Integration

What does a Christian approach to counseling and psychotherapy involve? The 2021 Fuller Integration Symposium Lectures by Dr. Siang-Yang Tan, published in this book, cover this topic with the overall title of: "A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy: Christ-Centered, Biblically Based, and Spirit-Filled." The three lectures in three chapters are on: (1) "A Christian Perspective on Human Nature and Effective Counseling and Psychotherapy", (2) "Implicit and Explicit Integration in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy: Christian Faith in Clinical Practice", and (3) "The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy."

For more than one hundred years, North American Christians have been choosing one of two stories about the gospel of Jesus Christ. One story, often referred to as the "true gospel," holds forth a narrative that this world is a "sinking ship" without possibility of redemption. For adherents to the "true gospel," human suffering in this life is mostly a distraction to be ignored, for all that truly matters is to "win souls for Jesus" so that as many as possible can be assured of eternal life. The other story, known by many as the "social gospel," holds that the gospel of Jesus promises a new beginning in this life that includes the possibility for abundant life in this present world. Followers of this story devote themselves to alleviating human suffering and working for charity and peace. Prior to the Civil War, these two stories--of salvation in this life and salvation in the life to come--were one, never to be separated, together comprising the good news of Jesus Christ. When the Roll is Called recounts the traumatic tearing asunder of this beautiful good news and offers hope for the restoration of a whole gospel.

What is "integration"? Christians serving in the psychological professions have long debated the proper way to understand the relationship between "psychology" on the one hand, and "theology" or "Christianity" or "the Christian faith" on the other. This book argues for understanding integration as a matter of personal integrity: it's not about bridging or blending academic disciplines, but about having a coherent vocational identity. What narrative will hold together both our core identity as Christians and our developing identity as clinicians? Peacemaking is proposed as the central motif, based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. Christian therapists who understand themselves as peacemakers will in turn cultivate the clinical virtues of hope, humility, compassion, and Sabbath rest.