The Never-ending Therapeutic

Therapy never ends; once in it, seldom out of it. There is no closure in a therapeutic culture for everything is geared to further self-analysis and the high maintenance of feelings – when good feelings become the measure of life they are like a narcotic – we insist on more and more feel-good experiences in order to maintain the “high” of feelings.

Christians no longer confess their sins to God and to each other, they “share” mistakes they have made and errors in judgment. There is no closure in therapeutic sharing without confession of sin – for only the forgiveness of God bestowed on one who repents brings lasting relief from guilt. Therapeutic cultures can inoculate people from guilt, and without guilt there is no repentance, and without repentance there is no forgiveness, and without forgiveness there is no closure – no redemption – no true “new days,” or second or third opportunities to learn obedience.

Is it any wonder the content of Christian music often lacks a Biblical foundation when its goal is to make people feel good? Should we be surprised when therapeutic and motivational speaking is the norm in many churches as opposed to a clear exposition of God’s Word pointing to Jesus Christ?

A therapeutic culture, whether within the church or in broader society, is a culture as cruel as an opium den – for while it may deaden pain and provide sweet dreams, the dreams will become nightmares and masking the pain hides the disease of sin which only God in Christ can heal through confession of sin, repentance, receiving God’s forgiveness, and following the Christ of the Cross.