Adler’s concept of safeguarding tendencies is that symptoms are formed as a protection against anxiety; they are largely conscious and shield a person’s fragile self-esteem from public disgrace. (Feist & Feist, 2006, p. 81) Excuses, aggression, and withdrawal are three common symptoms of these tendencies. Included in these tendencies are excusing away one’s actions, depreciation, which is undervaluing or being jealous of other people’s achievements, accusation and blaming others, self-torture or guilt and withdrawal, which is either moving backward, standing still or hesitating. According to Scripture, none of these safeguarding tendencies are in alignment with God’s will for the life of the believer.

First of all, according to Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him” (Life Application Study Bible, 2000) and none of these safeguarding tendencies are Christ-like qualities. Secondly, every believer is accountable for their actions, and as Romans 14:10 and 12 state respectively, “Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat” and “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Life Application Study Bible, 2000). So, this Scripture then dispels ungodly actions such as depreciation, excusing away one’s actions and judgment and blame.

The most beautiful Scripture of all and one that covers every safeguarding tendency is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It states:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

If every believer loved one another according to this, there is no room for safeguarding tendencies toward each other.

Most of all, if everyone held to God’s Perfect Word and His Promises, and pressed toward the goal, there would be no need for anyone to have fear, doubt, depression, withdrawal from the problems of life or be filled with anything that Satan is trying to use to destroy God’s children. “He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him” and “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Life Application Study Bible, 2000), come from Psalm 18:30b and Philippians 3:13b-14, respectively and those are two of God’s Promises on which we can most assuredly stand.

References
Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2006). Theories of Personality. New York: McGraw-Hill. 

Life Application Study Bible. (2000). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

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