The Biblical Beef (Biblical Counseling Exposed)

Chris discloses parts of his personal story in Christianity. Christianity is for sinners. That's a biblical reality. But journeying toward the realization that the Gospel is for you - a sinner - is not for the faint of heart.  Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. Chrisleins04@gmail.com

Chris presents and discusses a quote by Dr. David Powlison, and raises questions as to the concrete specifics of Biblical Counseling-Theory.

Chris shares a passage from Paul David Tripp's (2002) Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, and explains where and how Biblical Counseling-theory falls short on delivering what it promises. 

Ok, maybe not so little. On this episode Chris discusses some of the logical upshots of biblical counseling. That sin-habits cause sickness should, for example, mean that everybody, everywhere is sick: there should be no such thing as a "clean bill of health." And that is because everybody, everywhere is a sinner who sins. We're all sinning. So we should all be sick.  And if faith in Christ and repentance from sins are the way to make real, therapeutic gains, then why does psychotherapy work? 

The discussion continues of whether Biblical Counseling is actually biblical.

This episode presents the second idea of Biblical Counseling-theory: that repentance brings about therapeutic gains. Both empirical and theological problems are presented in response to this idea. The most notable is that individuals without symptoms, the logic would seem to indicate, are also without sins.

The psycho-hamartiological theory of symptom etiology (the belief that psychological disorders stem from sins and sin-habits) is a theory that is deeply entrenched in Church history, stretching back to at least the 6th century. Although this doctrine has never been validated (i.e., proven) either biblically or empirically, it continues to echo through the halls of some Christian circles. 

The question emerges, What is Biblical Counseling? And, what is, in fact, so biblical about it? During this episode Chris reviews some Biblical Counseling-literature in pursuit of that answer. The trouble is that, all too often, the definition of Biblical Counseling comes in the form of what it's ... not. Well, while Biblical Counseling may not be lots of things, it is ultimately something. The question remains ... What is it?