heart and those near death (Proverbs 31:6-7).
The Bible does work. But it is a learning process with inevitable setbacks. The key is "if you abide" and don't give up. Usually, using psych meds by Christians can be characterized as giving up.
Furthermore, using medication greatly diminishes the efficacy of Scripture. Usually, while on medication, clients make no progress whatsoever; they just keep coming back for more and more therapy.
Even some psychiatrists are speaking out about the 'chemical imbalance' fallacy. Here's two quotes:
"Despite more than two hundred years of intensive research, no commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders have proven to be either genetic or biological in origin, including schizophrenia, major depression, manic-depressive disorder, the various anxiety disorders, and childhood disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity. At present there are no known biochemical imbalances in the brain of typical psychiatric patients—until they are given psychiatric drugs." {Dr. Peter Breggin, Psychiatrist}2
"Giving a child a psychiatric drug is poisoning, not treatment." {Dr. Thomas Szasz, Psychiatrist}
The pervasiveness and breath of the use of psychotropic medications is astonishing. Today, even toddlers are being prescribed psychotropic drugs. Lives are being damaged by the millions.
There are, of course, some situations where the use of drugs can be considered. For more information, refer to my article on psychotropic drugs.
Spanking is child abuse. The move is on to label spanking as child abuse and make it illegal. However, the Bible is clear that there is a place for spanking in the discipline of children (Proverbs 13:24).
Banning spanking is damaging to children and families. I have seen children come to the attention of the criminal justice system because their parents—unable or unwilling to use spanking—were unable to control their child's behavior. I also remember one mother who, for the first time in her life, went on antidepressant medication as a result of being repeatedly disrespected by her newly adopted daughter. Of course, spanking was out of the question!
One more thing: when parents decline to spank their children, they end up yelling at them as a means of controlling their behavior. While physical pain is transitory, emotional pain is another matter: yelling at children can result in long term damage to the child's mental health.
I would caution that spanking can be child abuse if it is excessive or done in the wrong spirit. Children should not have to live in fear if they're making a good faith effort to be obedient. Also, the Bible includes this admonition: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV)."
I should also note that spanking may be viewed as illegal in many parts of the United States and the world. Parents who spank their children can face legal sanctions and harassment by child protective service agencies. Parents need to be aware of this.
Consult with an attorney, right away, if necessary. Many local bar associations do offer a free initial consultation.
Sexual mores: The Bible is clear in terms of permissible sexual conduct. Sex is only between a man and a woman, only within the context of marriage and marriage, once entered into, is intended to be permanent.
Sins always result in negative consequences.
Having children outside of marriage, in particular, causes many unnecessary problems for both children and their parents.
Transgender issues: You were created by God as a male or as a female (Genesis 1:27). You should live out your life in accordance with the sexual assignment you received at birth. And no child should ever be allowed to receive so-called 'gender affirming care.'
I'll end with some Scriptures.
"Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'knowledge'—which some have professed and thereby have gone astray from the faith." {1 Timothy 6:20-21 NASB}
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." {Colossians 2:8 NKJV}
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons . . . " {1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV}
Christians can be defeated in their Christian lives if they fall for popular humanistic ideas that are really nothing more than doctrines of demons.
1 Excerpted from Psychology and the Doctrine of Demons. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=132112776814671&topic=481
2) https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-disorders/psychiatristsphysicians-on-lack-of-any-medicalscientific-tests/
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