Posted on 05/04/2005 9:19:47 AM PDT by ksen
Since I brought Calvin College into the mix (I think I gave the reference first) let me just say that I don't necessary see this as a Calvin/non-Calvin issue.
I believe there are good aspects to Christian psychology and I believe their are honest, committee Christian psychologists. I happen to know a few.
But, as with anything else we get in trouble when taken to the extreme. When psychology replaces Scripture, that's problematic. When psychology is viewed in the light of Scripture, that's a different story.
God taking care of his flock is decidedly different than promising happiness. We're promised trials and tribulations in this life.
Jesus said "my Peace I leave with you." Not "my happiness."
Corin, you and I are in 100% agreement based on this post.
Stop it! You're frightening me. ;-)
I also believe I need an editor...sheesh!
I've just come to realize that when God says He will protect His flock, He actually means it. So while we feel the same pain and anxiety everyone feels, Christians are comforted, as you say, by the very real assurance that nothing happens to them that is not part of God's plan.
We are not tossed by the winds of chaos. Ever.
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." -- Isaiah 61:10-11.
"She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household is clothes in scarlet." -- Proverbs 31:21.
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33.
ping to #126
Do you think "happiness" is a function of salvation, Corin? ("Function" being that which results as a subset from the salvation.)
Are the saved happier than the unsaved, as a result of their salvation, according to the will of God?
I just don't think we're promised "happiness" because of our salvation.
Nobody promised us a rose garden.
Just a garden. 8~)
I think God wants us to be happy.
"There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." -- John Calvin.
Get your wife Dr. Laura's book, Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. She is very insightful about women and about feminism. The men who call in her program seem to LOVE this book, too. I thot it was a very sweet book. Not much psychology in it, either.
By the way, we did go to a Christian Psychologist to make our marriage even better. I was so wary, but in TEN minutes the guy had named (unaided) the main thing going on, had great ideas on how to turn things around, and in a few weeks we were done. It is worth it to make your marriage terrific. He did not use psychobabble, either, just good common sense. It is too hard to untangle things, to me, when you are also part of the tangle.
I wish you well.
Hap-pi-ness is a warm
(yes it is)
Gunnnnnnnn!
(Happiness.....)
Precisely.
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