Four Baptist Leaders Move Toward Biblical Counseling

Daniel Akin (pres of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary), Paige Patterson (pres of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), Russel Moore (dean at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), and Sam Williams (professor of counseling at Southeastern Baptist Seminary) discuss issues surrounding a biblical perspective of Christian counseling. The lead sentence reads:

"Southern baptists are making an intentional and historic effort to return to a theory and practice of counseling that is distinctively biblical."

I've discussed some of my concerns with what is often an unbiblical approach to 'Christian' counseling here.

David Powlinson's article on the 'therapeutic gospel' is helpful as well.

Analyze This?!

Some weeks ago I made a comment from the pulpit to ‘modern therapeutic models’ with reference to dealing with ongoing patterns of sin in believers’ lives. This provoked many to ask the question, and it is indeed an important one, “Should a Christian pursue professional counseling in dealing with crises, problems, and struggles in their lives?” This is one of those rough questions put to a pastor, because no matter how I answer it, I’m darned if I do and darned if I don’t. For many, the very idea of professional counseling is anathema, wicked, and just plain wrong, wrong, wrong. For many others, to question the role and purpose of the ever growing army of professional ‘Christian’ counselors , and their history with a ‘Christian’ counselor in particular, is narrow minded, archaic, and naïve to the extreme. Oh well. It is at this point any pastor, or believer for that matter, must say with the Apostle, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

I do believe there are some serious problems with the modern therapeutic approach to dealing with problems, crisis, etc. Do I believe that ‘Christian counseling’ as a profession is innately wrong or sinful? Of course not. Do I believe there is a place for mental health counseling and therapy? Yes- in more limited and defined contexts than seems to be the case in the common ‘therapy’ structure so prevalent today. There is a great deal of ‘grey’ in the Scriptures and a healthy dose of God’s common grace shed on these issues. Far be it from me to go God one better by proclaiming “ichabod” in these matters wholesale. Nonetheless, there are some important warnings and exhortations that we must heed from the Scriptures before we jump headlong into the therapeutic paradigms so common today .

I’ll just give just a few primary ‘warnings’ about what I see as dangers in the contemporary therapeutic models.

A Low View of the Local Church
We need to recognize that all of our struggles stem from sin and depravity (either our own or someone else’s). The solution for dealing with sin is repentance and faith in dealing with our own sin, and leading others to repentance and faith (and reconciliation) in dealing with their sin. We deal with our sin through ongoing formative spiritual discipline and even sometimes through a process of ‘punitive’ spiritual discipline according to Matthew 18:15-20. This process of repentance and change happens under the umbrella of biblical instruction, spiritual authority, and accountability. The context where this process of sanctification is fostered and nurtured is the local church. Now, the local church is the normative covering for spiritual development and growth (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-6:8; Galatians 6:1-2; Col. 3: 12-17), that is to say God can and does work in a myriad ways outside this covering. Yet we are directly instructed in the Word to find our health and formation in the context of the local church.

In my experience, many modern therapeutic approaches (in ‘Christian’ contexts) do not place a proper emphasis upon the role of the local church in this process of sanctification and growth. To put it a bit more strongly, I have gathered a distinct sense that many in the counseling guild see the local church and this biblical environ for change and spiritual formation as almost negligible. While there may be a host of valid reasons for such a low view of the local church, we cannot escape the biblical injunction to live and operate under this covering (however flawed we might perceive it to be).

An Improper Professionalization of Shepherding and Counsel
Simply put, I do not find much biblical warrant for receiving the bulk of our counsel and direction from professional sources outside the patterns of intimate and organic church ‘family life’. Many Christians have little involvement with God ordained pastors and shepherds, or other mature believers and so fill the very valid need for counsel through professional channels. Of course the problem lies fundamentally with the failure of believers to find help and direction through the normal ‘channels’ of God’s grace to us (meaningful involvement in the church, ongoing discipleship and counsel via natural Christian relationships, the daily pursuit of the spiritual disciplines) in such times.

But the problem also lies with the inability of a paid professional to properly address significant problems and needs in a believer’s life through an hourly session within the walls of the counseling room. There is an integration of many factors that bring change and spiritual development in a believer’s life that many expect to receive in a professional therapeutic context, and which this context is unable to deliver. Sadly, I do not see many people that are somewhat ‘trapped’ in a therapeutic cycle referred to the church family as a valid and crucial place for dealing with their problems and issues. I have yet to have one person come to me for guidance, instruction, and care as their pastor under the direction of their counselor. In fact, it is often the case that I have dealt with people in various struggles and crises (often as a direct result of deep patterns of sin) who have been in therapy (sometimes for years) with ‘Christian’ counselors who never even broached the subject of the church’s role (even in a very basic sense) in confronting and dealing with these issues.

Competent to Counsel
It is every Christian’s responsibility to provide biblical counsel and speak into one another’s lives. Sometimes Christians are too quick to assign responsibility and jurisdiction over to the professional therapy realm, when God is calling fellow believers to step into the gap. Let’s face it; despite the proliferation of therapies, medications, and helping models, these have been done little to stem the flow of psychological maladies, problems, and dysfunction. As said above, the framework for such mutual counsel, accountability, and change provided to us as believer’s is through the community of believer’s called ‘the church’. For many this idea of spiritual formation and growth under the direction of God’s ordained pattern for spiritual covering through the local church might be new. But I assure you that this is the normative pattern of Christian sanctification given to us in the Scriptures. Along with the references listed above, I would refer you to these passages regarding Church life and spiritual accountability: Acts 2: 42-47; 20:27-32; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12-22; 1 Tim. 3:1-8; Titus 1: 5-9; 2:1-10; Heb. 10:19-25.

A Good Starting Point- Take ‘Spiritual Inventory’
The question must be raised, “When, if ever, should we refer someone to a professional counselor?” I almost never follow this course until I help a person or couple take spiritual inventory of their lives to determine if they are taking advantage of the means of grace God has already provided. Some questions in this ‘inventory’ might be: Is this person in Christian fellowship? Do they serve in the church? Do they regularly worship and sit under the preaching of the word? Do they have accountable relationships? Are they taking care of themselves physically? Do they recognize any patterns of unrepentant sin that need to be confronted and reconciled? Are they availing themselves of some basic biblical principles addressing their problems, concerns, and struggles? If not, then counseling will not serve its proper role. If, however, a person is exercising these means of grace, then counseling can be one of the ways God uses to grow that person in grace. Counseling is thus placed into a context where “first things are first” and can be even more effective than if this were not the case.

Saying the Hard Things...

After a few difficult 'counseling' sessions in the past couple of weeks as well as having the handle an issue of church discipline, I thought I'd throw out some thoughts for your edification.

Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

I've come to see the first stage of 'church discipline' in Matthew 18 as discipleship and community. Much of sanctification happens in this 'discipleship' stage of church discipline. This is the 'formative' side of discipline (while stages two and three, verses 16-17, move into a more 'punitive' side). It's like working out with weights three times a week, defining the muscles, increased reps, varied sets, gradual weight increases. It is being in a relationship where you can call someone brother. Here there is familiarity, there is commonality, there is a 'familial' tie, a love for each other. And this love is rooted in the redeeming work of Christ that has brought both of you from darkness into light, from sin and slavery to righteousness and freedom. It is in the context of these 'discipleship' relationships where each of you challenge one another into deeper righteousness and greater freedom. This is where the tedious, hard, and wonderful work of sanctification should happen. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend".

How many times has someone been referred to me by another believer for a matter of 'counseling', when, fundamentally, that brother in Christ should have provided the 'counsel' of giving biblical encouragement, or biblical admonishment where such is due. One of the main reasons our pastors are mired down in one difficult 'counseling' situation after another, in many situations, is because the folks they are dealing with have not availed themselves of the means for daily growth in grace through believing relationships. Or, those who live with them, know them, and love them, don't love them enough to say the 'hard things'.

Is there someone in your life that is friend enough in Christ to deliver a few much needed faithful wounds? Are you faithful enough to wound your brother or sister, so that they are not left with the faithful wounds of a stranger (like a counselor they just met, or a pastor they hardly know) or the deceitful kisses of the enemy?

Good questions. At Four Oaks we answer this question with our pattern of church life. Worship, learn, and grow on Sunday. Worship, learn, and grow during the week. Worship, learn, and grow where life happens. We call you to meet in each other's homes, care for one another's families, share each other's burdens, and open up your life to your brothers and sisters in Christ so the wonderful work of 'Christ being formed' in us happens (Galatians 4:19).

This is 'hard work'. It means we sometimes have to say the 'hard things'. It means we have to be committed to 'formative' discipline, so that the dreadful work of Matthew 18:16-17 grows more and more uncommon in our family. Not because of our passive negligence, but because of our active obedience.

Soli Deo Gloria.