BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Biblical Counseling

Biblical Counseling

Introduction

Psychology, as a branch of science, is a relatively young field; Biblical or Christian psychology is still in its infancy. Much of what is currently taught as Christian counseling is hardly distinguishable from humanistic teachings that do not recognize or acknowledge God as a distinct and knowable Being who has revealed Himself to man in a clear record now known as the Bible. This research project will explore some of the implications of a solidly Biblical approach to counseling theory and practice. The purpose of this report will be to explore the impact of that Biblical, man-as-created view in terms of the counseling profession. Its six sections include: the introduction; a brief summary supporting the credibility of the Bible as a historical document; an exploration of the theoretical perspective that can be drawn from the Genesis account of man's creation and corruption; a few distinctly Biblical goals for the counseling process; a brief consideration of tools unique to a Biblical approach; and a concluding summary.

Credibility of the Bible

The Bible is not a speculative book of philosophy or collection of fables and myths; it is not the artifice of a single individual, but the unified and harmonious product of the labor of more than 40 faithful authors over a span of time exceeding 1400 years. The Bible has been translated, in whole or in part, into more languages than any other book in the world; has sold more copies and been read more than any other book in history; has survived and outlived more vicious attacks upon its veracity and very existence than any other book. It is the only book that can make such claims (McDowell, 1979).

The Old Testament portion of the Bible began to be written by Moses, God's chosen spokesman or prophet to the nation of Israel, who was born some 1500 years before the birth of Christ; over the next 1100 years, additional portions were written by other of God's prophets, concluding with the book of Malachi in 432 BC (Unger, 1966). Every archeological excavation pertinent to those times, places, and peoples, has given evidence supporting the historical accuracy of the Biblical record (McDowell, 1979). It is the genealogical record of the nation of Israel, proof of Jesus' descent from Adam through Judah and David, and stands today essentially unaltered through thousands of years, via multiple copies and translations, as the Word of God: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

The New Testament comprises the eyewitness accounts of those who lived and walked with Jesus during his brief earthly sojourn, written by themselves or those who heard them; a first-hand account of the growth of the church after Jesus' return to his Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit; and epistles, or letters, delivering the apostles' doctrine to the church prior to their own ...