The Gospel and the Good Life: aka The Pastor and the Psychologist

Today, since I am both a pastor and psychologist, I thought it might be helpful to talk about how I see these two vocations connect and differ.  What do they have to say to each other.

We all want “the good life.”  I hear it in my office as a psychologist, and I hear it in the pews as a pastor. People long for a life that is meaningful, peaceful, and whole. But often, these longings we have are shaped by advertising, social media, and cultural pressure—where the “good life” is about having more money, more success, more approval.

Scripture offers a very different definition of “the good life” The gospel flips this script. Jesus redefines the good life—not as self-sufficiency, but as self-giving. He didn’t climb to a throne; He stooped to wash feet. He didn’t hoard wisdom; He gave it away. He didn’t build palaces; He built communities.

James 3:13–18 takes it further: “By your good life, show your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” True wisdom is “pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy.” In Micah 6:8, we read “What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” That’s it. No mansion or yacht. No endless list of achievements. Three verbs—do, love, walk

Bookshelves are full of titles promising the secret to happiness. Podcasts and YouTube videos tell us how to be more productive, more peaceful, more fulfilled. I have read, listened, and watched these myself.  Maybe you have too.

In the 1990’s, Martin Seligman, a noted psychologist, turned the field of psychology upside down. Dr. Seligman says we have focused only on what’s wrong with people; why not study what’s right. What makes life worth living? What allows humans to thrive?   Dr. Seligman researched this and called this new field, Positive Psychology. There are pillars to do this - Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The acronym is PERMA.  These are all good things, yes?  And yet, when I hold them up and compare these to Scripture, they are not new. These are not new groundbreaking ideas.   I notice something fascinating: Jesus got there first.

When Jesus says in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” He’s speaking about something more than fleeting happiness. He’s talking about life in its fullness. Not just the absence of struggle, but the presence of joy, peace, and purpose that can survive the storms.

Too often we want what the world can offer, downgrading or forgetting what Jesus can give us.  How many of wish we could win the lottery? But have you heard what can happen to people who do?

William "Bud" Post III:[1]  from Pennsylvania won $16.2 million jackpot The win was expected to change his life for the better - but what followed was a life of misfortune.  His brother reportedly hired a hitman to kill.  "I wish it never happened. It was a total nightmare," he recalled. –  I was ‘happier being broke’ . He died broke in a Pittsburgh hospital, and was on welfare.[2]

More money is not the solution for a happier life.  Psych research tells us,  are not the ones who accumulate the most, but the ones who cultivate gratitude, empathy, and purpose. Those qualities align perfectly with God’s definition of “good,” don’t you agree?

Let’s take Dr. Seligman’s PERMA pillars and see how they appear next to the light of the Gospel.

Positive Emotion –  that’s Gratitude, joy, contentment. Paul writes in Philippians 4:4–7, “Rejoice in the Lord always… with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Positive psychology says gratitude makes us happier. The Gospel says gratitude anchors us in God’s unchanging love, even when our circumstances shift.

Engagement – is our being fully absorbed in something meaningful. Psychologists call this “flow.” The Gospel calls it abiding in Christ (John 15:4–5). It means using our gifts, not just for personal satisfaction, but for the purpose of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Relationships – Research shows healthy relationships are the strongest predictor of well-being. Jesus commands, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). And then He pushes further: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). Positive psychology says relationships matter. The Gospel says relationships can be redemptive, saving, freeing—even miraculous—when grounded in God’s love.

Meaning – We all want to live for something greater than ourselves. The Gospel is crystal clear: “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Positive psychology says “find meaning”; the Gospel says “meaning has already found you—in Christ.”

Accomplishment – Humans are wired to set and pursue goals. Psychology says this gives life structure. The Gospel reframes accomplishment: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Success isn’t about fame or wealth; it’s about faithfulness.

Now, here’s the central message. Positive psychology can show us what contributes to flourishing. But it cannot tell us why we were created, or who holds our life. It can help us pursue the “good life,” but the Gospel reveals the “abundant life.”

This abundant life is not self-made. It’s grace-given. It’s not measured by the balance in your bank account or the number of friends you have on social media. It’s measured by how deeply you’re rooted in God’s love, and how freely you pour that love into the world.

Red Church, Jesus has already told us what the good life is: not the abundance of things, but the abundance of love. It is a life where justice rolls down like waters, where mercy becomes our daily bread, and where humility keeps us close to God. It is a life marked not by fleeting happiness, but by deep joy, gratitude, and peace. And the best news for us Christians is this: abundant life is not far off, not postponed for some distant heaven. It begins here, today, in the choices we make and the lives we lead.

So go from this place knowing you are invited — every single day — to live into God’s fullness, to walk in God’s abundance, and to share it generously with the world. Go and live lives so grounded in God’s love that your joy becomes a witness. This is the good life-  it’s the Gospel life.  The best life. Amen.

[1] https://www.the-sun.com/news/12190172/lotto-player-broke-debt-william-bud-post/

[2] Sophie Gable, News Reporter Published: 18:31 ET, Aug 13 2024Updated: 7:40 ET, Aug 15 2024