How To Define Biblical Counseling
My friend Paul Tautges, as part of his series of interviews with biblical counselors, asked me to define biblical counseling. In fact, he asked me eight questions about biblical counseling. You can read the entire interview at My Journey to Biblical Counseling.
My Definition of Biblical Counseling
I was asked to provide a 50-word definition of biblical counseling. I couldn’t do it, but I made it in 79 words. Here it is:
Biblical counseling is Christ-centered, church-based, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed personal ministry that depends upon the Holy Spirit to relate God’s inspired truth about people, problems, and solutions to human suffering (through sustaining and healing) and sin (through reconciling and guiding) to equip 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 leading to a community of one-another disciple-makers (Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Join the Conversation
- How would you define biblical counseling in 50 to 80 words?
- What are your thoughts on the definition above? What would you add, subtract, change, or re-word?
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I liked your definition. The only part I struggle with is the church-based part. Yes, I think Biblical counseling should be church based but what do you do when the church you are part of does not embrace or support Biblical counseling? I am certified with IABC, but have not gotten any encouragement or support from my pastor. I was able to get the counseling hours I needed for certification just from people who knew me and from working with a pregnancy center. My ministry at this point is based from the pregnancy center not my church. I do wish my local church was part of the equation, but they simply are not interested.
Maybe it is that they don’t feel Biblical counseling is REAL counseling. I beg to differ. I know there has been animosity between certain camps in the past, but I have tried to be positive and inclusive in my approach to talking about Biblical Counseling. I don’t like taking the all or nothing stand.
I have thought of continuing my education with NANC or ABC, but they both are very strong on the support of your church and I really don’t feel I have that. Any suggestions?
Karen, Thank you for your response. First, I feel with you in the struggle you are going through with a church that does not support biblical counseling. You are not alone in that, sad to say. Second, by “church-based” I do not mean that the only legitimate “place” for counseling is in the local church. I mean that the local church should be central to biblical counseling. I’ve pasted below how this is stated in the Biblical Counsleing Coalition’s Confessional Statement. Thus counseling like you are doing in a para-church ministry is, in my mind, a wonderful and biblical use of the personal ministry of the Word. Third, as far as how to respond to/with your church–there is no easy answer. It often takes a slow and wise process. In Equipping Counselors for Your Church I talk about the change management process of moving from no counseling in your church to a church with biblical counseling to a church of biblical counseling where everything and everyone is saturated with confidence in God’s Word to change lives. Praying for you. Bob
Biblical Counseling Must Be Rooted in the Life of the Church
We believe that we best reflect the Trinity as we live and grow in community (John 17; Ephesians 4). Sanctification is not a self-improvement project, but a process of learning to love and serve God and others. Wise counseling embeds personal change within God’s community—the church—with all God’s rich resources of corporate and interpersonal means of grace (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We believe that the church should be both the center and the sender of Gospel-centered counseling (Romans 15:14).
By example and exhortation the New Testament commends the personal, face-to-face, one-another ministry of the Word—whether in one-to-one or small group relationships (Hebrews 3:12-19; 10:19-25). God calls the church to mutual wise counseling just as He calls the church to public ministries of the Word in preaching, teaching, worship, and observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. God desires His people to love and serve each other by speaking His truth in love to one another (Ephesians 4:15-16). The primary and fullest expression of counseling ministry is meant to occur in local church communities where pastors effectively shepherd souls while equipping and overseeing diverse forms of every¬-member ministry (Ephesians 4:11-14). Other likeminded counseling institutions and organizations are beneficial insofar as they serve alongside the church, encourage Christians to counsel biblically, and purpose to impact the world for Christ.