Catholic Journal

The 4Gs of Christianity

Don’t mess with 5G; instead, mess with these 4Gs of Christianity.  

I mean really. Looks like a culture of automatons and zombies walking around with their phones in hand. To me it’s no time to be human. Without them, nothing but depression and anxiety. Complaining, criticizing, rioting, prejudices of all kinds. The anxious and depressed have developed distorted thinking and beliefs. In today’s culture, it is often rooted in technology. However, we can learn to identify and challenge such thinking and apply strategies that will result in healthy thinking and emotions. This is the essence of CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The 4Gs mentioned above as found throughout the bible are attitude and behavior oriented. CBT tells us that healthy beliefs, healthy attitude, healthy behavior equal healthy positive, consequences. And to this author, the best psychology out there.  

As social creatures, we are all confronted with activating events eliciting a response. When it is time to respond, the right belief and the right attitude will result in the desired consequence both personally and socially. We all know that. This is the essence of cognitive behavioral psychology and therapy. So, let’s look at the 4Gs of Christianity found in the bible and know this is what God asked of us.

Gladness

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24)

“He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.” (Luke 1:14)

Gratefulness

”Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalms 136:1)

Goodness  

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.“ (Galatians 6:10)

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Generosity 

“A generous person will prosper. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

So, if you want to help yourself and others adopt more functional, rational and ultimately healthy beliefs and attitudes, then seek out that which is asked for in scripture and acknowledge them. That’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [CBT] and Christianity all rolled into one. All our answers are found in the bible, the best psychology.  

Michael Baglino

MICHAEL J. BAGLINO, Ed. D. is a retired college teacher, most recently an adjunct professor in behavioral science at Palm Beach State College, Florida. He is a graduate of both Winona State University, MN and Florida International University, Miami. Michael is also a retired entertainer [singer/actor], performing primarily as a Frank Sinatra tribute artist under the name ‘Michael Matone’. A parishioner of St. Therese de Lisieux Catholic Church in Wellington, FL, Michael serves as a lector and Knights of Columbus member. He is a professional member of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists. The Baglino family, wife, children and grandchildren all live in South Florida.

He is the author of a trilogy of books ‘You Only Live Thrice’, ‘More from a Florida Catholic’, and ‘Europe Meets Florida’. ‘From Gramsci to Freud: 7 Anti Christian Philosophers who Ruined America’ and ‘The Dr. B. Reader’ are his most recent for 2023. Dr. Baglino presents in his books a series of articles and vignettes on religion, psychology, politics and culture. He shows us that God is with us in our daily lives through all our trials, travels and decisions. Insights are garnered from classical education along with our participation in this post-modernist world. Throughout we see splashes of Catholic thought from St. Ignatius of Loyola to St. Thomas Aquinas to a more contemporary and soon to be Saint Fr. Walter Ciszek. Definitely not without humor, Michael presents a down to earth and Catholic perspective to so many of our contemporary issues.