The Healing of Christ for a Traumatized World : How Christ and Psychology both treat Trauma

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to establish the mission of the church in healing from trauma. Trauma is a biological reality wherein brokenness enters our bodies after a traumatic event and continues to affect our interactions with the world. Similarly, sin is a spiritual reality in which brokenness entered human nature at the Fall, and its effects influence our interactions with the world. However, the Good News is that Christ was sent to offer forgiveness for our sins, and this leads to a process of spiritual renewal in the Christian’s life. It is in this manner that the church may conceptualize trauma therapy and trauma-sensitive ministry as a way of acting out Christ’s mission of renewal for the brokenness of humankind. Therefore, it is the mission of the church to engage in trauma-healing work. This article details the model in which the sin nature and the trauma nature can be seen as parallel, then provides suggestions for practical application in the spheres of personal life, church ministry, and professional counselling.