Freud’s God connection
There are many striking connections between the Bible and Counseling. In fact, it could be argued that Jesus displays many of the fundamentals which therapists adhere to today:
- He was willing to engage of people of all walks (Matt. 12:22, Matt. 26:6, Matt. 9:12)
- He promoted health and healthy living (John 4:1-26, John 8:3-11)
- He allowed people to help themselves through teaching (Matt. 13:9-13)
And these connections have roots in the very early design and function of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Therapy.
Consider for a minute:
- Freud strived to create an environment without distractions for his clients.
- Christians are encouraged to find a place to talk to God that limits distractions.
- Freud believed in free-association, or speaking what is on one’s mind without limits or coaching.
- Christians are called to pray about exaltation, needs, and worries; and always from the heart (Luke 11:1, Matt. 11:28-30, Psalm 68:19)
- Freud would situate himself behind, or at least out of visual range, of his clients as they participated in free-association. Once he gathered sufficient information he would interject with a professional dictation on the root of the problem and how to solve it.
- Christians at times relate to God as this type of “professional.” Christians believe that if they talk to God enough he will eventually intervene and solve their problem.
Albeit these correlations are loose. Though, it appears that despite Freud being a devout atheist he never completely shed his Jewish upbringing. Rather than believing that God could interact in his life in a meaningful way, he (like many of us) attempted to personally assume a minor reflection of God.
God is much more than a deity who resides in a lofty place waiting for us to make a mistake, achieve some great victory, or pass away and face his judgment. God is present in those of us who commit our lives to him and take on his mission as our own. We are promised a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who lives within each of us (John 14:16 & 26).
What Freud never understood was Isaiah 40:13, “Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?”
Stay faithful to the one who is over all, through all, and in all.
