Most Urgent Issue
Crucial issue number five, biblical counseling must be contextualized to new audiences, is the
most significant of the six issues listed in Powlison (2010) appendix 2. I agree with the author that
Biblical counseling needs to be applied to a wider audience. I believe it will be beneficial to enlighten
others, especially those who do not know God, with what He has given us. Many churches have
established Biblical counseling opportunities. What about audiences outside the church?
It is my opinion that we need more of God’s truth and deliverance versus diagnosis. Powlison
(2010), “Biblical counseling claims to offer a psychology that systematically differs from the various
secular personality theories” (p.273). 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has given us everything we need
pertaining to life and Godliness. But those who do not go to church, read the Bible, or have a spiritual
walk with Jesus may not know that God has given us what we need to overcome difficult
circumstances.
The Devalued Five Issues
All the crucial issues listed in appendix 2 of Powlison are important and of value. I choose the
importance of contextualizing biblical counseling to new audiences because I hear so many people talk
about diagnosis and medication, and it makes me incredibly sad for them. When I speak about God’s
healing, deliverance, and His Word it is like speaking foreign language to them.
The first crucial issue addresses the “same old issues,” particularly secular psychologies
remaining Biblical counseling’s major competitors. I do not think this should be highlighted as much
because there will be some people who are always going to put more faith and trust in those who are
considered to have formal intellectual training in psychology. I do not necessarily disagree with
psychology academia, and I do think that some of the ideas and methodologies can be integrated in
Christian counseling, especially family and marriage counsel. The focus with the first crucial issue is
that convincing individuals that Biblical counseling will reaffirm its distinctive intellectual content and
develop its counseling methods. Basically, convince those who lean more to secular psychologies of
how far Biblical counseling have come in the aspect of change intellectually.
The second issue reflects the idea of biblical change. He explains human motivation of the
heart and how it fleshes out whichever is in it. He quotes Mark 7:21, Behavior flows “from within, out
of men’s hearts.” (Powlison,2010) So, when considering the “other” audience we are trying to reach
with Biblical counseling, again, get them to first open their heart to Jesus is vital. That is when earnest
heart changes happen. The third issue challenges us to rethink our thoughts about responsibility and
human suffering. I do agree that actions have consequences and that should be addressed. However,
there are issues that are not a direct result of the counselee’s actions. One example of this is the death
of a loved one. The author states that misunderstanding is our, counselor’s, fault. While I do agree that
some contemporary victim theories rob people of moral responsibility, I believe it does not apply to
all.
SCHOLARLY ARTICLE REVIEW ON INTEGRATION
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The fourth crucial issue focuses on counselor-counselee relationship. The author highlights
Nouthetic counseling’s authoritative, shepherd, and truth speaking elements in biblical love type style.
I do think this is beneficial, but I do believe different approaches should be used for different
counselees.
The last crucial issue listed is the relationship of biblical counseling to secular psychology and
the need for it to be publicly clarified. This is listed last of the issues, but this issue is of high priority
also. There is a need to clarify the subtle differences of what we know secular psychology to be.
Powlison (2010), explains the importance of us not only rejecting error but placing distorted pieces
back into biblical basis. Appendix 4 discusses Pastoral Counselors versus Psychologists which
correlates with a few of the crucial issues listed above. Pastoral counselors strongly value explicit
ministry of God’s Word, authoritative and mutual counsel. They also think that they should operate
under theological accountability. Whereas Psychologists highly value state licensure and professional
identities i.e., Licensed Clinical Counselor (L.P.C). Psychologists resist coming under a spiritual
authority maintaining independence from any Christian ideas and practices. This section explains more
about the nuances discussed in crucial issue six. It also can correlate to the broadening of the audience
for Biblical Counseling. As stated, before some people feel comfortable or even more confident in
being counseled by someone holding a professional title such as L.P.C. or L.C.P.C.
References
Powlison, D. (2010). The Biblical Counseling Movement. New Growth Press.
