LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Moral Discrepancies in Christian counselling
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
Moral Discrepancies in Christian counselling
The legality and non-legality of specific sexual acts is currently a very controversial topic. In
every era there have been conservative people who held traditional beliefs about the dignity of
the family. Based upon the heritage of the Judaeo-Christian ethic, they have believed that
forms of sexual activity which violate the monogamous male/female relationship are injurious
to the health of society and, therefore, should be declared unlawful.
Whereas adultery is now looked upon by many as an “unfortunate disloyalty,” it is called an
act of sin in the Bible (1 Cor 6:18). Homosexuality is equally condemned in both the OT and NT
(Deut 23:17; Rom 1:26–28). Incest was prohibited by the Law of Moses (Lev 20:11–17) and
denounced by the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 5:1–5).
1. Biblical Ethics Vs. Natural Ethics
To biblically committed people the ultimate issue in ethics is that of revealed ethics as
opposed to natural ethics. Thus, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews acknowledge a common ethic
based upon theism (belief in God). The Judaeo-Christian theistic ethic finds its basis in the OT
and NT scriptures. Cornelius Van Til clarifies this matter, stating: “What we mean is that the Old
and the New Testaments together contain the special revelation of God to the sinner, without
which we could have no true ethical interpretation of life at all.”
Likewise, the theist’s view of the function of law is based upon the legal-ethical commands
of God as revealed to the writers of Scripture. Russell Kirk notes that even Plato argued that the
achievement of justice could not be gained by following nature (as some sophits had declared);
rather, it could be found only by obeying the νόμος (law). The question is, whose law? Are we
to acknowledge the laws of God as revealed in Scripture or the general consensus of society?
The maintenance of any society depends upon the conscious holding to an enforcing of
some form of law. The function of law is essential to any society’s stability and perpetuity.
Jewish and Christian concepts of law go back to the self-revelation of God to man. “Thou shalt
not” is the basis of divine law from the opening chapters of the Bible. It is reinforced in the
commands of Moses which governed every aspect of Jewish life and in the teachings of Jesus
who urged his followers: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19–20). Thus, human
consent to any matter is irrelevant if it does not bear the sanction of God’s approval.
2. “Christian” Homosexuality and the Bible
In both liberal and evangelical circles the issue of homosexuals demanding sanction by the
church has become a volatile issue. In some denominations, homosexuals have even demanded
acceptance into ordination of the professional clergy. Some have gone so far as to use the
contextualization of culture as an argument for reinterpreting the Biblical statements about
homosexuality as merely reflecting an overt heterosexual bias against homosexuals. One author
argues that Paul’s restrictions regarding homosexuals in Romans 1 are based upon a pro-Roman
(anti-Greek) cultural disposition and not the heart of a loving God. Thus, apostolic “opinions”
are neither applicable to nor infallible for today’s society. Hudson argues:
1. Man did not fully understand or comprehend the “sexual nature” of man before or
during the time of Paul’s apostolic ministry.
2. Homosexuality was a forbidden practice of the Jews, and so traditionally held by
Christians as well.
3. Prior to Paul’s conversion he was a member of the Pharisees…which oriented his
thinking about “right and wrong” practices for conduct.
4. Jesus did not speak on the subject of homosexuality.
5. Therefore, Paul was in error when he made culturally-conditioned statements about
homosexuals without any clear revelation from God.
The basis of this type of reasoning denies the legitimate inspiration of Scripture and the
inerrancy of its statements on moral issues. The implications for Christian counseling are
overwhelming. Since counseling involves the interpretation and application of the scriptures to
moral and ethical issues, it is of vital importance that one’s doctrine
of inerrant inspiration form the basis of his approach to counseling. if the Bible is not really
the Word of God, then propositional revelation is not binding upon the Church. Thus, every
generation could subjectively interpret for itself what Biblical concepts it would accept as
legitimate for its culture.
The Bible is the basis of all Christian ministry. Its doctrines form the standard of conduct for
the Church. With these as his foundation, the pastoral counselor must reprove, correct, and
instruct (2 Tim 3:16). The time has come for an avalanche of biblical materials for use in
counseling. It is time the pastor equipped with the inerrant Word of God began using it with
confidence to the glory of God and the benefit of his congregation.
