There is a stark contrast between biblical and secular based counseling. While many secular psychologists and integrationists are, no doubt, sincere in their desire to help people, they, nonetheless, prescribe therapies which do nothing to address the root of the problem that people struggling with such issues are experiencing. One can compare the effectiveness of modern psychotherapy to the effectiveness of Tylenol for an infection. While Tylenol may help, though for a short while, in mitigating the effects of the infection, namely, fever and pain, it does nothing to treat the root of the infection, itself. Strong antibiotics, cleaning, and even removal of the affected area is what is necessary to cure the person in need.  

 

As Tylenol cannot cure an infection, but only mitigates some of its effects, neither can psychotherapy (CBT, 12-step programs, ECT, psychotropics, etc.) cure the outworking effects of fear, condemnation, and enslavement that people experience. This is due in whole, that fear, condemnation, and the need for control are not superficial, materialized problems, they are inner man heart problems.

 

HEART PROBLEMS REQUIRE HEART SOLUTIONS

 

Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are given new hearts and a new spirit (Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 36:26-27; Rom. 10:9-10). We are freed from sin (Col. 2:13-14) and are now slaves to righteousness (Rom. 6:18). We are forever in Christ through the day He returns (Eph 1-3). Until then, we continue to wrestle with the effects of sin (Rom. 7; Eph. 6:12). We learn to walk by the Spirit and to put the deeds of the flesh to death (Gal. 5:16-26), as we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18). 

 

What this world calls a mental health illness and disorder, God calls the effects and dominion of sin. It is only by faith in the Son of God that we have freedom from sin and the newness of life (Rom 6:4; Gal. 5:1). The beauty of this promise is that God did not leave us, but sent His Holy Spirit to help us and to sanctify us (John 14:26), through the precious word of God that we may be complete and equipped for every good work (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12). 

 

Friend, brother, sister, God sympathizes with you (Heb 4:15-16). He cares and loves you so deeply (John 3:16). There are no victims in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:37). Christ Jesus came that we may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Today is the day of salvation.