Tomorrow is the 9th session in our Introduction to Biblical Counseling class. Our topic is about the place of instruction in biblical counseling. The material is taken from chapter 12 of John MacArthur's book, Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically.
Wayne Mack divided the chapter into two parts:
the nature of instruction in biblical counseling
developing a knowledge of the Bible
The Nature of Instruction
Before Wayne Mack explains the three basic requirements in instruction, he first identifies two prevailing mistakes in biblical counseling. One is the idea that giving instructions is all that matters in counseling. In previous articles, we already clarified that this is not the case. In biblical counseling, the involvement of the counselors and data gathering are very important.
The other mistake is the idea that no instruction is needed in counseling. By simply asking questions, the counselee will discover the solution to their problems on their own.
Now that the mistakes have been identified, Wayne Mack enumerated the three basic requirements in giving instructions in biblical counseling:
It must be based on the Bible
It must be accurate, and
It must be appropriate
What did Wayne Mack mean by the above three basic requirements?
It must be based on the Bible
One of the basic presuppositions of biblical counseling is that the Bible is God's manual for life. As such, it is effective in addressing whatever problems we encounter. Contrary to popular approaches in counseling, using the Bible in counseling brings lasting change because it is practical, comprehensive, trustworthy, and sufficient.
Explaining the comprehensive character of the Bible, Wayne Mack quoted 2 Peter 1:3. This verse teaches us that everything we need in life and related to godliness can be found in the Bible. However, this entails an obligation on the part of biblical counselors to do an in-depth study of its contents. If the counselors fulfill this task, they will realize that biblical insights deal with even the most complicated human problems.
As to the trustworthiness of the Bible, Wayne Mack affirms that the Bible is trustworthy because what it says is true. He also added that the Bible provides a distinct epistemology simply because it is God's special revelation to mankind. Without this special revelation, our situation is hopeless in view of man's finiteness and fallenness.
Both aspects of humanity mentioned above call for the necessity of divine revelation. The fact that man is a creature and finite, he cannot attain the exhaustive knowledge that God has. However, the finiteness of human knowledge does not mean that he cannot attain true knowledge. Since he is created in God's image, he can attain true knowledge by virtue of God's revelation in the Bible.
Man, under the state of sin, our minds distort God's revelation in nature. As Paul said in Romans 1:18, man in his fallen state suppresses the truth. Sin does not affect only human behavior. It primarily affects the way we think. And that is why we need the Bible to give light to our darkened minds.
It Should Be Biblically Accurate
How should we understand the accuracy of biblical instructions?
Wayne Mack explains this in seven ways:
Knowledge of the meaning of biblical words
Interpreting a verse in its context
The Bible interprets itself
Christ-centered and evangelical
Action-oriented
Identify both the positive and negative aspects of biblical change
Distinguish between divine imperatives and human suggestions
I won't explain all of the above. I will just highlight ways that need clarification.
The importance of knowing biblical words presupposes that many people today are not familiar with the words used in the Bible. Examples given include hope, justification, and other theological terms. If the distinction is not clearly explained, misinterpretation is bound to happen.
Another application of accuracy in giving instruction is the interpretation of the text in its context. I find the example given by Wayne Mack very enlightening. He cited Proverbs 23:7, as teaching that a person's thinking determines his action and character. Even though Wayne Mack admits the truth that thoughts determine our actions and character, considering the context of dining with a selfish man, he gave a different interpretation:
It reveals that sometimes a person’s actions are really not the same as that person’s thoughts. People may think one way and behave another for the purposes of deception and manipulation. So if we want to know the truth about someone’s character, we cannot judge merely on the basis of actions; we would also have to find out what that person is thinking (p. 167).
Instead of using Proverbs 23:7 in giving instruction about the importance of thoughts in shaping lives, Wayne Mack would prefer to use Romans 12:2 or 2 Corinthians 10:5.
The reason why Wayne Mack is wary of taking a text outside of its context is that he believes that every text of the Bible has only one intended meaning, though it can be applied in different situations.
The next application of the accuracy principle is best explained by the hermeneutical principle called the analogy of Scripture. This simply means that the Bible interprets itself. The vague is explained by the plain meaning elsewhere. If people are just aware of this principle, they would not accuse the Bible of self-contradiction. If you find a text that contradicts another text and insist on it, you are rejecting the hermeneutical principle that began in the 16th-century Reformation.
The Christocentric and evangelical emphasis in instruction is also part of the accuracy principle. If your counselees are not led to Christ and the gospel, you failed as a counselor to utilize the Bible as intended.
Another aspect of accuracy is the emphasis on godly action. The goal in instruction is not just to provide facts or information, but to see biblical change or Christ-likeness. The apostle Paul is very clear on this in Colossians 1:9-12:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
From the passage above, it is clear that biblical instruction on God's will is intended for the people of God to live "a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way." Such a life is described as productive, powerful, and grateful.
I would like to conclude with the sixth way to practice accuracy in biblical instruction. It is not enough to tell our counselee to stop sinful habits; a replacement with godly habits must also be included. This is what is popularly known as the "put off" and "put on" principle in Paul's letters.
Grace and peace!
Reference:
MacArthur, John. (2005). Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically. Nashville, Tennessee: Nelson Reference & Electronic.
Selected AI-Generated Guide Questions:
How does skipping data-gathering or relationship-building undermine the biblical truth you are trying to teach?
Modern secular psychology often suggests the counselor should never give answers, only ask questions. Why is this "discovery-only" method insufficient for a believer struggling with sin?
Discuss the Proverbs 23:7 example. How does using a verse out of context—even if the "point" you're making is true—actually hurt the counselor’s credibility in the long run?