PACO 507
COMPARISON TABLE EXAMPLE
Jay Adams Larry Crabb Sandra Wilson David Benner
The Far Right of the
Continuum The Far Left of the Continuum
Theology
“Nothing Buttery” (nothing
but the Bible) Adams sees
the Bible as sufficient to
address every aspect of life,
either specifically or in
precept and principle.
II Tim. 3:16 forms the basis
for the formula for change.
The Bible is God’s infallible,
inspired, inerrant revelation in
propositional form. Scripture
must have functional control
over our thinking (“Spoiling
the Egyptians”). There must be
a serious interest in Scripture
study and practice.
Integrational. She
combines biblical truth
with psychology.
Theology must be
carefully written to be
hermeneutically sound
and systematic.
Less emphasis on the Bible and
more emphasis on the
relationship of love as the
dynamic by which we become
more like Christ.
Psychology
He sees psychology as
helpful, if it undergirds
Biblical truth. It can be
helpful, but it is not
necessary.
Man’s problem is sin. A
personal relationship with
God, through His Word,
and obedience to Him,
yields spiritual health.
Integrational. Psychology is
under the authority of
Scripture. How a person
perceives what happens to him
has a lot to do with his
emotional and behavioral
reaction.
Man is dichotomous; physical
and non-physical interact. We
take a holistic view of man in
counseling.
When man tries to meet the
basic needs of significance and
security apart from God,
problems develop.
We are influenced by
family of origin
(parents, adults, others)
as we develop in
childhood. We are hurt
by others. We then hurt
people, which
temporarily numbs the
shame and pain. The
process for dealing with
these childhood hurts no
longer works for us as
adults. Problems
develop.
Problems develop because man
spurned God’s love in favor of
self-love, and the result was
egocentricity and estrangement
from our deepest self, God, and
others. The head and heart need
to be grounded in Christ’s love.
People need to trust emotions that
are deeper and more authentic
ones. These deeper emotions
defend us from sentimentality and
superficial emotional responses.
People need to embrace critical
thinking by which feelings are
judged and reality firmly
embraced.
Spirituality
Goal of counseling:
Righteousness and
godliness in the believer
through the process of
Goal of Counseling: To
promote spiritual and
psychological maturity for
God’s glory. Spirituality
Goal of counseling:
Healing and hope from
God through the lifelong
process of change. God
Goal of counseling: Spiritual
transformation that leads to
Christlikeness. The emphasis is
on authentic experience of God
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PACO 507
Jay Adams Larry Crabb Sandra Wilson David Benner
The Far Right of the
Continuum The Far Left of the Continuum
sanctification. The
personal experience of
God lays on the firm
foundation of correct
theology and obedience to
God.
begins with a correct theology.
It is the natural experience of
God through Jesus Christ and
His gospel.
is the Change Agent.
Change is the journey,
not the destination.
through Jesus and His gospel.
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