Reading Response 1: Moving Beyond Psychological Solutions to Spiritual Sanctification

To be honest, this reading initially raised many questions for me. The author's criticism
of psychology was very direct, while I initially thought psychology "should be quite
helpful," especially in counseling or caring for others. However, the more I read, the
more I realized that the author's real challenge wasn't about "caring for others," but
rather what we place at the core of our lives.
The author says, "'Christian psychology' as the term is used today is an oxymoron." (p.

1. At first, I didn't quite understand this, but I gradually grasped that he was reminding
   us that the humanistic and value systems behind psychology often differ from those in
   the Bible.
   Another sentence that impressed me deeply was, "The path to wholeness is the path
   of spiritual sanctification." (p. 14) This made me reflect on whether I often only hoped
   things would "get better quickly," without considering that God might be using these
   difficulties to shape my life.
   The author also mentions, "It has diminished the church’s confidence in Scripture,
   prayer, fellowship, and preaching as means through which the Spirit of God works to
   change lives." (p. 8) This statement resonates with me deeply because I've found that
   when I encounter problems, my first thought is often not prayer or the Bible, but rather
   methods, analysis, or even advice from others.
   Reading this article made me realize that I need to adjust the order in which I face
   problems in life. Previously, I was more accustomed to thinking "why is this
   happening?" and "how to solve it?", but rarely stopped to ask God what He was
   teaching me in this process. Therefore, I understand that in the future, when I feel
   stressed, emotionally disoriented, or hurt in relationships, I hope I won't immediately
   see myself as someone "who needs to be healed," but rather return to God first to
   examine my mindset, attitude, and even whether there are areas that need repentance
   or adjustment.
   This reading also reminded me not to rely too much on "seemingly professional"
   methods in ministry or future service. I feel that if one day I am to accompany others,
   I need to first learn to listen attentively and pray sincerely, rather than rushing to give
   advice. Perhaps, becoming someone, whose life is being transformed by God is more
   important than possessing many skills.
   Subject: Introduction to Biblical Counseling
   Published by: Fang-Yu R, Hsu (Betty)