Charles Allen served as a United Methodist Pastor for a number of years most notably at Grace UMC in Atlanta, Georgia and then at First UMC in Houston, Texas. He was a great preacher and became an author. He wrote God’ s Psychiatry which was a pastor’s look at Psalm 23.Listen to some of what he wrote: Our modern word “psychiatry” comes from the two Greek words “psyche” and “itreia.” The word “psyche” really means the person, and is variously translated as “breath,” “soul,” “mind,” “reason,” and the like. The word “itreia” means “treatment,” “healing,” “restoring,” and the like. So, put together the two words, and we have “the healing of the mind” or as David might have said, “the restoring of the soul.” The word can mean medical treatment by a physician, but that is only one of its meanings.
Often the minister is a psychiatrist, because the minister deals not only with the minds of people but also with their souls. Beyond our bodies and minds are our souls. And only God can heal the soul. So, the first and most important psychiatry must be God’s psychiatry. These words that come from the Introduction to his book, God’s Psychiatry, explain in part why Charles Allen was known to prescribe the 23rd Psalm to soul’s that were hurting. He prescribed it reading as the first choice of the day, then after breakfast, then after lunch, and the last thing before going to bed. It was to be read carefully, meditatively, and prayerfully. It was not to be a quick, hurried reading. Doing this would make things very different for one’s soul.
As I preach, I attempt to speak about how the Lord “shepherds” the church. He has specific teachings that we need to know and he issues an invitation to be like Him. I share the Scriptures that speak to human hearts about faith in God. I point to the Father who has the power to help and heal. Sometimes the healing will be painful. Sometimes, it will be uplifting. It will always be inspirational to those who listen. As a pastor, it is my job to point to truth, but it is your job to implement it. And with God’s help, I believe the church can reflect the Kingdom of God.
Too many times I believe the world conducts its business as though we were sheep without a shepherd. To connect our souls and minds to the Shepherd is to change the way we do business. The church too often tries to reflect our culture rather than fulfilling its mission to reshape the culture. After all, we are called to follow the Shepherd and not the other way around. We start at BELIEF, then move to FOLLOWING, and finally we arrive as DISCIPLES. Think and pray about it.
Ken