Six Crucial Issues in Contemporary Biblical Counseling according to Powilson
5. Biblical counseling must be contextualized to new audiences.
“Crucial issue 5 is a different sort of issue. It has to do with who we speak with about
what we believe.” (Powlison, 2010, p 253) c Powlison explains that biblical counseling is
generally targeted to an audience of conservative pastors and counseling-minded
laypeople, however there needs to be a broader audience being reached.
One of the audiences which Powilson proposes being contextualized with biblical
counseling is Christian colleges and seminaries. (Powlison, 2010, p 253) When I first
read this I was surprised and then after some thought I realized the true need, and I
agree with this example of an unreached audience. c Biblical counseling has proven to be
effective, and life changing while being established in healthy local churches, however it’s
true that Christian colleges and seminaries lack in biblical counseling. c If we look at
secular colleges, nationwide, we will see that there are various types of groups,
organizations, and centers within and available to students.
Next, there is a definite need for biblical counseling to be contextualized in Christian
colleges and seminaries, though biblical counseling has been shut out from intellectual
and educational centers. c Much of this “being shut out” is due to the disagreements
between the Christian counselors and the professionals in secular psychology and the
simplicity and theological tradition of Christian counseling. c (Powlison, 2010, p 253)
“Much of the rejection of biblical counseling in Christian academia is because of the
offense of the message. c We have challenged the intellectual and practical habits of
secular professionalism, habits that are rampant in the education institutions and
professional organizations of Christian counseling.” (Powlison, 2010, p 254) There may
be a form of communication breakdown when biblical counseling is being contextualized
to the academia audience and it needs to be considered.
Lastly, feeling orientation also needs to be considered because it often communicates
well to the man in the pew or counseling office, but it bewilders scholars who make
more sense of human motivation and emotions. c (Powlison, 2010, p 254) We need to
analyze our audience before we alluding to misunderstandings of what our counselee is
saying to us. Being understood is important for the message of biblical counseling to
be accepted rather than alienated. “Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (KJV)
Powlison writes, “I am convinced that we are shut up in a fairly narrow sector of
believing Christendom, and that to spread the word more widely will bless, stimulate and
change us as much as it edifies others.” (Powlison, 2010, p 255) and I couldn’t agree
more.
