Why Psychology and Theology Don't Mix

This short Bible study distinguishes between worldly and biblical philosophies and warns us to discern the difference.

Before doing this study, please read Psychology, Boundaries, Marijuana, or Scripture?  It explains that in many areas, Christians have incorporated atheistic psychology into Bible teachings thus polluting and compromising true biblical principles. 

It offers examples of the way psychology has changed with culture, calling things healthy which they previously called unhealthy. It also offers examples such as the popular Boundaries teachings which add a few biblical principles to atheistic psychology and present their teachings as Christian when they are not.  

So let's look at some passages that warn us against such things:

1. Preparing our minds.

We'll never be able to identify these half-truth teachings unless we prepare our minds and hearts in God's Word, refusing to conform to culture.

1 Peter 1:13-16: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

2. Remaining faithful to Scriptural principles.

We must choose truth even when it means personal sacrifice and repentance.

Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”  

3. Guarding our hearts and minds.

We should avoid any teacher who incorporates worldly principles into his/her teachings.

1 Timothy 6:20-21: “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.”

4. Understanding the source of false philosophies.

Any human philosophy which leads people away from biblical principles is Satanic propaganda.

1 John 5:19: “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 11:3: “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

5. Accept our Christian responsibility.

We are called to identify and refute false teachings.

2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 

Additional Explanations of False Psychological Teachings

Please take time to look at the following list and familiarize yourself with false teachings which seek to combine psychology and Bible verses.

This article explains the basic premises of the boundaries teaching as highlighted in the first and last chapters of the book.
 
Overview and introduction: How Cloud judges traditional Christian answers, psychological answers, and his answers.

This article examines the three Scripture passages most often used by Boundaries books and online articles to explain the foundation of their teaching.

This article explains the benefit of using "guidelines" instead of boundaries. Boundaries promote protection from difficulties; guidelines promote reconciliation.

This review of Chapter 15 in the Boundaries book examines the Boundaries' claims about what they call "guilt messages."


If you follow popular teachings of the day, you can protect yourself from difficult relationships and prevent your own maturity.
 
The Boundaries teachings goes far beyond the books of Cloud and Townsend. This devotion offers another popular example.

Some Sobering Thoughts about Parenting

Our culture is strongly influenced by Philosophies that are destroying the family and causing disrespect for Parents.

Beware of Boundaries Spin-offs: Comparing Psychology to Scripture

Cloud and Townsend didn't invent the Boundaries beliefs, and they aren't the only Christians promoting it. 

Reviews of some of the articles from the Boundaries website:  

Hope or Sin: Are "Boundaries" feeding selfish hearts or strengthening hearts for the Lord?
 
 
Beware of teachings which blame-shift problems onto parents. It's popular but leads to big losses all around.


This devotion uses a teaching in the Boundaries book to explains two methods of false teachings. 
 
A review of the Boundaries article "Unsafe People Exist at Church Too." Is it fair? Is it Biblical?
 
It's hard to believe this is a "Christian" ministry making this recommendation. 
 
Christians understand that we are fallen human beings who need grace. So why do we choose "Boundaries" instead? 
 
This article reviews the Boundaries article "Wise, Foolish, or Evil" comparing it's teachings with Scripture.
 
John Townsend believes husbands are supposed to submit to wives just as wives are supposed to submit to husbands and all submission problems are the husband's fault. This article compares those views with Scripture and with the experiences of a wife married 50 years.

A pastor outlines the major errors in the Boundaries philosophy.
 
Other Pertinent Devotions:

It's becoming popular to call people "toxic" when they are simply annoying. This is one example of misusing language to disobey God's commands.  

Actions speak louder than words. And our attitude toward others reflects our belief or denial of Scripture. God calls us to deal graciously and persevere in difficult relationships. 

It's becoming increasingly popular to avoid difficult people. This 1-minute devotion explains why that can cause us to miss a big blessing! 

Narcissism is defined by a lack of empathy and a demand for favor. It used to be a rare clinical problem, but many people have taken on narcissistic personality traits making relationships difficult. 

Christians have the power to mend relationships by applying these 3 Biblical principles. A lack of these is a sign of weak faith 

Many boundaries are erected when one person corrects another, especially when parents correct an adult child. These type of boundaries are based on pride, not wisdom. If we can't take correct, how small is our faith!  This 1-minute devotion explains. 

It's very popular to set up "boundaries" in our relationships, but we gain so much more when we build bridges. This 1-minute devotion explains. 

Many Christians are erecting boundaries instead of obeying this command and they're losing great blessings in the process. 

It can be hard to deal biblically with annoying parents, but this devotions explains how to do so biblically. 

Many families are dealing with estrangement. These 4 biblical principles can help us restore family relationships. 

Jesus made a strong warning against those who find excuses not to honor their parents...Blessing or curse....the decision is ours. 

This 1-minute devotion offers 3 reasons people don't get along and 3 biblical solutions  

A helpful look at handling an important relationship which is often neglected or rejected by wives who don’t understand how important it is for the well-being of their marriage. 
 
The word "boundaries" has taken on a whole new meaning in relationships, and Christians are setting ungodly boundaries at the encouragement of poor counselors.  
 
Exaggeration is always deceptive, and it does great harm when we use it to avoid reconciliation and forgiveness.
 
There are some popular self-righteous excuses for avoiding calm, mutual discussion in troubled relationships. This 1-minute devotion gives the Biblical view of such problems. 

Family relationships can be messy at times, but genuine Christians will refuse to make any of these 6 damaging choices.

He told me he was "praying for revelation" but he was missing the enormous revelation at his fingertips. This 1-minute devotion explains.

It's a popular cultural idea, but it's not biblical to "Trust Your Heart." However, many of the Boundaries articles encourage us to do that very thing. This 1-minute devotion explains why trusting our hearts is an unbiblical idea.
 
The story of Joseph is especially pertinent to our discussion of the Boundaries teachings. It was Joseph's brothers who tried to set up boundaries, not Joseph. Of course, they were violent and ungodly, but that's one of the major flaws in the Boundaries teachings: it's often the immature or vengeful family member who sets up the boundaries, and it prevents them from growing up. Christians may be able to avoid their Genesis 50:19-20 situations but they won't be better people because of it.

Most adult children are “speck-finders” when it comes to their parents, but the blessings belong to “log-removers.” This 1-minute devotion explains.

See also: Unbiblical Boundaries of Self-Protection by Debbie Dewart

Copyright, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, 2024


This short Bible study distinguishes between worldly and biblical philosophies and warns us to discern the difference.


Negative Influences Desensitize Us: A Short Bible Study

This short Bible study offers important warnings and insights into the influences of entertainment.

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction: Have You Become Desensitized? It explains that the dangers of violent entertainment are recognized by secular authorities as well as warned against by God.

We usually recognize that pornographic entertainment is harmful, but we tend to overlook or excuse the effects of dark and violent themes in entertainment. We may think we aren't influenced by negative themes. But we don't realize that the results are often subtle and slow-growing. 

Entertainment has been a major influence for accepting premarital sex, living together without marriage, and LGBTQ lifestyles. Because these things are presented in attractive and entertaining ways. 

How do the following passages direct us?

Proverbs 4:23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

It's so true that our heart guides our actions and sets our moral standards. Just as healthy foods lead to a healthier body, healthy entertainment leads to healthier thoughts and actions.

Mark 7:21-23:  For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.

No one commits any of these sins listed without first accepting it in his/her heart. See 2 Steps to Sexual Sin.

Ephesians 5:8-16:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

If "it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret."  It is also shameful to be entertained by it. For more insights, read the devotions linked below. They highlight immoral sexual themes, but the same principles apply to violence and dark themes.

Soft Core Christians
The Only Opinion
Sex, Truth, Love

One reason younger generations of Christians are accepting sinful behavior is because they are more familiar with the words of our culture than the Words of Scripture.
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Life-Devotional-One-Minute-Reflections/dp/1087775760

To read something that can guide your heart in the right direction, I recommend Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet offering quiet time encouragement. Find out more HERE.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated in 2023




This short Bible study offers important warnings and insights into the influences of entertainment.





This short Bible study offers important warnings and insights into the influences of entertainment.

This short Bible study offers important warnings and insights into the influences of entertainment.



Let's Get Off the Couch, Dear Christians!

In 4 areas many Christians are "couch Christians" refusing to make the efforts commanded in Scripture. Are you on the couch in any of these areas? Let this study encourage you to get up!

As an introduction to this study, please read the 1-minute devotion Comfortable on the Couch. It addresses 4 areas where many modern Christians are refusing to make the efforts needed to mature in their faith. Let's address these 4 areas with relevant Scripture passages.

1. Few Christians are denying themselves in the area of charitable giving: 

"Christians are only giving at 2.5 percent per capita, while during the Great Depression they gave at a 3.3 percent rate." (Relevant Magazine)  

Would you consider yourself "generous" in the area of charitable giving?

Proverbs 19:17: Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. 

2 Corinthians 9:6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

2. Most Christians aren't interested in missions: 

In 4 areas many Christians are "couch Christians" refusing to make the efforts commanded in Scripture. Are you on the couch in any of these areas? Let this study encourage you to get up!
Only 23% of evangelicals have taken a short-term mission trip even though a Barna study "shows that most of the people who embark on service adventures describe the trips as life-changing." 

Obviously, short term mission trips are not the only way Christians show an interest in missions. We can also give donations to help missions, and point #1 would reflect a lack of interest in that area. An area not measured in the Barna study was prayer for missions.

Are you praying regularly for missions?

Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

3. Most Christians are unwilling to regularly study their Bibles

According to a Life Way study, while 90% of Christians say they want to please God, only 19% read their Bible daily. 

How often are you reading your Bible?

2 Timothy 2:15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

4. Most Christians are unwilling to do "hard things."

In 4 areas many Christians are "couch Christians" refusing to make the efforts commanded in Scripture. Are you on the couch in any of these areas? Let this study encourage you to get up!
The Life Way study also revealed that "Almost all churchgoers want to honor God, but more than a third indicate obedience is not something they have done when it is costly to them." 

Are you willing to inconvenience yourself to serve the Lord?
 
Luke 9:23-25: "Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" 
 
If you need improvement in any of these areas, I encourage you to get off the couch!
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copyright, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2020