The Lord changes lives and accomplishes His purposes directly through reading and applying the Scriptures, meditating on the truths of the Scriptures and prayer. The Lord also uses those who minister His Word as they encourage, exhort, admonish, edify, implore, reprove, rebuke and console others toward godliness. God needs no new or unique insight into the human condition in order to change lives, regardless of whether that insight is gained through psychology or some other tool of human origin. Problems that are approached by integrating the Scriptures with psychological theories tend to deceive individuals into diminishing the God of the Scriptures and into believing that He has not provided and cannot provide sufficient truth, insight and wisdom that will change their lives — Colossians 2:8-10.
When psychology and other social sciences step beyond observing human behavior and seek to explain the causes of human behavior, they enter spiritual territory. Only the God of the Scriptures can explain causes and offer solutions that lead to godliness and a fruitful, joyful life. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness — 2 Peter 1:3. He changes us as we discipline ourselves through obedience to the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit — 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Peter 1:5-11.
Each Christian’s passion should be to become more like Christ and fulfill the Great Commandment to love the Lord will the entire heart, soul, mind and strength — Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2; Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37-38.
The Christian who learns and applies the Word becomes mature and, in turn, can help others mature — 2 Timothy 2:2.
