Biblical Counseling – part 5  (final)

by Dr. Tori Ferrari

We have reviewed these key principles in this series on Biblical Counseling:

• Biblical counseling is critical in Teen Challenge.
• Biblical counseling focuses on replacing unrighteous habits with righteous ones.
• Biblical counseling focuses on renewing the mind.
• Biblical counseling does not focus on feelings.
• Biblical counselors give counsel.
• Biblical counseling is based on hope.
• Biblical counsel teaches a way of life to the counselee.
• Biblical Counseling is reliant upon the fervent prayers of the counselor and the power of the Holy Spirit.

As more and more Christians recognize that modern secular methodologies do not offer real, long-lasting results, a return to Biblical Counseling principles have emerged.   These articles are but a brief overview of the general approach, focus and efficacy of a reliance upon the Word of God and Christ crucified to help those bound by sin.Although Biblical counseling may seem too simplistic and even ‘naïve’ in today’s culture, it has been around since the beginning of time when man first sinned and was in need of a way to get back in right relationship with his Creator.  It is the only reliable method as it comes from the One who created us and the only One who truly knows our thoughts and our hearts.  God is trustworthy to help us in our time of trouble and will help us help others through theirs.

The following is an illustration of the many choices our students have when seeking help.  Which one will we be?

A man is sitting on a tack and suffering severe pain.  A counselor approaches him who holds a somatic or chemical viewpoint.  Hearing the person’s complaints, he immediately prescribes tranquilizers or pain killers.  The solution is to anesthetize him.  (or perhaps like Teen Challenge students, the person is do-it-yourselfer who does not have any pills in the medicine closet.  He may resort to his own chemical solution by anesthetizing his brain with drugs or alcohol).

If a surgical specialist is on hand he may suggest that the nerves which are activated must be severed to get rid of the pain.  This will knock out the symptoms and give the person relief.
Then, there is the Freudian analyst who looks over the situation and days, “These pains are located near the sexual area.  I think we’d better go back into the patient’s childhood experiences and learn about some of his early childhood experiences.  Then perhaps we will be able to alleviate his pain, though of course no assurance can be given.  We recognize that he has been wrongly socialized and his superego is a cruel tyrant.  If he can be resocialized he will possibly get better.”

Next, a Rogerian counselor appears.  When the sufferer asks him what he must do to get relief, the therapist replies: “I’m not going to advise anything.  I’m sure that you have all the resources within yourself to solve the difficulty.  I’ll reflect your questions back to you and help you clarify and gain insight.  Now, how do you feel about the way you feel?”

Finally, a Biblical Counselor comes upon the scene…He looks around and finds the tack under the person. He says, “Get off the tack.  Now that you are up, sit down on a chair over here and we’ll talk about how you can avoid sitting on tacks in the future.”  (Source unknown)

Biblical Counseling is based upon the Word of God and while it is not based upon the opinions of the counselor, the role of the Biblical Counselor is critical.  The Biblical Counselor is responsible for helping those they are entrusted with see hope in their situation.  They are responsible for teaching a new way to live – not just getting through their current crisis.