The Future of Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams
As I pen this post, it’s January 1, 2010. It’s not only a new year, but a new decade.
Want to Change Lives?
It seems a good time to take a fresh look at the future of biblical counseling.
By the way, when I say “biblical counseling” I mean exactly what the Bible means by “one another ministry.” God calls all of us to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth–that’s biblical counseling.
My Biblical FAQs document tells you more. You can also learn more by reading my document What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical. Of course, if you want the whole meal, and not only the delicious appetizers, check out Soul Physicians and Spiritual Friends.
But back to a new year, a new decade, and a fresh new look at the future of biblical counseling…
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.
Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed 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, 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.
To read the rest of this article go here: The Future of Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams.
Join the Conversation
What are your dreams for the future of biblical counseling, spiritual formation, spiritual friendship, and one another ministry?
Divine Counselor
My future dreams for it? More readily available to those who cannot afford it and that it will be the heart beat of more people that leads to a shout from more people that leads to the action of creating spaces in as many churches as we can to afford these opportunities to
Wendy, I share your passion for equipping in biblical counseling that is more readily available for those who cannot afford it. That’s one reason I have over 100 free resources on the rpmministries.org site, and why I offer seminars around the country at churches where for the price of a family meal at McDonalds a person can be introduced to the core concepts in biblical counseling, and why I blog on it everyday. Bob