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BIBLICAL COUNSELING INSIGHTS
Master's
International School of Divinity
is committed to the belief that God's Word is totally
adequate to meet the deepest spiritual needs of
individuals everywhere, in every generation, in every
culture. We understand the Scriptures to be totally
sufficient as a handbook for the human heart, soul, and
mind. Consequently, we believe that Biblical Counseling
is superior to all other methodologies. Furthermore, we
believe that one of the most critical needs of the church
today is men and women of God properly trained in the
ministry of Biblical Counseling.
Therefore, we have partnered together with a world leader
in the promotion of Biblical Counseling, the International
Association of Biblical Counselors, to make available at
the undergraduate through doctoral levels, a complete
degree program which also includes all of the course and
practicum requirements of Certification by IABC.
Whether
you are seeking to earn your Associate, Bachelor's,
Master's or Doctoral degree in Biblical Counseling, we
believe that the dual Degree/Certification Track is the
most logical and efficient path to earning both your
degree and qualifying to become Certified as a Biblical
counselor! Because, more than ever before, the Church of
Jesus Christ needs men and women called and trained to
bring the hope and healing that is possible only through
the power of God and His Holy Word.
Now,
please take a few moments and read the Biblical Counseling
Insights presented below.
|CONFUSED
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING| |WHY
COUNSELING BELONGS IN THE CHURCH|
|THE
DO’S & DON’TS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING|
CONFUSED CHRISTIAN
COUNSELING
Dr. Ed
Bulkley, President
International Association of Biblical Counselors
There is
growing confusion in today's Christian community about the
best way to help people overcome their personal problems
of living. Some believe that Christians should submit only
to biblical counseling, while others passionately support
psychological counseling so long as it is integrated with
the Scriptures.
Fully persuaded that psychological training
is necessary to counsel effectively, most pastors today
refer their parishioners to psychologists and
psychiatrists for treatment of serious emotional and
behavioral disorders. Christian publishing houses pour out
an endless stream of books written by psychologists to
help believers solve their problems of living. These
experts appear on Christian radio and television, and
produce film series to communicate their belief that
pastors and churches can help parishioners with minor
problems, but serious disorders must be entrusted to
"professional counselors."
Denver Seminary, Talbot Seminary, Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School, Liberty University, Moody
Bible Institute, Columbia School of the Bible, and a host
of other Christian schools are convinced that psychology
and the Bible must be integrated in counseling if the
church is to remain relevant to our contemporary culture.
Dallas Seminary employed one of the nation's best known
Christian psychiatrists on its teaching faculty. Colorado
Christian University offers a counseling degree built on
the theories of a prominent Christian psychologist.
Is
Psychology Needed Today?
How did the apostle Paul counsel people in his day? Paul
himself answers that in Colossians 1:28, "We proclaim him,
admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ." He then warns
us in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you
captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which
depends on human tradition and the basic principles of
this world rather than on Christ." Am I misreading Paul?
Is he in error to suggest that we can find all wisdom in
Christ? Do we, then, need the insights of psychology to
provide for the deepest needs of Christians? Is modern
life truly more complex than it was in the days of Paul?
Those who believe we desperately need the insights of
psychology seem to think so.
Is All
"Truth" True?
A professor of counseling psychology at Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School is committed to the concept of
integrating secular psychology with biblical counseling.
He argues that psychological "truths" fall under the
category of general revelation and that new insights can
be accepted if they are true and do not contradict the
Bible. He offers this example: I think all Christians
would agree that when you bury negative feelings, you bury
them alive, and that can cause ulcers, even heart attacks.
This process is undeniably true, but you can't find it
specifically in the Bible. If it's true, then we embrace
it and use it; if it isn't true, then we don't. 1) One
could argue with the professor whether "this process is
undeniably true" and what it means to "bury negative
feelings." But a greater problem is how one determines
whether a psychological discovery is "true." He implies
that the Bible is as silent about the human condition as
it is about modern technologies: It isn't a textbook on
how to tune up our automobiles, or on physics, chemistry,
or psychology. It does contain statements that relate to
geology, anthropology, and psychology that must be
integrated into those disciplines, but the Bible's primary
purpose is to tell us how to be right with God, not what
to do when someone has a nervous breakdown. 2) Are we to
assume, then, that there is no connection between one's
standing with God and a nervous breakdown? Is the Bible
really silent on the issues of psychological health? Are
mental/ emotional problems the same as tuning one's car or
mixing chemicals? Integrationists see a categorical
difference between psychological and spiritual problems
and how to solve those problems. They say that the medical
doctor should treat the body, the psychologist or
psychiatrist should treat the mind, and the pastor should
deal with the spirit.
Those who insist that we must use
psychology along with biblical counseling argue that "even
though the Bible is all true, it does not follow that all
truth is in the Bible." They give examples: In
mathematics, medicine, physics, geography, marine biology
and a host of other areas, there is much truth that is not
mentioned in the Bible. God in his wisdom has allowed
human beings to discover truths about the universe that
are not discussed in Scripture. 3) While it is true that
the Bible does not list mathematical formulae, modern
medical procedure, every physical law, every geographic
location or every species of marine life, one must
remember than none of those areas deal with essential
spiritual truths.
Some critics of psychology seem to argue
... that God has not allowed human beings to discover any
truths about interpersonal relations, mental health,
counseling techniques, mental disorders, personal decision
making or any other issues related to stress management
and daily living. Such a view maintains that God has
allowed human beings to discover truth in almost every
field of human study except psychology. 4) The problem is
that many integrationists seem unable to discern the
significant difference between the physical sciences and
the so-called "social sciences." Does the Bible Deal with
Every Problem Known to Man? The question remains, is
psychology necessary today? Integrationists seem to think
so because "some human problems are not mentioned in the
Scriptures." They believe that The Bible was not written
as a self-help, question and answer book covering every
possible human problem. It does not claim to be a textbook
of counseling techniques or personal problem solving. 5)
No, the Bible claims to be far more--the very word of God
that "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Tim.
3:16,17).
Of course, the Bible does not tell a
student which specific college to choose, nor does it name
the precise person a Christian is to marry. God does not
remove from the individual the privilege and
responsibility to use his mind, experience, common sense,
and the advice of godly counselors to make important
decisions. But those kinds of decisions involve specific
applications of biblical truths, not universal principles.
Contrary to integrationist reasoning, the Bible does
present the principles that, if followed, will provide the
answers for every human problem.
The Bible provides the principles necessary
to deal with eating disorders, non-biogenic depressions,
AIDS, scholastic failure, child abuse, bitter memories,
anxiety, and a host of other modern problems. Thus,
integrationists are grossly mistaken when they say that
"many, perhaps most, of the problems people bring to
modern counselors are never discussed in the Bible.
Dr. Ed Bulkley, President
International Association of Biblical Counselors
|CONFUSED
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING| |WHY
COUNSELING BELONGS IN THE CHURCH|
|THE
DO’S & DON’TS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING|
WHY
COUNSELING BELONGS IN THE CHURCH
Alden Laird, Executive Vice President
International Association of Biblical Counselors
Why People Seek A Neutral Counselor.
Many years ago a young married couple
visited our church and asked to see me following the
worship service. After we exchanged the usual
pleasantries, they, with some difficulty, began to share
the reason they had visited our church.
The husband had a serious long-term problem
with pornography and wanted to know if I would counsel
them. Upon inquiry, I learned that they were in a fine
Bible-believing church, liked their pastor, and
appreciated the caring body of believers at their
fellowship. They had not shared this problem with their
pastor and indicated they would be too embarrassed for
anyone in the church to counsel with them.
I could repeat scores of similar
conversations and experiences with those who seek an
"outside counselor." This illustrates a very popular
theory in the church today which proposes that a dispute
or personal problem is best served by a neutral counselor
outside the local church.
When is
Outside Counseling Appropriate?
On the surface this might appear to be a
wise perspective. Proponents point to several so-called
advantages including neutrality, confidentiality, and
greater transparency in the counseling sessions.
I want to be fair and not rule out the
possibility of a "neutral" Biblical counselor in certain
situations. What should two Christian businessmen do if
their companies have a dispute, they attend different
churches, their pastors do not agree, and they cannot
resolve the matter? Yes, there is a place for what is
known as Christian mediation and conflict resolution,
utilizing the resources of a neutral, objective Biblical
counselor or arbitration board.
The Apostle Paul admonished the believers
at Corinth to avoid taking another believer "before the
ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints" (I
Corinthians 6:1-8). Certainly, it is far better to seek a
"third party," godly Biblical counselor or counselors for
assistance in certain cases. But, in the far majority of
cases, the principle is this: God has ordained the local
church and its spiritual leaders to assist with the
personal problems and disputes that may arise among
believers.
Where
Should Counseling Take Place?
Our counseling staff here at Return To The
Word have given a great deal of thought as to where
counseling should take place. With years of responses from
thousands of callers across the country, we have seen over
and over again the problem that exists when counseling
goes outside the local church. This is why we consistently
refer people back to their local church and their pastor.
It is not only our experience that counselees find the
best help when they go back to own local church, it is
first and foremost the plan laid out for us in the
Scriptures.
Biblical
Authority
- First of all is the matter of authority. The Bible
clearly teaches that the local church is given the right
and responsibility to not only govern its own affairs, but
also the authority to judge matters within the church (I
Corinthians 6:12,13). Christ is the head of the church
(Colossians 1:18), and yet He also delegates leadership
and grants authority (within certain boundaries) to
pastors and spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:7,17; I
Thessalonians 5:12,13).
As an example, I would seriously question
why a man would ask his wife to submit to his leadership
if he himself has not first demonstrated his willingness
and faithfulness to the leadership of those God has placed
over him. Therefore, the value of local church counsel is
that it provides the spiritual leaders an opportunity to
evaluate if everyone involved in the dispute or conflict
has first demonstrated submission to their rightful
leaders.
Accountability
- Second is the issue of accountability. When counseling
goes outside the local church, any advantage of neutrality
and/or confidentiality must be weighed against the far
greater liability of having virtually no mechanism to hold
each person accountable.
How could an outside counselor, for
example, take a counselee through the Matthew 18 (church
discipline) process if he or she continued to live in
rebellion to God's Word? Without the church, the
counselor's role is reduced to that of being a mediator or
consultant.
That is why so many in a marital dispute
are turning to the courts; the church has either failed or
not been allowed to exercise its God-given role of
authority over such matters. Why is it that, even for many
Christians, people want a "Church Wedding" but in the end,
they seek only a civil (court) dissolution of the marriage
instead of seeking Godly counsel? -Continuity- Third is
the issue of continuity. How can an outside counselor
continue to follow up and provide long-term counseling
from a distance? From my perspective this presents the
same problem as people who rely only on their television
or radio pastor. Therefore, at Return to the Word, we
consistently recommend our callers to seek counsel from
their own pastor. The pastor and leaders of the church are
the ones who are charged with the responsibility to
shepherd their flock (I Peter 5:1,2) and stay abreast of
their spiritual condition (Proverbs 27:23). This is why in
my beginning illustration I urged that couple to go back
to their local church and their pastor and ask for help.
Do we really believe that a local church is
a family of believers under divinely appointed leadership?
Sometimes we don't act like it, especially when a problem
develops. Unfortunately, many have not received the help
and care they need because it is rare for "outside
counseling" to provide the long-term assistance that
believers need to correct a problem and mature in the
faith.
Why the
Local Church?
Ken Sande, Executive Director of the
Institute for Christian Conciliation, who himself
regularly conciliates business, family, employment, and
church disputes, says in his well-written book, The
Peacemaker - A Biblical Guide To Resolving Personal
Conflict: "Some of the best conciliators are people who
are personally acquainted with you or your opponent, or
better yet, who know both of you quite well...this
potential for bias should be more than offset by their
commitment before God to do what is just and right. In
fact, my experience has shown that someone who knows you
well will have the freedom to be honest and frank, and
that is exactly what you need in a conciliator." Sande
takes a strong position for seeking resolution first from
the local church. Are there times when churches refuse to
get involved? Yes, it is often a sad fact of our day.
What is
Really Needed?
I wish there was never a time to have to
recommend "third party" counseling Ñ to refer people "to a
Biblical counselor in your area," but many churches and
pastors have dropped the ball and leave many with no
alternative. Even so, I believe every Christian ought to
first appeal and challenge their church and leaders to
assume their biblical role of shepherding, counseling, and
discipling their own flock.
We have had a growing number of pastors who
have accepted our counseling requirement that we will not
counsel a member from another church unless they bring
their pastor or another spiritual leader with them. What
marvelous results God has graciously given in many of
these situations as pastors and leaders see that we, as
Christians, have the all-sufficient Word of God as our
resource, and that Biblical counseling does not require
"professional" training to help people change their lives.
The requirements for being a Biblical
counselor are a thorough knowledge of God's Word, the
resulting practical sense and a consistent and godly
lifestyle (I Timothy 4:11-16). Let's get back to God's
Book and God's ways!
Alden Laird, Executive Vice President
International Association of Biblical Counselors
|CONFUSED
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING| |WHY
COUNSELING BELONGS IN THE CHURCH|
|THE
DO’S & DON’TS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING|
THE
DO’S & DON’TS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING
Presented
by The
International Association of Biblical Counseling
Here is an outline of some of the "Do's and
Don'ts" of Biblical Counseling. If you will follow these
suggestions, you may spare yourself a great deal of
trouble and heart-ache. Examine the principles carefully
and apply them to your counseling ministry as you compare
and validate them with the Word of God.
DO A
PERSONAL INVENTORY:
1. DO counsel others when you are living an
obedient, spirit-filled life with a working knowledge of
the Scriptures and are able to assist others in their
personal growth. (Ephesians 5:18; Romans15:14)
2. DON'T neglect the basics" (meditating on
God's Word, prayer, witnessing, and fellowship in a
Bible-believing local church) in your own life. (Ephesians
6:10-20; Hebrews 10:19-25)
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION:
1. DO require and carefully review the
Counseling Information Form prior to the first session so
as to discern the proper personnel and materials that may
be necessary. (Ecclesiastes 8:5,6)
2. DON'T be too hasty to draw premature
conclusions. (Proverbs 14:15; 18:17)
SPIRITUAL
LEADERSHIP:
1. DO carefully discern the counselee's
spiritual leadership and authority structure: e.g.,
Husband - I Corinthians 11:1-3, Parents - Ephesians 6:1,
and Local Church Leaders - Hebrews 13:7,17.
2. DON'T assume someone else's role and
responsibility unless there is mutual consent on the part
of all individuals involved or lack of interest. (Philemon
12-14)
INITIAL
SESSION:
1. DO listen carefully to the counselee's
explanation of the problem. (James 1:19)
2. DON'T fail to offer hope when the
Biblical principles are applied. (Romans 8:28)
3. DO explain the nature of genuine
Biblical counseling and your commitment to the truths of
God's Word. (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:3- 11)
4. DON'T neglect to explain your
requirement that the counselee complete all weekly
home-work assignments. (James 1:21-25)
SALVATION:
1. DO inquire early in the counseling
process as to whether the counselee is a true believer.
Always be prepared to share the simple plan of salvation.
(II Corinthians 13:5)
2. DON'T take for granted anyone's
salvation, nor presume that a non-believer can discern
spiritual truth. (I Corinthians 2:12-14)
ROOT
ISSUES:
1. DO assist the counselee to discern the
root problem(s) (sins) as compared to the surface issues
(which are normally the presenting problems). (Hebrews
12:15)
2. DON'T focus on surface issues that blur
the counselee's vision of root problems. (II Corinthians
10:7)
SELF-CONFRONTATION AND REPENTANCE:
1. DO expect the counselee to first take
the log out of his (or her) own eye" before insisting that
anyone else make changes. (Matthew 7:1-5; Acts 24:16)
2. DON'T presume that sorrow or remorse for
past failures and sins is sufficient. Gently lead the
counselee through the steps of repentance and appropriate
restitution. (II Corinthians 7:8-13)
FORGIVENESS:
1. DO emphasis the various aspects of
forgiveness (e.g. vertical and horizontal forgiveness);
that God requires of us to forgive all who have erred
against us. (Colossians 3:13)
2. DON'T minimize the sins of unforgiveness,
hatred, and bitterness. (Matthew 18:21-35)
PUTTING
OFF, PUTTING ON:
1. DO instruct and train the counselee in
the principles that relate to "putting off the old self..
.and putting on the new self." (Ephesians 4:17-24;
Philippians 4:8)
2. DON'T neglect the instruction to the
counselee with regard to discipleship, accountability, and
fellowship from the local church. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
MISCELLANEOUS:
1. DO demonstrate the fruit of the spirit"
in all your conversation and demeanor. (Galatians 5:22-26)
2. DON'T counsel a member of the opposite
sex alone. (I Thessalonians 5:22)
3. DO seek Godly counsel from others on
difficult matters. (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 24:6)
4. DON'T pledge total confidentiality, as
to do so could potentially bring harm to the counselee or
others. (Ecclesiastes 5:5; Proverbs 17:15)
5. Do remember the wonderful balance of
always "speaking the truth in love." (Ephesians. 4:15)
NOTE: These
"Do's and Don'ts" are by no means an exhaustive list.
There is no substitute for the daily
intake and application of God's Word. In so doing the
counselor will not only rely upon the Holy Spirit, but
will also continue to plumb the depths of the Bible.
Ultimately, we want to say like the Apostle Paul, "For I
have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of
God" (Acts 20:27).
"Confused Christian Counseling", "Why
Counseling Belongs in The Local Church", and "Do's and
Don'ts" of Biblical Counseling are presented by The
International Association of Biblical Counseling (IABC)
and are reprinted herein with permission. Dr. Ed Bulkley
serves as president for IABC, and their web site is:
http://www.iabc.net
|CONFUSED
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING| |WHY
COUNSELING BELONGS IN THE CHURCH|
|THE
DO’S & DON’TS OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING|
For
more information:
IABC
Degree/Certification Program
MASTER'S International School of Divinity
520 Kimber Lane, Evansville, Indiana 47715-2820
1-800-933-1445 | 1-812-471-0611 | fax 1-812-471-0877
General information:
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Copyright 1999-2009. |
