Biblical counseling
" Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.” Gal 6:1-3 NLT
Every Christian is called to a ministry of encouraging and helping others, especially those in the household of faith. Self & self centeredness are the most prevalent & despicable factors inhibiting the growth of the church. (Phil 2:21) Effective counseling requires both a caring relationship and an understanding of human functioning. the Lord. In a word: the goal is "maturity." Maturity involves 2 elements: 1) immediate obedience in specific situations and 2) long-range character growth
The goal of all true counseling is to free people to better worship and serve God by helping them become more like Jesus.
Experience suggests that although men and women need both kinds of input, for men the primary route to personal worth is significance and for women the primary route is security.
Significance depends upon an understanding of who I am in Christ. I will come to feel significant as I have an eternal impact on people around me by ministering to them.
Security depends on me understanding that God has seen me at my worst and still loved me to the point of giving His life for me. My acceptability to God depends only on Jesus' acceptability to God and on the fact that Jesus' death was counted as full payment for my sins. Life has neither purpose nor unconditional love apart from the Lord. People then develop alternative strategies for learning to feel as worthwhile as they can.
Biblical counselors must differentiate between needs and wants. I may want approval, money, fame, recognition, a good marriage, improved looks, etc. but what I need is unconditional love.
Carnal (bad) behavior is essentially a problem of wrong beliefs. If we want to help a person change their behavior, we need first to help them change their beliefs ("lie replacement therapy" aka sanctification aka discipleship aka Biblical counseling). Wherever the Bible speaks, it speaks with infallible authority.
As Biblical counselors a large part of our job is to help the person examine his "assumptive system." Most people resist unpleasant revelations about themselves. Nothing is easier than self deception. Consequently we must remember the importance of relationship (friendship) in counseling. Only in an atmosphere of safety will a person openly look at himself and consider changing his beliefs which for years have determined his route to personal worth.
A simple model for Biblical Counseling:
1) Identify problem feelings
2) Identify problem behaviors.
3) Identify problem thinking
4) Clarify Biblical thinking
5) Secure a commitment to obedience
6) Plan and carry out Biblical behavior
7) Identify Spirit-controlled feelings
Christ taught that when we know the truth, we can be set free. We are free to choose the life of obedience because we understand that in Christ we now are worthwhile persons. We are free to express our gratitude in the worship and service of the One who has met our needs. Apart from the clear exercise of the will, there will be no consistent obedience. As the Christian continues to choose the path of righteousness, his capacity for right choices in the face of adversity and temptation enlarges. He becomes a stronger Christian, one whom God can trust with greater responsibilities.
Anxiety, resentment, and guilt are the basic problem conditions behind all other personal difficulties.
The Holy Spirit provides the resources for transformation through the normal mechanisms of human personality. The Spirit brings to the receptive mind the truth of Scripture particularly suited to the immediate circumstances. Thus Scripture memory and meditation may be the most expedient method of transforming one's beliefs (Ps 119:9 & 11).
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