LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
A Biblical Foundation for Counseling
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (Ed. D) Department of Christian Leadership and
Church Ministries
By
Mary Gracias
Lynchburg, Virginia
10/2022
It isn’t enough merely to condemn integrated counseling systems; hurting people need to
know that there is a more powerful alternative—a counseling philosophy based on the eternal
Word of God. For in the Bible God has in fact provided for our every need. Joy, freedom, and
recovery from damaged lives are all available to us! Christians don’t have to go through years of
intensive therapy to experience genuine inner peace. Breathe deeply, relax in the Lord, and
take time to read this article to confirm in your heart and mind that God has provided
everything—yes, everything!—we need for our physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being.
Presuppositions
All philosophies start with presuppositions. Science itself rests upon presuppositions which
cannot be tested empirically. Materialistic theories postulate the eternal existence of energy
and matter, but cannot prove it. Evolutionary theory believes by faith that the cosmos
organized itself without divine intervention, but cannot prove it. Psychology is a humanistic
religion which assumes that man is essentially good and that he contains the power to heal
himself, but cannot prove it. Freudian psychological theory presupposes the existence of
unconscious drives that produce conflicts between the id, ego, and superego, but cannot prove
it. Behavioral psychology presupposes that humans are merely highly developed animal forms
whose behavior can be modified by external stimuli, but cannot prove it. Integrationist
psychology presupposes the general validity of secular psychological theory and believes that
when it is added to biblical concepts, the result is a superior therapy, but cannot prove it.
It is therefore not irrational or unfair for biblical counseling to be based on presuppositions
about God, man, salvation, and the sufficiency of the Scriptures.
The Existence of God
The Christian worldview begins by assuming the existence of God (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1;
Hebrews 11:6), and continues with the belief that God can and has revealed Himself to man
through the general revelation of creation (Romans 1:20), conscience (Romans 2:15), the
special revelation of His written Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:21), and the
personal and final revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1–3). These presuppositions
are not based on blind faith alone, however. There is a vast amount of empirical evidence—in
geology (the study of the physical structure of the earth), paleontology (the study of fossils),
astronomy, biology, genetics, and the other scientific disciplines—to support the concept of a
Creator who designed, formed, and sustains the cosmos.
Christian acceptance of the authority of the Scriptures rests upon the presupposition of
biblical inerrancy and infallibility. In contrast to the continually changing findings of psychology,
the Word of God claims absolute dependability. Psalm 111:7 says, “All [God’s] precepts are
trustworthy.” The statements and principles of the Scriptures endure the test of time, while
psychological theories change from day to day. The psalmist writes, “Your word, O Lord, is
eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89).
Though the assumptions of biblical dependability receive support from archaeological,
historical, and scientific evidences, such confirmations do not constitute “scientific proof,” for
they are not repeatable, as scientific method demands. The same is true, however, for
evolutionary theories. Apologetics (defense of the Scriptures) provides rational assurance which
can satisfy man’s intellect, but there still remains the choice of faith which each person must
apply to his ultimate source of authoritative truth.
God’s Character
Christian counseling moves beyond the existence of God to the presupposition of God’s
benevolent and righteous character. It is essential to understand this balance between God’s
compassion and His absolute holiness. He is loving and just. Merciful and stern. Tender, yet
demanding. To describe Him only in terms of compassion and love mistakenly depicts God as a
cosmic Santa Claus—a benign and slightly senile grandfather figure. On the other hand, to
picture God only in terms of righteousness and judgment wrongly portrays Him as a vengeful
Thor who furiously casts lightning bolts of wrath upon a helpless creation.
A comprehensive biblical theology is essential, therefore, for successful Christian
counseling. If we want to understand ourselves, we must first learn about God. He must be
accurately portrayed and perceived in His fullness. He must be seen as omniscient (all-
knowing), omnipresent (everywhere), and omnipotent (all-powerful). His omniscience
guarantees that He understands our deepest sufferings and needs. His omnipresence assures us
that God is not a distant deity who does not care, but is ever present to aid His children. His
omnipotence guarantees that God can deliver on His promises of healing, peace, and joy.
To ignore any facet of God distorts one’s worldview. It assures a faulty interpretation of
reality that will lead to an inaccurate diagnosis of a counselee’s problem and cure. That is
precisely why a biblical counselor needs a solid theological foundation rather than psychological
indoctrination. What a tragedy it is that more and more seminary students are enrolling in
psychologically driven counseling programs rather than traditional biblical and theological
curricula! How sad it is that pastors often have more confidence in the writings of modern-day
psychologists than the prophets who penned the holy Word of God!
God’s Person—The Trinity
A crucial assumption of biblical counseling is the reality of the Trinity. For some people the
biblical teaching about the Trinity seems esoteric and abstractly theological, but it provides
some vital and practical implications for counseling. It is a revealed truth, not a psychological
insight or finding. Though the word trinity does not appear in the Bible, the teaching that the
one eternal God exists in three eternal Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is clearly
presented (Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2). Each Person of
the triune God has the full attributes of deity; they are eternally equal, and though their
functions within the Godhead overlap, there appear to be distinctions in their respective roles.
