A Word from Bob: My Calling
More than anything else, my biblical counseling ministry calling is to:
Provide a positive presentation of biblical counseling—what it means to be a soul physician of embodied-souls.
Today’s post follows that calling. Currently, in our biblical counseling world, we are engaged in discussions about vital issues such as: the sufficiency of Scripture, common grace, the body, the embodied-soul, science, neuroscience, research, physical interventions, medication, and ministering to the whole person. So, I thought it might be helpful to provide a brief summary of biblical teaching on these issues. Notice the word “brief”: these are “off the top of my head” summaries of some of my thinking on these important issues.
For more detailed biblical support, please follow the links embedded in the various affirmations. For a fuller summary of my biblical counseling beliefs, see, 6 Biblical Counseling Convictions. For comprehensive teaching on a theology of biblical counseling, see, Gospel-Centered Counseling: How Christ Changes Lives. For comprehensive teaching on a methodology of biblical counseling, see, Gospel Conversations: How to Care Like Christ.
Affirmation #1
- Biblical Counseling and the Sufficiency of Scripture and Common Grace: Biblical counselors believe in the sufficiency of Scripture. We also believe the Bible’s teaching about common grace. So we use God’s sufficient Scriptures to assess when, if, and how to use common grace findings in our ministry.
Affirmation #2
- Biblical Counseling and the Body (Embodied-Soul): Biblical counselors follow the Bible’s comprehensive teaching that we are not just bodies; we are not just souls; instead we are a beautifully woven together, complex, interconnecting, interacting unity of body/soul—embodied-souls. We are soul physicians of embodied-souls.
Affirmation #3
- Biblical Counseling and Comprehensive Care for the Whole Person: Biblical counselors do not reject the body. We reject the notion that caring for the whole person—the embodied-soul—somehow means surrendering to a secular Trojan Horse of materialism. We are soul physicians of embodied-souls who care for the whole person not because the secular world says to do so, but because the Bible demands, commands, and models comprehensive, compassionate care for the whole person—body/soul.
Affirmation #4
- Biblical Counseling and Science: Biblical counselors do not reject science. We also do not see all science as “pseudo-science,” nor do we only use negative, co-belligerent research to demean science. We are thankful for the Creation/Cultural Mandate and for common grace through which God, in His affectionate sovereignty, still rules over this fallen world. We seek to use the spectacles (Calvin) or new lens (Powlison) of Scriptures to assess all findings from science, neuroscience, and research.
Affirmation #5
- Biblical Counseling and Psychology: Biblical counselors do not reject psychology. In fact, we follow in the 2,000-year church history of biblical psychology—developing a biblical understanding of people (Creation), problems (Fall), and soul-u-tions (Redemption). As with Powlison, Bettler, and Adams, we view psychological research, and even psychological theory-building, as catalysts motivating us to examine and sharpen our own interpretations and applications of Scripture related to biblical counseling and soul care.
Affirmation #6
- Biblical Counseling and Physicians: Biblical counselors do not function as medical doctors (physicians of the body). However, as soul physicians of embodied-souls, like Luther, Spurgeon, Jesus, and Paul, we minister comprehensively to the whole person. We encourage all counselees to receive medical help for any organic illness. We also seek, like biblical counselor Charles Hodges does, to remain current in science research, neuroscience research, descriptive research, and best-practices research (examined under the lens of Scripture) so that we can comprehensively, compassionately minister to the whole person.
Affirmation #7
- Biblical Counseling and Comprehensive Whole Person Ministry: We believe that there are valid physical interventions (examined under the lens of Scripture) that can legitimately be included in our ministry as soul physicians of embodied-souls. We further believe that the Bible teaches that ministering to the body is not “lesser” than ministering to the soul. In fact, there is no such thing as ministering just to the soul or just to the body—none of us has ever ministered to a disembodied soul. The Bible clearly and consistently emphasizes the role of the body, including in sanctification—we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices—holy and acceptable to God.
Affirmation #8
- Biblical Counseling, Medicine, and Psychotropic Medication: Biblical counselors do not reject medicine. Rather, we encourage all counselees to receive medical help for organic issues. Knowing that the Bible teaches the impact of sin and suffering on the whole person—including the body, we believe that comprehensive, compassionate care can at times include the discerning use of psychotropic medication. We believe that such use is a personal decision (an issue of Christian liberty) of each believing counselee. We believe that such use does not constitute a lack of trust in God, but rather can evidence a trusting, dependent awareness that we are jars of clay and that in our weakness we cling to Christ’s all-sufficient grace as we thankfully receive the help and assistance that is available to us.
