BIBLICAL COUNSELING

PROFESSOR BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE, (ENG.) ND/HD (JOURNALISM), DIP; BA, (THEOLOGY), MA, PhD

BIBLICAL COUNSELING 

INTRODUCTION/DEFINITION

1.1 General View:

          According to Olayinka (1978) in Nwankpa (2004:2), counseling is a process in which one person (professionally trained) helps the other in a face-to-face encounter. In the words of Nwamuo (2001:2), counseling is a personal help carried out mainly by means of interpersonal communication, whereby the counselor helps the counselee in achieving adaptive attitude, insight and behaviour. It focuses on individual’s positive strength and mobilizes personal, emotional and behaviour assets for effective utilization. Thus, counseling drives towards effective decision making, positive mental health, behaviour change and modification, personal effectiveness and resolution of problems.

          Counseling is an inter-personal relationship, usually between two individuals (but not necessarily) a counselor and a counselee –in which the principal objectives are the development of the counselee, the improvement of his welfare and the amelioration of his problems.      Counseling has four basic forms, namely:- 

a.           Face-to-face counseling, otherwise known as interview

b.           Counseling through written communication

c.           Counseling through audio means. that is, through tape recording and play-back device;

d.           Counseling through telephone conversation

1.2 Biblical View:

Biblical counseling is that aspect of counseling that uses the Holy Scriptures  as its tool in counseling. This, at times, is referred to as Christian counseling, since the scripture is considered the basic

Christian instrument for problem solving. In keeping with the foregoing, Jaye Adams (1975:5) opines that the scriptures are the (Christian) counselor’s textbook for counseling. He further says, “like his Lord (Jesus Christ) who was the wonderful counselor predicted by Isaiah - the counselor will find that all that he needs for the work of counseling is in the Bible”.

Furthermore, Adams remarks that Jesus Christ needed no other text to become world’s only perfect counselor. He was that because he used the scriptures more fully than anyone else, either before or since. His counsel was perfect because it was wholly scriptural in the absolute sense of those words. The minister (or Christian) who engages in scriptural counseling, like Him (Jesus) believes that because the Holy Spirit inspired the book (the bible) for that purpose, and must be used in counseling. To be emphatic scriptural counseling  alone is adequate to meet every need of humanity.

1.3    Pastoral Counseling As Biblical Counseling

In the words of Preston Bogia, pastoral counseling must be biblical counseling as opposed to psychological counseling. He notes that, secular psychology or psycho-therapy based on the teachings of Sigmund Freud , Carl Jung and Carl Roger has no place in Biblical Counseling, and so, must be discouraged in the counseling work of a pastor.

          Rogia, also remarks that, “Pastoral Counseling is unique and differs from other types of counseling” as he equally notes that counseling is past of a pastor’s job description. As a shepherd his duties include, feeding, protecting and carrying for those in his congregation.  In furtherance, Rogia states that, “just as a shepherd must bind up the wounds of the sheep that are sick or injured, so does a church pastor bind up and heal the emotional wounds suffered by those in his flock”, and that it is only in the Holy Scripture that the materials suitable for this noble task of the pastor, as a counselor can be obtained.

AREAS WHERE BIBLICAL COUNSELING APPLIES

2:1 Individual Needs:

          Biblical counseling attempts to provide support and direction for individuals who need emotional assistance. With biblical precepts, a biblical counselor is in position to offer concrete help to those suffering from depression, anxiety, anger, family of origin issues and other life related difficulties.

2:2 Couple Needs              

          Biblical counseling is equally a veritable tool employed in a bid to improve on communication, decision making process of those working through relational difficulties, forgiveness and divorce issues, as Betty Davis narrates in her work, “Types of Pastoral counseling”.

2:3 Family Needs   

          Betty Davis in the above cited work also observes that “creative ideas and support for solving family problems, behavioral issues with children and adolescent, boundary setting and techniques for strengthening the family could be obtained through Pastoral Counseling, which applies basically precepts in counseling efforts, etc.

QUALIFICATION OF A BIBLICAL COUNSELOR

3:1 Regeneration   

The basic qualification of a biblical counselor is regeneration. By regeneration, we mean the washing and renewing of an individual from the nature of sin (Titus 3:5). No one can do well in Biblical Counseling or in anything patterning to the Bible without regeneration.  For the natural man cannot understanding the things of the Spirit, (I Cor. 2 :14).  Therefore, if the Biblical Counselor must do well in counseling, he must be born again.

3:2 Holy Spirit And His Wisdom

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is an indispensable tool in Biblical Counseling, since the Holy Spirit is the author and interpreter of the scripture which the Biblical Counselor needs so much (Arts 6:3, Eph. 5:18). And, since, the Holy Spirit is also the supreme source of God’s wisdom, there is, therefore, no other way the Biblical Counselor could do well in counseling without Him.

          Wisdom gives insight that leads to the correct application of knowledge gathered biblically or extra-biblically, and the Holy Spirit is still the only link to the said wisdom. Based on the foregoing therefore, the Biblical Counselor must rely absolutely on the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes from Him, if he must do well in counseling.

3:3  Knowledge of the Scripture    

          Every human need finds solution in the scripture. And, it is the duty of the Biblical Counselor to discover where a counselee needs help. In this connection, therefore, the Biblical Counselor must possess a good knowledge of the Bible, if he/she must proffer solution to the problems of his/her counselee or client, and this, calls for an intensive study of the Bible on the part of the counselor if he/she must be a workman/woman that needs not to be ashamed, but currently dividing the word of truth (11 Timothy 2:15)

3:4 Un-Compromised Prayer Life   

          The success of every ministerial work lies heavily on prayer, and Biblical Counseling is no exception. Prayer is a means of tapping wisdom, knowledge and power from the Lord for effective counseling. Therefore, the Biblical Counselor ought always to pray and not faint, (Luke 18 : 1ff). For, if he/she fails in prayer, he/she will eventually fail in his/her work as a counselor, since there is no other way to receive  the wisdom of the Holy Spirit which makes for the proper application of the knowledge of the word of God or the power that proffers solution to human need.

3:5 Faith in the Word of God

          Practical faith in the word of God is another essential qualification of a Biblical Counselor. In line with this, the Biblical Counselor must have absolute faith in the scriptures he/she uses as a means of problem solving. He/she must believe that God’s Word works, if applied to human needs or that God confirms his Word where it is applied by faith.

 BIBLICAL COUNSELING AND CONFIDENTIALLY

4:1 The Counselee’s Fear

          Confidentiality is the watch-word in counseling, as every counselee carries an element of fear, as to whom the would let out certain secrets of their lives to. In this connection, A non-confidential person is not suitable for Biblical Counseling or for any other types of the work. For, where a counselee discovers any breach of trust from his/her counselor, there is bound to be a serious problem. Therefore, on no account should a counselor discuss or preach what a counselee tells him/her during counseling.

4:2 The Risk of Non-Confidentiality in Counseling

          A counselor who is not confidential stands the risk of destroying his/her life or career. This is because a mindless or demonic counselee who feels threatened by the disclosure of certain secrets of his/her life could go extra-miles in his/her bid to plot or spread falsehood that could put the counselor out of service or existence.

4:3 Negative Impact of Non-Confidentiality in Counseling

          Non- confidentiality in counseling can breed the following negative impact in society;

i.             It can destroy relationships

ii.            It can breed suspicion

iii.           It can be a source of rumour

iv.          It can enforce rift in society

v.           It can make people gospel – harden, etc.

AREAS OF CAUTION IN BIBLICAL COUNSELING

5:1 The Problem of the Opposite Sex:

          The Biblical Counselor should always keep at the back of his/her mind that the Holy Scripture condemns all forms of immorality, and so, should guard against the unbecoming attitude that may come up from the opposite  sex. He/she should also keep in view that not every counselee is well intended, as some of them are in his/her office for something else, and therefore, should not allow himself/herself to be seduced during counseling.

5:2 Carefree Attitude In Counseling

          Carefree attitude in counseling is very dangerous, since it can destroy both the counselor and counselee. Counseling is a serious business that requires uttermost carefulness. As such, counseling session is not a period of;

i         Careless  talks

ii        Careless touch

iii       Careless smiles

iv.      Careless looks

v.       Careless gestures, etc.

5:3 Improper Application of God’s Word

          The use of the Holy Scripture in Biblical Counseling is as vital as its proper application. For, there is always fruitlessness in counseling, where the scripture is made to speak the mind of the counselor, instead of that of God. In line with the foregoing, the Biblical Counselor should ensure that,

i         He/she does not use the scripture to foster his/her personal           opinion, but the will of God

ii        He/she cities only the portion of the scripture that is   appropriate to the need of the counselee during counseling

iii       He/she comes up with the proper interpretation of each scripture he/she wishes to use in counseling before applying it the need of his/her counselee or client.

iv.      He/she does not allow his/her cultural beliefs to influence    his/her use of the scripture in counseling

v.       He/she understands that a biblical counseling session is not a       period of preaching, deliverance prayer or bible study, but a     period of scriptural advice, and so, should be interactive in the use of the scripture, etc.

In conclusion, this lecture note is an attempt by the lecturer to give the basic concept of Biblical Counseling, though, it cites a brief general over-view on the subject-matter. It is hoped that a serious minded student who meticulously studies the work, would find it rewarding in his/her counseling efforts. Nevertheless, the student is also advised to source for other good materials on biblical or pastoral counseling from the internet or books written by other scholars.