American Psychiatric Association Supports Same Sex Marriage

God only had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without trials and tribulations. Human beings are creatures of emotion. God gave us the capacity to laugh, cry, fear, mourn, rejoice, worry, get angry, etc. These are the normal and natural experiences of life. However, these emotions or feelings may become overwhelming at times and so help is needed.

Counseling is a legitimate service and ministry, and many people are genuinely helped by pastors or skilled therapists gifted in providing the guidance and advice needed to overcome the stress and strain of emotionally traumatic seasons of life.

As a pastor, I frequently referred church members to Christian counselors for guidance and therapy, but I am suspicious of modern psychiatry. We must carefully discern the theories and philosophies of those who practice in this field of medicine before we recommend them to the people of God.

It appears that psychiatry is based upon two false assumptions: the belief in evolution and the belief in secular humanism. These principles seem to be fundamental in all their current theories about the mind and how it functions. Genesis 1 tells us that God created man in His own image. We did not evolve from some lower form of life. Humanism teaches that man is the highest reality (not God) and determines for himself what is good or evil.

However, the Bible says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)

The truth is that some of the psychiatric theories and practices being imported into Christianity dangerously distort important biblical doctrines and potentially pervert the mission and ministry of the church.

I do not want to demonize or reject modern psychiatry/psychology, but it appears that there are elements of this discipline that are a threat to the basic truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Counseling that focuses on the mind and body and omits the spirit is faulty from the beginning, because man was created with a body, mind and spirit. Therefore, counseling that neglects the spirit is basically humanistic in nature and highly suspect.

Unfortunately, the American Psychiatric Association has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years among Bible believing Christians because of their philosophy and methods of counseling. While there are splendid Christian psychiatrists who have sound, holistic practices that treat people as triune creations of God, it appears that that is no longer the norm.

Sigmund Freud is generally called the father of modern psychiatry/psychology. He called himself "a completely godless Jew" and "a hopeless pagan." He believed that Christianity was a delusion to be dispelled, that religion generally was invented to fulfill man's needs, and that when one comes of age, he no longer needs religion.

Exactly fifty years ago the APA held a symposium on "Progress in Psychiatry." In their report they stated: "Psychotherapy is today in a state of disarray almost exactly as it was 200 years ago."

The next year Percival Bailey addressed the APA and made the following pronouncement: "The great revolution in psychiatry has solved few problems ... One wonders how long the hoary errors of Freud will continue to plague psychiatry."

Indeed, there are multiplicities of therapies, and it is difficult to critique them all. Nevertheless, the one underlying theme is that man is basically good and needs to reach his highest potential. Psychiatrists typically say that this can be accomplished by teaching self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love - anything to make one feel good about oneself.

The word "sin" is often replaced with words such a "disease," "dysfunction" or "addiction." While these words have some legitimacy, they often tend to release a person from any responsibility for his/her actions. The Bible speaks of sin as a real problem and gives the answer.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the APA at their recent 158th annual convention in Atlanta voted to approve a proclamation to support legalizing same sex marriage. The decision marked the first time a major medical association had registered support for such unions and immediately won the praise of gay and lesbian activist groups from across the nation.

The landmark decision was made on a Sunday, May 22nd to be exact. Interestingly, Sigmund Freud, for whom every action had significance, hung his shingle out on a Sunday, an Easter Sunday to be exact. Some have thought that this action of Freud was symbolic in nature and have interpreted it as an overt way to mock Christianity.

There are wonderful God-fearing Christian psychiatrists who stand against the current flow of the APA. We thank God for them. Make sure that your counselor is a committed Christian who is firmly grounded in the Word of God. Psalm 1: 1 says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly..." Colossians 2:8 declares, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."