In Powlison’s Six Crucial Issues in Contemporary Biblical Counseling, I believe the issue
which is most urgent and significant is issue number 3, “The relationship between human
responsibility and human suffering needs a great deal of clarification.” a This issue in
Christian counseling places a lot of emphasis on human responsibility while secular
psychology places the emphasis on victimization. a
It is noted that “Contemporary victim theories abound, whether operating under
psychological, medical, sociological, or Christian aegis.” (Powlison, p. 246). a It is important
that Christian Counseling stands on the forefront of affirming the realities of victimization. a
The secular world of psychology has skewed this reality.
There is a need to clarify more deeply human responsibility versus human suffering. a While
“one of the most refreshing characteristics of nouthetic counseling has been its affirmation
of human responsibility” according to Powlison, (p. 246), it should be very clear that this is
not a one size fits all approach. a There are instances where people are hurt by legitimate
victimization and those instances should be clearly seen as not the fault of a true victim. a A
precise plan should be addressed in dealing with instances of rape, molestation, and incest.
In instances as those, people are victims, and they are not at fault and should not be seen
as responsible for what happened. a It is the sins of others that hurt others.
There is a level of sensitive that is required so as to present the attacks and oppression of
satan to the understanding of a victim, especially to one who does not know Jesus. a It’s
only as we walk into the identity of whom we are created be in Christ Jesus will we can be
made whole. a If this is not presented by the gentleness and leading of the Holy Spirit, it can
produce devastating results.
The other 5 issues seem to be dealing with areas that are not primarily impactful on the
foundation of Christian counseling. a Number1 is still “lively issue in the contemporary
world”, 2 deals with “questions of behavior”, 4 addresses “counselor-counselee relationships
that needs to be understood and practiced”, 5 concerns “counseling needs to interact with a
wider audience”, and 6 concerns developing “the nuances in our view of secular
psychology”. a All these other issues, not that they are not important, seem to already have
an underlying construct. a Issue 3 seems to be the issue that challenges the foundation of
Christian Counseling, the area that touches the heart of the counselee and heart of
Christian counseling. a Powlison says “We need to understand and practice our own
distinctive care of souls”. (p. 280). a He also says, our first priority must be to articulate
positive biblical truth, a systematic practical theology of those things that our culture labels
as counseling issues.”
References
Powlison, D. (2010), The Biblical Counseling Movement History and Context, New Growth,
Press
