WHY
RATIONAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING?
Non-biblical counseling does more harm than good. Bad advice leads
to wrong behavior or no change and more problems. Poor counseling
leaves a person to contend with bitterness, resentment, etc.. Good
counseling leads to reconciliation. Biblical counseling causes God
honoring change.
Change is the goal of all counseling. Thinking - feeling - behavior,
affect our attitude, sensitivity, awareness and understanding. The
desired outcome is to gain a scriptural understanding of change in
the dimension of nature, goal, and process(es) of change. Scriptural
change requires a renewed heart and spirit, which is regeneration
through the work of the Holy Spirit. Transformation is the renewing
of the mind by small steps and minor changes.
A
Christian’s thoughts, attitudes, and actions all pertain to their
relationship with God. Sanctification is the goal of Christian
counseling. The goal is the clients growth in their faith toward God
and image of Christ. A definitive biblical process for change is
found in II Timothy 4:16.
The process of change means ‘going forward’. The process we will use
involves elements such as goals and objectives, movement and
direction, ways and means, and order and steps. We are here to learn
how to and understand the process of effecting ‘substantial’ change
which is ‘brought about by the ministry of the Word’. A gradual
movement by the ways and means of Scripture. This will be
accomplished by teaching; exhortation; edification; comfort; rebuke;
encouragement; and discipline - step-by-step.
These
endeavors are “blessed by the Spirit of God”. He is essential to the
process of transformation and sanctification. The overall desire is to
bring the believer into a closer relationship resulting in the likeness
and image of Christ in the counselee. Therefore, we have direction and
movement, along with goals and objectives. The presence of the Holy Spirit
is necessary in conforming the former identity unto the image of Christ
through God’s Word. We minister the Word of God in the Spirit’s power to
effect godly change.
Counseling is required when people do not get along. Primarily the
need to get along is with God - redemption. Loving God and one’s
neighbor, as we love self, is a command. We cannot love someone else
if we do not love ourselves. There are three players in this
picture: God, others and self. Our responsibility in the equation is
to love oneself and God commands us to do so.
The death
of self, meaning the carnal nature or ‘old man’ is an absolute necessity.
There is no possibility of a relationship with God without our
‘regeneration’. While our ongoing transformation, the changes, make a good
relationship possible. An inner work that of regeneration gives birth to
the new creation - we are a new creation ‘in Christ’ by God. The Scribes
and Pharisees of Jesus’ day only had outward goodness. God sent Jesus so
we could be changed inwardly. Looks aren’t that important!
Christian counselors are ministers of scripturally induced transformation,
the power of God’s Word actively working in the life believer’s life, not
behavioral change. Behavior modification results in legalism or
religiosity. God does the work, we minister the Truth of God’s Word then
God brings the counselee closer to Himself.
God’s inerrant Word produces righteousness based on the gift of
faith to believe in Christ’s finished work of the Cross.
Understanding the Truth relieves our fears and produces faith in God
through a change of heart (attitude) and is achieved by revelation
through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which
illuminates the mind of man and gives mankind understanding. Secular
counseling produces behavioral changes which do not necessarily
produce behavior bringing glory to God. Flesh is flesh, good or bad!
Unless a person is regenerate ‘ they shall not enter the kingdom of
God’.
Let’s take a closer look at the process of transformation through II
Timothy 3:14-17. The Word of God is clearly given to teach,
convince, correct and train in righteousness. We are to cling to
Scripture so that we will remain ‘true to the end’ - perseverance.
Through perseverance by Scripture, we ‘are able’ (have the power) to
make people wise unto salvation, and; by Scripture, we ‘are useful’
for teaching, convicting, correcting, and disciplined training in
righteousness.
The truth
of the commands of Scripture corresponds to two aspects of pastoral
ministry: 1) Evangelism (hearing, believing, and regeneration (to be
saved)), and, must precede Edification (building up believers). The order
of Scripture is clear as to the four steps: Teaching, Conviction,
Correction, and Disciplined Training in Righteousness. The steps are
clearly in a logical order. A rational person can see God’s wisdom and
inspiration through the progressive steps which lead to eternal life and
godliness.
Counselors are tutors. Their task is to promote change through the
transforming power of God’s Word. Every believer is actually called
upon to exhort, edify, and comfort our brothers and sisters in
Christ. This is the proposition, we are to imitate Christ and
reflect the light He leads us into through the working of the Holy
Spirit in our life. And all this God will do until we’ve totally
surrender to the two-fold work of the Cross. This is revealed to us
through discipleship to Christ.
The
first work of the Cross dealt with our sin. The secondary work of
the Cross deals with our behavior. Without a true knowledge of the
duality of the right and left arms of the Cross we cannot achieve
victory over the enemy of this world. Understanding God as the
ultimate source of change is crucial to enabling everyone to live
the Victorious Life. We will be useful to the economy of God and our
Lord Jesus Christ when we know the Truth.
Knowing Jesus is our obligation in the relationship. To live a moral
life worthy of Jesus is an imperative and our true worship. While
our celebration of His Victory becomes our praise. He is the One who
rightly sits on the Throne of Heaven and rightly so on the throne of
our hearts. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is
truly become the beginning and end of our redemption and eventual
resurrection.
Evangelism is the responsibility of the believer. As a minister this is
our obligation too. We must lead the counselee in seeking God’s
forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our redeeming healer.
This is when reconciliation and new life begin as the Lord becomes the
center of the picture. When we present the truth the need for total
regeneration is in the forefront, a life changing experience given to us
by God alone.
The
Bible is the one inerrant, infallible rule of faith and practice; it
reveals the standard and ethic of a Christian counselor. If we
believe this, we will submit to God’s will, as well as our clients.
We are not to judge the Scriptures. When one does, they often slip
into subjectivism and the futility of double-mindedness.
The
Word of God is all that we need to carry out ministry. The Scripture
is Holy. Hagios, literally means separated or set apart by God; we
are a special people for special works to walk into, sanctified
saints.
We
are told that the Word is sacred. Hieros, reveals a special
attachment to God; the Bible is sacred since it is God’s Book. It is
God’s message to bring men to faith in Christ. God is our Source
alone. Christian counseling is sacred and so is the process of
change, which is done in us by God. He is the active agent or
catalyst.
The
Bible is able to ‘have the power’ to make one wise unto salvation in
Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit intends to change lives and ‘carried
along’ the Biblical writers through the ‘breathed out’ or
‘inspirited’ Word from God. The Word is ‘apotheo’. The living Word
is from God, the Author and Finisher of our faith. The purpose is
partially revealed in Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:11; John 20:31, 1:12;
3:16; 3:36; 14:1-6; etc.. We are created to accomplish God’s will
and reveal His glory.
When Biblical counselors refer to the Word of God being breathed
out, the meaning is expired by God. The actual compound is therefore
a ministry of the Word, dependent of the Scripture for whatever it
accomplishes. The Bible is profitable, our words are useful, to
reflect its meaning more literally. We are to use it accurately, II
Timothy 2:15. We are not to twist the perspective, II Peter 3:16. We
are always to relate God’s point of view and His principles
regardless of our own personal biases. This would be subjectivism.
The
commands of Christ embody the work of a counselor. We are here to
help His church to observe, keep and obey, those commands. We are to
minister God’s Word in such a way to His people that their lives are
changed by His Word. His life is the standard for faith and
practice. We are to convince and correct and lead people into new
and righteous ways in the future; this is ministry of the Word and
our ethical standard. We add nothing to, nor do we detract anything
from the Word of God, the Holy Scripture.
The
Word is given for every good task, II Timothy 3:17. Scripture is
sufficient in and of itself to reveal the nature of God. To know
God’s character is to understand His behavior toward us. His Word is
given to us so that we can develop a personal relationship with God.
The Word is adequate to reveal God’s will. It is equal to the task
from ‘artios’ meaning capable, fitted, complete, proficient, and
able to meet all demands.
The
Word is ‘exartizo’ to thoroughly equip for the task. God, the
Omniscient One, knows the beginning from the end, controlling every
situation to bring us safely in the harbor of His love. Therefore,
He provided everything we need in this life to live Holy and without
blame. Every principle to equip us to provide for the task of
counseling is present.
The
Word is entirely adequate for living and Popular to change our lives
as to conform unto the image and likeness of Christ Jesus. The
phrase, ‘pan ergon agathan’ or ‘every good work’, refer to the work
of God’s chosen people to minister the Word of Truth. Therefore,
there is no need to integrate psychology theory into Christian
counseling, although there are limited useful tools. A Christian
counselor’s personal conviction might we be that of my benefactors:
“... our minds must remain closed to anything that contradicts,
attempts to supplant, or otherwise interferes with biblical
principles and practices.” Jay E. Adams, Journal of Pastoral
Practice 6, 1 (1982): 3-7.
The
sufficiency of Scripture to effect change is in the power of the
Holy Spirit actively supporting the counselor for the sake of the
clients well-being. Nothing else is needed. Christian counseling in
not dependent on any outside source. The Bible is sufficient in
revealing Christ as the Wonderful Counselor operating through the
agency of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of His church with
the necessary resources to solve human problems so they are able to
live a godly life.
Legalism is symptomatic of self-helpers. In common with humanist,
the tendency is to stress what man must do for himself. The tendency
is to emphasize obedience to scriptural commands yet they neglect
grace and mercy. These people tend to be legalistic and moralistic.
Unregenerate man cannot obey God’s righteous commands in his own
strength. At this point theological error is present in the churches
where liberal eclectic views are held in high regard. Where the
authority of the Scriptures is not upheld, legalism or license will
exist.
God
calls us to actively participate. We are to respond according to our
ability. He calls us to do all the commands of Scripture with grace
and mercy applied. He has not called us to lethargy but to obey. He
has not called us to fix ourselves. Out work and His work are
complementary. He has called us out of the darkness and into the
marvelous light of the Gospel to do the good works He has prepared
for us to do. Again, He is faithful and He will do it. He is the
Author and Finisher of faith towards God.
The
purpose of the Bible is to understand God through the Holy Spirit’s
enlightenment and power to obey Him. The Holy Spirit works by means
of the Bible so we can know and do God’s will through Him actively
working through it in our life. The Spirit promises to effect
changes in our lives we surrender to Him through the power of His
Word actively working in us. The four ways the Holy Spirit effects
change are teaching, I John 2:18-26; conviction, John 16:7-11;
correction, Galatians 6:1; 5:22-23; and disciplined training in
righteousness, Galatians 5:16-18; and, Romans 6 - 8. These are the
methods and process God uses to transform us into the ministers of
His Kingdom of Righteousness.
Change
comes from God through the wisdom, power, strength, and understanding
through the revelation of the Holy Spirit to every participant
individually. This is the how-to based on the need-to-be transformed
platform of discipleship Jesus taught about in John, chapters 3, 5, and 8.
Transformation only happens through the grace of God because His mercies
are renewed daily. It is our place to come before the throne of grace and
mercy seat to ask God to change us. Discipleship occurs when teachers
begin to teach what Jesus said and we do what we see Jesus doing. Upon
personal regeneration, we gain the ability to understand spiritual
matters, I Corinthians 2:12-14, and their is nothing more important in our
spiritual life than obedience to God’s Word. For teachers, it is revealing
the whole counsel of God!
The
life of a Christian disciple should always reflect what we speak for
our lives are read by man more so than by what is said. Discipleship
is more of ‘doing’ from what we observe. Just like children we
imitate what we see our spiritual parents doing. The importance of
our sanctification and on-going transformation is tantamount to our
usefulness in service to God. The closer our personal relationship
through divine revelation of the Scriptures, the more relevant our
counsel will be. There is a counseling that comes from Empirical
knowledge; while Experiential knowledge comes from the depth of our
scars.
The
‘getting well’ comes from an ardent fervor to know God’s perspective
and understand the ‘why’ He allows suffering in our life.
The
standard of conduct for a Christian must always be graced from God’s
perspective. God’s law and God’s perspective are the order of each
day of life because God’s Son gave us the command.
There is no room for humanism. Since we are created to reveal God’s
glory and to accomplish His will. He sent Jesus who taught us ‘how
to’ fulfill the ‘law’ through the revelation of ‘grace’ and ‘truth’.
The Bible
is the revelation of God’s standard of conduct. His behavior is revealed
is all of life’s situations. We are to draw our convictions from the
intricacies of His divine revelation. We are to imitate and draw our life
from His example and those displayed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ
through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We know in part and practice
our faith according to the revelation given to us through the Holy Writ,
the Bible.
Step-by-step, we travel the road of faith toward God to meet our needs.
What we convey in counseling through teaching is the affiliate to
understanding the manifestation of God’s presence in each person’s life,
why we are here, and how-to accomplish God’s will of revealing His love
for mankind. God displayed His love for us in coming to redeem us and in
so reveals His glory, which is in bringing many sons and daughters in the
Kingdom of His love forevermore.
There is an absolute standard given to us and to teach less is to be
apostate, unfaithful. How we are to convey the true nature of God
and His standard is given to all men of every generation. The Lord
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Ten Commandments perfectly, which is the
example only the spiritual seed from heaven could fulfill. The
God/man, Jesus Christ, always beheld the face of the Father. He saw
and heard what the is doing and followed God’s will. He was obedient
even unto death.
Will we die to ourselves and be born again in the power of the
Spirit? The uncompromising Word of God requires nothing less than to
lose our life if we want to gain eternal life with God. Therefore,
we are under obligation to know that we are in the faith and test
ourselves against the standard which God gave us to measure
ourselves. The measure is against our code of conduct versus the
life of Jesus Christ. Will we die to our opinions in the light of
Scripture. If so, our hope, the gift of God, is totally in Him. And
in God there is no variation. He gives us the assurance and
authority to speak in His name. We know that God will fulfill His
promises through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit actively working
in our life. Therefore, we know with a certainty that God will
intervene in the lives of His children. We are here to encourage,
edify, and comfort with God’s unfailing ‘Promises’.
The
God of all Hope freely gives His children the Word of Life. Hope
comes when the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Hope comes from the
Word of God, which is divinely inspired by the same Holy Spirit.
Hope is the dividend of studying the Scriptures while the Holy
Spirit reveals God’s will and encourages us to trust in His
promises.
Feelings do not play a part in obeying God’s standard. It is
irrational to follow feelings when God’s Word calls us to obedience.
The spiritual man understands the will of God in being conformed
unto the image and likeness of His Son. This is God’s desire for our
life. God is in the business of regeneration not behaviorism. Our
nature is in opposition to God so we need transformation.
When God
regenerates us, He gives us a renewed heart and spirit that desire to
serve God. He is not in the business of controlling our behavior; He is in
the business of totally redeeming His creation. His desire is to set us
free from the bondages of sin and all its sorrowful effects. Emotions are
only a result of our thinking, which needs to be transformed through a
change of heart - a broken and contrite heart. This is the fruit of
regeneration - a heart and spirit that desire to know and serve God.
Our
practice of faith is based on the principles found solely in the
Bible, through examples of the patriarchs, or personal trial and
tribulation. The Apostle Paul told us to live by his example. We are
to live up to the standards and observe the principles found in
Scripture. In living our faith we will gain the trust and confidence
to persuade others to ‘know’ and ‘observe’ Biblical principle. The
practice of faith toward God is the principle which encourages
individuals to trust God. It is God’s by grace, through the Holy
Spirit working in our life, which guarantees transformation of
hearts and spirits needed to obey.
Teaching others to love God and our neighbors requires personal
involvement to the point of sacrifice. Our pure and undefiled
service to Jesus’ followers involves using our gifts for the benefit
of anyone in need. We are the epistles, we are the living Word of
God through our actions. There is nothing higher than to care for
‘these little ones’, the children of God. Regardless of rank, we are
here to serve others through our compassion and understanding of
God’s will for their life. We are here to restore mankind’s
relationship with the Father through the sacrifice of our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence
working in our life. This is the will of God in teaching.
The
gift of God is your life. Your perfect gift to God is your
surrendered life. Our eternal life is now; we are eternal beings ‘in
Christ’. What we do with our life is our gift to God. We may give
our life to God and let Him lead us. In doing so we will be given
the Hope necessary to lead others to ‘Christ as their life’ in our
life time. We are no longer are own; we have been bought with a
price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ The God/man who suffered
in the same manner we have suffered. Since God’s Righteous One
suffered in the likeness of sinful man to redeem us, it is not too
much to ask us to lay aside our self-life, the false identity, and
walk in the Spirit. Christians will tale up their Cross daily and
follow Christ’ example and through their obedience reveal the gift
of eternal life to God’s children.
The
epiphany of ‘Christ is my Life’ is Paul’s declaration of a life of
self-denial and taking up the Cross daily. When confronted with this
proposition ’Christ is my Life’ we, Christians, come under an
instance of utter conviction. Our lives are undone in the shadow of
Paul’s life of service and sacrifice. If in fact, we’ve ever
considered the remote possibility of total surrender, which is a
good summation of what Paul did. When Paul was confronted by the
Lord Jesus Christ, he was convicted then transformed.
Our
ongoing transformation came about through the conviction of the Holy
Spirit working through God’s ministers. We are all ministers of the
Word of God. When we proclaim God’s plan of redemption working in
our lives, we profess His Word and principles. In revealing God’s
requirements we accomplish His will through the agency of the Holy
Spirit.
We are here to please God and bring people into a closer
relationship to Him. The work of the minister is to reveal God’s
righteous requirements so His people can please Him. The Holy Spirit
is God’s agent in anointing people with the living Word.
The
Word of God is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword
to separate people from wrong actions, attitudes and decisions that
would lead them into sin. The Holy Spirit chooses certain people to
intervene in individual lives at His discretion for this particular
type of ministry. At the same time the church in general is given
the Word for the exhortation, edification, and comfort of the body
corporally. Personal intervention in the convicting work of the Holy
Spirit must always be under His leading and blessing. No one has the
right to ‘take on’ this ministry which is only given by God, the
Holy Spirit. God chooses who He will choose and enables them to
minister in compassion.
There is a problem of pharisaical behavior; the self-righteous
convicting others of sin. This does not lead sinners unto a deeper
relationship with God. It often separates victims from God’s grace.
This violation of mercy is probably worse than the actions of the
victims’ original sinful behaviors.
Conviction from the Holy Spirit is brought about through the
ministry of the Word. The Word, if allowed to work in the hearts of
men will convince them of sin. The Holy Spirit teaches us about
righteousness. Then He instructs us on what to say, when to say, and
how to say what needs to be said to bring about repentance. The
sinful behavior will be expounded upon through the ministry of God’s
Word and prove someone guilty of sin.
The
facts of the matter are more important than ‘more or less’. The
conclusions we draw from any information we receive must be conveyed
in the Biblical sense of the matter. The Word of God, concerning
commandments, convicts, psychological jargon does not.
Christian counselors need to use Biblical terminology. There is no
way to bring people into a deeper relationship with God if there is
no conviction of sin. There is no reason for a person to change if
they do not realize they need correction. Anyone who is not
convicted of sin will refute correction. Discipleship if they are
not convicted of lawbreaking is punishment. Only a regenerated heart
and spirit will seek to deepen their relationship with God.
The
secular counselor is loaded with different categories and
terminology that the Bible often describes as sinful behavior. A
minister of the Word needs to overcome the ploy of secularism in
order for the counselee to proceed beyond confusion. The man of God
needs to be familiar with psychological terminology to successfully
overcome the bondage of modernism. The un-Biblical attitude of
clients need correction and must come from this sole source. The
Bible is a God-given authority to this end.
Correction, uncomfortable as it may be, is necessary to change
unhealthy attitudes and behaviors. This is where the instructor
needs to discipline the pupil. The discomfort comes from not knowing
the reactions that might be manifested. The great unknown can be
reason for fear or excitement. Knowing God is in our corner should
be all we need to be excited about the corrective process.
Discipline should be instructional, not punitive. As a tutor, there
are tools that are available to aid us. The tendency should be for a
Christian to think ‘Biblically’. However, many Christians did not
grow up in a Bible-centered home. Therefore, our task is to change
the thought patterns, attitudes, and beliefs to Scriptural visages.
Quite literally, the person we are instructing must experience the
world around them through God-inspired glasses.
Our
calling is to help people view life from God’s point of view. It is
God’s perspective that counts and not those from His children’s grid
of life experiences. So our task is to bring people onto an
understanding that God’s Way is the only acceptable correction.
Correct thinking leads to godly sorrow when a person is convinced
they have violated the Law of Love. When we affront God, His
children or His institutions, we violate the command to love God
with all our heart, soul, mind, and body and/or to love our
neighbors as ourselves. These two commands of Scripture sum up the
entire law. The entire law is hinged on our relationship with God
and neighbors. If we violate our neighbor, we’ve transgressed their
rights and not trusted God to meet all of our needs. A violation is
actually and outward sign of an inward need not being met. The
occurrence comes about from deceptive irrational thinking; we
literally are trapped by our unhealthy attitudes and beliefs into
some foolish behavior of omission or commission. What we don’t do or
what we do outside of the law of love makes us lawbreakers.
If
we are going to do anyone a godly service then we will not try to
change their behavior. We will however do everything we can to get
them to rethink their attitudes and beliefs so their behavior
changes through the ministry of the Word. The fruit of the Spirit is
the evidence of a regenerated heart and spirit. When godly-sorrow is
given by God a transformation occurs. When the behavior of the false
identity is confronted from a secular therapy, the behavior may
change like a chameleon. People exchange one bad behavior for a
different ungodly behavior or desire. God is the only One who can
change deceptive irrational thinking. The problem remains, an
unchanged heart, if we do not confront the root cause.
There is an attitude that is dangerous to believe in. It is
un-biblical to believe a regenerate heart and spirit does not fully
want to please God. So what is the solution? Through the grace of
God, He has revealed that the ‘old man’ or ‘carnal nature’ is dead.
There is a need to correct the misconception that the ‘carnal
nature’ is still existent and the attitude that we cannot live
without continually sinning.
The
only way correction can be effective is to help others overcome
these widely accepted beliefs. After rethinking sinful attitudes and
beliefs we need to confess our sin. Then there can be reconciliation
with God and possibly the person(s) we offended. At this point we
need to forsake the actions and know God promises to cleanse us from
a guilty conscience. We need to ask for forgiveness from the
person(s) we have offended and hope the relationships will be
restored again.
As
we have seen reconciliation is the main objective in the counseling
process. First, we are to help restore the relationship between God
and man, and correspondingly, person to person. There needs to be
training in righteousness. The short of it, people need to know God
and how He expects us to treat others. The Scriptures point out
directly the manner in which we are supposed to treat God’s children
since we are all His creatures. When the balance in one’s life is
restored and our priorities are set correctly and life becomes a joy
as we learn to live a righteous life before God.
Synopsis from Jay E. Adams, How To Help People Change, Zondervan
Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49056, 198
DISCIPLINED COUNSELORS - THE ART OF HELPING
Understanding The Counseling Process
Theory - the importance of relationship
The counseling theory always confirms importance of relations and
the underlying principle of action (modality) for our service to
others, the phase that is verified through experiential knowledge
gained preferably through co-counseling during internship
Function of counselor - guides and explains various facets of
counseling process
Answers must be broad enough to explain ‘Why?’ people behave the way
they do and Popular enough to get them to change. Reciprocity, we
reap what we have sown!
Ritual - system or form of rights
Posture - functions
Strengthen relationship - combats empathy
Comforts counselee - few unexpected events
Spells out roles
Sustains interest and expectations - confidence in counselor
Provides learning experiences - counselor teaches to open and
establish a mature relationship
Homework - practical helps
Prepare for coming sessions
Reinforce counseling session
Transformed thinking
Gain new insight in life
Gain of spiritual insight
Communicates most material over time
Sense of hope
Comfort and support are spread out over time
Change dependency toward God from counselor
Helps establish good habits
Uses for evangelism
How to study bible
Good relationship and communication skills
Gages attitude and progress through cooperation
Counselor - a person sought for help or advice
Function - a role model
Establish initial rapport
Provide acceptance - not based on performance - true Agape love
Empathy - independent emotional support
Presenting problem - first reason is seldom root cause
Perception - view is from counselee’s world - how they see things
Initial rapport - accept over-emphasized views - do not rescue
Responsibility - let counselee take for their behavior
Scrutinize presenting problem as a symptom - character is more
important
Under-emphasizing problems leads to lack of trust or counselor does
not care
History Taking
Scope - to make sense of present world with past ineffectiveness of
getting needs met in godly fashion
Reciprocity - reaping and sewing
Familial impact
Circumstances of relationships
Own false identity patterns
Self-perception or Christ-esteem
Immature and irresponsible behavior patterns
Thoughts and behavior - exploring belief system - perception of life
Suffering - used by God to bring about counselee’s failure of
walking after flesh patterns
Goals - end of self-life and walking in the Spirit of Christ
Needs - explanation of needs only God can meet
Focus - from here and now to adopt eternal spiritual perspective -
God’s view
Course - until the suffering outweighs the benefit we use learned
coping systems
Motivator - pain or pleasure - why we do the things we do that are
ineffective
Explanation - Biblical explanation - planned universe - fulfilling
God’s will
Shared suffering - suffering with Christ - the Cross - sin and
behavior - iniquity, peace, and spiritual healing, which is often
followed by physical and emotional relief
Belief system client - often Burger King religion - expects others
to change - nominal Biblical knowledge of the works of salvation
Illumination - suffering for good
Counselor’s Helps
Personal testimony and witness - role modeling example
Joseph’s story - meant for evil, God worked out for good
Weakness - a thorn in the flesh - 2 Cor. 12:7-10
Rights and expectations surrendered
Temperament Analysis Profile
Temperament explained with comparative examples (acceptance) - Ps.
139
Differing styles
Behavior patterns
Strengths
Weaknesses
Needs and wants inventory
Fulfillment and desires