Folks want sound doctrine to assist them face life’s troubles; but not all Christians see the worth of theological reflection. Theologically strong counseling can construct bridges between the ache factors of life and sound doctrine.
There are lots of the reason why folks might battle with doctrine. I feel one essential motive to contemplate is that theology usually feels too simplistic to be actually livable. Life is complicated, and lots of difficult conditions require considerate engagement. Sadly, the church usually gives up platitudes, trite sayings, or simplistic interpretations that try and make complicated residing appear overly simplistic. For instance, in case you have skilled trauma, typically Christians will say, “It’s okay as a result of all issues work collectively for the great of those that love the Lord.” Scripture, after all, does train that idea (Rom. 8:28), however it may possibly really feel dismissive when utilized like this to such a deep wound. The church has a great deal of these kinds of purposes of doctrine:
- Is your marriage struggling underneath the burden of fixed battle? Wives, simply submit.
- Did your little one die? Take into consideration all of the individuals who heard the gospel at their funeral!
- Are you scuffling with anxiousness? Simply belief God.
- Are you scuffling with doubt? Repent.
These are frequent statements made by real Christians. They’re usually mentioned with confidence and supposed to supply reassurance, however these solutions really feel empty and hole within the face of hardships. It leaves many individuals feeling like doctrine is simply too simplistic to truly present actual assist.
Partly, this occurs as a result of these solutions aren’t theologically strong. The Bible gives us greater than slogans, proof texts, and platitudes. It gives us strong frameworks for all times’s troubles. Growing such theologically strong counsel requires creating the next three methodological abilities.
1. We want Interpretive Discernment and Thematic Attunement
All biblical counselors will know properly the message of Proverbs 18:13, “If one offers a solution earlier than he hears, it’s his folly and disgrace.” To use Scripture properly to somebody’s hassle, we should hear totally to their scenario. This implies listening past key phrases. We should always not simply hear for the phrase “anxiousness” or “anger” or “porn”. We wish to take heed to the actual manifestation of hassle on this individual’s life. How do they expertise anxiousness, anger, and sexual sin? What do they imply by the phrase “despair”? Pay attention totally to know how one can apply Scripture properly.
We additionally have to hear thematically, not merely for an inventory of signs or textbook definitions. We’re not searching for reference materials to establish which proof texts to make use of on this case. Thematic attunement is being conscious of the deeper themes and narrative threads in a counselee’s story. Whereas there is no such thing as a proof textual content for hoarding, after we hear for themes in a sufferer’s story, we hear numerous emphasis on worry. That opens up an entire wealth of scriptural educating that’s related. Equally, don’t simply hear for “anxiousness” or “anger”; hear for the themes behind these phrases. Does this anxiousness sound like worry of shedding management, or does it sound like worry of rejection? These might look comparable on the floor, however thematic attunement permits us to extra exactly tailor our counsel to their scenario.
2. Canonical and Christocentric Studying of Scripture
Many errors in Christian counseling come up when Scripture is mined piecemeal or when Christ’s redemptive work isn’t the interpretive key of such studying. Sturdy counsel requires a theologically sound hermeneutic. Figuring out the place a passage is within the circulate of the redemptive narrative will form the way you learn and apply it (e.g., legislation/gospel, previous/new covenant). Figuring out how a passage reveals the guts of God and the hope of the gospel will assist us resist reductionist moralism when studying and making use of the textual content. We should learn the Bible by means of Jesus’ lens if we hope to precisely apply it to victims and sinners right this moment.
3. Doctrinal Reflexivity
Biblical counselors usually are not simply those that say what the textual content of Scripture says. We’re those that say what Scripture says the best way Scripture says it. Figuring out doctrine isn’t sufficient; we should replicate with and thru it. Think about, for instance, how our doctrine of sanctification will form whether or not we count on fast change or lengthy obedience. Think about how our doctrine of windfall will form the best way we assist our counselee interpret their struggling. Our personal theology should form the best way we counsel. Theology ought to form our tone, timing, and method (simply to call a couple of issues). To be a theologically strong counselor, we will need to have a disciplined behavior of letting our core theological beliefs actively inform and interrogate our counseling methodology.
The explanation many individuals battle to embrace theological reflection is that it doesn’t really feel actual to life. Theology feels too clear and easy, and life feels too laborious and overwhelming. However strong theological reflection helps us transfer past proof texts like “worry not” to see that the Bible supplies not less than 4 frameworks for dealing with worry. Theological reflection helps us see that the Bible has way more to say concerning the conjugal relationship than merely headship, submission, and “God hates divorce.” Theologically strong counsel connects hurting lives to richer and fuller experiences of Scripture and of God. Theologically strong counsel builds bridges between our ache factors and sound doctrine, and there’s hope and assist in such doctrine.
Questions for Reflection
- How would you describe the distinction between counsel grounded in proof texts and extra theologically strong counsel?
- How has thematic attunement helped you in counseling complicated instances?
- How have you ever seen particular doctrines present exact assist in a counseling scenario?
