What Biblical Counseling Isn’t
First off, wow, thanks for all the comments and discussion from my opening post. Blogging is way more beneficial (and fun) when there are comments and mature discussions, so keep ‘em comin’. I once heard that asking the right questions is a sign of intelligence. I stink at asking questions. So, I value any questions you ask for my own training and edification.
Wow, seminary is difficult. It easily consumes my day and I don’t even have a job or kids. By this time next week I’ll need to read David Powlison’s Seeing With New Eyes and The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis in their entirety, read about 90 pages of Grudem’s Systematic Theology, not to mention probably 5 other chapters from other books. For those interested I’ve put our required reading list for this class at the end of this post. I’ve also realized that 88 credit hours is not the typical amount of hours for a masters degree. That’s like, 3 masters degrees.
In one of our first lectures, we learned what biblical counseling is by first looking at what it is not. There are many false assumptions about biblical counseling (some I had in my own mind). Some of these false assumptions are that biblical counseling is simplistic, superficial, anti-science and anti-medicine, harsh, and that people’s problems are all due to their sin.
So, let’s look at what Biblical Counseling is not…
- it’s not a separate ministry from the local church
- it’s not an optional ministry
- it’s not reserved for experts
- it’s not integrating secular psychology with Biblical truths
- it’s not dealing only with outward behaviors
- it’s not ignoring or trying to remedy proven medical issues.
- it’s not separate from discipleship
In fact, discipleship counseling is a helpful way of thinking about biblical counseling. Sometimes things happen in our walk that totally take us out and we need some intense discipleship to bring us back to gospel effectiveness. This could be any number of issues with any number of causes.
So, that’s a lot to think about. Tons of questions come to mind. This was an eye-opener to me. I find myself always looking at things through the context of the local church, as well as a local church in a completely foreign culture. I think for both, the implications can be profound.
Next time, we’re going to try to flesh out what biblical counseling IS, as well as looking at the sources of our knowledge. Also, I have a memory verse quiz over Psalm 1:1-3, Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 6:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
For those curious of what I’m reading, here is the reading list for the class:
Teaching to Observe
Competent to Counsel – Jay Adams
Counseling and the Authority of Christ (Free PDF download, basically a statement of Southern’s view on Biblical counseling and the changes that have taken place here over the years) – Russell Moore
Seeing With New Eyes – David Powlison
Transformed Into His Likeness
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands – Paul David Tripp
~ Isaac ~
Barry Wallace
theoparadox
pijohnson
Interesting! So, I’m a bit behind on my blog reading. Forgive me if I’ve missed something here…Am I to understand that you’ve just begun seminary?!
BTW, Barry, do you pick the cartoon faces that show up next to our comments, or are they random? Just wondering why mine is always that cranky guy with glasses. I’m not always cranky.
Laurie, Laurie, Laurie… if I were picking I would pick a much happier Gravatar for you! WordPress generates those based on your email address (or something). You can do away with that grumpy guy by uploading an image and creating your own Gravatar here:
http://en.gravatar.com/
Hi, was checking out your blog from SBC voices. Funny story. In my Advanced Pastoral Counseling course during my DMin, I quoted Adams as one source in a paper. Mind you, it was one short quote in a 10 page paper with a dozen or so other sources.
My professor went nuts on me and told me that quoting Adams was tantamount to academic siciide and I needed better sources. He actually graded me down, just for quoting him.
Keep up the writing!
Hi, Joe. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment! Adams seems to be a fairly controversial figure. It seems to me that those familiar with him tend either to hold him in high regard, or scorn him. Do you thing that’s an accurate statement?
Isaac, what would you say about that?
That seem like a fair summary. I have not read a lot of his stuff, just a few articles. The ones I read, I thought had some good insights on the power of God’s word to guide and heal. I do think that elements of secular counseling have some value, so I think that would be a departure from Adams’ thinking, but again my knowledge of him is limited to a few articles.
Thanks for the comment Joe. Wow, they graded you down just for an Adams quote?? That’s harsh! Where did you get your DMin from? I definitely agree that he is a polarizing figure. Emphasizing sin as the primary concern of everyone seeking counsel is going to ruffle many a feather. Granted, it is humanity’s primary concern and the primary concern of everyone, but it’s not the answer to point to in every problem. You’re wife died and you’re grieving? Your mother in law has alzheimers and you don’t know whether to put her in a nursing home or have her move in with you? You have an unknown tumor pushing weight on your hypothalamus causing your body to release high levels of testosterone into your system (ok that is probably impossible, but I saw a House episode that went something like that..) Anyway, you get the picture. I think for human relationship difficulties, guys like Adams get it spot on. I still have a lot of “yeah but what if’s”. I may be misreading him, but hopefully that will make itself evident in my further study.
I am finishing up at Talbot School of Theology. I think my prof had a bit of a chip on his shoulder about Adams. My guess, it was something personal that boiled over into papers.
oops, just realized this is a team blog. Barry, nice to make your acquaintance even though this is not on of your posts
Barry,
Hope seminary is going well for you. I think you will not be as intimidated by all the reading as you move along and get used to it. It’s hard to think critically, however, when you are trained to read at a dizzying pace. Here is a link to some of my own thoughts on some of the books you will be assigned to read for your Biblical Counseling class (if you haven’t already seen them) that may encourage some edifying reflection if you care to read them: http://theophilogue.wordpress.com/?s=biblical+counseling+movement
Bradley
Thanks for the link, Bradley. You’ve made some interesting observations in your posts, and I hope everyone interested in this series will take the time to read them. I also hope that you will stay involved in this discussion. You bring a different perspective to the discussion, which I think is a healthy thing.
One more quick note. Recently Isaac Johnson and Derek Ashton joined my blog as team members. This post is actually Isaac’s. His plan at this point is to post a few thoughts about his class once a week as he works his way through the course. Thanks again for visiting and commenting, brother.
Bradley, thanks so much for posting that link! Are you still here in Louisville? I haven’t gotten to read all of the articles since I have to finish reading Powlison’s book by Tuesday (eek!). It is very difficult to think critically about these things when there’s just so much to read. I’m constantly having debates in my head between nouthetic counseling and a very carefully and cautious integrated approach. Looking forward to future discussions.
Yeah, sorry Barry, I’m a bit thick. I just now realized this was not your article. My limited time for blogging these days has meant I’m not paying as close attention to what’s going on. I look forward to the changes you’re making, to reading your partners’ posts, and to someday having a bit more time to devote to reading. Not sure that’s going to happen soon.
No problem, Laurie. It’s a little confusing right now, but I’m loving all the extra interaction! With the theme I’m currently using you can see the author’s name right under the title, next to the date. The next time I change themes, though, that feature might vanish.