The family systems therapy approach is so dangerous on many levels. A collectivist view of persons is one that sees persons as largely or exclusively a product of social interaction (Jones, 1991, p. 361). This should be cause for pause when studying this type of therapy. From a scriptural point of view, debunking this therapy should be akin to shooting fish in a barrel (pardon the analogy). In Genesis chapter 3 we find the earliest recorded Biblical account of personal responsibility,
1Now (A)the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
2The woman said to the serpent, "(B)From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
4(C)The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
5"For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and (D)you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6(E)When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they (F)knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
8They heard the sound of (G)the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, (H)and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "(I)Where are you?"
10He said, "(J)I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."
11And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12(K)The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."
13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "(L)The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14The LORD God said to the serpent,
"(M)Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And (N)dust you will eat
All the days of your life;
15And I will put (O)enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
(P)He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel."
16To the woman He said,
"I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will (Q)bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And (R)he will rule over you."
17Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it';
(S)Cursed is the ground because of you;
(T)In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
18"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
19By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you (U)return to the ground,
Because (V)from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:1-19, NASB)
This should be all the proof we need that we are responsible for our own actions, and that although those around us can and will exert influence, our actions are our actions. Jesus reiterates personal responsibility for actions,
He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] (John 3:18, AMP).
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