Abstract
Neff and McMinn, in their book ‘Embodying Integration’, have given an overview of three parts, including facing difficulty, pondering God, and God in the world. Part B aims to analyze the final chapters giving a personal point of view on the ideas presented by Neff and McMinn. Therefore these last three chapters have explored the aspect of God in people’s lives and will therefore be analyzed in order to give the reflection based on the authors argument.
Part B
This part reflects Neff and McMinn’s last three chapters, named ‘Employing Integrating.’ Although the book has divided them into three parts, life is seen to change different people based on the events, especially of pain that we are seen to navigate ((Neff & McMinn, 2020). The two chapters on pondering God have been used to demonstrate a lot of theology even though the two authors are not theologians. They have opened up theological questions and spaces and some from psychology to promote a meaningful conversation based on how we see God and how God sees us.
Chapter of the book has focused on considering Atonement and asks the questions of what we are being saved from as Christians by God. According to Neff, research demonstrates that religion is connected to health and well-being. At times of difficulties and depression, it is seen to protect people by making meaning of life and encouraging altruistic and prosocial behaviour. This type of behavior is seen to positively impact the mental and physical health of individuals. The chapter has also looked at how the Christian faith anchors therapists. Also, it provides their clients with strength such that in their therapeutic relationship, they are profoundly experienced.
In atonement theology, the chapter has focused on how God saves us more often such that it becomes interwoven in the ways that we imagine God to be and how we see him perceive us. In the chapter, the two authors have focused on several implications based on how the theory of Atonement and psychotherapy is seen to interact (Sandage & Brown, 2018). The two authors in the aspect of pain and suffering have given examples of how patients view themselves, considering that they are in complexity and pain. Amanda is a patient portrayed in the book known to have faith in God despite going through much pain and suffering.
I agree with the two authors on their argument regarding suffering, such that God showing up for a person is not a sign that the suffering makes sense. They have stated that some sufferings that individuals tend to face in the world can never be understood, but God comes through such that He helps us find hope in the middle of the sufferings that we face. While going through the most difficult and messiest of times full of darkness and violence, God has been seen to come through for his people who believe in him such that his redemptive presence has been evident in the entire history ((Neff & McMinn, 2020, p. 164). The Lord is known to continuously love us, giving us hope to continue even in suffering.
The fifth chapter of the book has focused on the mission of God such that the two authors have come up with the question of what God is up to in the world. Considering that both the authors are Religious beliefs and counselling at first was not considered to be interrelated regarding the question of God’s activity to the world (Hathaway & Yarhouse, 2021). However, the authors attempt to make the connection between the two clear and concise in the chapter. The fact that McMinn claims that the answer to the question of what God has planned for the world was guilt based as he had a nagging feeling of doing shallow things in his therapeutic work while working with patients who did not identify as Christians. There are times in our lives when we find ourselves judging each other due to their different ways and actions.
The brain of human beings is seen to like categories as it is seen in psychology ((Neff & McMinn, 2020, p.182). In the concept of location mission, McMinn has stated that people tend to influence the experiences and interpretation of construct. In matters of a Christian mission, it is the responsibility of Christians to go out and save the lost souls. The aspect of Jesus stating that his disciples should go out and “make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” The doctrine of salvation has been seen to emanate the views of the mission. While people, especially Christians, try to save the individuals whose souls are lost, and guide them in following Jesus’ ways and teachings.
From this chapter, it is evident that Christians are regarded to be on a mission of helping out their fellow by leading them to lead righteous ways and lives. The authors have given a history of the early church and how it began to show the reader the different aspects of the church, such as salvation and expansion. Using a patient by the name Elena, McMinn struggles to explain and introduce the perception of God while working together. Being a therapist, McMinn is aware that his patients have the tendency of developing dependency levels which makes them receptive to his words (Neff et al., 2021). In the case of Elena, however, he believes that the dependency levels may prevent her from seeing that she relied on men in guiding her through her life. A therapist’s work is considered a rescue mission, just like Christians, where patients who have physical or emotional pain try to search for treatment. According to the authors, God is already at work for his children such that He is always ready and engaged in the world’s mission.
In the sixth and final chapter in the book, the authors have focused on God being with us such that the question of the existence of God amid the deep uncertainties that occur in life. The aspect of integration in this chapter is used to imply wholeness such that through integration, people tend to find completeness, integrity, and fulfillment. In matters of faith, Christians tend to believe that God is amongst us and with us all the time, and we should not lose faith and hope in him. Even though sometimes we tend to be confused based on the occurrences that occur, we tend to have a chaotic understanding of God; through our deepest sorrows and struggles, God is always with us.
During his classes, Mark (2020, p 210) explains that students in his class ask questions regarding integration. They are eager to know if it is okay to pray with their patients and involve the church, scriptures, and whether theology has a place in psychotherapy. God is the creator of everything in the universe; hence he is for us and also with us. Even though human beings tend to commit many sins, God is present throughout and always comes through for them. As portrayed in the scriptures, especially in Genesis, God continued to be present for humans despite their sins, for instance, during Moses’s reign. This, therefore the aspect of unconditional love as presented by God such that despite our flaws, He avails himself when we need him (Trementozzi, 2018). In the New Testament, God shows love through the birth of Jesus Christ, who was his only son but brought him to guide the people in salvation.
In conclusion, based on the three chapters, Neff &McMinn (2020) have shown how God tends to be there for Christians who have faith in him such that he gives them hope. A common thing in the three chapters is the presence of God, and Christians should therefore seek Him in order to live righteous lives. Christians should impact each other and therefore bring back lost souls and guide them to God’s ways. The authors have presented various reasons and examples showing how God loves his people.
References
Hathaway, W. L., & Yarhouse, M. A. (2021). The Integration of Psychology and Christianity: A Domain-Based Approach. InterVarsity Press.
Neff, M. A., & McMinn, M. R. (2020). Embodying integration: A fresh look at Christianity in the therapy room. InterVarsity Press.
Neff, M. A., Dunkerley, J., McMinn, M. R., & Peterson, M. A. (2021). Benefits and Barriers to Professor Transparency. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 49(4), 387-404.
Sandage, S. J., & Brown, J. K. (2018). Relational integration of psychology and Christian theology: Theory, research, and practice. Routledge.
Trementozzi, D. (2018). Salvation in the flesh: understanding how embodiment shapes Christian faith. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
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