What does psychology have to do with biblical faith?
Psychology
The word “psyche” (soul) is the root word from which the word psychology is derived. Psyche-ology is actually the study of the soul, a subject that the early church fathers and mothers identified as essential to a robust biblical faith. Science will suggest that the word “psyche” simply refers to the human mind, including thoughts, feelings, (and more recently, some suggest, mental images). In most quarters of the scientific community, it may be argued the existence of the human soul is a subject to be relegated to philosophy and religion and is not a legitimate concern for science. It is simply a sad commentary on the church that during the enlightenment the church essentially handed over the study of the soul or psyche to the scientific community. However, any honest and accurate treatment of ultimate reality must include a discussion of the care of the soul, Dallas Willard and others argue. Which brings us back to two key questions as we are seeking to help equip the church to care for the hurting in their congregations: 1) What does biblical faith in Christ have to do with mental health? and (2) What does psychology as the care of the soul have to do with biblical faith and our spiritual wellbeing? Our entire ministry centers around at attempt to address these two questions. You may be surprised at what we have to say. As of 7/5/2025 we are just now getting the infrastructure of this web site built, so it is going to be a while before Stuart’s posts and podcasts on this topic will begin to be produced. He does not claim to be the authority on the subject. Just a pilgrim. However, he has spent his entire life reflecting on possible intersections of Biblical faith with the study of the soul and soul care. And he is excited about what he has discovered through his research and observations as a pastor (over 20 years) and as a mental health professional (for going on 9 years). We hope you will stay tuned.
The God We Serve
The Bible records from cover to cover God’s pursual of a personal relationship with His creation, most especially in His sending His Son Jesus Christ, as the perfect revelation of the Father’s heart. It is He Who holds all things together. Atoms. Molecules. The universe. The interiority of the human psyche. The discoveries of interpersonal neurobiology are just one more way that God has chosen to reveal Himself: through His general revelation of His created order (which in addition to an ordered universe, includes an ordered interior world, the psyche). We would do well to steward this general revelation of the Father’s heart toward His creation, carefully considering how He intended for us to tend our soul (psyche).
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