1) It is the church’s responsibility to counsel people through their struggles, rather than relying upon those outside the church.
This does not mean one never goes outside the church for help or that some problems aren't both/and body AND soul issues. Medical doctors have been trained with the physical body and biblical counselors have been taught how to care for the spiritual matters of the heart, soul, and mind.
2) Lasting life change is the goal of counseling, and the greatest change people need is to trust Christ enough to follow his ways. This decision of faith impacts all other decisions in life and helps them best deal with the struggles of life. Faith is never a secondary concern in counseling.
3) Christ models for us reliance upon the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures, and counselors should seek to increase that reliance as they help individuals grow in Christlikeness. We do not have the power or wisdom to change on our own. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of the scriptures to change.
Within the church, these 3 beliefs are usually met with agreement. However, within many Christian counseling offices, these beliefs are often met with skepticism and resistance leaving them outside the counseling process.
Sadly, the gospel, the church, and the Holy Spirit are rarely discussed in many “Christian” counseling practices. We talk to many pastors and churches who are troubled by this. They thought when they sought counseling at a “Christian Counseling” center that their faith would be part of the process and that their counselor would know how to direct them to the Scriptures for guidance.
So what do you do if you are troubled by this too?
Many churches are and have begun to respond. Rather than making a list of outside places where people can receive counseling/care, they have decided to equip individuals within their congregation to walk with the hurting. In order to consider this approach, you need to embrace four key convictions about Biblical Counseling that shape a ministry like this.
Key Conviction # 1 – Holistic Discipleship: Fulfilling the whole Great Commission
Biblical Counseling is part of the great commission where people work out their salvation and grow in maturity through obedience and fellowship with God. Biblical Counseling tears down the wall between religious problems and everyday problems. Is your church committed to a holistic view of spiritual growth and convinced that faith impacts every decision?
Key Conviction # 2 – Protective Restoration: Leaving the 99 for the One
Jesus’ heart for the lost, lonely, and hurting can be seen in the parable of the lost sheep. When someone in your church strays, who do you try and reach them (Jude 22-23)? Training Biblical Counselors will create this heart and equip your church to compassionately engage the sheep who has strayed. You won’t save every wandering sheep, but can you answer honestly that you made an effort? One cannot rescue someone who is intent on going astray- but we should make every reasonable effort to "save them" (ala James 5:19-20)
Key Conviction#3 – Spiritual Leadership: Giving Personal and Effective Guidance
Counseling is part of the call to Biblical shepherding in the church. When you as a leader see a problem, you address it for the good of your people. Counseling helps you lead your people well. You can’t help but notice the impact that Godly leadership has on a church both in Biblical times and present.
Key Conviction #4 – Missional Compassion: Creating Effective Outreach to Neighbors
Do the hurting in your church and community think to turn to your church for help? In an increasingly post-Christian nation, counseling the hurting can be a great bridge for the gospel into your community. When your church gains a reputation for quality and consistent care, your neighborhood notices. This atmosphere of love is what draws many to Christ. On the contrary, if your church can’t answer the questions that hurting people have, it confirms for many unbelievers that the church lacks any relevance to their lives.
When churches embrace the responsibility to care for their own, the whole congregation grows together. Those who are leading and those being led see God’s love and truth from a new perspective."
Article written by Dr. Tim Allchin. Lake Country Bible Church's biblical counseling ministry flows out of our core convictions concerning the authority, inspiration, and sufficiency of Scripture. God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness in Christ and in the Word of Christ.
Within the church, these 3 beliefs are usually met with agreement. However, within many Christian counseling offices, these beliefs are often met with skepticism and resistance leaving them outside the counseling process.
Sadly, the gospel, the church, and the Holy Spirit are rarely discussed in many “Christian” counseling practices. We talk to many pastors and churches who are troubled by this. They thought when they sought counseling at a “Christian Counseling” center that their faith would be part of the process and that their counselor would know how to direct them to the Scriptures for guidance.
So what do you do if you are troubled by this too?
Many churches are and have begun to respond. Rather than making a list of outside places where people can receive counseling/care, they have decided to equip individuals within their congregation to walk with the hurting. In order to consider this approach, you need to embrace four key convictions about Biblical Counseling that shape a ministry like this.
Key Conviction # 1 – Holistic Discipleship: Fulfilling the whole Great Commission
Biblical Counseling is part of the great commission where people work out their salvation and grow in maturity through obedience and fellowship with God. Biblical Counseling tears down the wall between religious problems and everyday problems. Is your church committed to a holistic view of spiritual growth and convinced that faith impacts every decision?
Key Conviction # 2 – Protective Restoration: Leaving the 99 for the One
Jesus’ heart for the lost, lonely, and hurting can be seen in the parable of the lost sheep. When someone in your church strays, who do you try and reach them (Jude 22-23)? Training Biblical Counselors will create this heart and equip your church to compassionately engage the sheep who has strayed. You won’t save every wandering sheep, but can you answer honestly that you made an effort? One cannot rescue someone who is intent on going astray- but we should make every reasonable effort to "save them" (ala James 5:19-20)
Key Conviction#3 – Spiritual Leadership: Giving Personal and Effective Guidance
Counseling is part of the call to Biblical shepherding in the church. When you as a leader see a problem, you address it for the good of your people. Counseling helps you lead your people well. You can’t help but notice the impact that Godly leadership has on a church both in Biblical times and present.
Key Conviction #4 – Missional Compassion: Creating Effective Outreach to Neighbors
Do the hurting in your church and community think to turn to your church for help? In an increasingly post-Christian nation, counseling the hurting can be a great bridge for the gospel into your community. When your church gains a reputation for quality and consistent care, your neighborhood notices. This atmosphere of love is what draws many to Christ. On the contrary, if your church can’t answer the questions that hurting people have, it confirms for many unbelievers that the church lacks any relevance to their lives.
When churches embrace the responsibility to care for their own, the whole congregation grows together. Those who are leading and those being led see God’s love and truth from a new perspective."
Article written by Dr. Tim Allchin. Lake Country Bible Church's biblical counseling ministry flows out of our core convictions concerning the authority, inspiration, and sufficiency of Scripture. God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness in Christ and in the Word of Christ.
