In Romans 15:14 Paul commended the Romans by saying, “Now I
myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of
goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (NKJV)” The final thing mentioned here is the Romans’
being “able to admonish” or some might translate it “competent to
counsel.” The word “admonish” comes
from the Greek word “noutheteo” and carries the idea of warning, encouraging,
or advising. It is a comprehensive word
for counseling and involves believers coming alongside other believers for
spiritual and moral counseling. This is
not a gift or a job of just the clergy but it was the members of the Roman
church that were being commended for this and it is the responsibility of every
believer.
This is what John MacArthur has to say regarding this
subject,
“Tragically, many Christians today have been
convinced that competent counseling can only be accomplished by a person who is
trained in the principles of secular psychology—despite the fact that the
various schools of psychology are, for the most part, at extreme odds with
God’s Word and frequently with each other. Although they may profess that “all
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), many
evangelicals—both those who give and those who receive counseling—do not rely
on the full sufficiency of God’s Word.
There is no such thing as a psychological problem.
All personal problems are either spiritual or physical. Anyone who suggests
that so-called psychological problems can exist apart from or between those two
realms of human existence does not understand either the nature of man and the
power of sin or the nature and power of God’s Word and Spirit.[1]
With him, I whole-heartedly agree. In modern psychology individuals are often
given a title that they are then stuck with for life. If one searches the scriptures for these behaviors
rather than finding a sickness that I will be stuck with for the rest of my
life we find “sin”. Though taking on the
title of a sinner is not pleasant it is not permanent in that Jesus Christ paid
the price for sin and for all those who recognize their sin and trust in
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to pay the atonement for their sin there is
victory.
God gives us two tools to help in this, first the Holy
Spirit who indwells all who put their faith in Christ and the Scriptures. Hebrews 4:12-13 “The Word of God is quick and
powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit and the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.” In “Nouthetic”
counseling we apply Scripture to problems and challenge people to be honest
about their sin so that they confess it and forsake it. This is when one is freed from the bondage of
sin and is able to live the life that God intends them to live.
One who is given a title by a psychologist may be helped to
get by in life to the point that they do not cause difficulty in their family
or in their neighborhood. In other words
they are helped to “survive”. But Jesus
said, “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more
abundantly.” He doesn’t want us just to
survive, He wants us to THRIVE!
If you are tired of just surviving, a constant struggle with
your own life or with your children and you desire to have a life that is
thriving let one of us sit down with you and show you the freedom that you can
have in Christ Jesus. For more
information see: www.fbclittletonil.org
[1] John F. MacArthur, Jr., Romans, MacArthur New Testament
Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991).
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