basic christian counselling

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Introduction to Christian CounsellingPastor Shaun Abrahams BA.TH

North West University, Pretoria, South Africa.

WELCOME

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Introduction to Christian Counselling - Outline Outline I.I. Introduction, Definition & Biblical ExplanationIntroduction, Definition & Biblical Explanation

II.II. The Theological Foundation The Theological Foundation

III.III. The Authority of the ScripturesThe Authority of the Scriptures

IV.IV. The Role of the Holy SpiritThe Role of the Holy Spirit

V.V. The Role of the ChurchThe Role of the Church

VI.VI. Summation and ChallengeSummation and Challenge

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Three Approaches to Counselling

Expert Knowledge:Sigmund Freud and F. J. Skinner.

Common Knowledge:Carl Rogers (humanistic), O. Hobart & Mowrer (behaviour therapy)

Biblical Counselling/Divine Knowledge: Scripture, God's Revelation.

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

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Sigmund Freud

The therapist would try to determine who did what to the Person!

Popularized the study of the unconscious mental processes. He taught that our outward behaviour (especially when abnormal) was the product of unconscious mental conflict.

He placed a great emphasis on the unconscious process and would employ the use of hypnoses, dream analysis, and free association to ascertain what might be troubling the person.

Expert Knowledge:

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Sigmund Freud

Freud referred to himself as a godless heathen, and a hopeless Jew.

He emphasized sex as the basis of most every drive.

He took a very dim view of religion, rejecting both the teaching, doctrine, and methods of theology and its conclusions. A religious experience to him was a child's delusion.

Expert Knowledge:

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B. J. Skinner:

The behaviourist claims to be committed only to the use of factual evidence. He believed that man is a product of evolution -- not a created being. Skinner taught that mankind is a product of his environment. The goal is survival and natural selection is the process (that is, survival of the fittest).

Expert Knowledge:

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Both Freud and Skinner saw the counselees as not being responsible, but held others responsible for their actions. Freud saw the problem as poor socialization, that is, "What did society do to the person?” Skinner would say that man is not responsible because a determined animal cannot be held accountable.He taught that the environment was the cause of human behaviour. By manipulating one's environment you can change the person's behaviour.

Expert Knowledge:

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The expert knowledge approach is based squarely upon the premise (or presupposition) that man is NOT responsible for what he does.

As a result conventional psychiatry believes that:a. Mental illness exists.b. Probing into the client's past life is always an essential part of treatment. (Who did WHAT to the person?)c. Transference is an important part of the therapy process. (Putting the blame elsewhere.)

Expert Knowledge:

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Carl Rogers.

The father of "client-centred therapy," The counsellor reflects the counselee's responses back to him and, thus, set up a catalytic atmosphere of acceptance.Such an environment is supposed to allow the client to get in touch with the innate resources within himself for successfully dealing with life and developing self-esteem.

Common Knowledge:

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Rogers sees people as basically good or healthy -- or at very least, not bad or ill. He sees mental health as the normal progression of life, and he sees mental illness, criminality, and other human problems, as distortions of that natural tendency. The entire theory is built on a single “force of life” he calls the actualizing tendency. It can be defined as the built-in motivation present in every life-form to develop its potentials to the fullest extent possible. We’re not just talking about survival: Rogers believes that all creatures strive to make the very best of their existence.

Common Knowledge:

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Observations about secular counselling

Contradictions in Psychotherapy.

Psychology is not motivated by compassion.

Labels do not mean a cure.

Psychology cannot be trusted.

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Freud, for example, conceived of his work this way: “The words, ‘secular pastoral worker,’ might well serve as a general formula for describing the function which the analyst…has to perform in his relation to the public.” Freud saw himself doing “pastoral work in the best sense of the word.” But this pastoral ministry did not offer people the mercy and grace of the personal Lord who searches every heart and shepherds souls. Instead, when Freud counselled someone, he would seek “to enrich him from his own internal resources.”Sigmund Freud, “The Question of Lay Analysis” and “Postscript,” in The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud (London: Hogarth Press, 1926 and1927, volume 20), pp. 255f, 250.

Psychotherapists function as “secular priests,” as the more self-conscious among them freely acknowledge.Psychotherapists function as “secular priests,” as the more self-conscious among them freely acknowledge.

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Carl Jung described a different aspect of the counselling dynamic. “Patients force the psychotherapist into the role of a priest and expect and demand of him that he shall free them from their distress. That is why we psychotherapists must occupy ourselves with problems which, strictly speaking, belong to the theologian.”4Carl Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul, translated by W. S.Dell and Cary F. Baynes (San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1933), p. 241.

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The practitioners of psychotherapeutics are not “scientists” studying subjects with cool detachment, nor are they “medical personnel” treating psychic pathologies, nor are they “technicians” of mental content, emotional state, and behavioural habit. Mental health professionals necessarily act as prophet-theologians, who define human nature and the meaning of life while typically excising God. They necessarily act as priest-pastors, who typically shepherd the human soul to find refuge in itself, in other people, and in psychoactive medication, because they construct a universe barren of the living God and His Christ.

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“In spite of the best intentions to remain biblical, it is frighteningly easy to admit concepts into our thinking which compromise biblical content. Because psychologists have spent up to nine years studying psychology in school and are pressed to spend much of their reading time in their field in order to stay current, it is inevitable that we develop a certain ‘mindset.’ The all-too-common but disastrous result is that we tend to look at Scripture through the eyeglasses of psychology.”-Larry Crabb in Effective Biblical counselling

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“My thesis is that in the next two decades the greatest threat to Biblical authority is the behavioral scientist who would in all good conscience man the barricades to defend the front door against any theologian whowould attack the inspiration and authority of Scripture while all the while himself smuggling the content of Scripture out the back door through cultural or psychological interpretation. It seems to me that much ofcurrent evangelical Christian counselling evidences a strong admixture, and often a controlling overdose, of a non-Biblical understanding of man.”-- Robertson McQuilkin in “The Behavioral Sciences Under the Authority of Scripture,” JETS

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One's methodology, model in counselling, or method of counselling will come from his presuppositions, or what he believes to be true.

In counselling, your method to bring about change, or to deal with a person, will grow out of your basic view of God and man.

One's attitude and treatment of people in counselling grows out of what one believes.

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Man's basic problem is depravity, hence, the need of regeneration or sanctification

The Bible must be the final authority in faith and practice.

All systems of counselling must be studied in the light of the Word of God.

Biblical Counselling/ Divine Knowledge:

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What Biblical counselling is.

Biblical counselling discerns thinking and behavior that God wants to change.

Biblical counselling uses God’s Word, by the Holy Spirit, to change motives, thinking, and behavior to Christlikeness.

Biblical counselling seeks the glory of God and the benefit of the counselee.

Biblical counselling is “nouthetic” (Acts 20:31, Rom. 15:14, 1 Cor. 4:14, Col. 1:28, 3:16, 1 Thes. 5:12, 14, 2 Thes. 3:15)

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The English word “nouthetic” is really just a word borrowed from the Greek language. The Greek word noutheteo is a verb which means “to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct” (BDAG). It is variously translated as admonish, warn, or instruct.

Colossians 1:28 sums up the process well: “And we proclaim Him [Christ], admonishing[noutheteo] every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we might present every man complete [mature] in Christ.”

What do we mean by “nouthetic” counselling?

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Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. vs:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

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When we say that Biblical counselling is nouthetic, what we mean is that for counselling to truly be biblical, it must be primarily instructive, warning and admonishing people about sin and training them in righteousness.

Biblical counselling is the practice of training believers toward greater Christ-likeness through the careful use of the Scriptures for the glory of God.

Biblical counselling is empowered by a complete dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Biblical counselling is the practice of training believers toward greater Christ-likeness through the careful use of the Scriptures for the glory of God.

Biblical counselling is best achieved in the realm of the authority of God’s local church. Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

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Biblical counselling is not an autonomous ministry (Eph. 4:11-16).

Biblical counselling is not an activity reserved for the experts (Rom. 15:14).

Biblical counselling is not an optional ministry (Acts 20:31, Col. 1:28-29)

Biblical counselling is not an entity separate from discipleship. It is intensive discipleship.

What Biblical counselling is not

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How do we go about Christian Counselling?

Prayerfully.Dependant on the Holy Spirit.Dependant on the Authority of the Scriptures.In the setting of the church.

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Take a break here

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Who can counsel? What qualifies the counsellor? What is the basis of knowledge for

counselling? Are we adequate as counsellors?

Questions

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The Christian LifeGrowth in Christ-likeness

Bible reading & study

Prayer

Corporate Worship

Fellowship

Ministry & Service

Crisis

“Spiritual Ditch”

Discipleship

Adapted by a chart produced by Dr. Steve Viars of Faith Baptist Church

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2. The Theological Foundation of Biblical counselling

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The Authority of the Scriptures The Authority of the Scriptures

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. - 2 Peter 1:2-3 (NASB)

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A. The Foundational Presupposition

The inspired and inerrant Word of God (the Bible) is the only authoritative source by which we can know absolute truth. Only the Scripture is totally sufficient to address any issue of life

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

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The Theological Foundation

Scriptures

Exegesis (Interpretation)

Biblical Theology

Systematic Theology

Practical Theology

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

What does the text say?

What does the text mean?

What truths & doctrines does

it teach?

What does the whole Bible say about it?

How does it apply to life?

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1. Level 5 without levels 1-4 is not biblical counselling

a. Biblical counselling is not just a system of counselling with Scripture sprinkled over it.

b. Too many people without theological training are telling believers how to change and grow. The problem is in how they form their models and systems of counselling.

• Human reason based on observation by unbelievers is unreliable.

• Jeremiah 17:9 teaches that, as a result of the fall into sin, man’s mind/heart was corrupted such that his thinking and reasoning are ultimately unreliable. This is called the noetic effect of sin.

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The Incorrect Theological Foundation

Scriptures

Exegesis (Interpretation)

Biblical Theology

Systematic Theology

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Psychology

Practical Theology

WHY?The belief that Scriptures are not sufficient

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The Theological Foundation c. For counselling to be considered biblical, Scripture must

have an active, functional control on any methods of change and growth believers use.

2. Levels 1-4 without level 5 is incomplete and ineffective

a. Theology is intrinsically practical. In the Bible, theology is never given in a vacuum. It is always given with the goal of application, change, and growth.

b. The task of biblical counselors (and believers in general) is to minister the Word of God, not to simply throw Bible verses at a problem.

3. In the church today, there is a battle over the sufficiency of Scripture. The battle is over level 5

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The Significance of Systematic Theology as the Foundation of Biblical counselling

1. Theology Proper – the doctrine of Goda. He is the Creator. counselling must therefore be

theo-centric (God-centered), not anthropocentric (man-centered).

b. Since God is holy, we should be holy as well

2. Epistemology – the doctrine of knowledge1. God defines reality and gives categories of reality –

Only God sees the whole picture!2. If people want a sound mind, they must see things as

God sees them and define them as He does (Prov. 1:7, 9:10).


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3. Bibliology – the doctrine of the Scripturesa. The Scriptures have authority. The Bible speaks

of every area of lifeb. The Scriptures are relevant for every situation

(2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:3) c. A failure to acknowledge these truths leads to:

• A pursuit of comfort rather than obedience• Personal experience becomes the authority rather

than God’s Word• Contemporary thinking becomes the guide instead

of the principles of the Bible


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4. Anthropology – the doctrine of mana. Man is God’s creation.

• He is not an animal• He is not a victim of his environment

b. Man is not autonomous. He is dependent on God.

c. Man is totally depraved• On his own he cannot do good (Rom. 3:10-18).• His heart is deceitfully wicked (Jer. 17:9-10).• His goal in life is selfishness and only evil continually

(Gen. 6:5).



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d. Man is directed by his heart/mind (his mission control center). This is the area in need of change.



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Heart - Mission Control Center

WILL

CONSCIENCE

THOUGHTS

Outer Man

Inner Man

DESIRES EMOTIONS

BELIEFS

BEHAVIOR

Proverbs 4:23

Ephesians 4:23

Romans 12:2

Mark 7:20-23, Matthew 12:34

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e. Man was created to glorify God, but because of sin, he seeks to glorify himself (Rom. 1:18ff, 3:23)

5. Hamartiology – the doctrine of sina. All people are sinners, born with a bent toward

unrighteousness (Rom. 3)b. Sin renders people helpless to change themselves (Eph.

2:1-3)c. A sinner is alienated from God, and as a result, he will

seek fulfillment from the world’s system (1 John 2:15-17). The implications:

• Christ will not be seen as the only solution to man’s problems.• People will try to provide substitutes that promise fulfillment.• The focus is on dealing with felt needs instead of “real” needs.



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d. Sin leads to many other problems (feelings of guilt and shame, depression, unhappiness, physical problems, worldly “syndromes”)

6. Soteriology – the doctrine of salvationa. God sent Jesus to reconcile sinners to himself (2 Cor.

5:19)b. Jesus’ perfect life of obedience and substitutionary

death provide the basis for a believer’s restoration to God

• There must be a propitiation for God’s wrath (Rom. 3:25)• There must be imputation of righteousness and atonement for

sin (Rom. 3:24, 2 Cor. 5:21)• There must be redemption from the bondage of sin (Rom.

3:24)• There must be reconciliation to God (2 Cor. 5:19)



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c. A sinner comes to be reconciled to God through repentance and faith

7. Christology – the doctrine of Christa. Christ was the second Adam – He is our

example (Rom. 5)b. Christ died as a substitute for peoplec. Christ is Lord – Nothing is needed apart from

His help. There is no problem He can’t solve. Nothing is hopeless!



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8. Pneumatology – the doctrine of the Holy Spirit a. The Holy Spirit is a person.b. The Holy Spirit is needed for a person to truly change

(Rom. 8, Gal. 5)c. The person who is trying to help others change also

needs the Holy Spirit

9. Ecclesiology – the doctrine of the churcha. The church is the body of Christ – Jesus is the headb. The body of Christ is the place of worship and

sanctification – believers need other believers to grow! (Eph. 4:11-16)



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• The church exists to provide a context of loving fellowship with one another for the purpose of mutual edification (Eph. 3:16-19, 4:12-16).

• The church is a training center whereby people can grow through the application of teaching and the utilization of their spiritual gifts.

c. The church has authority – it is the pillar and support of the truth.

d. The church exists to evangelize the lost (Titus 2:11-14, Matt. 28:19-20).



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Theological Problems to be aware of with improper practice and methods of counselling.

1. Absence of the Holy Spirit2. Neglect of the Church 3. Lack of emphasis on prayer4. No commitment to the sufficiency of

Scripture5. The renaming of sin and the omission of

repentance6. Man-centered, feeling-oriented, needs-

oriented7. Psychologized terminology & concepts


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3. The Authority of the Scriptures 3. The Authority of the Scriptures

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What the bible says about itself.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Rom 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Vs22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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2Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: vs:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

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What the bible says about itself. Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the

soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

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“Scripture is about counselling: diagnostic categories, causal explanations of behaviour and emotion, interpretation of external sufferings and influences, definitions of tangible and workable solutions, character of the counsellor, goals for the counselling process, configuring the professional structures for doing counselling, critique of competing models.”-David Powlison in “Affirmation & Denials: Towards a Definition of Biblical counselling,” JBC

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4. The Role of the Holy Spirit4. The Role of the Holy Spirit

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What kind of Helper?

The other for word is allos. It is translated “another” in English, but it means “another of the same kind,” In other words the holy Spirit is a helper in exactly the same fashion as Jesus.

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The Divine Helper: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper– John 14:16

“Helper” is the Greek word parakletos that we transliterate as a word you may be familiar with — paraclete. It describes a spiritual attendant whose role is to offer assistance, support, relief, advocacy, and guidance. Isn’t it interesting that the divine Counselor’s ministry to believers is to provide the very things so many people vainly seek in therapy?

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The Permanent Dweller: That He may be with you forever… He dwells with you

and will be in you– Joihn14:16,17 That was a New Covenant promise foretold in Ezekiel 37:14:

“And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life.”

The prophet said that the Holy Spirit wouldn’t merely be present with them; the greater truth was that He would be resident within them permanently.

Romans 8:9 “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

The believer enjoys the permanent, continuing presence of the Holy Spirit living within.

His help — all the resources of God Himself — is always available.

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The Truth Teacher:

The Spirit of truth –John 14:17 He convicts of sin, righteousness and

judgment: - John16vs 7-15He is called the Spirit of holiness\

righteousness. - Romans1vs4, 1Peter1vs16 He must control believers: - Ephesians 5vs18The Holy Spirit is the author and illuminator of

the Scriptures – 2 Tim3vs16, 1 Cor.9-16, 1 John 2vs26+27.

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Believers are actually taught spiritual truth by God Himself. John 6:45

The Holy Spirit’s ministry to us as a believers involves teaching us. John14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 John2:20, 27.

Guiding us into the truth of Christ. John16:13-14.

Illuminating the truth for us. 1 Corinthians 2:12.

The Truth Teacher:

The Spirit of truth –John 14:17

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The Holy Spirit brings about real change in a believers life. - Gal5vs22, vs25, Eph4vs30.

The Holy Spirit enables us. Acts1vs8, Acts2vs4, 2Tim1vs7.

Man’s Problems are largely sinful and so spiritual: Rom3vs23, Rom7vs14-25, 2Cor.5vs17

The Agent of change.Gal 5:22-23 “ But the fruit of the Spirit …”

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Without the Holy Spirit’s as the central figure, biblical counseling, cannot happen. He is the “paraclete”, the helper, advocate, intercessor and counselor.

We can offer no lasting change if we do not rely on Him as the Person to bring about the counsel.

The Holy Spirit is the counselor for this present church age.

The human counselor is a facilitator, who comes alongside the hurting believer to assist in any way they can, but dependant on the ministry and leading of the Spirit of God.

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5. The Role of the Church5. The Role of the Church

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Submitting to those who have watch. Hebrews 13:17

• Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. (Heb. 13:17) Pastoral care means responsibility.

• The nature of the pastoral relationship includes an ongoing commitment to the members of his local church whereas help from outside the church does not. Pastoral care means accountability.

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The church as a counselling unit. Eph. 4:11-13

Restoring the sinning brother or sister Galatians 6:1-2. Building one another up in the faith. Eph. 4:11-13. All believers should be involved. 1Thessalonians 5:14. Primarily those who are filled with goodness and

knowledge. Romans 15:14.

In Exodus 18:13-27 Moses is encouraged to spread the burden of judging amongst his able

and faithful men.

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6. Summation and Challenge6. Summation and Challenge

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Who can counsel?

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Rom 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

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Who can counsel?

Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Rom 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

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Who can counsel?

1Thessalonians 5:14. Now we exhort[parakaleo] you, brethren, warn[noutheteo] them that are unruly, comfort[paramutheoma] the feebleminded, support[antechomai] the weak, be patient[makrothumeo]toward all men.

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1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

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Discovering Problem AreasSetting Realistic Goals

Giving HopePastor Shaun Abrahams BA.TH

North West University, Pretoria, South Africa.

WELCOME

basic christian counselling

Spiritual

counselling expert knowledge

expert knowledge approach

common knowledge

sigmund freud freud

therapy process

unconscious process

persons behaviour

outward behaviour