The Holy Spirit, Common Grace, and Secular Psychotherapy
The purpose of this paper is to critique the journal article, “The Holy Spirit, Common Grace, and Secular Psychotherapy,” by Lydia Kim-van Daalen. The critique first provides a summary of the article that includes a description of the thesis, purpose, and its overall content. The analysis then critically interacts with the article by identifying the primary theological issue at stake and its connection to the primary pastoral counseling issue at stake. Next, an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s arguments ensues to assess the logic behind the thesis. Finally, the critique identifies the author’s goal of pastoral counseling and highlights two relevant pastoral counseling applications that support the author’s goal.
Summary
Kim-van Daalen’s (2012) purpose is to clarify the value of Christians using secular forms of psychotherapy and proposes the following thesis, “This paper seeks to demonstrate how the Holy Spirit, through common grace, may be actively working and using secular psychotherapy in light of the dual reality of belief and unbelief in this world” (p. 229). The author attempts to validate her thesis by first defining common grace, which is a form of God’s grace extended to all humanity that provides certain blessings. The specific blessings of common grace touch a cross-section of life including the physical, intellectual, moral, vocational, societal, and religious realms. Kim-van Daalen then encourages Christians to use the blessings of common grace, which include certain forms of secular psychotherapy, to benefit both believers and humanity in general.
A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy: Christ-Centered, Biblically-Based, and Spirit-Filled (Integration Series)
Within a Christian context, the author admits that several objections exist against the utilization of secular psychotherapeutic methods. Important objections include the argument that the Bible is sufficient, the unredeemed lack the ability to remain value-neutral and properly interpret the conclusions of research, the organizations related to secular psychotherapy may compete with the church, and the integration of secular psychotherapy risks syncretism. Objections notwithstanding, Kim van-Daalen asserts that the benefits of utilizing secular psychotherapy, both philosophically and practically, outweigh the risks. Furthermore, the author contends that Christians can determine whether the Holy Spirit is working in secular psychotherapy by discerning if the methods move people toward or away from God. In sum, if secular psychotherapy is led by the Holy Spirit, then Christians should utilize it to help humanity.
Critical Interactions
The primary theological issue at stake is whether the Holy Spirit is actively involved in secular psychotherapy through common grace, and if so, then the primary pastoral counseling issue at stake is whether the utilization of Spirit-influenced secular psychotherapy is reasonably necessary. The author provides a strong practical argument for the theological reality of common grace in the general population. It is difficult to deny the reality of good in unredeemed individuals that could only occur through the influence of the Holy Spirit. However, the author’s arguments weaken regarding whether the utilization of secular psychotherapy is reasonably necessary. First, Kim van-Daalen appropriately acknowledges the dangers associated with engaging secular psychotherapy, but then simply assumes that the benefits outweigh the risks because of common grace. The author’s arguments would strengthen if she had attempted to logically overcome certain objections, such as the self-sufficiency of Scripture, and explained specifically how the benefits outweigh the risks. Second, the author asserts that discernment of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in secular psychotherapy can be determined if a movement toward God and His rule exists. However, just because individuals move toward God does not mean the impetus is necessarily good. For example, Christ’s death and resurrection moves mankind toward God, but the impetus was the evil act of crucifixion. Accordingly, the argument for discerning Holy Spirit involvement needs logically strengthened.
Kim van-Daalen’s (2012) goal of pastoral counseling is to assist Christians in “progressing in their relationship with the triune God,” and not impeding non-Christians from “their movement towards this true God” (p. 236). The author provides several potential pastoral counseling applications that support her goal. For example, a secular therapist could assist a non-Christian by not impeding movement toward God through the influence of common grace, and a Christian counselor could use the techniques of secular psychotherapy to assist a Christian in progressing in their relationship with God through the influence of common grace.
Conclusion
Kim van-Daalen provides a thoughtful exploration of the potential use of secular psychotherapy within a Christian context. The author accomplishes her purpose of elucidating the potential benefits of utilizing secular psychotherapy. Kim van-Daalen also effectively argues for the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the theological reality of common grace. Although it is certainly possible that secular psychotherapy could be effectively utilized within a Christian context because of common grace, the author fails to prove whether Spirit-influenced secular psychotherapy is reasonably necessary. By overcoming certain objections to the utilization of secular psychotherapy, proving that the benefits of using secular psychotherapy outweigh the risks, and enhancing the logic behind the discernment of Spirit involvement in secular psychotherapy, the author’s arguments would strengthen. Finally, Kim van-Daalen competently provides several insightful applications of how the Holy Spirit, through common grace, could possibly use secular psychotherapy to support her identified goal of counseling to assist both believers and unbelievers.
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Reference
- Kim-van Daalen, L. (2012). The Holy Spirit, common grace, and secular psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 40(3), 229–239.
