Guest Post by Joshua Torrey
Psychopathology, the study of mental disorders, is not a light subject. Attempts to harmonize psychopathology (or psychology in general) with orthodox theology have left much to be desired. The Bible does reveal the mental state of its human authors (namely the book of Psalms) but it is not a textbook on counseling. So one must read books on psychopathology with caution in mind, and Scripture on the heart. On occasion, however, a practical point or reflection stands out unobtrusively and provides insightful depth to Biblical application. Take for example this quote from Christianity and Developmental Psychopathology (CAPS Book/IVP Academic):
“Children are more likely to form secure attachments to their parents when the parents are securely attached to each other. Insecure attachments between parents and children have also been linked to the parents’ own insecure attachment histories, but a secure marital attachment appears to buffer the effects of a parent’s own insecure attachment history” (128).
Marriage has a fascinating two way impact on relationships. A secure marital attachment helps mitigate history of parental detachment while providing a strong home for children. Admittedly, this insight does not undergird depictions of marriage in the Scriptures. Still, it is interesting to view the redemptive nature of God with this additional psychological lens. The prophet Ezekiel summarizes the history of Israel as the rescue and marriage of an abandoned child (Eze 16:3-4). The symbols of a broken home, adoption, and restored dignity are expressed in a heartfelt manner despite the Lord’s anger with Israel. The apostle Paul provides a foundationally eschatological doctrine of a similar adoption (Rom 8:22-25). The image of God adopting a people for Himself points to the breaking off from the history of rebellion and attachment to sin. The church looks forward to final day when this is true in the consummate new creation.
Cratered within Ezekiel’s imagery is the giving of God in marriage to the one He delivered. This language permeates the prophecies of Jeremiah and Hosea as God speaks out against the unfaithfulness of His people. Once again, the apostle Paul picked up this covenantal marriage language in his teaching on Christ and the church (Eph 5:31-32). The imagery is shared throughout the Scriptures. In the annals of salvation history God has delivered a people for Himself with historical and familial attachment to sin. Our Sovereign God breaks his people free from the behavior and addiction of cultures and families. He has broken these bonds and He provides the offspring of the covenant bountiful benefits.
The above psychopathology quote speaks in the same theme as the Scriptures using statistics and observations. Both point to the same set of truths. God’s covenant relationship of marriage is to be a blessing to children (Isa 59:21; Jer 32:38-40). God, in fact, desires “Godly offspring” (Mal 2:15) and so He instructs us to pass on to them our holy attachment to Him (Deut 6:6-9; Eph 6:4). Apart from faith, these truths instill fear of perverting God’s blessing (Eze 16:20). In faith, they are a tremendous blessing of hope.
For those who have grown up in difficult homes ravaged by sin, God’s covenant marriage to the church promises healing. Not only for themselves but also for their offspring. To those who have been abused, mistreated and retain histories of distrust and hatred God’s covenant speaks hope to generations. The Scriptures plainly teach this. Even developmental psychology has detected reflections of God’s desire to heal the world. This hope is not found merely in biological relationships and temporal marriages, just as this hope cannot be lost because of them. Instead, it is founded on the great marriage of Jesus Christ to His church: the sin-conquering marriage and covenantal-attachment that produces benefits in its covenant children.<>
