b From Powilson’s (2010) “Crucial Issues in Contemporary Biblical Counseling”, I believe the most
significant and urgent issue is point four, the need to further investigate the counselor-counselee
relationship. Nouthetic counseling’s formula for change is through evangelism and sanctification,
which establishes Scripture as the authority for truth and faith in Jesus for everlasting healing.
Sometimes, the client’s problems manifest from misalignment of values to biblical teaching so the
counselor sees his function as the facilitator of correction. Yet, Jesus warns in Matthew 7:1-5 that it
is easier for one to see the shortcomings in someone else without noticing his own sin. The counselor
needs humility as a peer to be receptive to correction. Thus, there needs further development for
counselor adjustment between the roles of authoritative shepherd and wise peer.
b b b b b b b b b By understanding the position of the counselor-counselee relationship, additional insights are
made available to address points two and three (Powilson, 2010). The client’s motivation is essential
for sustaining change so the counselor’s modulation between the role of authoritative shepherd and
wise peer should be done to optimize motivation. If the counselor is too authoritative, he risks
pushing the client toward behavioral change without fostering personal motivation to keep up the
behavior after counseling ends. However, assertive confrontation may be highly effective if the client
is resistant to taking responsibility for personal sin. Sometimes, problems result from external
circumstances. Then it is more appropriate to act as a wise peer by offering empathy and
encouragement to motivate the client to manage his suffering. He may even go a step further to
improve his situation despite not having caused his predicament.
b b b b b b b b b Powilson’s (2010) other issues affect Nouthetic counseling on a more general and academic
level than the issues mentioned above. These points are important and deserve immediate attention
but do not fit the criteria for urgency as these will require a series of smaller improvements over time
through a culture shift. I agree modifying how Adams’s view is communicated is necessary for
progress toward acceptance in the secular and academic spheres. Reframing the concepts with
scientific terminology without compromising the theological essence of Nouthetic counseling, that
God is sufficient to heal all who accept His grace through faith, will start closing the gap between
Christians in ministry and in professional counseling. Adams never implied psychology was unhelpful
as it does not follow “[t]hat Scripture is ‘sufficient’ to transform us never means that the Bible is
‘exhaustive’” (Powilson, loc. 8550). There is much in agreement when one scratches beneath the
surface of Adams’s perspective which has been polished by unjustly by reductionism. With patience,
these myths can be chipped away to reveal the richness and depth of Nouthetic counseling.
Reference
Powlison, D. (2010). The biblical counseling movement history and context [Kindle iOS]. New
Growth Press. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MTP9FWZ
