Name: Antonnete M.

Chuahap Date: April 12, 2022

Teacher: Rev. Joey Y. Diangco Subject: Biblical Counseling

Reaction paper #3

According to Jay E. Adams that “Counseling has one basic goal, which is to
bring about change. Counselors see a need for change, and they find the verbal means
to bring about change, which greatly benefits the counselee. God is doing much more.
He is making something new out of the old sinful nature. He is, in Christ, making new
creatures. In this book, the reader will gain an insight into the rich theological
framework that supports and directs a biblical approach to counseling, and the
connection between solid theology and practical application will become compelling.

Adams does a great job in pointing out the need for theology to be a
foundation upon which counseling is based. Man was created as a perfect being, but
was not created to be independent. We can see from the Word of God that man was
dependent on God’s counsel. Man walked with God in the garden, was counseled by
God on such things as how to care for the created order and how the world was
supposed to work. We also can see how the counsel of Satan caused man to fall in the
garden.

Man is deeply influenced by counsel. He was created to operate on God’s

counsel. Therefore, it is important for biblical counselors to have a strong theology
based on God’s Word. Once we lose our theology, we are powerless to offer any hope
to those who seek true change.

The doctrine of Scripture is crucially vital when it comes to counseling. Those

in need of counseling are looking for authoritative insight into their problems and are
looking to achieve changes in behavior, mood or well being. In order to provide such
counseling, one must have a source of information that is without error, and that is
perfect truth. No other book except the Bible can offer such a claim. The Bible is
inspired or God-breathed. It has the same authority as if God were to audibly speak it.
It is without error and holy. It can give us insight in to any condition man may face.
David even referred to Scripture as his counselor in Psalm 119:24. Adams solidifies
this point by indicating there are three presuppositions about biblical guidance that we
must keep in mind. First, it is impossible for us to know God’s will and receive His
guidance apart from Scripture. God never will ask us to do something contrary to His
Word. So we must know it in order to distinguish between His will and our own.

The second fact is there are scriptural principles that cover every circumstance
in which one may find him or herself. Many books have been written on counseling
theory and methods, and none of them can begin to cover every area of life. The Bible
is a complete source.

Finally, Scripture speaks to every situation either directly or indirectly. If we

are to be effective counselors, we must use the Bible as the one true source for
guidance, direction and the method of providing people with the resources for true
change. God reveals who we are and what to do in and through Scripture. Scripture is
sufficient and superior in assisting us throughout life. Scripture is primary, and it is
the final authority. Ultimately, all of our thinking must answer to the Word.
According to Scripture, we must take every thought captive to the obedience of
Christ. The Word should govern our starting points, our methods and our conclusions.

Therefore, it is up to us as ministers and counselors not only to preach the

Word, but also counsel via the Word. We need to counsel people with the truths found
in Scripture. If we preach from the Word, we need to be willing to take the time one-
on-one to show people how to live according to Scripture. As the need arises, we must
give wise counsel in every situation. Many believe counseling can be done only in an
office, but it can be done anywhere. As biblical counselors, we need to be willing to
come alongside those in need and point them to the Savior. We also must use the
Bible as our ultimate source of authority. We have much data collection in our world,
but very little wisdom. If we don’t understand people in relation to God’s Word, then
we cannot provide our counselees any hope.

Adam’s points out that man is outside of his intended environment, which
explains the many problems that exist in our world today. God created man to live in
harmony with Him, but since the fall, humanity has been separated from God. Sin has
caused us to be cut off from God’s intended design. When we counsel, we must
understand most problems rise out of this separation. True change can only come
when we accept the forgiveness and grace given to us by Christ’s death on the cross
and receive eternal life provided by His resurrection. All life is sacred. God created
the world to have a distinct order. When sin entered the world, that order was
corrupted. The world is groaning for the day of its redemption. As counselors, we
must point individuals to the problem of their sinful environment, then point them to
the only One who can change their environment, Jesus Christ.

Throughout Scripture, God is referred to by many names. He is referred to

God our provider, the God who sees, the Rock and God our banner. Names are
important in identifying who a person is. The names used for God are beneficial in
counseling. As counselors, if we can point people to an all-powerful, all-knowing God
who provides for our every need, the results will be evident. God is and is the source
of everything. He is our very environment and all of life is sacred, spiritual and God-
related. There is no problem that is not a spiritual issue. To ignore God as we think, as
we understand problems, etc. is to make a big mistake.

A secular theory of life is not only wrong, but profane. God is our defining,
reference point of life. Prayer also must be a vital part of the counseling process.
Prayer is a time for us to call on God to praise Him for all He has done and pray that
through the power of the Holy Spirit He will help us change. The world in which we
live today does not understand prayer. Even Christians are found lacking when it
comes to a true understanding of the power prayer holds. Many believers reserve pray
as a last resort. There is nothing else we can do, but just pray. Prayer should be the
first thing we do. As counselors, we must pray God would give the wisdom to point
people to the truths of Scripture. We must also pray for those whom we counsel. We
must daily lift them up in prayer for God to open their eyes to His truth. Prayer can set
the stage for God to work through the counseling session and beyond. We must be in
prayer constantly and also teach our counselee to pray, as well.

God is the primary and ultimate cause of all things. Problems,

suffering,depression and trials all occur within a meaningful design. God is up to
something, and God is up to something good. God knows, judges and evaluates all
things. We were created with active hearts and are ever before a holy God. All
choices are moral choices. We are constantly choosing God or gods; loyalty vs.
betrayal, obedience vs. rebellion, hope vs. despair, truth vs. lies. There is always a
consequence for our choice, good or bad. The Bible is full of promises and warning,
reaping and sowing.

We are always accountable to Him. In some way, all problems are sin
problems, either my sin or someone’s sin against me, either a deliberate sin or an
underlying less than conscious choice to sin. Therefore all problems are relation
problems, our relationship with God. Hence all problems are heart problems. Sin is
the root of our problems; sin is not a small issue. It is a terminal, killer virus called
sin; but God does not leave us in our sinful condition. Sin creeps into every area of
our lives. It affects our thoughts, moods, actions, beliefs and thinking. God says our
thoughts are not His thoughts, our ways are not His ways; and they will never be. We
are sinful by nature. Our understanding sin will greatly influence the way we counsel.
In order to bring about true biblical change we must be willing to identify sin and help
our counsels see the need to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation. God saves and
redeems. He is the solution and can make us whole. Through Christ, the Spirit, and
the Word He redeems us.

Adams does a great job in emphasizing the need for salvation in the
counseling process. In order for true change, a counselee must be introduced to Jesus
as Savior and Lord, and the given the tools to grow in that relationship. Adams
says, “No counseling system that is based on some other foundation can begin to offer
what Christian counseling offers…No matter what the problem is, no matter how
greatly sin has abounded, the Christian counselor’s stance is struck by the far-more-
abounding nature of the grace of Jesus Christ in redemption. What a difference this
makes in counseling!” The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. The goal must be to
lead others to become more like Christ.

The main goal of counseling should be a progressive sanctification process. As

the counselee grow in his understanding of God’s Word and in his relation with
Christ, he or she will in turn be set apart for God’s purposes. The fruit of the Spirit
will evident in his life, and God will continue to mold us into the image of His Son.
As counselors, we must not only counsel people through the rough spots in life, but
also assist them in the sanctification process as they mature in their faith counseling is
and should be fundamentally a church-based activity. We should provide our
counselees with a solution of mercy mixed with evangelism. All Christians are called
to counsel or admonish, but few are willing to so. We as ministers of the gospel need
to approach counseling as we do preaching. We must look in the truths of God’s
Word and bring forth healing for those who are hurting. We must counsel the word in
all situations. If we expect to see true biblical change, we need to use the Bible to
people to the savior thus bringing about change in the lives of our counselees.

Adams provides a clear and concise breakdown of the process of biblical

counseling. I believe it to be one of the best approaches to understanding what biblical
counseling is all about. He takes each principle and breaks it down to the most
elementary elements of how to approach this method of counseling. I will be able to
apply the methods of this book to my own counseling practice.