LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
The Place for Biblical 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
9/2022
Biblical counseling effectively finds its place within a paradigm of discipleship and the
Body of Christ, under the regular teaching and preaching of God’s Word.
The Great Commission finds fulfillment in two primary efforts: “baptize” and “teach.” First,
we introduce confessing believers into the body of Christ (as displayed by baptism) and then we
help them walk worthy of that baptism as the Spirit conforms them to the likeness of Jesus
Christ over time. We long to see people throughout the world saved in Christ and then
sanctified in Christ before they are eventually glorified in Christ.
Biblical Counseling Belongs Within a Paradigm of Discipleship
As discussed in a previous post, counseling the Word compliments preaching the Word in
“teaching them to obey all that has been commanded.” If we want to make disciples of Jesus
Christ, then we need to help people see, hear, know, love, and enjoy Jesus Christ through face-
to-face conversation. Since all professing believers are called to make disciples, then I think all
professing believers should be growing in their commitment and ability to counsel people
according to the Word of God.
One could argue biblical counseling with unbelievers is an exception to this view of
counseling. In these cases, biblical counseling belongs under evangelism and gospel ministry to
those outside the body of Christ. Either way, biblical counseling fits well under the umbrella of
discipleship or evangelistic outreach in an attempt to make disciples for Jesus Christ of all
nations.
Biblical Counseling Belongs Within the Body of Christ
Counseling the Word of God, while always valuable, will be most effective when the
recipient of counsel is also devoted to Christ each day, engaged in the body of Christ, and
hearing teaching and preaching of the God’s Word on a regular basis. When biblical counseling
is removed from the oversight and community of the church, it tends to become greatly
professionalized or clinical. Both the counselor and the counselee are to be a part of the body
of Christ.
Now, I do not believe this means biblical counselors cannot hold a license to practice
counseling or even work in a professional setting, but rather, even in such cases, the counselor,
firstly, functions as an extension of the body of Christ on earth and secondly, should function
under the oversight of Christ through His church.
A good example of this kind of thinking may be found in I Corinthians 6:1-6 where Paul is
elevating the resources of the Church in mediating and counseling human problems while
minimizing the wisdom and ability of secular or “pagan” resources. One would believe that
Paul’s reasoning applied to legal matters could be and should be applied to overall life matters.
The exception to this is biblical counseling with unbelievers. It is unreasonable to assume
an unbeliever will be living within the body of Christ (though they may be on a physical level).
This exception does not apply, however, to the biblical counselor.
Whether counseling unbelievers or not, the biblical counselor must be devoted to Christ
each day, engaged in the body of Christ, and hearing the teaching and preaching of God’s Word
on a regular basis.
