Secular Therapies

James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Often, as a pastor, I am asked about my thoughts concerning secular therapies for dealing with psychological issues. And I open with a statement like this: “I am not against them but I am not for them. There are some I believe are better than others. There are some situations that the secular therapy is not helpful because the issue is spiritual and secular therapy only places a band-aid on a deep, heart/soul wound. There are circumstances where there is a true biological imbalance, such as chemical or hormonal, which requires medical expertise and a pastor or biblical counselor would be a fool not to recognize the situation. Therefore, each person’s happenstance is different and needs to be evaluated with a prayerful analysis of the need. However, whatever course is settled upon, solid biblical counseling needs to be a part of the process because even medical therapy that may include drugs affects the body/spirit dynamic. Having a good, reformed pastor or biblical counselor will benefit one by navigating biblically about what God says in their situation.” Keeping my quote in mind, I evaluated four secular therapies people considered and asked me about in the past. Should they (or one of their family members) do it or keep doing it? As a pastor and biblical counselor, I remain neutral as stated above. However, the following are my thoughts on these particular therapies. And, if you are one of my parishioners, please consult with me if you are considering any secular therapy.

12 Step Recovery Programs are psychosocial treatments, which means people try to eliminate their habit/addiction with social support or therapeutic interventions. Alcoholics Anonymous and its variations are the most popular model for substance abuse treatment. Its working foundation is the notion that addiction is a disease, and the person must acknowledge they have a disease and its concurring destructive power over them. Therefore, the addiction is seen as more powerful than the individual, and they must look to a “higher power” to help them overcome their shortcomings. Finally, these programs are designed to be independent of the established medical community.

Even when Christianized twelve-step programs are stepping-stones towards change, they often function as behavioral modification therapies that require constant reinforcement of the programs. They may look to a higher power, not the One True God (Isa. 46:1). They see addiction as a disease rather than an addictive heart idol (Matt. 15:18-19). And they do not engage the Word that yields the abiding prescribed by Jesus (John 15). Therefore, there is not any reconstruction of life (Rom. 12:1-2).

Cognitive-behavior Therapy is also known as the behavioral model or social learning model. It is an array of therapeutic methods based on the principles of behavioral and cognitive science, as well as principles of learning as applied to problems. It considers specific behaviors rather than inferred conflicts as legitimate targets for change. Therefore, operant conditioning is a central part of its design. This means the use of positive reinforcement involves the contingent delivery of the desired consequence and the use of negative reinforcement does the opposite. In other words, whatever the desired result a patient might have, the counselor will use specific reinforcements for the outcome. The psychological disorders are replaced with more positive beliefs, attitudes, and adaptive behavior and coping methods. Its theories and practices are rooted in Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner.

It is essential to understand that biblical counseling is not a form of behaviorism. Skinner and his colleagues learned truths already set in Scripture by observation. However, their process of habituation is human-centered and God-Word centered. Biblical counselors are not

behaviorists because they deal with behavior from a biblical and theological framework. Also, when biblical counselors discuss behavior, they include both mental and emotional patterns (Prov. 19:19, Jer. 12:23, 1 Cor. 8:7).

Biogenic Theory of Mood Disorders thinks mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and other issues are caused by biological factors, genetic factors, or a combination of the two. There is no mounting evidence that genetics play a significant role in mood disorders. In fact, scientists have not found a particular gene or part of the DNA to conclude this theory is viable. Rather, environmental factors and learned behavior contribute the most. The best estimates of genetic influences seem more significant in women for depression and higher for bipolar disorder.

Additionally, biological factors seem to influence mood more than genetics. The most significant influences include the nervous and endocrine systems. For example, norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitter levels seem to affect mood. And then, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis produces stress hormones. Also, people with hypothyroidism, or Cushing’s disease, often struggle with depression and anxiety.

The psychosomatic (body/soul or body/heart) dimension of a person is complex. Humans are made in the image of God, which means God templates them after Himself (Gen. 1:26-28). However, our neurons and hormones do affect mood. It is essential to understand those lifestyle choices come out of the heart (Prov. 4:23). Human hearts are described as filled with standards, values, etc., which eventually flow out (Luke 6:45). The condition of the heart controls a person’s life choices (Eze. 36:26, Eph. 4:18). However the heart is described, its role presupposes some relationship with God, whether existent or nonexistent. Therefore, the Bible teaches that the theological and psychosomatic dimensions of mood intersect. And, though there are bodily influences on the mind, the reverse also works. The first need is for the heart to work, then the body.

Electroconvulsive Therapy is a biological treatment for severe chronic depression involving the application of electrical impulses through the brain for less than a second to produce seizures that last for several minutes. Some clinicians consider this a more dramatic treatment when drug therapy does not work. Electroconvulsive Therapy is administered every other day, generally. The side effects include some short-term memory loss and confusion that disappear after a week or two. Also, the relapse rate is very high, meaning continued treatment. Finally, another method for altering electrical activity in the brain uses a magnet and is called transcranial magnetic stimulation.

I believe electroconvulsive therapy is wrong to use on the brain. First, the human brain is a magnificent work of creation. It is the most complex organ in the human body and could be the most complicated construct in the created universe. It oversees every organic process within the body. We do not know, medically, near what we need to understand about the brain.

Additionally, the brain is indistinguishable from the body scripturally and differs from the heart, soul, and other terms God uses in the Bible (Num. 16:22, 2 Pet. 2:17-19). As the immaterial component of the person, the heart is the ultimate precursor to thinking and behaving in humans. Lasting change in areas of behavior must come first through a change in heart and then retaining, reprogramming, or rehabituating the brain. Therefore, things like ECT are not the answer to non-organic (i.e., spiritual) problems of living.

I pray this analysis honors the Lord and is helpful for you.