Exam 1 - Christian Counseling

Importance of heart change vs. behavior modification

Behavior modification leads to temporary change of actions but heart change is more permanent - ex. apple tree

Why is counseling an important skill of a pastor/minister

People are in need of restoring their relationship with God, others, and self. They should be turning to pastors so pastors need to be ready when they do.

Steps of instilling Biblical wisdom in the lives of others 

Look for windows into the heart, be empathetic, ask good questions, develop a workable plan for meetings, be clear about the gospel, connect the gospel to their situation 

Draw and discuss Figure from how people change 

Heat exposes whether you have good or bad roots. The only way to move from bad to good fruits is through the cross. 

Main focus of the early history of Christianity and Psychology

Nature of soul and soul healing, main focus is still more pastoral then scientific, the cure and upbringing of the Christian soul

Main focus of modern psychology

Based on natural science, special revelation and tradition can no longer be regarded as ultimate authorities

Summary statements of Christianity and Psychology

• Christians have been thinking about and practicing psychology for centuries

• God created the world

• Human beings were created in His image

• Because of sin, something is terribly wrong with human beings. Sin affects every part of their being and the fallen world

• Human beings are sinners who need to be rescued

• Humans were designed for an abundant life and God commanded them how to live

• New life is only possible through salvation made possible by the death and resurrection of His son, Christ

• The Gospel speak to every area of our life and to a world that sin has affected

• From this worldview based on the authority of the Bible, they developed psychological insights on the nature of human reason, sensation, memory, human will

• From this worldview based on the authority of the Bible, they also developed hypotheses about moral and spiritual and character development, the nature and impact of sin, psychology of religion, body-soul relations

Effects of Modern Psychology and its impacts on the church

They were forced to think more scientifically and about the Christian as a human being

Know the two extremes in the church’s response to modern psychology

Uncritically adopt the practices from modern psychology and counseling or ignore the practice of counseling and only preach and teach repentance and obedience from the pulpit or lectern.

Words to avoid when counseling

I know how you feel, when I was in that situation, this is God’s will, God needed this person more than you do, Romans 8:28

Matthew 22:37-40 and the three relationships that need restoration 

Greatest commandment, our relationship with God, our relationship with others and our relationship with self 

What makes Christian Counseling unique?

Unique assumptions, unique goals, unique methods, unique characteristics

6 goals of Christian counseling

Self-understanding, communication, learning and behavior change, self-actualization, support, spiritual wholeness

Three initial goals in counseling and the role of the pastor

Address the presenting problem, display the relevance of the gospel, help people grow in christlikeness

Issues novice counselors face 

Dealing with their anxieties and self doubts, being themselves and disclosing their experiences, avoiding perfectionism, being honest about their limitations, understanding silence, dealing with demands from clients, declining with clients who lack commitment

Know the three areas in which the counselor is vulnerable

manipulation, counter transference, resistance

To protect yourself as a counselor from sexual issues

Seek spiritual protection, be aware of danger signals, limit the setting, examining your attitudes, seek accountability and support group protection

Be able to discuss how to avoid burnout in counseling

burnout is common in all helping professionals including ministry, God family and ministry, Combat burnout through exercise and days off, self-care: professionally and personally

Summary of Biblical Counseling View

the Bible is sufficient for the spiritual needs of God’s people, modern psychology is too secular

Bottom line of Biblical Counseling View

Strongest critique of psychology, least inclination to integrate insights from modern psychology

Criticism of Biblical Counseling View

Led to some churches being legalistic and harsh which cause harm to its members

Levels-of-Explanation Summary Statement  

Distinction between “levels” of psychology and theology and each is to be studied with unique methods 

Levels-of-Explanation Bottom Line

Both psychology and theology are important, but independent, no real biblical critique of modern psychology

Levels-of-Explanation Critique

The soul is differentiated from the physical

Integration Summary Statement

More open to modern psychology but is more critical of levels of explanation, they should be related and integrated

Integration Bottom Line 

Psychology and biblical theology examine the same thing, human nature, what’s gone wrong with it, how to make it right and provides some real biblical critique of modern psychology 

‘Critique of integration

Too large of a range of responses

Christian Psychology View Summary Statement

Counseling can’t be done fully simply by picking and choosing psychological topics to integrate =, starts with biblical narrative and then allows counselors to incorporate psychological insights

Christian Psychology View Bottom Line

Very strong critique of modern psychology, willing to use psychological insights that align with biblical metanarrative

Christian Psychology Critiques 

Grants too much power to experts in counseling 

Transformational Psychology View Summary

Have to be spiritually transformed in order to counsel