The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 10

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 10: Dream Number Nine
Biblical Counseling Will Be Holistic in Methodology

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 Nine: Biblical Counseling Will Be Holistic in Methodology

In Christian counseling today, there seems to be a great divide between models that focus on suffering and those that focus on sinning. Biblical counseling will treat both suffering and sin by recognizing that God’s Word is profitable for dealing with the evils we have suffered (soul care) as well as with the sins we have committed (spiritual direction). True biblical counseling offers comfort for the hurting as well as confrontation for the hardened. It provides sustaining and healing for those battered by life as well as reconciling and guiding for those ensnared by Satan.

Parakaletic Counseling: Soul Care for Suffering/Sanctification—John 14:15-31; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Sustaining and healing (soul care for suffering) are classic terms in the history of Christian pastoral care.[i] Through sustaining and healing, biblical counselors will offer parakaletic care (called alongside to comfort—like the Holy Spirit our Divine Comforter, John 14:15-31; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11).[ii]

Sustaining says, “It’s normal to hurt.” The counselor climbs in the casket with the hurting spiritual friend to empathize with the pain of their earthly story.

Healing says, “It’s possible to hope.” The counselor celebrates the empty tomb and helps spiritual friends to see life with spiritual eyes through grasping God’s eternal story of working good out of evil.

Nouthetic Counseling: Spiritual Direction for Sin/Sanctification—Romans 15:14

Reconciling and guiding (spiritual direction for sin and sanctification) are equally historic terms.[iii] Through reconciling and guiding, God will use biblical counselors to empower repentant and forgiven believers to apply principles of growth in grace.

Reconciling says, “It’s horrible to sin, but wonderful to be forgiven.” The counselor loads the conscience with guilt while lightening the conscience with grace.

Guiding says, “It’s supernatural to mature.” The counselor empowers the counselee to tap into Christ’s resurrection power.

Parathetic Counseling

What might we call such holistic counseling? Combining the comforting element for suffering implicit in the Greek word parakaleo with the confronting element for sinning implicit in the Greek word nouthetic we have parathetic counseling. It is comprehensive, holistic, and balanced biblical counseling that deals both with suffering and sin.


[i]William Clebsch and Charles Jaekle. Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective. New York: Harper & Row, 1964, p. 8.
[ii]See Tim Clinton and George Ohlschlager, Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care. Colorado Springs, Waterbrook, 2002, pp. 54-61. See also, Robert Kellemen, Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007, pp. 39-57.
[iii]William Clebsch & Charles Jaekle. Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective. New York: Harper & Row, 1964, p. 9.