This past fall I took an evening course on Biblical Counseling at the College of Biblical Studies here in Houston, and it completely ROCKED my perspective on the church's role in counseling.
Since most of us are involved in some form of discipleship or may have sought or have a need to seek counseling at some point in life, I wanted to share a bit of my learnings through this blog. I will probably continue to post on this topic periodically as it has become a key topic of study for me, but I wanted to initially set the foundation.
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Fundamentally, when you think about counseling, there are three major schools of thought.
1) Psychological Counseling - combines human observations with human wisdom to construct a system of counsel to help man deal with his problems and issues of life. Generally practiced by non-believers and Christians who accept psychological theories as an avenue to help people.
2) Integration Counseling - combines human observation, human wisdom, and the Bible to construct a system of counsel to help man deal with his problems and issues of life. Sometimes called "Christian Counseling." Often practiced by Christians who believe the bible should be supplemented with psychological theories in order to help people.
3) Biblical Counseling - Uses the Bible to construct a system of counsel to help man deal with his problems and issues of life. Generally practiced by Christians who believe that the Bible has all we need to provide solutions to life's problems and to help man function as God intended in all aspects.
Now, after the very first class last fall, I was thoroughly convinced that "Biblical Counseling" is the only option that is consistently supported by the whole of scripture. I've listed the key points in support of this below.
Why promote Biblical Counseling above the others?
1) We are warned in scripture not to trust human wisdom for principles of living, understanding of human attitudes, motives, behaviors, and our solution for man's inner problems. (Psalm 1:1-2, Colossians 2:8)
2) We are warned in scripture not to trust our own wisdom because we can be deceived by our own wisdom. (Proverbs 3:5-6, 14:12, 16:2, 25, 21:2, Jeremiah 17:9)
3) We are instructed in scripture that God's wisdom is superior to man's wisdom. Therefore, man's wisdom should not be added to God's wisdom as solutions to man's inner problems. (1 Cor 1:21, 25, 2:2-5, 3:20, Isaiah 55:8-11)
4) We are instructed in scripture that God's wisdom is sufficient to counsel the inner person. (Psalm 119:24, 99, 100, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 19:7-11)
When you think about it, of course, this seems fairly straight forward. After all, I would venture to say that most believers would agree with the points above, but our faith in this is tested when the rubber meets the road in our churches and seminaries in the area of counseling.
I'll offer a few facts for your consideration and comment...
Very few seminaries are offering programs in purely biblical counseling, most programs are focused on preparing their students for state-licensure which demands an integrationist curriculum. In fact, Southern Seminary is the first of the SBC seminaries taking this step with a new program this fall, raising quite a bit of debate from proponents in both biblical and integrationist camps.
In a large percentage of our churches, in particular our larger churches, counseling is provided by state-licensed therapists who have been trained in integration counseling methods. Now this is not to say that all licensed therapists are unbiblical in the counseling they are providing, but are we assured that the counsel being given in our own churches is based on a biblically supported framework for helping those they are reaching, or have our well-intentioned counselers defaulted to psychological/behavioral techniques of therapy in their desire to "help" those they are counseling.
If so, what is the danger? My professor from this past fall offered this perspective, "Bad theology leads to bad counseling. We haven't gotten deep enough in our knowledge of scripture to help people with their deep problems. Is our goal for people to "feel" better or to "be" better?
John MacArthur and Wayne Mack offer their thoughts on the same topic in an article titled, "Is there any difference between biblical counseling and Christian psychology or Christian counseling?"
For further study, this is an excellent link for more information on Biblical Counseling Resources.
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8 comments:
If you do a little history in the Christian Counseling movement, you wil understand the problem is not in reasoning or extrabiblical sources. For example, Paul quotes a Greek poet to point out that bad company corrupts good character. In respects to history of the biblical counseling movement, there was a liberal movement going on in the psychological movement in the sixties that was trying to undermine the conservative elements in psychology through Thomas Sasz, who was a relativist. Jay Adams came out with his manual in Christian counseling the same year that revisions were done to strike down certain behaviors behaviors in the field as deviant. There are some uncalled for criticisms against those who are of the so-called integrationist field. They are merely trying to go along with state requirements to turn back the liberalism in the culture and at the state level. Don't get me wrong the biblical theological counseling is good but there is nothing wrong in understanding human development and "how" a person acquires skills and understanding either.
I am a born again Christian and a licensed clinical psychologist. While Biblical counseling can be helpful in certain cases, Biblical counselors are sorely lacking in the education needed to tackle severe clinical issues, like schizophrenia, personality disorders, and so forth. Much harm is done when empirically supported forms of therapy are not practiced in these situations. For instance, imagine somebody who is severely overweight and has medical problems. Would you tell them to use the Bible only? Wouldn't you send them to a medical doctor and get them involved in exercise, perhaps have them consult with a nutritionist? Is this relying on man's wisdom?
Perhaps you should define man's wisdom correctly. Man's wisdom is man's perception that is contrary to the word of God. But observations and knowledge by man is not inherently evil, as you suggest. Science can be defined as information gathered by man's observation. Yes, some forms of psychology are in conflict with the Bible. Humanistic forms of psychology that tell you that you are a good person and all you have to do is tap into your inner goodness are in contradiction to God's word. But they also DON'T WORK. The type of therapy that has scientific evidence behind it, demonstrating its effectiveness is completely consistent with the Bible. Therapy for depressed people that changes their thoughts and behaviors is not in contradiction with the Bible at all. But just using the Bible alone, you could not deduce how to perform this type of therapy. Man had to make observations, and come to logical deductions from such observations.
If you use your logic, we should never see a medical doctor because their take on medicine is "man's wisdom." We should only use the Bible. Teachers should only teach from the Bible since anything else is "man's wisdom." Don't see a nutritionist since the Bible tells you all you need to eat, anything else is "man's wisdom." Don't see a business consultant or financial counselor because all they will tell you is "man's wisdom." Worldly knowledge in and of itself is not bad.
What people forget is that all truth is God's truth. When we examine empirically validated forms of therapy (forms of therapy that are demonstrated by scientific studies to improve mental illness) you will find that they do not contradict the Bible. There is nothing inherently evil about information gathered by man. It must pass the litmus test of being in agreement with God's word. You will know it is man's wisdom BECAUSE it contradicts God's word. Just because a human being came up with it does not make it evil. Modern technology was created by "man's wisdom." Should we eschew that too? Should we ignore medical facts and science? If you are anxious, exposure to the stimulus that makes you fearful decreases your anxiety. Is that simply "man's wisdom?" Call it what you want; scientific study after study proves this fact. Exercise promotes weight loss. If you see a nutritionist, whether or not they are a Christian, this is what they will tell you. Is that man's wisdom? How do you even define that? Biblical counseling is beneficial, no doubt. But people who are in Biblical Counseling, for the sake of their clients, need to recognize their limits clinically, or you could be doing a great deal of harm to those you see.
Depression , obesity , and other clinical problem you are talking about have root causes. Being Born again is being led by the Spirit of GOD and that is what defines wisdom , not relying on our own studies.Biblical Counseling is not always the whole answer and they know that because I use to be one of the counselee; they work alongside with financial planners, debt counselors, lawyers, and medical doctors to help address various problems and also in cooperation with local agencies and support communities. They have dealt with a very wide variety of severe, complex problems. However, about 75 percent of their cases have been marriage counseling and about 80 percent of cases results have been favorable ALl problems have root causes inorder to find solution we have to understand and go back again to the BIBLE it is sin or the sin of others if you understand why the world is like this. All counselors have extensive training in the Bible and in counseling and are certified by the (NANC) National Association of Nouthetic Counselors and the International Association of Biblical Counselors aside from the HOLY SPIRITs anointing if you believe that as you said you are born again. Continuing education/training for staff is the high priority in the Biblical counseling since counseling is a very demanding ministry and they also know that and they didnt neglected that. They are up to date, professionalized and focused. That is why they are growing and sustained continuously equipped,professionalized, up to date counselors and staff to be able to keep with you like you said you are a psychologist and have the more capable and effective service . In addition, all counselors hold either a master’s degree or doctorate or are working toward such a degree it is not true what you are saying that they are least educated and has no knowledge and training. If you are going to evaluate those who has been counselled biblically than those who weren't but by regular theraphy you will be amazed of the result .People who go to a biblical fellowship and counseling has a long term healing and results. Just for instance those who were in Prison , try to read the Chuch Colson's "Prison Fellowship" people who attended that and recieved counselling biblically did not go back to their former life at all anymore, those seems to be impossible to be healed emotionally has been healed and became positve and have productive lives after. They have changed 180 degrees.
IN ADDITION :
Psychologists minister their religion of the worship of man and the ultimate goal of "feeling good emotionally", by trying to convince you that you are not a bad person and the blame for your selfish behavior lies largely at the feet of other people, typically your parents. Psychologists will tell you that there are no absolute standards of what is right and what is wrong, and that you need to find your own way and create you own moral reality that you can live by. Modern psychological beliefs are nothing more than a religion of the worship of man as the ultimate source of wisdom, authority and good. However, the fact that the psychological counseling industry is growing by leaps and bounds proves that it does not help! If it did, then there would be fewer people needing their services. And if it really helped, then surely parents would pass it on to their children, in order to spare their children the same pain they went through. This would further reduce the need of psychologists. Yet people’s hopelessness, anxieties and depression just keep on growing. Why? The religion of secular psychological humanism will continue to fail, just like other religions, because of this essential and fatal flaw – the psychological counselor cannot remove the guilt of your sin by forgiving them. Only the Person of God alone can provide you with the forgiveness you need, because you first sinned against Him, the moral law Creator, Who gave you the capacity to know right from wrong.
The Solution
No, the answer to your problems – loneliness, fear, guilt, depression, and hopelessness – is not found in psychology, philosophy or religion, but rather in the form of a Person – a Savior. The solution to your problems is found in a personal relationship with the true and living God's Son Jesus of Nazareth. Now you may react by saying, ‘hey, that’s religion’. No, Jesus is not ‘religion’, rather, He is a REAL AND LIVING PERSON, and He says "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Jesus did not say, "go to the nearest building that has stained glass and people with long robes and funny collars who claim to represent Me and go through their rituals". No, He says, "Come to Me". He says, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus says to those who trust in him, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
You see you will never receive forgiveness for your sins except through the Most High God's Son Jesus the Messiah. Your deepest need is to be right with your Creator - to be accepted by Him by being forgiven of the greatest sin - unbelief or ignoring Him. Can you imagine having children who one day, start completely and utterly ignoring you in their presence, as if you were not even there? Are you doing the same thing to Jesus? Do you ignore him and his Words while being a "good christian" by going to some religious building week after week? So, how are your outward religious rituals, or shallow knowledge about Jesus helping to bring you peace?
But progressive sanctification of believers is a work of God, not of a human counselor. The power of progressive sanctification is of God--the Holy Spirit of God using the Word of God to progressively bring about changes in the counselee's life according to His plan. subas
It seems that everyone is basically saying the same thing here. There are few evangelical Christian therapists who would describe what they do as "unbiblical." Are there no Christian marriage and family therapists or psychologists who are helping their clients deepen their relationships with Christ? Are only "Biblical counselors" actually practicing within God's will? This type of arrogance completely turns people off to Biblical counseling in general. Which is very sad. As Christians, shouldn't we be building one another up instead of pointing fingers of judgment at other counselors? These clinicians are likely not even practicing the same Freudian or humanistic psychology that some assume they are. I am a marriage and family therapy trainee as well as a follower of Christ. I desire to aid in His work of changing and healing . I am trying to stay open to both camps here, but please don't rush to judgment and say that my work is not biblical. My ultimate goal is to be an agent of grace and a minister of Christ, which I'm sure is something we hold in common.
When it comes to the problems in the mind, a lot of people do not see the real enemy. There is three things that Satan does. He oppresses (Act 10:38), obsesses (Luke 6:18 , Acts 5:16), and possesses (Mark 1:32). Satan cannot posses a child of God because the Holy Spirit is in him. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
I was diagnosed with undifferentiated Schizophrenia in the Army and put on 4mg. of Rispiredone, which is essentially the minimal dosage that a Schizophrenic person should take. I am perfectly normal with the meds. Psychiatry has been very helpful to me. A Biblical Counseler with an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from a great school that I graduated from told me that my mental illness was because of relationship problems that had spirraled downard into worse thinking patterns that turned into Schizophrenia. He said I was just in sin, which of course is rediculous, though I respect Biblical Counseling very much in spite of this one person's bad use of it.
I think that Biblical Counseling is all that is needed to handle life's problems unless it is a mental illness, in which case it may still be useful, of course for handling sin per se, but it won't cure a mental illness like this guy was thinking. Clinical Psychology, that which deals with mental illness itself, is best at handling mental illness as mental illness.
I believe in Biblical Counseling, but I think that the medical doctors and psychologists of the world specialize in actual mental illness in a way that is essential for handling such problems. Where sin is involved, I believe in Biblical Counseling, but it is possible for the mind, just like any body part to be sick or damaged, and that requires a medical/theraputic approach rather than assuming that the Bible can be used as a textbook for handling mental sickness issues.
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