Ed Bulkley is currently pastor of LIFE Fellowship in Westminster,
Colorado, where he also oversees an extensive counseling ministry. Though Why
Christians Can't Trust Psychology comes highly recommended by many
pastors, church leaders, and so-called "Biblical counselors," we can
find little to recommend it. There are a number of problems with Bulkley's book,
theology, and even with his degree. Some of our major concerns are detailed
below:
- As one looks at the cover of the book, one sees after Bulkley's name in
large letters the designation "Ph.D." The material BDM requested and
received from LIFE Fellowship is littered with "Dr." Ed Bulkley. But
what kind of a doctorate is this?
Bulkley received his Ph.D. from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh,
Indiana -- a non-accredited correspondence school (accredited by a
non-recognized accrediting agency). There are many non-traditional schools,
colleges, and seminaries in America that do meet the minimum
standards of accreditation. But Trinity Theological Seminary is not
one of them. Bulkley's correspondence Ph.D., which is prolifically used at his
church, is not acceptable in academic circles nor in academic institutions. For
example, no accredited seminary would be interested in employing someone based solely
upon such a degree. Bulkley, like many other pastors, seems caught up in the
desire for prestige and respect that accompanies the using of academic-sounding
letters after one's name.
- Concerning his theology, Bulkley describes himself as a "Calminian."
Bulkley says "we believe in the sovereignty of God which allows for the
free will and responsibility of man" (personal letter on file). In truth,
Bulkley holds to the extreme Arminian belief of the "carnal" Christian
(Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology , pp. 348-350). This is just
one example of Bulkley declaring one view (Calminian) and practicing another (Arminian).
This difference between what Bulkley says and his true beliefs pervade this
book.
- With respect to the charismas or gifts of the spirit, Bulkley says he
believes "in the spiritual [charismatic] gifts and their practice as
directed in the balanced instructions of the Bible." Bulkley indicates that
his church does not "promote tongues," but does encourage a
"freedom of worship." Because Bulkley "believe[s] that all the
gifts are valid" for today [gift of healing, too(?)], he admits that some
have labeled LIFE Fellowship as "charismatic" (personal letter on
file). Bulkley's charismatic position would certainly be harmonious with his
Arminian position. And, the use of women in leadership in Bulkley's church (Trust,
p. 3) could also be due to his charismatic theology, as could be his church's
participation in Promise
Keepers, a highly charismatic and psychologized movement (4/95 personal
PhoneCon).
- To his credit, Bulkley believes that the place for counseling is in the
church (Trust, Cha. 13). However, this is another example of
verbally stating one position and practically holding another one. In contrast
to his the-place-for-counseling-is-in-the-church position, Bulkley recommends
the Christian Counseling and Education (sic) Foundation (CCEF), a counseling
ministry outside the church (Trust, pp. 290-292, 358).
[To make matters worse, CCEF
is an organization that practices psychological integrationism (see Bobgan, Against
Biblical Counseling, Chapters 5 & 6).] What sounds like a strong
position about counseling ministries needing to be in the church,
turns in to a strong support for a ministry outside the church.
And, like CCEF, Bulkley charges
fees for counseling -- $50 per hour at LIFE Fellowship (personal letter on
file)! (Is this not the peddling of the Word of God for profit? -- 2 Cor. 2:17.)
[Though this fee is charged only to non-members, there is still no rational for
such a charge, unless Bulkley also charges non-members for attending services at
his church. We doubt he would do this.]
- Another discrepancy in Bulkley's position is how he says he believes
that Christians can't trust psychology, yet he praises or excuses the
psychologizers themselves. By so doing, Bulkley leaves the impression that he,
at some level and in some ways, actually does trust psychology, but
never says where or how. And, it leaves the impression of greater generosity
towards those who promote psychoheresy than those who fight it. In fact, Bulkley
is quite critical of the vanguards and veterans of the battle against
psychoheresy (Trust, p. 8). [Specifically, Bulkley singles out Martin
Bobgan in a storyline interspersed throughout the book. He implies that
Bobgan is "sarcastic and writes fiery critiques" (pp. 61-62), and
refers to him as a "psychologist" when quoting from the Bobgan's book Psychological
Way/Spiritual Way (p. 221).]
- The following four examples from Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology should cause Christians to question Bulkley's true allegiances:
(a) Joseph Stowell/Moody Bible Institute (MBI) -- Bulkley quotes a statement of Stowell's that is very favorable to psychology (the statement implies that Bible-only solutions to life's problems are "simplistic" and "unqualified"), and then justifies this psychologizer and his institution by telling us how much he "respect[s] this man of God and believe[s] that he is fully committed to the Lord and to the Scriptures." According to Bulkley, Stowell is to be excused because "he has not adequately researched the issue" (p. 24). Perhaps part of Bulkley's reluctance to criticize MBI is related to the fact that his two oldest daughters are currently "enjoying their studies" at this psychologized institution (p. 288).
(b) James Dobson/Focus On The Family -- Bulkley says, "I appreciate James Dobson for his strong stand on family values. I do not for a moment question his love for the Lord. ... Dobson and [Gary] Collins [in] their many books reveal two sincere Christian gentleman who love Christ and the Scriptures ..." (p. 216). Dobson teaches a psychological gospel of self-love that is heresy at best and blasphemy at worst. One wonders how much heresy and blasphemy a man has to teach before Bulkley would question the man's "love for the Lord"?
(c) Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)/Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) -- Bulkley correctly portrays TEDS and its counseling faculty as being "committed to the concept of integrating secular psychology with biblical counseling" (p. 25), yet the church he pastors in Colorado is directly affiliated with the EFCA and, thereby, indirectly affiliated with TEDS. He also encourages churches to "express their concerns to seminaries and Bible colleges" that promote psychological counseling, especially those "churches that support seminaries through their denominational contributions" (p. 299). Since TEDS is one of the most flagrant in its psychoheresy, why does Bulkley not follow his own advice and withdraw his church from the EFCA denomination, or at least quit supporting it financially?
(d) Don Matzat/Christ-Esteem -- Bulkley quotes favorably from Christ-Esteem where Matzat espouses his "All truth is God's truth" error, and recommends the book as "deserve[ing] careful consideration in this debate" (pp. 244-245). [Matzat follows the teachings of psychiatrist Victor Frankl more than those of the Bible. And, in trying to be relevant in today's professing church, Matzat gives the wrong diagnosis for man's problem. Instead of sin and hell, and the need for forgiveness and heaven, he proposes a "need" for "identity" and "meaning." In the process, Matzat confuses the issues and gives (humanistic) psychology credit it does not deserve.]
- Overall, it appears not to bother Bulkley at all that
"Christian" psychologizers are destroying the church with their
heresies. To the contrary, Bulkley has many nice things to say about
psychological integrationists in Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology.
He refers to Christian psychologists as "my psychological brethren"
(p. 7) and "my integrationist brethren" (pp. 271, 351). He says,
"I truly believe that they are sincerely trying to help the hurting. I love
them and respect them" (p. 271). But are we to love and respect those who
teach a false gospel, which psychology clearly is? Or are we to rebuke and
correct them?
- Bulkley even believes that Christians can benefit from the godless
teachings of psychology. He says, "I do not dispute the fact that biblical
counselors can glean from psychology some helpful ideas, observations,
illustrations, and generic methods with which to communicate God's solutions for
man's problems. [What about 2 Pe. 1:3? Is God's Word sufficient or not?] But
these are not the same as accepting 'psychological' findings as essential truths
about man's nature, problems, needs and solutions" [sounds pretty close to
it] (pp. 28-29, 32). [One has to question just how much confidence Bulkley does
have in the Scriptures. Bulkley says he believes one can be competent to be a
pastor, and yet at the same time, be in competent to counsel people
effectively (p. 351). Since counseling is merely applying the Word of God, a
pastor competent to pastor would also be competent to counsel.]
Bulkley also "readily admit[s] that some of what integrationists write is
helpful and biblically solid. ... [yet] as committed to Christ as many
integrationists are, their theories of counseling appear to be strongly
influenced by unproven psychological concepts. ... [Nevertheless] I genuinely
commend Christian psychologists for their desire to serve the Lord and His
people" (p. 33). Bulkley doesn't explain how these "committed
integrationists" can be committed to Christ, desiring to serve Him, when,
all the while, they reject the exclusivity of His all-sufficient Word (2 Pe.
1:3). While these types of generalizations and hypothetical statements are
common in Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology; Bulkley gives no
specific examples.
- Bulkley would also have us believe that a man who professes to have a
regenerated heart, can continually deny Christ's sufficiency, replacing it with
the false religion of psychology, and yet, still be a Christian! On pp. 268-269
of Trust, Bulkley says he believes:
"... that many of them (my integrationist colleagues) love the Lord Jesus deeply and want to serve Him faithfully. But I think they are convinced that the Bible does not deal with many, if not most, of the problems of modern living, and that we must therefore seek solutions in scientific research and psychological findings. They do not seem to understand that to insist the Bible lacks essential truths necessary for man's inner health is to deny the sufficiency of the Scriptures. ... I do not believe most integrationists intentionally deny the Lord, but when they destroy believers' confidence in the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross, that is the net effect."
Then how can Bulkley say that these integrationists love the Lord deeply? Can
men so plainly reject the sufficiency of the Word and still be Christians?
According to Bulkley they can!
- Bulkley also seems to have assimilated some of the
psychological/victimization language of which "Christian"
psychologists are so fond. He refers to the "healing
[of] the damaged souls of suffering people" (p. 5); "deepest
hurts" (p. 24)/"hurting people" (p. 259); Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD) only "sometimes" being undisciplined behavior (p. 133);
the term "mental
health," only questioning it, but not rejecting it (pp. 147, 324); the
"deepest psychological problems" of humans (p. 262); and "human
dysfunctions" instead of sins (p. 266). He even refers to Christ as the
"ultimate psychologist" (p. 266)!
Furthermore, Bulkley refers to "alcoholics" instead of drunkards (p.
272); fallen man as "dysfunctional" instead of sinful (p. 274); and
"painful dysfunctions" requiring "Christo-therapy
" (p. 276). He even claims that poor self-esteem, addictions, ADD, and
"virtually every other psychological dysfunction are recorded in biblical
case histories" (p. 277). But since he gives no Scripture references, one
can only speculate which Bible characters might have suffered from low
self-esteem and ADD.
Finally, Bulkley also refers to man's "deepest needs" (p. 299);
"dysfunctional minds" instead of sinful ones (p. 310);
"nymphomania" instead of gross sexual immorality (p. 311);
"painful past"/"wounded heart" (p. 314);
"strong-willed" instead of rebellious (p. 315); and "role
playing" as a valid Biblical technique (p. 353).
