Teachings from Quest for God's Own Heart Ministry

The Need for Christian Counseling in the Church

Part I: Goal of Christian Counseling

          To be a healthy follower of Christ, according to Larry Crabb, instead of looking for happiness, which seems to be our nature, we, instead, need to please our Heavenly Father by remaining in Christ. If we focus on remaining in Christ, we will, “enjoy the pleasures available in fellowship with God the Father” (Crabb, p. 22).

          We must understand we are justified in God the Father’s eyes because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Our justification has nothing to do with our actions.  I am, “found righteous in the eyes of the Father because of Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins. It has nothing to do with what I’ve done in the past, what I’m doing now, or what I’ll do in the future” (Crabb, p. 25). When we do what God wants us to do, we will be on the path to righteousness, and when our life is over, we will be glorified.

          The four approaches to developing a biblical counseling strategy that Larry Crabb in his book, Effective Biblical Counseling, discusses are Separate but Equal, Tossed Salad, Nothing Buttery, and Spoiling the Egyptians. He found the first three to be lacking in producing a truly healthy client. Instead of accepting secular psychology as equal with the Bible, avoiding our sinfulness, or the avoidance of secular psychology altogether, Crabb is more inclined to propose Spoiling the Egyptians as the best model for biblical counseling.

          In Spoiling the Egyptians, Crabb proposes not throwing secular psychology out of the counseling session. Instead, he believes we should use secular psychology when it lines up with the Bible. If it does not; toss it. The Bible is the authority. A Christian Counselor must carefully weed out, “the elements that oppose his commitment to the revelation of Scripture” (Crabb, p. 54).

          In the past, Albert Ellis, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), did not put much stock in the Bible or any other religious writings. Ellis felt the Bible and other religious writings can cause more harm than good. Through the years, he was forced to change his mind. REBT now believes you can use Scripture only if it proves helpful (Johnson, Ridley, Nielsen, p.p. 14-15)

          Two other popular psychological philosophies Christians have used are Cognitive Therapy and Rogerian. Cognitive Therapy focuses on changing harmful thinking patterns of their client, helping them to change learned patterns that have caused their problems (Andrews, p. 112). Rogerian Theorist believes the client is the supreme authority on how they need to change to be the person they desire (Kensit, p. 346). Both of these philosophies are lacking biblical realities and the makeup of humankind. There must be a better way.

Part II: Basic Concepts

          Before the Fall, Adam and Eve’s security and significance were met in their Creator. After sin had entered the picture, security and significance became needs, for security and significance were no longer part of their personalities. We have desired security and significance ever since, even if it means not accepting responsibility for our own actions. We are lost (spiritually and psychologically) without our Maker.

          Instead of teaching the need for an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, too many churches have failed their congregations by teaching primarily the Dos and Don’ts of Christianity. In their ideology, following God’s commands is the most important thing for Believers. If you do not follow the commands they deem important, you are guilty of sin. Relationship with their Savior is just a mere mention behind pulpits, instead of being the primary doctrine of their church. Significance and security can only be found in a close relationship with our Savior.

          Abraham Maslow came up with the concept of the Five Basic Needs. They are physical, security, love, purpose, and self-actualization. Crabb stated a Believer is the only one who has the tools to fulfill all five needs, but only after achieving the first four. God has already given us and promised us everything we need for self-actualization (Matthew 6:33-34; Philippians 4:6, 9; Romans 5:8; 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:21; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 103:4 [Crabb, p.p. 84-85]). Through an intimate relationship with Jesus, we can move away from our selfish attitudes, and live in the freedom and security God has already given us.

          REBT is a humanistic philosophy. They believe one can be healed primarily through psychotherapy. In their philosophy, the Bible is an afterthought. REBT therapists tell their clients, “they will improve once they begin challenging the Biblical truthfulness or accuracy of some of the things they have been telling themselves” (Johnson, Ridley, Nielsen, p. 18).

          Cognitive and Behavior Therapists believe the problems clients have are learned. They try to help them take away what is hindering them from being emotionally healthy. There is no authority but the client in the sessions. God’s desire for the client and their need to follow and obey Him is not necessary to Cognitive and Behavior Therapists. If a client is depressed because their relationship with Jesus Christ is not where it needs to be, Cognitive and Behavior Therapists will try to steer their client away from God. Their motive in the session is to get rid of anything that makes their client depressed, even God (Andrews, p. 112).

          Rogerian Theorist do not even believe in directing the client, for, “no other human being can possibly determine what is the correct or incorrect behavior for any other individual” (Kensit, p. 346). Theses philosophies will cause more harm than good. You cannot take God out of the equation. He is not only our Creator, but He is our Redeemer, Sustainer and our Wonderful Counselor as well (Genesis 1-2; Isaiah 47:4; Psalm 54:4; Isaiah 9:6). There needs to be a strategy for leading our clients to a fulfilled healthy lifestyle. That is not possible without God. We need to take our clients to the Throne of God. If we do not, relying instead on the wisdom of man, we will fail our clients, ourselves, and most importantly, God.

Part III: Basic Strategy

          To be able to help ourselves and our clients, we must understand and see the obstacles that are keeping us from maturing. Sometimes the obstacle in our lives and the lives of our clients is the goal is not possible to reach. Other times, something external is keeping us or our client from obtaining the goal. The third obstacle is the fear of failure. When a failure occurs, we tend to feel guilty, anxious, or resentful; therefore, we tend to be pre neurotic. When we get to the point, we do not care anymore, feeling like our goals are never attainable, we become neurotic.

          So is the goal the only thing that matters, or is it a relationship with Christ, which produces a well-adjusted mature Believer? Secular psychologist’s desire is to make their patient feel good. The standard is the standard of the client. Therefore, the secular psychologist wants only to fulfill the wishes of the client. Biblical Counselor’s desire is to help the client understand what it takes to actually meet their goal of a fulfilled life. This is always their goal, even if it causes an immediate negative impact on their client. The goal is not to go by the standards of the client, but the standards of the Bible. Only through God can anyone be totally free from anything that keeps them from being well-adjusted and a mature follower of Christ.

          Crabb describes how to do this through a Seven Stage Model. Number one is, “Identify which problem feeling seems to be primary” (Crabb, p. 146). Number two is, “Identify Goal-Oriented (Problem) Behavior” (Crabb, p. 148). Number three is, “Identify problem thinking” (Crabb, p. 150). Number four is, “change the assumptions (clarify biblical thinking)” (Crabb, p. 152). Number five is, “Secure Commitment” (Crabb, p. 152). Number six is, “plan and carry out biblical behavior” (Crabb, p. 156). Finally, number seven is, “Identify spirit-controlled feelings” (Crabb, p. 157).

          When using Crabb’s model, we can establish what is hindering the client from obtaining their desire for security and significance. That is when we are able to proceed. The client is struggling because their assumptions are wrong. We need to carefully, prayerfully, help them understand they are wrong, according to God’s Word, and need to change the way they think. Once they understand their need for change, we must get them to commit to the change that is necessary.

          REBT, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, and Rogerian Theorists focus on being attentive, empathetic, and compassionate to the needs of the client, which is good, but they hold to the desire of the client, making the client the ultimate authority in their healing process (Johnson, Ridley, Nielsen, p.p. 14, 18; Andrews, p. 112; Kensit, p. 346-347). This is not a healthy process for their client. Only through God can their client find real healing. Until they realize their need for God, the client will continue seeking, but never finding healing for their lives.

          Churches need to recognize the need for counseling. Without Biblical Counselors, members will seek help elsewhere, never finding the healing God has to offer.

Part IV: Developing a Counseling Program in the Local Church

          Larry Crabb describes three levels in which a church can establish biblical counseling within the structure of the church. Level I is, “Counseling by Encouragement” (Crabb, p. 163). A Level I counselor reaches out to someone, not with canned responses, but with love. They must genuinely care. When true love is spoken and reflected, the one in need will be more willing to share what they are going through.

          Level II is, “Counseling by Exhortation” (Crabb, p. 170). Level II counselor needs to be a mature Believer with good knowledge of the Bible. They must be able to be sensitive to the need of the person they are reaching, giving the person confidence they can share what is going on in their lives. Level II counselors also need to have some counseling training.

          Level III is, “Counseling by Enlightenment” (Crabb, p. 179). It takes more than a few weekends of training to become a Level III counselor. “After identifying and empathizing with a  person’s problem feelings (Level I) and after assessing what behavioral patterns violate biblical principles (Level II), a Level III counselor will look underneath the wrong behaviors into the tough world, expecting to find false assumptions about how to become significant and secure” (Crabb, p. 179).

          If trained correctly, a church can find mature Believers to help those who are struggling in the church. When a church effectively counsels its members, security and significance will flow through the church as the members realize and trust in their sufficiency in Christ.

          REBT, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, and Rogerian Theorists are good about being compassionate, empathetic, and being able to recognize and delve into a problem the client may be having. However, since they do not hold to the supremacy of God, they cannot have a legitimate conversation about having a healthy counseling program in the church.

          The church needs to begin functioning with all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Biblical counseling is imperative for a healthy, fully functioning Body of Christ. It is time for action.

References

Crabb, Lawrence J. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling. Zondervan.

Johnson, W. B., Ridley, C.R., Nielsen, S. L. (2000). Religiously

Sensitive Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: Elegant Solutions and Ethical Risks. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty. edu:2048/journals/pro/31/1/14.html.

Andrews, L. A.  (2010). Encyclopedia of Depression: Cognitive

Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com. ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE%7CCX1762700076&v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&authCount=1.

Kensit, D. A. (2000). Counseling Psychology Quarterly: Rogerian

Theory: A Critique of the Effectiveness of Pure Client-Centered Therapy. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy. liberty.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=f5410b8b-5a10-4f19-90fc-c588814b9b68%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=127&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=rzh&AN=2009434729.