Pastor Jason has just finished a great Sunday school series introducing the foundation and methodology of Biblical counseling. Those unfamiliar with Biblical counseling may expect it to be similar to other approaches, and for that reason, assume that “it will not work.” However, there are a number of features that make Biblical counseling unique. Below are just five…
- Biblical counseling is founded upon the sufficiency of Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. The word “competent” is most often translated “complete.” In other words, Scripture—the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments—is inspired by God and profitable such that it is able to render a person complete or competent to do all that God requires.
Second Peter 1:3-4 is very similar, teaching that through “his precious and very great promises” we may “become partakers of the divine nature.” Further, the apostle notes that “His divine power has granted to us all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him…”
The Bible then is the tool that the Holy Spirit uses to bring one to salvation and sanctification. Other counseling approaches implicitly deny the sufficiency of Scripture to address the issues of life; they appeal to extra-biblical sources from psychology, philosophy, and/or sociology.
- Biblical counseling gets to the “heart” of the matter.
Certainly, people need counseling for circumstantial, behavioral, and relational issues. Biblical counseling does address those. However, it goes deeper to the heart of the matter, which is the heart. At the center of our ability to rightly respond to circumstances, live in godly ways, and enjoy loving and fulfilling relationships is the inner man, which the Bible refers to as the "heart." It is the control center of our thinking, emotions, motivations, and desires. Many of our felt problems are the fruit of deeper issues in the root of our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 reads, Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Some other counseling approaches tend to focus on outward issues, not addressing the root causes in the heart.
- Biblical counseling tends to be a short-term engagement.
Biblical counseling could be thought of as a season of intense discipleship focused on a particular issue or set of issues. The objective is to equip the counselee with the tools to respond to those issues in biblical ways now and in the future. Every biblical counseling relationship begins with an eye toward a “graduation” date. This is based upon the NT teaching that some believers need close care for a season, but should grow to maturity, though never to complete independence (Heb 5:11-14; 1 Thess 5:14; Eph 4:11-16). An average counseling relationship lasts from 8-16 meetings.
Some counseling methodologies assume the counselee will continue to need therapy for years if not for life.
- Biblical counseling assumes the counseling competence of the average (trained) believer.
In Romans 15:14, Paul writes, I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. “Instruct” comes from the primary New Testament word for counsel. This means that Paul was confident that the average believer at Rome was competent to counsel other believers.
Contrast this with other methodologies, open only to professionals with years of training. At first blush, we might think it is wise to require years of training for counselors. However, we must remember that Biblical counseling is founded upon the sufficiency of Scripture. It does not take long to learn how to apply biblical principles to the matters of the heart. God has made His Word accessible to any believer, understandable for any believer, and applicable by any believer. This is the reason for the repeated exhortations to know the Word and minister it to one another!
For example, Colossians 3:16 is a command to the average believer: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom… “Admonishing” comes from the same Greek word for counsel!
- Biblical counseling takes place within the community of the church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 reads, And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…
God’s plan A for growth and change in humans beings is mutual, loving service in the body of Christ, the church. There is no plan B. This is why he has equipped counselors within the church. While counselees attend counseling, they are involved in the life of the congregation, worshiping and serving God regularly, which reinforces (among other things) the truth that reconciliation and fellowship with God through Christ is the only avenue for human flourishing. When counselees finish with counseling, they are already immersed in the life of a community of believers who will serve as the long-term, mutually-necessary support system in their continued growing and changing.
With secular and integrated methodologies, counselees are in one sense on their own. In another sense, their are dependent long-term upon one person—their counselor—who likely has little to nothing to do with them outside of scheduled appointments.
In God’s great wisdom and love, He has made a unique and effective provision for the ministry of the gospel through the Word by the church to hurting people. So…if you need to talk to someone, let us know. If you’d like to be trained as a counselor, let us know.
Comments