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) 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. 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. 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. 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. (Powlison, 2010, p 253)
“Much of the rejection of biblical counseling in Christian academia is
because of the offense of the message. 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. (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.
