Lambert (2016) wrote that sin “always comes in the shocking detail and
alarming colors of names and faces experiencing real life, real
consequences, and real pain” (p. 214) when it appears in counseling. If
this is true, how does a counselor handle that which is sin in their client’s
life?
((((((((((( The first thing that is essential for the counselor to know is the
biblical understanding of sin. “Sin does not just describe the bad things
human beings do or fail to do. More fundamentally, it describes who we
are as wicked people” (Lambert, 2016, p. 217). Lambert (2016) in his
book(A Theology of Biblical Counselingwrote about how sin effects seven
areas within our lives: Sin effects our standing before God, our
motivations, thinking, emotions, bodies, relationships, and our world (p.
220-225). It is fair to say that within biblical counseling, it is inevitable
that the counselor will have to deal with their client’s sin, it is evident that
it is present in almost everything.
((((((((((( One thing to remember when counseling someone who is guilty of
sin, it is our duty to help them deal with it, specifically through
repentance. Lambert (2016) stated that repentance requires two things:
confession (p. 229) and a forsaking of sin (p. 233). As a counselor it is
imperative that we implore this to our counselee. When counseling
someone who has be affected by the sin of others, Lambert (2016) said to
walk the counselee through the importance of forgiveness (p. 235). (
((((((((((( One model that I would not choose when dealing with sin, would
be the Spies Model. Entwistle (2015) describes the Spies Model as “a
pragmatic desire to use any means at their disposal to aid human well-
being” (p. 173). This is a model where people pick and choose what they
want to use out of ‘religion’ to help someone. In other words, they will pick
and chose what parts of the bible they will use. This is a dangerous model
to use when dealing with the sin of clients. One cannot pick and choose
which part of the bible are true or not. If this is used, some sin may never
be addressed and essentially will continue to hold that client captive.
(
Entwistle, D. N. (2015).(Integrative approaches to psychology and
christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical
foundations, and models of integration. Cascade Books.
Lambert, Heath.(A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal
Foundations of Counseling Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016. Print.
