Discussion Thread: Powlison’s Six Crucial Issues
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.” &This issue in Christian counseling
places a lot of emphasis on human responsibility while secular psychology
places the emphasis on victimization. &
It is noted that “Contemporary victim theories abound, whether operating
under psychological, medical, sociological, or Christian aegis.” (Powlison,
p. 246).& It is important that Christian Counseling stands on the forefront
of affirming the realities of victimization.& The secular world of psychology
has skewed this reality.
There is a need to clarify more deeply human responsibility versus human
suffering. &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.& 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 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.& 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. &It’s only as we walk into the identity of
whom we are created be in Christ Jesus will we can be made whole.& 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.& 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”.& All these other issues, not that they are not
important, seem to already have an underlying construct. &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.& Powlison says “We need to understand and practice our own
distinctive care of souls”. (p. 280).& 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
