Running Head: EFFFECTIVE BIBLICAL 1
Comparison Paper: Crabb Assignment
Harold Hanson
Liberty University
PACO 507
Dr. Marcus Tanner
November 7,2021
EFFFECTIVE BIBLICAL 2
1. Primary Goal:
In Dr. Lawrence Crabbs’s book “Effective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring
Christians become," he tends to explain the counseling process that can be gracefully integrated
into the application of the local church. His book’s primary goal is to provide a more mature
understanding of Christian counselors regarding illustrating counseling techniques. Likely, this
book leads to developing the professional practices of Christian counselors. The author has
expressed his feelings where he mentioned that one can achieve a more fulfilling worship
experience by following Christianity. In addition, Christians can get a more effective life of
service in Christian maturity. Therefore he says on page no.31 "The goal of biblical counseling is
to promote Christian maturity, to help people enter into a richer experience of worship and a
more effective life of service." (Crabb, 1977).
The author has also provided some practical examples that will encourage and permit
Christians to mature in their faith and belief. In this book, Dr. Lawrence Crabbs has thrown light
on the direction of integrating psychology teachings and biblical values together. Moreover, the
author believes that Christianity will broaden the perspectives and views of the counselor. It
gives them strengths to solve the problems and issues faced by the clients during the counseling
sessions. For instance, Dr. Lawrence Crabbs’s book includes one of the influential goals where
he feels about integrating psychology in the counseling of Christianity. He says the bible of
Christianity provides the path to counseling, and psychology revolves around science, which is
quite profound. Here, he mentioned that one path is more of man’s philosophy and findings
while the other is a dedicated way of God to healing and replenishing others.
2. Development of Problems and Personal need:
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In this book, the author has explained that there are many developments of problems that
arise because of a man's personal desire and needs. Crabbs has mentioned that at first, God said
to let us make a better person in our image, after our uniformity, and let them lead over the fowl
of the air, over the fish of the sea, over all the earth, over the cattle, and over every creeping
thing that a person on the earth likes. However, until Jesus reconciled us back to the Father, the
man was cursed by God because of sin. The author says that man’s disobedience in serving God
is resulting in the development of problems and issues in human life. All the problems of a man
are related to some of the other of their disobedience to God. In the past few years, it has been
evident that man put his personal desires and needs over the commandments of God, which is
still relevant in the present context even though grace and Christ are given. Therefore, Crabbs
has mentioned that if the man’s needs and desires go unmet, then they will get encouragement or
motivation to fulfill their own desires and needs.
3. Biblical Integration
The author Crabbs has given the major focus on the biblical integration power of biblical
counters from the bible in the book. It means that for the author, the biblical teachings likely to
be the grounding foundation while supporting the integration of psychology in the counseling of
Christian. On page no.49 of the book, he has stated some of the important qualifications to
achieve success. According to Crabbs, there are three qualifications permitted to successfully
integrate psychology and Christianity. The first qualification states that Psychology must not
override scripture and teaching of the bible. The second qualification states that there is no
overriding or in-between as God's words are the truth, and the counselor must believe that God’s
word is yes, and amen. At last, the third qualification states that scripture is to have complete
authority over the concept of psychology (Crabb, 1977).
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4. Formula for change
The author has also stated some of the important steps to get the desired outcome in this
book. On page no. 146 to 154, the author has explained that a divine change in the lives of the
clients can be derived from the successful implementation of the stage models during the
counseling sessions. According to Crabbs, there are seven stage models to identify problems
feelings, identify problem thinking, identify problem behaviors, secure biblical commitment,
clarify biblical thinking, identify spirit-controlled feelings and plan and carry-on biblical
behaviors (Crabb, 1977). If the counselor is following these steps model, then the author is
assuring to get the success in solving the problems of the client and bring changes in their life.
Additionally, the author’s presented steps allow for adequate exercises and questions that are
useful to change the client's way of thinking and help them follow God's path by restoring the
productive way of thinking. This can result in producing a new man by changing the mindsets
and the behavior of a person.
5. Balance of Theology and Spirituality
In this book, the author has also given clarity about his lean more to theology or spirituality.
Though he has highlighted the significance of Christian maturity in the counseling sessions
throughout the book, he did not neglect the biblical concept. Here, the author has made it clear
that he supports and recommends the counselors about the integration of Christianity and
psychology, but the support is derived from the biblical concept (Crabb, 1977). In other words,
he says that the bible is the driving force of Christianity and psychology together. For instance,
the author has given two important directions to the counselors to live where they are for God or
for themselves. Moreover, he says that no middle ground is pointed out between God and self.
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Overall, the author strongly supports that a biblical perspective is essential while supporting
Christian maturity (Crabb, 1977).
In addition, Crabbs also said that when human needs are not fulfilled, they try their best to
meet their desires and needs. Here, man feels that they are going from a shortage andy need to do
some action to fulfill theirdesirese and needs.
6. Human personality
Dr. Crabbs has also talked about the development and structure of human personality that is
most important to live with. In this book, he has shared his feelings and believes where he states
that the human structure of man’s personality relies upon the two areas of the mind, such as the
Unconscious and the Conscious states of mind. In the personality structure of human beings,
these two states of mind play an important role. He says the unconscious state of mind is the
basic assumption that goes through a person's emotions, like how to fulfill their needs or desires
of security and significance. On the other hand, the conscious state of mind is talking with
ourselves in the form of a proposition, which helps us to measure the personal world and
lifestyle. While talking about the human personality structure and development, he did not forget
to relate it to the biblical concept. The author has mentioned that unconscious and conscious
states of mind are derived through a psychology perspective or point of view, but there are some
things connected with these states of mind that relate to a biblical perspective. According to
Crabb, a man's emotions, will, and heart is majorly dealt with from the Bible's perspective.
7. Function and Role of a counselor
Apart from the human personality, Crabbs has also highlighted the perfect Role and function
of a counselor or how the relationship should look like. According to Crabbs, a perfect Christian
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Professional must function with specific rules of the Bible. The professional should provide back
resources where needed and train the gifted Christians in the local church to go for the
counseling process (Crabb, 1977). The author has stated that there are some specific presented
levels in which each level offers various definitions and roles in the counseling session. At the
first level of the counseling, every Christian is expected to participate or perform in a specific
area, and this level is basically for beginners. Another level of counseling is generally for the
Christian leaders who have more understanding, knowledge, and mature enough to understand
the scripture, such as elders, deacons, and pastors. These personalities are leading in Christianity
because of their knowledge about the bible and following God's path. In the bible perspective,
the last and the third level is considered to those who have already taken courses in counseling as
well as reached maturity. In addition, the author has mentioned that the third level persons who
have already achieved maturity understand how to implement one, two, and three levels
altogether to combat the ways of a bad thought in a human personality. While introducing a new
man, the biblical perspective states that the level three Christians have the important Role.
8. Significant contributions to counseling
In this book, Crabbs has also highlighted how his theory can impact the counseling process.
There are many significant contributions by the author to Christian counseling. Among them,
one of the author's main contributions to Christianity counseling is the promotion of integration
of Christianity and psychology together (Crabb, 1977). The author has strongly supported this
integration, and also he made it clear that Christianity counseling is driving and grounding with
the bible as per the biblical perspectives. His theory is helpful for many Christians to implement
in their counseling session. Moreover, this is useful to intergrade at any point in time because it
gives the Christian leaders and counselors knowledge for implementing in their counseling
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sessions. The author states that Lord Jesus teaches his people to stay harmless as doves and wise
as serpents throughout life. Likely, Christian counselors should have the knowledge about other
forums to develop their knowledge.
9. Limitations of this counseling theory
In Dr. Lawrence Crabbs’s book “Effective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring
Christians become,” the author has also mentioned the practical boundaries of his methodology.
According to him, there are not too many limitations for the counselors in Christianity as various
perspectives have various views regarding the Christian counselors. Here, the author's counseling
theory seems to favor the Bible's perspectives rather than any other perspectives. The counseling
theory is supporting the Christian counselors to adequately serve those who do not have to
believe and have faith in God (Crabb, 1977). Christianity gives a helping hand to the people who
require love, and Christian counselors help them. The author says God has made us, and we are
here to help people and love all by sharing our helping hands. Likely, we can win the souls to
Christ. In this book, it has mentioned that if the better techniques and methods are not guided r
informed to the Christian counselor, they might not get success in reaching the needy people or
the people who are not having faith.
10. Classification
Throughput Dr. Crabbs book “Effective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring
Christians become,” he has strongly expressed his support to the integration of Christianity and
psychology and the scripture reference in Christian counseling. In this book, he has made it clear
about its statements, and he did not feel shy about discussing the growing knowledge that could
be gained from psychology. The author was quite clear and supported the psychological
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knowledge the most, which is also one of the essential things in the counseling process. As
Crabbs has shown his favor and support to the biblical scripture that is important in Christian
counseling, he wrote another book that gives advanced knowledge regarding the forefront of
Christian counseling. After analyzing the work of the author, one would have to agree that his
work is nouthetic.
Practical Application
1. In this book, very profound materials are presented by the author, Crabbs. This book has
provided a different knowledge to me, and it taught me why we should integrate
Christianity and psychology together in the counseling session and how important it is.
Here, Dr. Crabbs revealed very informational, practical, and influential material in the
book that is helpful to expand the knowledge regarding Christianity counseling. It has
taught me the practice of psychology teachings is essential in Christian counseling.
Overall, the author has made us understand the healing process through the help of
Christianity counseling as well as the word of God.
2. In the practical application, the theoretical tool can be applied when a Christian mentor or
leader wants to reach the person and develop their faith within their community. A
Christian counselor must visit the persons who are lost and do not have faith in God.
Here, they can get healed with the help of a counselor outside of the walls of the church.
Also, it can help the youth to understand the gospel who have never heard about it.
Likely, it can develop their faith and belief and achieve maturity level. Here, the
counselor must have known how to integrate psychology with a biblical perspective to
spread the words of God.
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References
Crabb, L. (1977).DEffective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring Christians become
capable counselors. Zondervan.
