March 25, 2014

What is Biblical Counseling?

What is Biblical Counseling and Why Do It?

Sometimes I don’t like the term Biblical Counseling. The reason is that the term Biblical Counseling can sound much more restrictive than it really is. Now, those of us involved in biblical counseling do counsel people who need help dealing with sin or suffering (as we all do from time to time). And, as the name implies, we use the Bible as our source of counsel and wisdom “for all things that pertain to life and godliness.” (2 Pet 1:3) But the term is restrictive if we only think of counseling in crisis situations. Sara and John need counseling because their marriage is falling apart. Tom needs counseling because he’s so depressed he doesn’t even get out of bed most days. Pat needs counseling because he’s struggling with a secret sin he just can’t shake. In these cases, the term Biblical Counseling is great – we’ll go to the Bible and counsel those seeking help. We’ll go to the Scriptures to find hope, seek God’s wisdom, and “admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak.” (1 Thess 5:14)

The concept and philosophy of biblical counseling though, is much broader than crisis situations. As a matter of fact, it has just as much to do with the ho-hum affairs of everyday life as it does to crises. I often simply call it Practical Theology. Given this gracious and glorious salvation that has been granted to us, and given this wonderful revelation from God we call the Bible, how shall we then live? (to borrow a phrase from Francis Shaeffer) Does God care how I speak to my wife? (Answer – yes; see Eph 4:29). Does God care if I decide to be lazy (just today!) and let someone else clean the kitchen? (Answer – yes; see Mark 10:44-45). Does God care if we all watch my favorite TV show instead of someone else’s? (Answer – yes; see Phil 2:3-4). We could obviously go on with endless examples because biblical counseling is merely learning to apply the Bible to all of life. In other words, it’s practical theology. Or we can call it discipleship – either one works because it’s all about bringing every little (and big) decision in my life into conformity with Christ. As you can imagine, it’s a process that continues for as long as I walk this earth.

So, I love to read books that help me learn more about biblical counseling. Well, sort of. When I read these books, I get convicted way too much to say I love it, but I need it and am grateful for it. I love to do biblical counseling and I love to teach it because it keeps me immersed in practical theology. It keeps me immersed in the Scriptures and in applying them to my life. It reminds me constantly of my desperate need of a Savior and it reminds me of God’s gracious provision of a Savior. It reminds me how he has given me a new heart that now desires to please him, how he has filled me with the Holy Spirit who enables me to overcome sin, and how he has provided an Advocate for me when I fail. And it trains me to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim 4:6). All good reasons to study the practical theology we call Biblical Counseling.