After twelve years of pastoral experience and seven more doing biblical Christian counseling, I have some experience with this question. My simple answer is, “Yes, the Bible is especially relevant today, and every Christian Counselor should use it as the core of what they do.”
Let me explain. On a physical level, things are radically different today because of technology. We are able to function much more like God today than ever before in history.
- We can communicate with anyone in the world as long as they have the technology and we have their ID information.
- We can access almost anything there is to know via the internet.
- We can literally destroy the entire world in a nuclear holocaust if our leaders choose to do so.
In theological terms, we are imitating omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence: everywhere-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful.
And yet…
Despite our technology, we are still human beings. We have the same human spirit as our ancestors; the same mind, will, and emotions, and the same physical body (human). Our response to modern problems come from the same menu as the responses those ancestors used. We may know more stuff, and have more options, but we still laugh and cry as they did.
Keep all that in mind and consider interpersonal relations. We love and hate things and people just as the ancients did because we’re all human. It’s what we do.
That’s not to say that we all think and act alike. It just means we all have the same options. We form values and beliefs and then operate from them in a logical and emotional fashion. If our values are different, our behavior will be different – but the process is the same.
Biblical Christian Counseling for Today
Biblical Christian counseling approaches our modern era with authority; declaring that the values set down ages ago still apply. People are people, and God is God. The Bible is the authority because it has been accurately preserved so we can trust it reflects what was originally written.
So does that mean everyone had better live life the Christian way? Is that the mission of a Christian counselor – to impose the Bible on everyone?
No.
It means the Bible is clear about things that are right and wrong: moral choices. It calls for godly wisdom to be used in making other choices. If someone wants to follow God, they will do their due diligence to be sure a counselor is actually agreeing with the Bible. If it’s biblical, they will want to go that way.
However, Scripture is clear that it’s not the end of the world if someone goes their own way.
WHAT?
Yes, if someone makes a poor choice, there will be consequences. This may create a “teachable moment” when God will give them wisdom. Most of our bad choices can be corrected or repaired. We may be bruised, but we can get back on the narrow path again.
If a moral issue is at stake, the consequences of a bad choice are greater, but the individual still gets to make the choice. God designed us that way. He wants us to make good choices, but doesn’t very often stop us from making bad ones.
The counselor’s role is to help individuals make an informed choice, and all the while show the love of God, as Jesus did. If the counselor sees someone moving toward a choice that is unwise or immoral, the conversation needs to clearly outline the likely consequences.
The shock for some people is that the counselor would not insist that the person make the right choice, being as forceful as needed to get them to “see the light.” The tone of the conversation should make it obvious that the counselor is concerned, but he or she should never try to force someone to change their mind. A counselor should recognize with their actions that this is God’s appointment. The Holy Spirit is the One who can bring deep conviction and give understanding.
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