Christian Counseling

With so many voices claiming that psychology and Christianity are incompatible, it has been a major relief to find that there have been practices in place that help to overcome the objection of incompatibility. Key in the argument that the two areas are not mutually exclusive is the fact that the use of scripture as the authority within the Christian counseling setting continues to be a part of the equation. 

The approach that will be evaluated for relevancy is the nouthetic counseling approach. This approach can be summed up with four key points. First, the problem is recognized as a moral issue towards God, or what we could call sin. Second, what guides the process is the belief that repentance leads to wholeness. Third, that upon the client recognizing their sinful behavior change will occur. Finally, the counselor is seen as a teacher to some degree, and their role is to educate the client on Biblical principles. 

Jay E. Adams produced a series of writings called The Use of the Scriptures in Counseling. In those articles he makes the case that counseling is a Biblical principle, and that the scriptures, rightly used can provide a clear understanding to the client’s problem. His articles, although produced in the mid 1970s, remain very helpful in today’s counseling setting. 

Christian counseling without the integration of the scriptures is not Christian at all. Historically, many people have sought out the priest, pastor, or preacher whenever they have needed some to talk to that could help them with whatever situation they were dealing with at the time. Those people were more than likely taken to the scriptures in order to help them understand their given situation within the context of what God expects from them, and what He will do for them as well. A problem is “understood only as it is evaluated Biblically” (Adams, 1974). He goes on to explain how the scriptures are a product of the Holy Spirit who is the “paraclete,” or counselor. 

Within counseling today, the need to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit, and the revelation of God via scripture should be paramount to Christian counseling. The Holy Spirit provides to everyone the ability to recognize his or her own problems, and He also gives everyone the strength to change. The client presenting the problem needs to understand what God requires of them, and also He will give them the power to overcome the situation. 

What does Biblical counseling look like within the framework described by Adams? First, to accurately understand a problem one must approach it through scripture. Second, there is a need to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the change process. Third, the counselor must bring together the client’s problem and God’s solution. Fourth, there needs to be a Biblical plan of action to facilitate change. Finally, the client must commit to the Biblical plan.

The potential for positive impact using this type of approach is immense. 

Why? The potential is great because “Christian psychology is one that is faithful to reality” (Myers and Jeeves, 2003). For Christian counseling to have any chance for success in the future, it must reflect the truth of reality. The Bible offers a very real look into the mirror of life. What is says about any given topic corresponds to reality. The explanations are not always as exhaustive as one would like, but they are thorough enough to bring understanding to a given topic. 

As far as counseling goes, one need only look to this passage from the Apostle Paul for confirmation about the use of scripture within counseling,

⁴ For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4, NASB). 

The words of Paul give encouragement that no matter how far away from God the secular counseling world goes, we can have refuge in knowing that His word is sufficient, and that through using it we can teach and encourage others.

Works Cited

Adams, J. E. (1974). Use of the Scriptures in counseling. Bibliotheca sacra , 131 (524), 291-301.

Myers, D. a. (2003). Psychology Through The Eyes Of Faith. New York: Harper Collins.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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