Chapter Four

STEP TWO: COMPARATIVE SILHOUETTING

In the context of this procedure, a "silhouette" is defined as, "the outline of a body viewed as circumscribing a mass." Thus, "silhouetting" is defined as, "to represent by a silhouette; also: to project on a background like a silhouette." (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.)

In this context, silhouetting is actually two-fold, thus referred to as "Comparative Silhouetting;" and, as the second step of Biblical Directionism Counseling, is that process whereby the results of determinative profiling (Step One) are placed into a complete outline form thereby enabling the counselor to view the individual as a circumscribed whole. This circumscribed whole (the silhouette of the counselee) is then projected "comparatively" on a background silhouette.

The background silhouette is always the infallible standard of God's Word, the Bible. When a silhouette of the counselee's present state of being is placed in a comparative manner upon the background silhouette of Scripture, a revealing comparative outline is projected. This revealing comparative outline is possible because projecting the silhouette of the counselee upon the silhouetted standard of God's Word is actually the process of comparing silhouette with silhouette; that is, the silhouette of the counselee over against the silhouette of the absolute of the Word of God.

Graphically, this process may be represented as follows:

   
Figure 1          Figure 2

For a very basic comparison, we may understand the stars (Figures 1 & 2), and the direction in which the points of the stars are radiating, as representing data. In the case of Figure 1, the data suggested by the direction of the star points are the identifiable directions of the counselee's current state of being. In the case of Figure 2, the data suggested by the direction of the star points are the identifiable directions of the standard of God's Word for any given situation.

Comparative Silhouetting can then be accomplished by contrasting the counselee's silhouette (Figure 1), with the biblical silhouette (Figure 2). This can be graphically represented as follows (Figure 3):

Figure 3

Notice the that background star (Figure 2) represents the silhouette of the standard of God's Word by the rotational position of its points. The foregoing star (Figure 1) represents the silhouette of the counselee's presents state of being. As a result of this comparison, it is easy to determine at what point(s) the counselee is out of alignment with the standard of God's Word.

As a result of this comparative silhouetting, the data gathered as a result of profiling is processed into information. This information becomes the basis for counseling. Where the information assures congruence with the standard of God's Word, the counselee is experiencing no life-problem. Where the information points to incongruence with the standard of God's Word, the counselee is experiencing a life-problem.

It is important to point out that the graphic representation of the process of comparative silhouetting is only for illustration. Any number or variety of shapes or images might be used to demonstrate the same thing. What must be understood is that comparative silhouetting is an actual event (process).

The process of comparative silhouetting is essentially that of an analysis between the circumscribed whole of the Scriptural standards which apply to any given situation, and the circumscribed whole of the counselee at any given state of being. Comparative silhouetting may not always involve the counselee directly.

Primarily, the process of comparative silhouetting is an intermediate step essential to accurate and viable diagnosis; consequently, it is a information generating process, primarily for the benefit of the counselor. However, it is often difficult and sometimes impossible, to actually exclude the counselee from this process, nor is it always desirable. For example, silhouetting may be an almost simultaneous process along with profiling --- as in the case of a Christian who, in revealing his presenting problem, already knows whether or not his actions are acceptable according to the biblical norm for his particular situation.

The acceptance of comparative silhouetting as the second step in Biblical Directionism counseling is based upon the belief that God's Word is the infallible absolute in all matters pertaining to human activity; and only by comparative silhouetting is man able to reveal and realize his true condition.

Scriptural Methodology

The single most important factor which characterizes Biblical Directionism counseling is that fundamental to all counseling, is the given that the Bible represents an infallible absolute which is designed to govern and guide the affairs of men. Again, let it be reasserted that the Scriptures are quite literally the "ratione et via certus." As such, the Scriptures provide an infallible standard by which man's state of being may be measured.

Just as determinative profiling provides a silhouette of the counselee's state of being, so too, the Scriptures provide a silhouette of the norm upon which man's state of being may be projected for comparison.

The Scriptural premise from which this second step is derived is found in the Book of Hebrews. "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul, spirit, joints, and morrow it judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.

The Scriptures provide a sharp silhouette upon which a person's life may be projected. This silhouette, like that of the counselee's circumscribed whole, is actually "living and active." When the counselee's silhouette is projected upon it for comparison, there is an immediate "penetration" and "dividing" right down to the "thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The result of this process is a "judging" whereby the individual is given a comparative analysis of his or her condition (whether for good of for bad).

The Greek word translated "judges" in the NIV is translated "discerner" in the KJV. The word here is "kritikos." The word carries on the thought of "dividing," from "krinein," which means to "divide or separate," which then runs into the sense of "judge," the usual meaning of it in the New Testament. Here, then, "judgment" involves the sifting out and analysis of evidence. In "kritikos," the ideas of discrimination and judging are blended.

Thus, the Scriptures act as an agent for comparison of the data gathered in profiling. Stated yet another way, it can be said that the Scriptures provide the standard by which an individual's state of being may be compared according to an absolute standard.

Why God Must Impose An Absolute Standard

Any system of measurement requires a standard. For example, distance may be accurately measured only by reason of an established standard.  So, too, conduct, lifestyle, attitude, thought, action, and reaction may be measured only in light of an established standard. Insanity, for example, can be measured only on the basis of what standard constitutes sanity.

Biblical Directionism counseling maintains that the standard by which human activity (mental or physical) is measured must transcend mere societal norms. Since societal norms can never be standardized, conduct deemed normal in one element of society may be deemed quite abnormal in another. That societal norms undergo cyclical convolutions is well established. These cyclical convolutions (the changing ins and outs of what is generally acceptable in any given society) prevent the formulation of any absolute societal standard whereby man's state of being may be properly judged.

Therefore, any standard which would serve as an absolute whereby man's state of being may be properly analyzed would, of necessity, be required to transcend mere human development. This concept is germane to the philosophy of Biblical Directionism counseling. Therefore, the Scriptures become the only sure standard whereby man's state of being may be assessed, analyzed, and thereby judged.

Without the establishment of a universal transcendental standard, God's will and way for mankind would be subject to the same cyclical uncertainties as societal mores. The resulting confusion would render real sanity impossible and any protective balance in society unattainable. Thus, God has provided an absolute in the form of His written Word (the Bible).

How God Imposes His Standard

The word "imposes" is defined as, "to establish or apply by authority." God's absolute standard is established and applied by the authority of His universally distributed laws. One cannot escape the reality of God's righteous requirements. Therefore, it is an unchangeable law of God that those who are content with anything less than what they know to be right in the sight of God will sooner or later come to ruin. It is only a matter of time.

Genuine fulfillment in this life can only be achieved in humble partnership with the Creator, as one willingly subordinates his or her life to God's control. Or, as the Scriptures say: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8.

In whatever time/space relationship man happens to find himself, he will also find that living according to the absolute standard of God's Word works toward wholeness, and living in defiance of God's absolute standard works toward fragmentation. The transcendental nature of God's standard and its universality requires its establishment and application to all people of all times.  Hence, when the silhouette of man's circumscribed whole is projected upon the silhouette of God's absolute standard, a literal lifestyle evidence of comparison is to be expected.

Experiential Methodology

If comparative silhouetting is a generic second step in biblical counseling, the Scriptures ought to abound with clear evidence of it. The following selections are only representative of a vast quantity of such evidence, but they do provide concise examples.

Biblical case Studies

God counsels Cain.

"But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.'" Genesis 4:4-7.

God begins the conversation with Cain by profiling --- "Why are you angry?" "Why is your face downcast?" Next, God compares Cain's silhouette over against His own righteous standard --- "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted (God;s righteous standard)? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door" (Cain's present state of being). A proper comparison has now been drawn between God's silhouette of righteousness and Cain's silhouette (present state of being) or unrighteousness.

Reuben counsels his brothers.

"'Here comes the dreamer!' they said to each other. 'Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams.' When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. 'Let's not take his life,' he said. 'Don't shed innocent blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him.'" Genesis 37:19-22a.

Reuben is actually silhouetting the obnoxious intentions of his brothers upon the righteous requirements of God's law --- 'Don't shed any innocent blood" (:22). The silhouette of the brothers is projected upon the standard of God's higher law which prohibited the shedding of innocent blood. This very concept was only a few generations later incorporated into Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 19:10, 13; 21:8-9; 27:25).

The Psalmist's use of silhouetting.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hid Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:9-11.

Here, the young man is kept pure by a continual process of projecting the circumscribed whole of his life over against that of the silhouette of God's righteous standard; when the two match up, a young man's way is pure.

Peter counsels Simon the Sorcerer.

"When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the Apostle's hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' Peter answered him, 'May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.'" Acts 8:18-21.

Peter, quite openly and publicly, silhouettes Simon's wrong attitude toward the giving of the gift of the Holy Spirit with that of God's standard --- "You thought you could buy the gift of God with money (:20) ... your heart is not right before God" (:21).

Premier Case Study

Nathan counsels David.

"The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, 'There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.' David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, 'As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.'" II Samuel 12:1-6.

In an allegorical manner, Nathan contrasts the actions of the supposed rich neighbor (actually David, himself) over against the righteous standard of God's law.

The Results

God counsels Cain (Genesis 4:4-7).

The results of comparative silhouetting here is that Cain's immediate condition is contrasted in such a way as to reveal the reason for his "anger" and "downcast" face.

Reuben counsels his brothers (Genesis 37:19-22a).

The result of comparative silhouetting here is that the proposed action of Reuben's brothers is revealed to be incongruent with God's righteous standard.

The Psalmist's use of silhouetting (Psalm 119:9-11).

The result of comparative silhouetting here is that the young man is permitted to know the actual standard by which he ought to live. Present actions or attitudes are kept in constant balance with God's Word by reason of routine analysis.

Peter counsels Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:18-21).

The results of comparative silhouetting here is that Peter is able to reveal the real motive of Simon by reason of an accurate comparison of God's standard for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and Simon's own evil intentions.

Premier Case Study: Nathan counsels David (II Samuel 12:1-6).

The results of comparative silhouetting here are sharply defined.   David is so incensed at the wickedness of the rich neighbor he "burned with anger" and said, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity" (:5-6). David is reflecting back upon the Mosaic law of restitution for sheep stealing which required that four sheep be paid back for every one sheep stolen (Exodus 22:1), and determines the rich neighbor's actions to be unacceptable and wholly evil.

In each case, the results of silhouetting enabled the counselor (and in some cases the counselee) to establish a standard for right and wrong conduct based upon the comparative analysis of the silhouette of man's present state of being, projected upon the silhouette of God's absolute standard.

To attempt to judge actions as right or wrong without some system of infallible absolutes is to violate a simple and basic premise of sound reason. If no infallible standard exists, then comparative silhouetting is only an exercise in futility, and no valid analysis of action or attitude is possible.

"For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the

corrections of discipline are the way to life." Proverbs 6:23.

"So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and

good." Romans 7:12.

END OF CHAPTER QUESTIONS

Chapter 4

Instructions:  After reading the chapter, study each question.  Try to determine the correct answer without referring back.   Check the accuracy of your answer by clicking the hyperlinked portion of the question.  The link takes you to the correct place in the chapter.

Q. 1  Essentially, how may the process of comparative silhouetting be defined?

Q. 2  In Directionism counseling, the acceptance of comparative silhouetting as the second step is based upon what belief?

Q. 3  What single factor most characterizes Directionism counseling?

Q. 4  Define the Greek word "KRITIKOS" as used in Hebrews 4:12.

Q. 5  Explain how the Greek word "KRITIKOS" relates to Scripture as an agent for analysis in the process of comparative silhouetting.

Q. 6  Explain why God must impose an absolute standard.

Q. 7 How is God's absolute standard applied?

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