Counseling
I.
Counseling In the Bible
A.
Examining present-day psychology from the
biblical point of view
1.
Categorizes people's mental problems into
illnesses
a.
Blames one's irresponsibility on constitutional
and social factors
b.
Psychoanalysis becomes archeology
c.
It destroys the parents' discipline toward their
children
d.
Medical Model gives people a sense of
helplessness, hopelessness, and irresponsibility
2.
The curative method
a.
Men's conscience conflicts with impulses
b.
Destroys one's conscience so that the sense of
guilt may be removed
c.
Ventilates one's feelings and reorganizes one's
moral standard in the society
3.
Disease or sin?
a.
The fundamental problem in this present society
is sin
b.
In reality, people have sins, not sicknesses:
such as homosexuality and drunkenness
c.
To be responsible to God and to men is the
solution to the problems
B.
Biblical counseling
*Counseling in the Bible is
centered around Christ (Col
1:2)
1.
Counseling is equivalent to admonishing (Col 3:16; Rom 15:14;
Acts 20:31)
a.
It includes admonishing, warning, and teaching
b.
The problem(s) of the counselee need to be
confronted with counseling, and God is the one who can change a person through
counseling
c.
The method uses counseling and discussion to let
the counselee understand the principles of the Bible and therefore, change
one's behavior accordingly
(a)
Nathan rebuked David
(b)
Eli and his two sons
d.
The motive in encouraging with words is to help
him so that the person can be edified (1 Cor ; Eph 6:4)
e.
The very purpose in counseling is renewing oneself
to have the likeness of Christ (Eph 4:13)
(a)
The life of a Christian is supposed to enter
continuously into a new realm God has given to us (2 Cor )
(b)
A person's character can be changed
·
Jacob to Israel; Simon to Peter; Saul to Paul
(c)
If there is life, there will be growth. Growth
includes changes (2 Pet )
2.
The tools in counseling
a.
The words of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 4:2)
Using the word of God to reveal the
sins of men, to correct their mistakes, to establish a new way of life, and to
live in righteousness
b.
Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16,17)
(a)
Rebuking (Jn 16:8)
(b)
Renewal (Tit 3:5)
(c)
Result (Gal 5:22)
(d)
Increase strength (2 Cor 3:17,18)
3.
The qualifications of a counselor (Rom 15:14)
a.
Goodness
b.
Knowledge (Col 3:16)
c.
Wisdom (Prov 1:1-7)
Wisdom is the ability to apply the
Truth so that God may be glorified
C.
Examining worldly counseling from the biblical point
of view
1.
The basic premises in common counseling
principles
a.
Men are self-sufficient to solve their own
problems
b.
Our attitude toward sinners (counselee) is to
accept and not rebuke
c.
A direct rebuke destroys a person's
independence; it is wrong to pass one's will onto another person's will
d.
We shouldn’t make moral judgments
The counselor only listens and help
the counselee to ventilate their feelings or clarify their questions
2.
The counseling of humanism conflicts with the
principles of the Bible
a.
Exalts men, declaring independence from God and
not taking God's commandments as the standard of their lives
b.
Accepting one another is only after the sin is
done with (Rom 15:1-7)
c.
The problems of men lie basically in his sinful
way of life
d.
The counselor needs to provide the answer from
the Bible for sinful behavior (2 Cor 2:4)
3.
The feeling and the behavior
a.
Behavior can influence a person's feeling (Gen
4:3-7)
b.
A good lifestyle produces good feeling (1 Pet
3:10; Eph 2:10)
c.
A blameless conscience comes from good behavior
(1 Pet 3:16)
d.
A responsible life brings people a new sense of
satisfaction
4.
Proverbs—the book of counseling:
a.
Establishing the standard of life of God's
children in this sinful world
b.
Providing wisdom for counsel (Prov 3:1; 4:2;
6:23)
D.
The problem of sin (Gen 3):
1.
Two kinds of lifestyles:
a.
Satisfying the fleshly desires vs. keeping the
commandments of God
b.
Temporary enjoyment vs. eternal joy
c.
Satan is king vs. God is king
2.
The approaches in dealing with the problems
a.
Avoid and hide vs. confront and admit
b.
Blame others vs. take on the responsibility
3.
Two kinds of results:
a.
Being bounded by sin vs. freedom
b.
Suffering vs. joy
*When making a decision, it
should be based on God’s commands and not on feelings
E.
Using the biblical method to solve the problem
1.
Accept one's own wrongdoing rather than blaming
it on others, for it is against God's will
2.
Understand God can help us to solve our problems
a.
Men's problems are not the only type in the
world (1 Cor )
b.
We can solve all problems through God (Phil
4:13)
3.
Put to an end of the evil (malignant) cycle (Rom
6:12,13,19; Prov 5:21,22)
Cain (Gen 4:3-7)
4.
Reorganize the whole thing: develop a lifestyle
based on the Bible (Heb 10:13,14)
II.
The Wonderful Counselor (Isa 9:6)
*Self-awareness: A counselor is a
vessel of the Lord:
What: the Father who dwells in me
does His work (Jn 14:11)
How: I am in the Father and the Father
in me (Jn 14:11)
A.
The role of Jesus Christ
1.
Mediator (1 Tim 2:5)
a.
Reconciliation between man and God (Col 1:28)
(a)
The root of problems: separation from God
(b)
Remedy for problems stemmed from Adam’s sin:
salvation of Jesus Christ
2.
High priest (Heb 4:14-16)
a.
He lived an exemplary life of committing no sin
b.
He can sympathize with our weaknesses
c.
He is merciful and graceful when we are in need
d.
He intercedes for us
3.
Shepherd (Jn 10; Ps 23)
a.
We shall not be in want
b.
We will not be lost
c.
We will fear no evil
d.
We will be comforted
e.
We will have a life of abundance
f.
Goodness and love will follow us
B.
The characteristics of Jesus Christ—He is
willing to help; He can help anywhere, anytime, and for anything. For he is:
1.
Compassionate (Mk ; Mt -38)
2.
Holy (Jn 8:46)
3.
Humble (Phil. 2:7-8;Jn. 5:30-31)
4.
Omniscient—Wisdom (Mt 11:12-19)
5.
Omnipotent—The God whom Abraham believed (Rom
4:17)
C.
The Example of Jesus’ Counseling
1.
On the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35)
a.
Walked with them—with compassion
(a)
Same direction (1 Cor. -23)
(b)
Spent time & effort (1 Cor. 9:23)
b.
Talked with them—with wisdom
(a)
Ask: listen & understand
(b)
Speak: focused on spiritual context
c.
God intervened—with power
(a)
Eye opened (31)
(b)
Heart burned (32)
d.
Result—saved souls
(a)
Returned to Jerusalem (33)
(b)
Witnessed for the Lord (34, 35)
e.
Remark:
(a)
Jesus initiated the action to reclaim their
faith
(b)
The disciples took initiative to follow the
Lord’s work
2.
To the lost—Zacchaeus (Lk
19:1-11)
a.
Problem: he was lost (in material pursuit)
b.
Jesus: “come down, for today I must stay in your
house.”
c.
Response: received Jesus joyfully
d.
Result:
(a)
Transformed attitude about materialism
(b)
Renewed relationship with others
(c)
Salvation has come to this house
e.
Remark:
(a)
Zacchaeus initiated
the search for the Lord to resolve his problem
(b)
Welcoming Jesus to our home is the key to
resolving family issues
(c)
He took up responsibility to follow the Lord’s
teaching
3.
To the young man (Lk 18:18-30)
a.
Problem:
(a)
No hope in a life of wealth and prestige
(b)
Sought for something eternal
b.
Jesus’ response:
(a)
Keep the commandments—be holy
(b)
Give generously—be merciful
c.
Result:
(a)
Departed Jesus in sorrow
(b)
He was unwilling to give
d.
Remark:
(a)
Successful counseling involves personal
determination to follow the Lord
(b)
Counseling involves power from above: nothing is
impossible for those who rely on Him
4.
To Judas
a.
Problem:
(a)
Coveted money (Jn12:6)
(b)
Lies and cheating followed by betrayal
b.
Jesus’ response:
(a)
Washed his feet with love (Jn 13:1, 11)
(b)
Gave him a piece of bread—gentle reminder (Jn
13; 25-27)
c.
Result:
(a)
Betrayed Jesus for material gain
(b)
Lost every blessing given by the Lord
d.
Remark:
(a)
Counseling involves spiritual battles with Satan
(Jn12:6; 13:2; 27)
(b)
We must be watchful in prayer (1 Pet 5:8; Lk
22:31-33)
5.
The prostitute (Lk 7:36-50)
a.
Problem:
(a)
Sin of adultery
(b)
Lost peace from a guilty conscience
b.
Jesus’ response:
(a)
Accepted instead of rejecting her
(b)
Forgave instead of condemning her
(c)
Blessed instead of cursing her
c.
Result:
(a)
Sin was forgiven
(b)
Went in peace
d.
Remark:
(a)
The woman approached Jesus to resolve her
problem
(b)
She came with a contrite spirit
(c)
She demonstrated love to Jesus in humility
