Page 16 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

What does the Bible say about nature/nurture?

Take a few minutes to think of how you would answer this question. Can you think of verses in the Bible
that apply to the nature/nurture debate? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this during a
class discussion. While the Bible doesn’t directly deal with nature/nurture, there are many verses that
address our nature (born with/genetic) as well as our nurture (learned behavior/life experiences). Look
at the following (summarized) verses from author John Blythe:

Nature: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3)
Nurture: "be imitators of me as I am of Christ" (1
Corinthians 11)

Nature: "there is no one who is righteous, no not one"
(Romans 3)
Nurture: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God."(2 Corinthians 5)

Nature: "the natural person does not accept the things of
the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not
able to understand them because they are spiritually
discerned" (1 Corinthians 2)
Nurture: "have this mindset among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2)

Nature: "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things" (Jeremiah 17)
Nurture: "and I will give you a new heart" (Ezra 36)

We could talk about many more verses that show nature and nurture. I’m sure you know why a change
is needed in believers and unbelievers:
1. The human heart is desperately wicked. Is this nature or nurture?
2. We are all conformed to the world in one way or another. Is this nature or nurture?
3. Even regenerate believers, our flesh is still embattled with the Spirit. Nature or nurture?
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4. We will continue to practice idolatry. Nature or nurture?

If “our purpose is found in understanding what it means to be created in the image of God,” do we find
that out through nature or nurture? Being created in the image of God is nature. Change is part of
nurture. Is this concept easy or difficult to understand? These are questions we will continue to think
through as we progress through this course. Let’s look at some other questions that psychologists
discuss. This will give you even more to think about!

We can conclude, however, that our nurture is greatly influenced by our nature. Our propensity to be
selfish and rebellious against God certainly is expressed in our behavior. Often nurturing is a battle to
help others resist their sin nature and become compliant with the will of God.

17 Larsen, p. 15.

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