The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 8

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 8: Dream Number Seven
Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Seven: Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Historically the two fields of biblical counseling and spiritual formation were one. It is our dream that they once again become synonymous—hence the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation name and mission.

Progressive Sanctification and Daily Transformation

Biblical counseling applies the principles of progressive sanctification to the daily lives of believers. It does so through spiritual formation which cultivates communion with Christ and conformity to Christ through the practice of the biblical/historical individual and corporate spiritual disciplines.

God’s Role and Our Role in Spiritual Formation

Such transformative biblical counseling will highlight God’s role and our responsibility in spiritual growth through its emphasis on the cultivation of the disciplines that connect us to Christ’s resurrection power. It will underscore the inner life through its emphasis on forming the character of Christ in us—our inner life increasingly mirroring the inner life of Christ. It will accentuate the Body of Christ by encouraging the corporate spiritual disciplines and by equipping believers in the individual spiritual disciplines.

Spiritual Theology of the Spiritual Life

Transformative biblical counseling will require the development of a comprehensive biblical theology of the spiritual life that provides the basis for a relevant biblical methodology for spiritual growth. Biblical counseling and spiritual formation will offer a theological and practical approach to sanctification that is effective in the “real” world where people hope, dream, stumble, fall, and live everyday.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 7

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 7: Dream Number Six
Biblical Counseling Will Be Relevant

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Six: Biblical Counseling Will Be Relevant

It is not enough to promote the sufficiency of the Word if we do not also minister in such a way that demonstrates the relevancy of God’s Word.

The Truth Will Set You Free

The pejorative stereotype of biblical counseling as “take two verses and call me in the morning” will be replaced with the constructive identity of “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Our redemption in Christ provides the power for victory over sin. God’s Word powerfully sets us free to move from victims to victors.

The Truth Will Give You Rest

When people think of the biblical counselor, they will think of “Jesus with skin on” and be filled with words of hope like, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Soul rest comes to those who apply the Scriptures to matters of the soul.

The Truth Will Give You Abundant Life

Problems in living that most people label only as psychological disorders curable only by psychological methodologies will be seen as spiritual, relational, mental, volitional, and emotional issues addressed in the Book of Life by the Author of Life so that we can live the abundant life (John 10:10). The Bible is not so heavenly minded that it is of no earthly good. Quite to the contrary, the Bible offers eternal life forever and abundant life today.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 6

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 6: Dream Number Five
Biblical Counseling Will Be Relational

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Five: Biblical Counseling Will Be Relational

In the future, the Trinitarian roots of our faith will blossom as biblical counselors will be known by their fruit—the fruit of compassion and passion. For all eternity the Trinity (John 1, 17), engages in an ongoing “dance” of mutual adoration and admiration. As the God of the Bible is the eternal Community of intimate Oneness, so biblical counselors will eschews aloofness in favor of what one African American friend describes as “real and raw counseling.”

While techniques, skills, and tools of competency will not be ignored, soul-to-soul relating will be emphasized. Like the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, we will say to our spiritual friends, “I loved you so much that I gave you not only the Scriptures but my own soul as well.”

When put into practice, Trinitarian, Paul-like relational competencies will highlight neither directive nor non-directive counseling. Rather, they will birth collaborative counseling where the counselor, the counselee, and the Divine Counselor form a trialogical relationship. Biblical counselors will work together with their counselees, seeing them as mature believers capable of examining and applying the Bible directly to their own lives.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 5

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 5: Dream Number Four
Biblical Counseling Will Be Positive

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Four: Biblical Counseling Will Be Positive

God calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This is not only our calling when we are counseling, but also when we are assessing counseling “models” that differ from our own.

Corinthian Counselors: 1 Corinthian 1:10-17—Anti-Everything and Everyone

The modern history of biblical counseling has all too often become enmeshed with negativity, biting criticism, territory-protecting, camp-building, and “againstness.” Biblical counseling has often defined itself by being anti-this or anti-that. That’s not biblical counseling; that’s “Corinthian counseling” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17), a carnal caricature of the truth.

Corinthian counselors ultimately are not of Christ so much as they are of “Paul, or Cephas, or Apollos” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). When they meet someone “not in their camp,” their knee-jerk reaction is one of attack.

Berean Counselor: Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15-16—Critical Mind Minus Critical Spirit

In the future, biblical counseling will be known as “Berean counseling” (Acts 17:11). Biblical counselors will have a critical mind minus the critical spirit. They will seek to focus positively on correctly understanding the Word (2 Timothy 2:15), on searching the Scriptures to evaluate human theory with discernment, and on graciously interacting with those with whom they disagree, while emphasizing the affirmative attitude that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Berean counselors ultimately realize that Christ is not divided (1 Corinthians 1:13). They understand that the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome (2 Timothy 2:24-26). When they sense someone disagrees not with them, but with the teaching of the Scriptures, they will humbly and gently speak the truth in love. Berean counselors are concerned about rightly dividing the Word of God, not wrongly dividing the Body of Christ.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 4

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 4: Dream Number Three
Biblical Counseling Will Be Historical

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Three: Biblical Counseling Will Be Historical

The future of biblical counseling is the past. During the last twenty years we have witnessed the Christian community returning to its proper respect for that “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1-3). History, Chesterton reminded us, is “the democracy of the dead.”[i]

Counseling Wars

I vividly and sadly recall the “counseling wars” that occurred while I was in seminary—wars pitting competing modern counseling “camps” against each other. I also recall thinking, “Surely the Church has always helped hurting and hardened people.” That sentence sent me on a quarter-century search for the legacy of Christian soul care and spiritual direction. Simultaneous to that, God’s Spirit was moving many others along the same path.

Returning to the Ancient Paths

Biblical counselors of the future will return to the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16). They will seek and apply the ancient legacy and consensual wisdom for living found in the writings of great historic Christian soul physicians.

Church historian Thomas Oden illustrates how blatantly we have discarded the grand wisdom of the great cloud of witnesses. He examined how in the 19th Century those who wrote about pastoral counseling quoted copiously from believers of the past. He then compared how those who wrote about pastoral counseling in the 20th Century quoted exclusively from contemporary or past secular counselors and not once from Church history.[ii]

It is well past time to return to past times—to seek wisdom from those who have gone before. We can learn from them how to change lives in our changing times with Christ’s changeless truth.

[i]G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger, 2004, p. 3.
[ii]Thomas Oden, “Recovering Lost Identity.” The Journal of Pastoral Care 34 (March 1980): 4-19.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part Three

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 3: Dream Number Three
Biblical Counseling Will Be Theological

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Two: Biblical Counseling Will Be Theological

Perhaps we should say, as we do in later “dreams,” that biblical counseling will be holistically theological. The “modern” biblical counseling “movement” has at times been limited in it’s theological focus, emphasizing humanity’s Fall into sin and the effects of depravity, while tending to neglect our Creation in God’s image and our Redemption in Christ.

The CFR Narrative

I was introduced to the “CFR Narrative” as an eighteen-year-old freshman at Baptist Bible College in Old Testament survey. Dr. Lawlor’s reputation as a exacting professor preceded him into the classroom. So when he stepped to the lectern the first day to address a room full of over 100 intimidated students and said, “Repeat after me,” we would have said most anything.

“Creation. Fall. Redemption,” he said.

“Creation. Fall. Redemption,” we repeated.

“Remember those three terms and you will remember everything you need to know about biblical theology.”

I’ve never forgotten Dr. Lawlor’s lesson. Nor should any biblical counselor.

Creation, Fall, Redemption: People, Problems, Solutions, Psychology, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy

As already stated, too often, current models of biblical counseling start and end at the Fall—focusing almost exclusively on human depravity. As a result, they often counsel Christians as if they are still unsaved—apart from the justifying, redeeming, regenerating, and reconciling work of Christ.

Biblical counseling will unite Creation, Fall, and Redemption.

In studying a biblical theology of Creation, biblical counseling will examine people—God’s original design for the soul (anthropology).

In probing the Fall, biblical counseling will examine problems—how sin brought personal depravity and suffering (hamartiology).

In investigating the Bible’s teaching on Redemption, biblical counseling will examine solutions—the gospel of Christ’s grace which offers eternal salvation and provides us with daily victory in our ongoing battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil (soteriology).

Creation, Fall, and Redemption also have psychological correlates. Creation is biblical psychology—the biblical study of the soul. The Fall is biblical psychopathology—the biblical study of the sickness of sin. Redemption is biblical psychotherapy—the biblical study of God’s healing of the soul through Christ.

Reclaiming What Is Rightfully Ours

In the minds of some, the use of these psychological terms is invalid. How sad that we have allowed the world to steal these solidly biblical, theological, and historical terms. It is time that we took back our heritage and redefined these terms. Franz Delitzsch, writing in 1861 (before the advent of modern secular psychology), noted that “biblical psychology is no science of yesterday. It is one of the oldest sciences of the church.”[i]

Psychology is native to our faith. Not secular psychology, but biblical psychology—understanding and ministering to the soul designed by God, disordered by sin, and redeemed by grace.[ii]


[i]Franz Delitzsch, A System of Biblical Psychology. Second edition. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1861, p. 3.
[ii]See Eric Johnson, “Christ: The Lord of Psychology,” Journal of Psychology and Theology 25(1), 1997, pp. 11-27. See also, Robert Kellemen, Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007, pp. 131-141.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 2

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 2: Dream Number One
Biblical Counseling Will Be Scriptural

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number One: Biblical Counseling Will Be Scriptural

Yes, I know, “Duh!” But hold that thought. While it seems so logical that biblical counseling would be and should be biblical, theologically and scripturally this is often untrue.

Some who claim to be biblical counselors simply follow a shallow one verse, one problem, one solution mentality and approach. Others who claim to be biblical counselors in actuality rarely use the Bible for developing their approach and practice to counseling.

The Supremacy of Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3, 8-9

Biblical counseling will cling tenaciously to the supremacy of Scripture. In Colossians 2:2-3, 8-9, the Apostle Paul reminds us that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Paul also warns us not to be taken captive by the empty and hollow so-called wisdom of this world, but instead rely totally upon the fullness of knowledge and insight we have in Christ.

The Sufficiency of Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Biblical counseling will cling tenaciously to the sufficiency of Scripture. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Apostle Peter teaches us that we have all that we need for life and godliness. In the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God, Christianity provides us with all we need for godly living. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Scriptures, rightly interpreted and carefully applied, offer us all-encompassing insight for life—so that the biblical counselor is thoroughly equipped.

The Profundity (Profound Depth) of Scripture: Philippians 1:9-10; Hebrews 4:12-16

Biblical counseling will cling tenaciously to the profundity of Scripture. The Scriptures deal in the most profound ways possible with the real and raw life issues we all face on a daily basis. God’s Word provides the depth of insight and knowledge that empowers our love to abound more and more, and allows us to discern what is best and right (Philippians 1:9-10). The Bible is the sharpest sword in the universe, able to divide and discern the depths of the motivations of the heart (Hebrews 4:12-16).

The Bible provides us with the interpretive categories for making sense of life experiences from God’s perspective. By building our counseling models on Christ’s gospel of grace, we obtain wisdom for bringing people healing hope, the stimulus for change (God’s glory), and the understanding of human motivation that energizes these God-honoring changes.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part I

The Future of Biblical Counseling:

Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part I
Introduction: What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?

Six months ago I blogged on the future of biblical counseling in a four-part blog. I want to expand that initial blog with what will become a thirteen-part blog. The more I speak around the country, the more I become aware that we need clarity on this issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Part I
Introduction: What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?

As I speak around the country on biblical counseling and spiritual formation, I’m frequently asked the question. “When you say ‘biblical counseling,’ you don’t mean ___________ do you?” Various people fill in that blank with different labels—all negative to them. What a shame that placing the word “biblical” in front of “counseling” causes so many in the church to recoil in fear. Something has gone terribly wrong.

But there’s good news—the tide is turning. Warped caricatures of biblical counseling are being replaced by scripturally and historically accurate portraits of counseling that are truly biblical—and attractive (Titus 2:10). While no one can provide the final, authoritative definition of biblical counseling, I offer for your consideration this summary understanding.

Biblical counseling depends upon the Holy Spirit to relate God’s inspired truth about people, problems, and solutions to human suffering (through the Christian soul care arts of sustaining and healing) and sin (through the Christian spiritual direction arts of reconciling and guiding) to empower people to exalt and enjoy God and to love others (Matthew 22:35-40) by cultivating conformity to Christ and communion with Christ and the Body of Christ.

Given this working definition, over the next twelve blogs, envision with me the nature and shape of the future of biblical counseling—twelve dreams of one possible future for biblical counseling as practiced by lay spiritual friends, pastors, and professional Christian counselors.

It's Not About Market Share

It’s Not About Market Share

In our crisis economic times, it’s so easy to think of how big or small my slice of the pie is compared to the person down the street.

Unfortunately, we bring the same competitive, hoarding spirit into the work of the Spirit.

That’s true regarding the Spirit’s work in our marriages and it’s true regarding the Spirit’s work in our ministries.

An Inspired Question

James said it well (actually, he said it perfectly well since he said it under the Spirit’s inspiration) in James 4:1-4. James asks the age-old question, “What causes the fights and quarrels among you?”

What causes the fights and quarrels among husbands and wives?

What causes the fights and quarrels among church members?

What causes the fights and quarrels between various counseling “groups”?

James offers God’s answer to any with ears to hear; to any with the wisdom and humility to listen.

“Don’t they come out from the desires that battle (soldier) within you? You desire but you have not. When you don’t get what you want, you kill and covet—you retaliate and manipulate, and yet that still doesn’t get you what you want. So you quarrel and you fight some more—the vicious spiral spirals ever deeper.”

When we image life as a competition, then everyone else is, of course, our competitor. When our image of life is a war, then everyone else is, of course, our enemy. When we see life as a finite pie, then everyone else is racing against us for their slice of our pie.

A Supposedly Inspiring Answer

The world has a solution—compete smarter, fight better, race faster. To the victor goes the spoils. To the winner goes the crown.

Of course, the world’s solution is based upon the world’s angle. From the small angle of small minds looking at what seems to be a finite, small world, there’s only so much “stuff” out there. I have to demand my share of the finite stuff. The one with the most toys wins.

Some how this line of “reasoning” is supposed to inspire us. And inspire it does—it inspires a me-against-you, an us-against-them mentality.
If the “victor” gets the “spoils” in a marriage, then what does the “loser” get? If my “side” of the church squabble “wins,” then what does the “losing side” end up with? If my “camp” in the seemingly never-ending “counseling wars” “wins,” then what does that leave the other “camps” with?

I’m sorry, but even as fleshly as I can be, I am decreasingly inspired by this “hoard the wealth” mindset.

An Eternally and Daily Inspiring Answer

Forget the world’s answer to a worldly problem.

Consider God’s answer.

“You have not, because you do not humbly ask God. You have not, because even when you do ask, you ask with selfish motives—in order that in the pleasures of YOU, you may squander.”

When we assume that God is a Hoarder and that His universe has a finite supply of “stuff,” then even when we think to ask God for “stuff,” even “ministry stuff” (like a “better marriage,” a “bigger church,” a “ministry with larger impact”), then in God’s eyes (and His eyes are the only ones that matter), our motives are selfish.

God does not care about our agendas. God cares about our getting on board with His agenda. God does not focus on our kingdom building. God focuses on our building His Kingdom.

If God is a Hoarder and His universe has a finite supply of the stuff I think I need, then I demand my share (more than your share!) of His limited stuff.

In marriage, I demand my share of being “right,” my share of my “needs being met,” my share of “satisfaction.”

In church conflict, I demand my share of putting you “in your place,” my share of the “congregation’s trust.”

In counseling wars, I demand my “market share” of “followers,” I demand my slice of the people-pie saying, “I am of your group!”

How sick.

How immature.

How childish.

How sinful.

How worldly.

How adulterous!

“Adulteresses!” James labels us. “Don’t you know that loving the world’s way means hating God and God’s way? Anyone who chooses to befriend the mindset of the cosmos, chooses to be God’s enemy! Repent! Draw near to God! He gives ever more grace!”

God Is a Grace Rewarder, Not a Hoarder

God’s supply is never exhausted. His supply of grace is infinite. God is a grace Rewarder. Those who come to Him, the author of Hebrews reminds us, must believe that He exists, and that he generously, graciously rewards those who diligently, humbly seek Him.

In the beginning of our fallen cosmos, Satan schemed to deceive our spiritual parents into believing the unspiritual lie that God was a “Shalt-Not-God.”

“God,” Satan whispers then and now, “is a Hoarder and His supply is limited. Grab the fruit of the tree now before someone else exhausts His limited supply.”

“God,” the Spirit whispers in His still, small voice then and now, “so loves the world that He gave infinitely—He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes shall not perish but shall have everlasting life.”

“God,” the Son whispers in His authoritative, loving voice then and now, “so loves the world that He gives infinitely. That’s why I came—to give you everlasting life and ever-expanding life—abundant life. Spoiling and spilling over life—not so you could consume it on your own lust, but so you could share it out of the overflow of my Father’s infinite supply!”

So?

So . . .

So what?

Since God is a generous grace Rewarder who showers us with everlasting life and ever-expanding life (eternal life and abundant life) . . . so . . . we give. So . . . we mimic His giving, His sharing.

So, in our marriages, we are not competing for a limited supply of who is right or who is satisfied or whose needs are met. We are working together to advance God’s Kingdom of giving to others out of the overflow of God’s infinite love working in and through us.

So, in our churches, we are not competing with the other “faction” for a finite supply of whose style of music or style of preaching or style of leadership or style of youth ministry or style of carpet wins the day. We are working together to win the lost and equip the found so that God’s eternal, expanding is advanced in and through us.

So, in our “counseling wars,” we are not contending against rivals to see who will shout, “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas!” We are building bridges and working together to say, “We are of Christ—the infinite God who has generously graced us with forgiveness and with resources that are everlasting and ever-expanding so we minister in humble harmony learning from each other, empowering each other, respecting each other—so that the Body of Christ dances to the eternal song of the Trinity.”

What’s It About?

It’s not about market share.

It’s about sharing the mark of the Trinity—the eternal Community of mutual admiration and adoration. The everlasting Community of overflowing goodness and oneness. The infinite Community of equality and mutuality.