The following outlines are portions from two presentations given for the course 6710 Counseling in Theological Perspective: Faith & Practice taught by Dr. Rev. Stephen Greggo at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, October and November 2014.
The two presentations (part 1 and part 2) addressed a case study of a specific (fictional) individual. My group was selected to address matters related to the use of psychotropic medication and discipline.
The first presentation raised concerns. For example, some of the more theologically oriented concerns regarding the use of medication included the following:
- Not taking responsibility for one’s actions (sin).
- In the use of medication, have we mislabeled sin as illness? Are we treating sin as non-sin?
- By treating an issue as illness, do we eliminate the Christian claim of human responsibility?
- Sanctification – Does medication conflict with the Christian view of change?
- What is genuine, God-honoring change from a Christian perspective (sanctification)? And how is that sort of changed accomplished?
- Is change resulting from medication that form of change, an expression of sanctification? Or should we distinguish the two?
- And if distinguished, how should a Christian view change resulting from medication, since it is not necessarily the change of sanctification? Is to be avoided, seen as good but yet superficial, etc. What?
Kirk E. Miller 