Defining Christian Counseling
The terms Christian Counseling and Biblical counseling are used interchangeably. “Christian Counseling” is counseling based upon the authority of the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and focuses on the Words and works of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus provided us with the proper interpretation and understanding of the Old Testament, there is no contradiction in these terms.
Three basic tenets of Christian counseling are:
1. The Bible is the eternal, inerrant, infallible, and unchangeable word of God and provides the sole authoritative source of the model of man and the principles that dictate and govern man’s behavior.
2. There is a moral and ethical right and wrong, and these are clearly defined in the Word of God.
3. Man is held accountable to the moral and ethical principles found in the Bible.
Christian Counseling is the systematic application of Biblical principles a counselor uses the approach dealing with circumstances, relationships, and situations of life from a Biblical perspective. Christian Counseling distinguishes itself from other schools of counseling by acknowledging that the Scriptures give us everything necessary to help us understand our mental process, our actions and reactions to life, our emotional needs, our attitudes, values, and beliefs. Christian Counseling also acknowledges that the only authoritative foundation governing man’s thoughts, words, and deeds is based upon the commandments, percepts, and principles found in the Bible. Christian Counseling stems from the belief that the Bible, the Word of God, is sufficient to meet all of the needs of men, women, and children not matter what situation or question may arise.
Of course, many may reject the notion that one book, or even a collection of books, could accomplish such a colossal task. Many would even doubt that a book, or a collection of books, would even make such a colossal claim.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” – Psalm 1:1