Faith Integration in Community Psychology

Christians recognize Jesus as Supreme over all life’s scopes and not only from a religious sphere of influence. There is not even a single religious scope regarding life and nonspiritual ones that can be separated comprehensively (Briner & Pritchard, 2008). In this context, the central matter is not whether Jesus is pertinent and of the essence in psychology therapy but how the two should be integrated. In the most recent period, psychologists have acknowledged that spirituality influences individual’s lives but its authority for existence is yet to be acknowledged (Obiezu, 2007). There is a great necessity for faith and psychology integration because while most of the conventional and secular psychology models and concepts are insufficient based on a Christian worldview, not all of the conventional psychology is immoral (Briner & Pritchard, 2008). The notion of integrating Jesus in the psychological community can be derived from his extensive association with persons characterized by diverse beliefs, social as well as economic restrictions.

Jesus via his interactions demonstrated a desirable personality that created a favorable surrounding for everyone to relate to him which created more opportunities for him to comprehending their social, beliefs and financial concerns after which he focused on addressing all of them (Briner & Pritchard, 2008). His ethical values and considerations were the ruling forces that enabled him to interact at ease with individuals in spite of their socio-economic and ethnic differences (Obiezu, 2007). His approach was not mainly intended at understanding individual’s concerns but he utilized his relationships to challenge the existing immoralities in communities that had been planted conventionally to create diversity in social living and only subjected agony to the poor and feeble societal members. He confronted unfair conducts that encouraged discrimination based on gender, socio-economic status, and disability and he focused on the restoration of self-worth among the deprived persons. For instance, He challenged the community members in the instance where a lady had been caught in an adulterous doing and He confronted those that were adjudicating her and yet they also had their weak moments (Obiezu, 2007).

Jesus model mainly incorporates a request to take part in social transformation by focusing on sympathetic experiences. This is the best approach via which harassment and sorrow in the communities can be confronted (Denton, 2011). In that, He confronted the immoral class’s quo via social and personal actions that worked against unreasonable social structures. The strategy utilized by Jesus was a customized one that brought social transformation. He concentrated mainly on the general needs of individuals either bodily, psychological or social (Briner & Pritchard, 2008). In ensuring that the changes occurred in these different communities he applied participatory approaches that are more democratic and inclusive. He accomplished this through the utilization of philosophical teaching to instill proper principles on the basis of the individuals need and also to denounce different injustices existing in the society (Denton, 2011). It is through listening and teaching that Jesus offered knowledge for He believed that it was only through knowledge that transformation would be acquired given that people fail for the deficiency of knowledge. Through this session, He interacted with the oppressed and confronted the oppressors and the oppressed and ultimately transformed their religious as well as communal opinions (Denton, 2011).

Jesus mainly dealt with community health needs by healing the affected ones which empowered him to win their senses and beliefs (Denton, 2011). In the quest of reaching out to humankind, Jesus created a fresh perspective on the manner in which one should exist while focusing on themselves but based on the needs of the larger community. While those that surrounded Him mainly established superiority in regard to possessions, authority and social positions at the expense of others, He launched the approach of servant leadership (Loftus, 2014). Changes are mainly brought by commencing with mental changes particularly for individuals whose traditions promotes less care for other privileges and particularly the weak. For Jesus, His greatness measurement was that based on services offered to humankind and not on individual’s status. This notion was particularly different from the belief of superiority that existed during that period and thus, He had a challenging moment while He tried to change communal practices and notions (Loftus, 2014).

In summing up, Jesus offered the best sample of an operative community leader based on his general capability to motivate individuals via participative leadership (Youssef, 2013). A leader can best be described as an individual who motivates his or her followers to share and work towards the fulfillment of a set vision (Youssef, 2013). In that leadership is not mainly about the delegation of duties and rules rather it is more of highlighting how the perfect sphere should be. In that, a perfect world based on Jesus Paradigm is that where the sick are restored and all kinds of restoration for the deprived persons such as feeding and clothing were done. He existed as the best example in regard of how he wished communities to be even when characterized by diverse persons who regardless of their weaknesses strive to adhere to his teachings (Youssef, 2013). In this practices Jesus that involved building authoritative teams and relationships, he was able to win the attention of disparate individuals and triggered them to be driven by ethics and standards rather than greed and desires.

 

 

References

Briner, B., & Pritchard, R. (2008). Leadership lessons of Jesus: A timeless model for today's leaders. Nashville, Tenn: B & H Publishing Group.

Denton, A. (2011). Christian outdoor leadership: Theology, theory, and practice: how to use time in the wilderness and backcountry adventure camping for leadership development, evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual formation--with experiential learning and Bible study resources. Fort Collins, Colo: Smooth Stone Publishing. 255-257

Loftus, G., (2014).The Greatest Leader of All. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffloftus/2014/04/02/lead-like-jesus/#43db563b63b9

Obiezu, E. C. (2007). Towards a politics of compassion: Socio-political dimensions of Christian responses to suffering. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. 19 -21

Youssef, M., (2013). The leadership style of Jesus. 49-55