Religion and Theology

Entwistle (2004) writes about the integration of psychology and Christianity in his book, Integrative approaches to Psychology and Christianity An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration.  According to the author, it is essential to appreciate both the Word of God through which Christian faith is birthed, and the works of God manifested as mankind on earth.  Thus, science and religion must necessary integrate as God is the author of all truth (Entwistle, 275).  Even so, people are divided in terms of their belief systems, including their beliefs about whether science is superior to religion or vice versa.  Entwistle defines groups of people according to their different belief systems about the integration of psychology and Christianity thus (1) Enemies, who cannot believe in such integration (2) Spies, who hold allegiance to either of the two disciplines, taking from the other discipline whatever is convenient (3) Colonialists, who believe in the prominence of one discipline over the other (4) Neutral Parties, who do not firmly believe in any side as they see virtues in both disciplines and (5) Allies, who believe that both psychology and Christianity were developed by God.  According to the author, the Allies model is best.  Allies are aware of the fact that whenever there is a conflict between psychology and Christianity, the problem lies with interpretation rather than truth contained in both disciplines.

Concrete Response
A dear friend of my mother, holding a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Stanford, told me once that those who know the Word of God do not need psychotherapy.  As her own livelihood depends on the number of patients that visit her at the hospital, where she has been practicing for more than two decades, by sharing this insight with me she was bound to lose the number of patients that I could have referred to her in future.  But, I was not the only person listening to her at the time.  There were around twenty people listening at the same time.  They were all discouraged from sending their troubled friends or relatives to her for psychotherapy.  
   
Perhaps Entwistle would not entirely agree with her.  However, I still trust what she had told me, knowing that the Holy Spirit had led her to share this truth.  She was not a spy, colonialist or neutral party.  Rather, she was an ally.  I can understand her belief with my knowledge of the Bible  that, in fact, there are no psychotherapists in the Bible and all people in distress are advised to approach God with sound hope and repentance.  Moreover, all mental problems can be resolved by the Word of God.  After all, He is the Healer, and He teaches correct ways of thinking to give us peace of mind.    

Reflection
As God is the author of both psychology and religion, it would be worthwhile considering Christian healing for people in distress that approach psychotherapists.  Entwistle would agree that this is perfectly plausible.  Yet, the goal of his book, Integrative approaches to Psychology and Christianity, is not to teach believers how to help themselves and others recover from mental distress by approaching God.  Rather, Entwistle seems focused on reaching out to psychologists and other secular folks through his writing.  Believers are already aware that science explains religion.  Furthermore, believing readers of Entwistles book understand that the author has great knowledge about the relationship between psychology and Christianity.  For them, Entwistle leaves many unanswered questions, for example, is it not a perfect solution for patients of obsessive compulsive disorder to start reading the Bible as soon as obsessions and compulsions start to bother them  As a matter of fact, Entwistle is in the perfect position to answer whether prayer and the Word of God offer cures for every mental illness.  Why did he have to focus on his philosophy of integration so much so that he leaves believers inquisitive minds longing to read this truth in his book

Action
I would never advise believers to approach psychotherapists, but unbelievers or those with a secular focus should be sent to psychotherapists, especially when it is clear that they make a mockery of the Word of God.  In my counseling practice with believers, however, I would recommend the Scriptures and prayer for every mental illness, even if it appears as trivial as a nervous twitch.  The Bible advises us to calm down and know that God is here.  This very thought is a stress reliever.  But, the Word of God contains cures for all other mental problems, too.  Christians can get rid of addictions with the Word of God.  It is possible, however, for a believer to search for a cure and not be able to find it in the Bible.  As Entwistle would say, the problem lies with interpretation in such cases.  It is impossible to seek from God and not be able to find.
   
Thus, I would advise all believers to keep their faith strong by never allowing themselves to despair.  Only unbelievers feel despondent as they do not have attachment with God, the source of all our hopes and wishes.  So even if everything seems to be going wrong in a believers life, as God tests his faith, the Christian is required to go on dreaming that God would fix everything as though in a fairy tale.  After all, everything is possible for God.