Edification: The Journals of the Society of Christian Psychology

The Society of Christian Psychology Journal has excellent empirical, theoretical, and applied articles dealing with the stated goals of the Society for Christian Psychology.

Contributions come from diverse disciplines as long as they remain relevant to the broad domain of Christian psychology. In other words, papers are accepted not only from psychologists, but also from those working in other disciplines like theology, philosophy, the psychology of religion, and pastoral ministry, to mention on a few.

Please click the links below to view past issues of the Edification Journal:-

Locating Christian Psychology by By Eric L. Johnson

To many, the idea of a Christian psychology is as nonsensical as Christian chemistry or Christian car mechanics. Psychology is a science, they say, and the hallmark of science is that its methods yield a universal knowledge to which all interested parties can subscribe, irrespective of their particular religious or philosophical views. This is the view of modernism, it was the founding framework of modern psychology, and it continues to be the dominant world-view within mainstream psychology to this day.

Psychology and the Church The High Cost of Biblical Compassion and Commitment Part 4

Biblical diagnosis of the complex, intersecting worlds of psychology, counseling, and the church is elusive and also only a small step toward approaching a productive individual, congregational, and Christian commitment toward helping hurting people. Although a well-rounded, biblically based program of personal change and growth with the help of a committed, mature Christian is the best choice for most troubled people, Christians often feel cut off from that help because they don’t know qualified Christian counselors, they are isolated from mature Christian counseling, they are afraid to impose their problems on others, or they have been hurt by Christians who violate confidences, are unfairly judgmental, or who misuse Scripture to harm rather than help. Biblical problem resolution demands sacrifice, compassion, and commitment, all of which are rare in the church today.

Psychology and the Church Can Psychotherapy Be Integrated with Christianity? Part 3

An examination of the foundations of psychotherapy raises concerns about whether Christianity can be compatible with a system based on naturalistic, nontheistic, secular humanism. While most psychotherapeutic techniques are rooted in one of three main categories of psychotherapy, most psychotherapists are eclectic, using anything that appears to work — regardless of the techniques’ compatibility with their primary psychotherapeutic philosophy. This allows for Christians to reject techniques incompatible with a Christian world view and to use techniques they can reconcile to a Christian world view, but it does not promote a unified, coherent philosophy of therapy. Studies show that, at best, psychotherapy is "moderately" helpful, and that most people get better without any professional counseling at all. For Christian "therapy" (counseling) to be truly helpful and biblically based, it must start from the firm biblical foundation of a Christian world view, with each technique part of a coherent biblical paradigm.

Psychology and the Church The Biblical Counseling Alternative Part 2

This second of four articles on "Psychology and the Church" focuses on what is called the "Biblical Counseling movement" (BCM). This is a popular evangelical approach to counseling that not only promotes its own program for resolving personal problems within a strict Bible-based foundation, but also asserts that "psychology" — or more specifically, "psychotherapy" — is completely incompatible with its approach. This article defines the Bible Counseling movement, reviews its common criticisms of psychology, summarizes its foundations, commends its many positive contributions, and notes some of its inadequacies.

Psychology and the Church Laying a Foundation for Discernment Part 1

Parameters of a Christian Psychology by Robert C. Roberts

Psychology’s influence on people differs from that of medical technology, which is plenty influential in its own way. Medical treatments of heart disease have given many a new lease on life; we no longer think of heart disease as marking the end of hope. But psychology’s impact comes not only from its offer to free us from “problems,” to “heal” us, but above all in its promise to edify us, to induct us more deeply into our humanity, by directing us to a richer and more mature life.