Page 47 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

Stephen P. Greggo (USA)
Comment to Rev. Stephen

“Spiritual Maturity – can P. Greggo is a
psy c h o log i s t
professor
it be an aim or goal of and counseling
of
Christian Psychotherapy?“ at Trinity Evan-
gelical Divinity
School in Deer-
This reader is grateful to Roland Mahler for stir- field, IL.
ring up meditation on spiritual maturity with
his seven theses. Mahler’s analysis builds on an
examination of Scripture, then moves to esta- Former contributions by Stephen you can
blish helpful features that sharpen our under- see here:
standing of an oft-utilized phrase. The focus is http://emcapp.ignis.de/8/#p=172
on how spiritual maturation as a process can be
blended into psychotherapy that has a uniquely
Christian distinctive. on the ethical principle that client autonomy is
essential and must be respected. It is critical to
For simplicity, this basic Bible dictionary sum- separate a client’s right to autonomy as a profes-
mary sets the direction for this comment. Spiri- sional ethical principle from how Christianity
tual maturity is “the development of Christlike through Scripture gives instruction regarding
character and behavior in the Christian through personal autonomy.
a renewed mind and tested faith.” My grasp of Those who are spiritually born to become child-
1
Christian psychotherapy (CP) flows from this ren of God are encouraged and expected to ma-
paraphrase of the dream set forth by philoso- ture in their faith development. CP makes use
pher C. Stephen Evans nearly thirty years ago. of a defined therapeutic alliance and furthers
Christian psychotherapy is a form of psycho- dialogue to empower change. The direction
therapy that is done to further the kingdom of growth is always by design towards greater
of God. Further, it is carried out by citizens of Christlikeness, that is, in the direction of spiri-
that kingdom whose character and convictions tual maturity. This therapeutic partnership bet-
reflect their citizenship in that kingdom. This ween two kingdom citizens sets off on a journey
means that our work as therapists and clients to- by mutual agreement to decrease childlike infa-
gether is informed and illuminated by Christian tuation with self-rule (autonomy). This entails
character, convictions, and understanding. 2 freeing and turning the human developmental
drive of personal agency from selfish agendas

The caution issued by Mahler is for therapists towards co-agency with the Holy Spirit. Chri-
to keep foremost the notion that spiritual ma- stian character is shaped by resisting the incli-
turity is a matter of a client’s free choice. CP as nation to remain drunk on stubborn self-rule
an interventional process stimulates freedom and to instead drink in the Holy Spirit who fills
in clients from psychological barriers that may our heart with a loving desire to imitate Jesus
hinder the movement of the Holy Spirit. Mahler Christ. In short, CP encourages spiritual matu-
is wise to recognize that this process entails sub- ration by cooperating with the Holy Spirit who
stituting personal autonomy with submission seeks to turn self-agency from an out of control
to Christ. Further, it is right to place emphasis urgency for self-rule into greater freedom to
submit and serve our loving Creator.
Rev. Stephen P. Greggo is a psychologist and
professor of counseling at Trinity Evangelical
1 Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.
Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies.
London: Martin Manser.
2 Evans, C. S. (1989). Wisdom and Humanness in Psy-
chology: Prospects for a Christian approach. Grand Ra-
pids, MI: Baker. 46