Page 4 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

law gave him was aimed at improving his ability to lead the nation of Israel well. It concerned
organizational matters. In both cases, the Bible refers to the advice given as “counsel”, and we should
understand it in this manner as well.

Did you know that everyone counsels either by what they say or how they live their lives? We do not
live isolated from others. People around you will listen to what you say, pick up your attitude, or watch
and copy what you do.

Some counsel poorly (Psalm 1:1)
The world has much to say about how life ought to be lived. We are surrounded by sources of
information, instruction, advice, and counsel; but the world approaches the issues of life from an
entirely different worldview or perspective. “The wicked” in this passage are simply those who do not
find their hope in God. Any counsel they give will be a half-truth at best. It may include many truths but
will not be grounded in THE truth. When we adopt the philosophies of the world or even when we blend
worldly philosophies into our Christian worldview and then pass these ideas or suggestions onto those
who are asking for our help or for our advice, we are “walking in the counsel of the wicked” and are
encouraging others to do so as well.

Some counsel wisely (Prov. 1:1-5)
When our counsel is grounded in the truth of God and built upon the promises of His revelation to us,
we give wise counsel. Since it is inevitable that we will find ourselves giving counsel to others, as
disciples of Christ, we should labor to grow in our understanding of God’s Word and its applications to
the daily details of life so that we will find ourselves equipped to provide “prudence to the naive” (v 4).

What does the world say about our human sources of help?

The role of Friends in Counseling
People get advice from their friends. In fact, most counselors tell us that social interaction is necessary
for mental health. “Mental health” is itself a term used to indicate that the psychological/emotional
problems people face are health issues. We certainly believe that the body and soul are inextricably
linked such that physical problems do affect a person’s emotional state, but we reject the idea that
behavioral/emotional problems are limited to or even primarily found in the arena that we would
normally call “health care.” At the core, these issues are most commonly spiritual; and, even when
there are physical problems, the person’s heart is still very much engaged as that person responds to
those problems.

Without friends in our lives, we become reclusive or introspective and maladjusted.

So, what is a true friend? A friend is a person who cares for you and will help you in times of need.
Friends are confidants who will listen. Friends will accept the hurting person without judgment. And if
your friend has a mind and heart grounded in God’s Word, they may give you good advice.

Friends, however, cannot replace the mental health professional and should not try. 1 “Professional” is
used to indicate those who have been specially trained in secular psychology or related fields of study.
We sometimes speak of counseling as if it refers to some specialized aspect of Christian ministry.
Indeed, we have specialists that we call “Christian Counselors”, and in many cases they are paid for their
services. These “counselors” have obtained advanced education in secular philosophies that are not
primarily or, in many cases even remotely, derived from the Bible or even from Christian thought in

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