A Theology of Christian Counseling
Jay E. Adams
Zondervan, 1979, 338 pp., $ 18.99
Jay E. Adams is the former director of advanced studies and professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary and a retired pastor. He received his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University, his B.D. from the Reformed Episcopal Theological Seminary, his S.T.M. from Temple University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. In addition to having served as a pastor and then a professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Adams has been the dean of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, Laverock, Pennsylvania. He has written more than 50 books on pastoral ministry, preaching, counseling, Bible study and Christian living, including Competent to Counsel, The Christian Counselor’s Manual and Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible, and has lectured throughout the world.
Counseling has one basic goal, which is to bring about change. Counselors see a need for change, and they find the verbal means to bring about change, which greatly benefits the counselee. God is doing much more. He is making something new out of the old sinful nature. He is, in Christ, making new creatures. In this book, the reader will gain an insight into the rich theological framework that supports and directs a biblical approach to counseling, and the connection between solid theology and practical application will become compelling.
Adams does a great job in pointing out the need for theology to be a foundation upon which counseling is based. Man was created as a perfect being, but was not created to be independent. We can see from the Word of God that man was dependent on God’s counsel. Man walked with God in the garden, was counseled by God on such things as how to care for the created order and how the world was supposed to work. We also can see how the counsel of Satan caused man to fall in the garden.
Man is deeply influenced by counsel. He was created to operate on God’s counsel. Therefore, it is important for biblical counselors to have a strong theology based on God’s Word. Once we lose our theology, we are powerless to offer any hope to those who seek true change.
The doctrine of Scripture is crucially vital when it comes to counseling. Those in need of counseling are looking for authoritative insight into their problems and are looking to achieve changes in behavior, mood or well being. In order to provide such counseling, one must have a source of information that is without error, and that is perfect truth. No other book except the Bible can offer such a claim. The Bible is inspired or God-breathed. It has the same authority as if God were to audibly speak it. It is without error and holy. It can give us insight in to any condition man may face. David even referred to Scripture as his counselor in Psalm 119:24. Adams solidifies this point by indicating there are three presuppositions about biblical guidance that we must keep in mind. First, it is impossible for us to know God’s will and receive His guidance apart from Scripture. God never will ask us to do something contrary to His Word. So we must know it in order to distinguish between His will and our own.
The second fact is there are scriptural principles that cover every circumstance in which one may find him or herself. Many books have been written on counseling theory and methods, and none of them can begin to cover every area of life. The Bible is a complete source.
Finally, Scripture speaks to every situation either directly or indirectly. If we are to be effective counselors, we must use the Bible as the one true source for guidance, direction and the method of providing people with the resources for true change. God reveals who we are and what to do in and through Scripture. Scripture is sufficient and superior in assisting us throughout life. Scripture is primary, and it is the final authority. Ultimately, all of our thinking must answer to the Word. According to Scripture, we must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The Word should govern our starting points, our methods and our conclusions.
Therefore, it is up to us as ministers and counselors not only to preach the Word, but also counsel via the Word. We need to counsel people with the truths found in Scripture. If we preach from the Word, we need to be willing to take the time one-on-one to show people how to live according to Scripture. As the need arises, we must give wise counsel in every situation. Many believe counseling can be done only in an office, but it can be done anywhere. As biblical counselors, we need to be willing to come alongside those in need and point them to the Savior. We also must use the Bible as our ultimate source of authority. We have much data collection in our world, but very little wisdom. If we don’t understand people in relation to God’s Word, then we cannot provide our counselees any hope.
Adam’s points out that man is outside of his intended environment, which explains the many problems that exist in our world today. God created man to live in harmony with Him, but since the fall, humanity has been separated from God. Sin has caused us to be cut off from God’s intended design. When we counsel, we must understand most problems rise out of this separation. True change can only come when we accept the forgiveness and grace given to us by Christ’s death on the cross and receive eternal life provided by His resurrection. All life is sacred. God created the world to have a distinct order. When sin entered the world, that order was corrupted. The world is groaning for the day of its redemption. As counselors, we must point individuals to the problem of their sinful environment, then point them to the only One who can change their environment, Jesus Christ.
Throughout Scripture, God is referred to by many names. He is referred to God our provider, the God who sees, the Rock and God our banner. Names are important in identifying who a person is. The names used for God are beneficial in counseling. As counselors, if we can point people to an all-powerful, all-knowing God who provides for our every need, the results will be evident. God is and is the source of everything. He is our very environment and all of life is sacred, spiritual and God-related. There is no problem that is not a spiritual issue. To ignore God as we think, as we understand problems, etc. is to make a big mistake.
A secular theory of life is not only wrong, but profane. God is our defining, reference point of life. Prayer also must be a vital part of the counseling process. Prayer is a time for us to call on God to praise Him for all He has done and pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit He will help us change. The world in which we live today does not understand prayer. Even Christians are found lacking when it comes to a true understanding of the power prayer holds. Many believers reserve pray as a last resort. There is nothing else we can do, but just pray. Prayer should be the first thing we do. As counselors, we must pray God would give the wisdom to point people to the truths of Scripture. We must also pray for those whom we counsel. We must daily lift them up in prayer for God to open their eyes to His truth. Prayer can set the stage for God to work through the counseling session and beyond. We must be in prayer constantly and also teach our counselee to pray, as well.
God is the primary and ultimate cause of all things. Problems, suffering,depression and trials all occur within a meaningful design. God is up to something, and God is up to something good. God knows, judges and evaluates all things. We were created with active hearts and are ever before a holy God. All choices are moral choices. We are constantly choosing God or gods; loyalty vs. betrayal, obedience vs. rebellion, hope vs. despair, truth vs. lies. There is always a consequence for our choice, good or bad. The Bible is full of promises and warning, reaping and sowing.
We are always accountable to Him. In some way, all problems are sin problems, either my sin or someone’s sin against me, either a deliberate sin or an underlying less than conscious choice to sin. Therefore all problems are relation problems, our relationship with God. Hence all problems are heart problems. Sin is the root of our problems; sin is not a small issue. It is a terminal, killer virus called sin; but God does not leave us in our sinful condition. Sin creeps into every area of our lives. It affects our thoughts, moods, actions, beliefs and thinking. God says our thoughts are not His thoughts, our ways are not His ways; and they will never be. We are sinful by nature. Our understanding sin will greatly influence the way we counsel. In order to bring about true biblical change we must be willing to identify sin and help our counsels see the need to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. God saves and redeems. He is the solution and can make us whole. Through Christ, the Spirit, and the Word He redeems us.
Adams does a great job in emphasizing the need for salvation in the counseling process. In order for true change, a counselee must be introduced to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and the given the tools to grow in that relationship. Adams says, “No counseling system that is based on some other foundation can begin to offer what Christian counseling offers…No matter what the problem is, no matter how greatly sin has abounded, the Christian counselor’s stance is struck by the far-more-abounding nature of the grace of Jesus Christ in redemption. What a difference this makes in counseling!” The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. The goal must be to lead others to become more like Christ.
The main goal of counseling should be a progressive sanctification process. As the counselee grow in his understanding of God’s Word and in his relation with Christ, he or she will in turn be set apart for God’s purposes. The fruit of the Spirit will evident in his life, and God will continue to mold us into the image of His Son. As counselors, we must not only counsel people through the rough spots in life, but also assist them in the sanctification process as they mature in their faith counseling is and should be fundamentally a church-based activity. We should provide our counselees with a solution of mercy mixed with evangelism. All Christians are called to counsel or admonish, but few are willing to so. We as ministers of the gospel need to approach counseling as we do preaching. We must look in the truths of God’s Word and bring forth healing for those who are hurting. We must counsel the word in all situations. If we expect to see true biblical change, we need to use the Bible to people to the savior thus bringing about change in the lives of our counselees.
Adams provides a clear and concise breakdown of the process of biblical counseling. I believe it to be one of the best approaches to understanding what biblical counseling is all about. He takes each principle and breaks it down to the most elementary elements of how to approach this method of counseling. I will be able to apply the methods of this book to my own counseling practice.
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