Post by Cindy on Apr 28, 2015 9:35:07 GMT -5
Deceptive Diagnosis
A major shift began in the 1960’s regarding how evangelicals viewed and dealt with sin. The church moved sinful and deviant behavior out of the category of sin and placed it in the category of sickness. For example, the sexual sinner Paul wrote about (1 Corinthians 2:13) became the sex addict. The thief (1 Corinthians 2:14) became the kleptomaniac. The drunkard (1 Corinthians 6: 10) became the alcoholic. The rebellious child (2 Timothy 3:2) became afflicted with “Oppositional Defiant Disorder.” A family in which the husband will not work, the wife will not keep the home and the children will not obey are no longer considered a sinful family. They have become a dysfunctional family. The liar became a compulsive liar. The gambler became a compulsive gambler. The idolater became a person who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The “deeds of the flesh… which are immorality impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing” (Galatians 5:19-21) have all been redefined using psychopathological words. The impact of using these words in a different manner has been devastating.
It for this reason we wrote Deceptive Diagnosis: When Sin is Called Sickness.
What is a Deceptive Diagnosis?
A deceptive diagnosis is labeling a problem of living, like rebellion, with a psychological term, like oppositional defiant disorder. The behavior, feeling or thinking of an individual is declared to be a disease, just like cancer or diabetes. Cancer and diabetes have a proven organic cause and their effects can be seen using objective laboratory or radiological tests. Deceptive diagnoses are made based on the subjective viewpoint of a medical or mental health professional, thus they are declared diseases. The diagnosis is deceptive because it is not a real disease as disease is historically defined. There is no alteration in the anatomy (structure) or physiology (function) of the human body. Rather, the problem lies in feelings (depression, anxiety, guilt) and behavior (rebellion, anger, selfishness, immorality).
A deceptive diagnosis subsequently removes the accountability and responsibility for one’s thinking, behaving and feeling from oneself and places it on the disease. “My disease made me do it” has become the rallying cry for sinful people who do not want to confront their sin for what it really is.
What is the Effect of a Deceptive Diagnosis?
Placing sin in the category of sickness compromises the message of salvation. It sets aside the historical-grammatical method of interpreting Scripture and replaces it with a hermeneutic centered on pathology of the flesh. This interpretation views man as a victim who is sick rather than a sinner who is responsible to God. It eliminates the necessity for repentance. As such, the doctrine of the total depravity of man is undermined. Culpability and guilt vanish and there is no need for a Savior. In a similar way, sanctification is hindered. There is no need for repentance and change, no need for discipleship and spiritual growth. Believers are duped into thinking they are sick and need recovery.
Posted with permission:
Deceptive Diagnosis
A major shift began in the 1960’s regarding how evangelicals viewed and dealt with sin. The church moved sinful and deviant behavior out of the category of sin and placed it in the category of sickness. For example, the sexual sinner Paul wrote about (1 Corinthians 2:13) became the sex addict. The thief (1 Corinthians 2:14) became the kleptomaniac. The drunkard (1 Corinthians 6: 10) became the alcoholic. The rebellious child (2 Timothy 3:2) became afflicted with “Oppositional Defiant Disorder.” A family in which the husband will not work, the wife will not keep the home and the children will not obey are no longer considered a sinful family. They have become a dysfunctional family. The liar became a compulsive liar. The gambler became a compulsive gambler. The idolater became a person who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The “deeds of the flesh… which are immorality impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing” (Galatians 5:19-21) have all been redefined using psychopathological words. The impact of using these words in a different manner has been devastating.
It for this reason we wrote Deceptive Diagnosis: When Sin is Called Sickness.
What is a Deceptive Diagnosis?
A deceptive diagnosis is labeling a problem of living, like rebellion, with a psychological term, like oppositional defiant disorder. The behavior, feeling or thinking of an individual is declared to be a disease, just like cancer or diabetes. Cancer and diabetes have a proven organic cause and their effects can be seen using objective laboratory or radiological tests. Deceptive diagnoses are made based on the subjective viewpoint of a medical or mental health professional, thus they are declared diseases. The diagnosis is deceptive because it is not a real disease as disease is historically defined. There is no alteration in the anatomy (structure) or physiology (function) of the human body. Rather, the problem lies in feelings (depression, anxiety, guilt) and behavior (rebellion, anger, selfishness, immorality).
A deceptive diagnosis subsequently removes the accountability and responsibility for one’s thinking, behaving and feeling from oneself and places it on the disease. “My disease made me do it” has become the rallying cry for sinful people who do not want to confront their sin for what it really is.
What is the Effect of a Deceptive Diagnosis?
Placing sin in the category of sickness compromises the message of salvation. It sets aside the historical-grammatical method of interpreting Scripture and replaces it with a hermeneutic centered on pathology of the flesh. This interpretation views man as a victim who is sick rather than a sinner who is responsible to God. It eliminates the necessity for repentance. As such, the doctrine of the total depravity of man is undermined. Culpability and guilt vanish and there is no need for a Savior. In a similar way, sanctification is hindered. There is no need for repentance and change, no need for discipleship and spiritual growth. Believers are duped into thinking they are sick and need recovery.
Posted with permission:
Deceptive Diagnosis
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