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Self-formation, Trauma, and Therapeutic Functions of Grace

  • Journal of Counseling and Gospel
  • Abbr : Jocag
  • 2020, 28(1), pp.5-50
  • DOI : 10.17841/jocag.2020.28.1.5
  • Publisher : Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology > Pastoral Counseling
  • Received : March 10, 2020
  • Accepted : May 9, 2020
  • Published : May 30, 2020

Kyu Bo Kim 1

1총신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper argues that God’s grace in Christ heals the sufferers who are traumatized in a broken relationship. According to object-relations and self psychological theories, a traumatic relationship breaks down the development of a cohesive self, and thereby forms a fragmented self, causing selfdestruction and a false self. This approach surely provides several contributions to understand trauma and relational dynamics, but it fails to consider God’s existence and works in its therapeutic discussion. Christian psychology presents a better approach to heal trauma, which relies on God’s grace in Christ. Frist, the sufferers, in Christ, can taste God’s agape, fully embracing their traumas, which is better than humanistic empathy. Second, union with Christ, which is better than transmuting internalization, can actualize their healthy self-love and true self, Third, in the body of Christ, the traumatized are welcomed, accepted, and loved, so that they will be empowered enough to build a new relationship with others in faith. Fourth, through daily practices of piety, the sufferers in Christ dwells continually in God’s grace, and thereby they can sustain to be a pious even in the midst of trauma. As a result, this inquiry argues that the relationship with God in Christ can be a powerful therapeutic element for the traumatized.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.