Myth: A pastor is competent to counsel his parishioners.

Fact: Most pastors are armed with only a meager knowledge of behavioral therapies. A pastor’s calling is, primarily, a spiritual one, helping people to find strength in God’s presence and a sense of divine direction in the midst of difficulty. Psychological adjustment is a different matter, and when it requires serious attention, pastors should find ways of partnering with professional counselors or psychiatrists.

This statement, featured in the popular magazine Christianity Today [2/10/92, p. 28], reflects the common perspective most Christians have toward solving behavioral, emotional and relational struggles. This view states, as it says in “fact” above, that we need more than Scripture, more than a pastor, counselor or friend to address serious struggles in life. I say serious struggles; because some would concede that a pastor or wise friend could assist where there is discouragement, minor marriage problems, or a rebellious teen. But for more complex issues–eating disorders, suicidal feelings, addictions and hallucinations, most Christians think that these struggles need the attention of professional counselors or psychologists.

In my [1] previous entry on Biblical Counseling I wrote about the dangers of Christian psychology–”This kind of counseling would grant that the Bible says everything we need to know about salvation and sanctification—’spiritual things,’ but on matters of the emotions, the Bible does not say enough.” Many Christians don’t believe the Bible is sufficient to help them through “all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3)

Many Christians not only have doubts about the ability of Scripture to speak to their problems, but neither are they confident that fellow Christians can be effective enough to be the tools to speak it to them. If we will see real change in our lives and Biblcal solutions to our problems we must find the answers in Christ and in His Word. We don’t need to have a special degree or certification to be able to do this, we need to be redeemed by God and willing to share that truth with others. Paul Tripp, in his book Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, says, “Many of us would be relieved if God had placed our sanctification in the hands of trained and paid professionals, but that simply is not the biblical model. God’s plan is that through the faithful ministry of every part, the whole body will grow to full maturity in Christ.”(p. xi)

What does it mean to counsel Biblically?

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for intstruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 2:16-17

The purpose of all counseling is change. The purpose of Biblical counseling is change to make the person more like Christ. In order to conform more to Christ we must belong to Him–being given a new heart capable of being changed. While the goal of most counseling is change that is for a personal and social good, counsel that is Biblical desires the change be acceptable to God. People must hear the gospel and come to a place of repentance and faith. Then they must grow in this faith by turning from their sin to godly living. Scripture contains everything that we need to know about the gospel and salvation. It also contains everything that we need to be sanctified, or transformed to the image of Christ.

Neither of these things can take place without the power and working of the Holy Spirit in their heart. Characteristics of true saving faith(i.e.: the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:6) cannot be manufactured by simply changing behavior. This kind of change is only superficial and temporary. Apart from the Spirit working there is no real change–“It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) The change that happens when someone heeds Biblical counsel is not mustered up by his will but must be the interworking of the Holy Spirit in his heart and life. Change then occurs from the inside out.

Counsel that is Biblical has God at the center with Scripture speaking into the problems and struggles of our lives. There is a Greek word, nouthesis (and also noutheteo) that means to confront, admonish, warn, teach and train. This word is found in many verses that reflect the heart of what Biblical counsel should embody.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man complete in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 1:28

Biblical counsel is a form of discipleship. It is one believer coming alongside another directing him to God’s Word to confronting him of sin, teaching him to forsake it and walk in the truth instead, and encouraging him to actively walk in obedience to the Lord. This kind of counsel presents our choices clearly, to walk in the Spirit or to walk in sin.

Who is called to counsel?

“Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:13

Having a clear picture of what counseling is we can see that all Christians are called to counsel in some form. Contrary, to Christianity Today I encourage you to seek counsel from a pastor at your church or an older man or woman in the faith, it is good to get counsel from those sources . But you don’t have to be a pastor or work at a church or have gone to Bible college, any Christian is capable to counsel because they have the power of the Spirit and the truth. God commands us to “exhort one another daily” and to let His Word dwell in us so we will be ready to teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16). Have you ever had someone ask your advice, shared a struggle and then say, “What do you think?” Your response is counsel. Is it Biblical? You are called to be a source of accountability for other believers by encouraging and sharpening them and speaking the truth to them in love (Ephesians 4:15) through confrontation, prayer, encouragement and teaching.

This call is sobering because it means that we must first remove the “log” from our own eyes before we can be of help to others (Matthew 7:1-5). I like how Paul Tripp says, “God uses people, who are themselves in need of change, as instruments of the same kind of change in others.” I hope you will take this call seriously and be available to for God to use you to speak His Word and work His change. God is calling His people to counsel, a call that extends to all of us who are Christians.