Gen-Z Asks: Episode #01 (Psych Ed.)

Hello, reader! It's Sarah and Isabella here, repping Gen-Z. We've tag-teamed this post since it's a Q&A, and that's sort of awkward to do alone.

We're going to jump into some questions that often come up when we start talking about Christianity and mental health, especially in the same sentence. These are the sorts of questions that can feel obvious, so we don't ask them. Or they can even feel "dangerous" in the sense that they could be misunderstood or bring the dreaded awkward silence over a room.

But not here.

Here, we ask these questions.

And we answer them, to the best of our ability, with courage and curiosity.

Something we hope you feel the freedom to do around here is sift, sort, and ponder issues that aren't simple.

And yes, pondering is Biblical. Quick Proverb plug:

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (Proverbs 15:28 ESV)

And with that, let's get to some questions.

Question #1: Is psychology even compatible with Christianity?

Fast answer: Yes.

More complicated answer: As long as it's submitted to Yahweh.

You can read about this more in depth here, but we're going to quote ourselves for a second and build on this idea:

When psychology bends the knee to the Creator, we gain clarity. When we ask Yahweh to bow to psychology, we get chaos.

Clarity and chaos. And it all boils down to worship.

Remember the greatest command?

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-40 NIV)

When we love the Lord with all that we are, that type of love recalibrates the entire way we go about imagining and healing what a soul is.

Is psychology compatible with Christianity? Absolutely. After all, the soul was designed by the Creator.

Question #2: How does psychology relate to Lantova?

We've added psychology in as one of our core disciplines because when it comes time to try to:

• Authentically connect with Yahweh

• Really become a disciple of Jesus

• Heal from old ways of living, trauma, and dysfunction

• And becoming genuinely loving

You are going to run into your soul, wherever it's at. Full stop.

Here at Lantova, we're all about helping people flourish and live in the way God designed them to, and we can't really avoid psychology without leaving out a core element of what it means to be human.

We've all got a soul, and that was God's idea. So let's study it, grounding it in the truth of who Yahweh is and how He made us.

Question #3: Does psychology have its limits? If so...say more.

Fast answer: Absolutely.

More complicated answer: Circling back to that worship thing from question one, psychology (as a discipline) is a lens we use to try to study, understand, and help people heal.

It is absolutely critical to state this:

Psychology is not, and never will be, capable of replacing your Savior.

Like any tool, Yahweh can use this discipline and those working in the profession to help heal us. It's a form of provision, but it is important to understand that we can't confuse provision from the Creator as a replacement for the Creator Himself.

The truth is that there is some "soul work" no amount of open-ended questions, EMDR, meditation, "I-statements," or trauma-informed care will heal.

You need to experience your Creator.

Sometimes that happens in therapy.

Sometimes that happens through prayer.

Sometimes you encounter Him in the middle of a worship service.

Other times its in the quiet, ordinary places.

But know this, wherever you are, meeting God is possible.

Lantova was not inspired by a therapy book. It was inspired by real relationships between a group of ordinary, beautiful, busted-up people encountering the God who made them. Psychology will never replace Him. It never could. And once you meet Him, you wouldn't want it to.

Question #4: How do I use psychology to understand my relationship with God?

This is a great question.

I don't have a recipe for this one. I do have a word of wisdom though. Because it's much easier and more comfortable to try to heal ourselves on our own (as a default mode), I'd encourage you to prioritize understanding who God really is as you start delving into psychology resources.

This isn't a "Get God totally figured out and then move on to psychology," order of operations either. Regarding the idea of getting God totally figured out...good luck. I think we'll be discovering new things about him for all eternity.

But it is a strong caution to prioritize Yahweh and let him inform your approach to science and healing.

Getting really practical, we've created a library of resources to help you start this process. You can check that out here.

Wild Card Question: Is all this worth it?

Fast answer: Absolutely.

Experienced afterthought: You'll have moments when it will feel like wrestling out a relationship with God is not worth it.

It'll feel like you're spinning your wheels, going after something that's pie-in-the-sky, or just too complicated. It'll feel messy. Gritty. Sometimes people in Christian spaces will understand. Sometimes they won't.

But don't give up.

We've wrestled. And we've seen what God will do if you don't give in.

Don't let the messiness convince you it isn't worth it.

Reconnecting with your Creator is priceless.