Psychology as Heresy: Why Christians Must Reject Psychotherapy

Introduction

In recent decades, psychotherapy has been promoted in America as a “scientific” solution for human struggles. Yet the Church historically understood that the cure of souls—the cura animarum—belongs to Christ and His ministers, not to secular theories. Increasingly, faithful Christian scholars, pastors, and seminaries are sounding the alarm: psychotherapy is both scientifically flawed and biblically heretical.

Chafer Theological Seminary summarizes this clearly: for biblical reasons alone and for scientific reasons alone, Christians should never go to a psychotherapist, nor send others to one. This is not simply a matter of personal conviction, but of obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord.

The Roots of “Psycho-Heresy”

The Bobgans (Martin & Deidre), respected authors and researchers, have long called psychology “psycho-heresy” for the Church. They observe that psychotherapy rests on speculative, contradictory theories that cannot withstand scientific scrutiny. Worse still, it undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s Word. As they put it:

“For scientific reasons alone and for biblical reasons alone, never send any Christian to a psychologist. Don’t go there, don’t go voluntarily.”

Their works, along with many other scholarly critiques collected at psychoheresy.com, show that psychology only masks problems, often creating further sin and bondage.

Rockefeller Foundation funding and pharmaceutical interests promoted psychotherapy into universities and hospitals during the twentieth century. This “pharmakia,” tied to petroleum-derived pills, grew into a secular priesthood that displaced the Church. But Scripture warns against trusting in “other gods” or man-made systems for what belongs to Christ alone.

Biblical Alternatives: Christ’s Way of Soul-Care

The Bible is not silent about how Christians must handle offenses, guilt, and struggles. Jesus commanded:

• “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone” (Matthew 18:15).

• “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22).

• “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

The Apostle Paul likewise commands us to discipline our thinking:

• “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

This is the biblical model of soul-care: private reconciliation, constant forgiveness, and a thought life disciplined toward purity.

Why Psychotherapy Contradicts Christ

Psychotherapy encourages gossip and endless talking about absent family members, with no way to discern truth. It thrives on suspicion rather than reconciliation. This violates Christ’s clear instruction to resolve trespasses privately, in person, with forgiveness at the center.

Thus, those who embrace psychotherapy’s methods not only undermine the Church’s ministry—they openly disobey Jesus. As Watchman News comments:

• Those who refuse to practice Matthew 18’s private reconciliation show that they may not truly know Christ as Lord.

• Those who weaponize secular systems to bear false witness against others reveal themselves as living in sin and risking damnation (cf. Mark 16:16, Revelation 21:8).

Theological Conclusion

If Jesus is Lord, then His people must obey His Word in all things, including how they deal with human struggles and conflicts. To turn to psychotherapy is to submit to a false god, a secular priesthood funded by corporate and political interests that sought to replace the Church.

The Church alone was entrusted with the cure of souls. Psychotherapy is not only a distraction from Christ, it is a betrayal of Him. As the Bobgans, Chafer Seminary, and faithful ministers agree:

• For scientific reasons alone—its unreliability and contradictions—Christians should avoid psychotherapy.

• For biblical reasons alone—its disobedience to Christ’s commands—they must refuse it altogether.

Final Watchman Warning

Those who call Jesus Lord must delight in His commandments, forgiving 70×7 times, reconciling face-to-face, bearing no false witness, and trusting Christ as the Great Shepherd of souls. To do otherwise is to walk in darkness, to follow the spirit of this world, and to risk eternal loss.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Further reading:

• The 1963 Turning Point: How Rockefeller Philanthropy Replaced the Church with Clinical Psychology in Missouri Law
• A Biblical Response to Mental Health and the Rise of Clinical Psychology: Why the Historical Church Was Enough