Download Biblical Counseling, Scripture, and Psychology

Guidelines for choosing a counselor:
 Are they a born-again believer?
 Do they ground their counsel in the Word of God?
 How do they view secular psychology when compared with biblical
wisdom?
 How would they describe “change”?
 What do they do if an individual they are counseling wants them to
condone something that goes against Scripture?
Make sure you know what “I integrate Christian principles into my
counseling.” really means; don’t assume.
Summary:
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Ultimate truth and healing comes from a saving and growing
relationship with God.
Secular counseling has done a lot of good work in the areas of
thinking, behaving, and surface level symptom relief and as
believers we can draw from some of that work in a way that points
people back to their true Healer.
Biblical counseling has the focus right in terms of sin, nature of
mankind, and our eternal need and it must remain the ultimate
source of truth and help.
Integrating both Biblical counseling and Secular counseling assumes
both are of equal value when that is not accurate. A Biblical
counselor may draw from some methods and techniques used by
secular counselors to the extent Christ remains primary and those
methods are filtered through the lens of Biblical truth.
Biblical Counseling in the Local Church
Class 3: Biblical Counseling, Scripture,
and Psychology
The Wisdom of God & The Wisdom of Man
Getting to the heart of the matter:
How do we balance what we have learned about humanity through
observation, research, and assessment with what God has revealed in
Scripture about humanity? Is there anything wrong with learning about
human behavior and patterns of thinking and doing it from a secular
standpoint?
Today’s Focus: Is there a place for integrating secular psychology with
theology? If so, what does that look like? If not, why?
What is “counseling” from a secular viewpoint?
Purpose:
What is “counseling” from a Biblical viewpoint?
From week #1: “Biblical counseling is helping others in the body of Christ to
grow to maturity in Christ.” - Paul Tautges
The Right Fit
The method by which we address human change and freedom from
suffering must align with the reality of humanity’s true nature and bent.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Basics:
Assumptions:
The Problem of Sin:
Narrative Therapy
Basics:
Assumptions:
The Problem of Sin:
God has given humanity the ability to reason, explore, learn, and become
more self-aware. That awareness should lead us to a place of repentance
and forgiveness before Christ.
Why Choose Biblical Counsel?
Ultimately, we were created for God by God. We were not created for
ourselves and the pursuit of our individual happiness or “self-esteem” on this
earth. Life is bigger than us.
Secular Counseling and Spirituality:
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Secular counseling does recognize that we have a spiritual
dimension.
Secular counseling does realize that there is something of value to
that dimension.
Secular counseling would state that an individual belief system is
useful as long as the person who adheres to that belief thinks it is
helpful (placebo effect).
Secular counselors do not support any specific belief system over
another, rather they support whatever belief system the client
states they adhere too.
Secular counseling does not believe in individual sin or the
sinfulness of humanity.
Guilt, Sin, and Change
Guilt:
Sin:
Scripture verses to consider:
Change:
Isaiah 55:8-11 - superior wisdom
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 - where wisdom comes from
Jeremiah 17:5-9 - where we need to place our trust, condition of man’s
heart
James 3:13-18 - wisdom compared
Ephesians 6:10-17 - what are we fighting against
Colossians 2:6-9 - don’t be fooled by earthly wisdom
John 14:26 - source of true wisdom
I Corinthians 2:9-16 - wisdom, God, and self-knowledge
What do we address in counseling one another?
Physical
Mental/Emotional
Spiritual