New Integrationists want to attribute to Biblical Counseling things that show a misunderstanding of the practice of Biblical Counseling.  Heath Lambert provides in the  book he edited named A Call to Clarity the following statement that provides a good summary of the position held by Biblical counselors:

The biblical counseling position is that Scripture has been given by God to share his unique perspective on what is wrong with people and what they need to overcome life's greatest problems. We do not believe that he has told us everything, but we believe he has given us principles to understand every counseling problem and its solution. We have no desire to reject any facts in God's world but rather believe in, use, and celebrate extrabiblical information grounded in common grace. As important as such information is, we do not believe it is ever appropriate to use that outside information, however true it might be, as a replacement for or adjunct to the essential insight into the problems people have or the interventions necessary for change that are prescribed in Scripture. Lambert, A Call to Clarity, p.178-179

The Road To Emmaus Biblical Counseling Center has a two-fold purpose.  1. To provide Biblical Counseling to people who are experiencing moral, spiritual, or relational difficulties as they live life in a troubled and fallen world.  And 2. To train believers to provide Biblical Counseling to others in either a formal or informal setting.

Biblical Counseling is what happens when you use God’s Word to have a conversation with and show care to people who are hurting and in need of God’s wisdom and guidance.  We live in a world that has been deeply impacted by sin, and we all know what it’s like to experience hurt and pain as we move through life.  We all have faced, will face, or know others who have faced the grief over the loss of a loved one, the despair that accompanies a suicide, despair over the loss of employment, the hopelessness of a medical prognosis, adultery, divorce, drug and alcohol addiction, the turmoil surrounding pornography, rebellious children, domestic violence, abuse, fear, depression, family conflicts, worry and the list could go on.  

There is bad news in that we will all face these kinds of things at some point in our lives.  The good news is that God has made provision to deal with these issues through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, and through giving His people direction for how to address these issues in His all-sufficient Word.

Biblical Counseling is based on the conviction that a relationship with Jesus Christ is sufficient to address the moral, spiritual, and relational challenges we face, and that the Bible provides a clear explanation of His work.  The Bible teaches that counseling is part of the normal process or one-anothering or discipling that all Christians are called to as we live life together and experience the pain and the bearing of one another’s burdens.

At Road To Emmaus, we counsel people using God’s all-sufficient Word, and we host training to equip people to come alongside others with the hope found in God’s Book.  Our next training events are a three-weekend course occurring in March, April and May, which we call The Fundamentals in Biblical Counseling to equip those new to Biblical Counseling with the basics, and two weekends of Advanced Training in March and May for those who have already taken the Fundamentals Course.

You can get more information at www.southwesthills.org/acbc-training or to register.

Kerry Francetich, Counseling, Care, and Children's Pastor

Today I will present 4 key scriptural convictions that underlie the practice of biblical counseling.  First, in our counseling method and content, we hold to the conviction that it is our presenting of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior through the use of His Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit that helps people in their personal and relational problems.  We lead people to a person: Jesus Christ, not a program, Who will ultimately change them and help them live victoriously.

Second, it is our conviction that we use the Bible to diagnose, explain, and solve our problems.  God’s Word alone is the book that provides true, authoritative and sufficient wisdom and guidance for every life situation.  It is superior to man’s wisdom and the competing counsel of secular and integrated forms of counseling.

Third, we desire to counsel as the Master Counselor, Jesus, by showing love, concern, care, and compassion for those who are struggling.  Our ministry should reflect these qualities as we speak the truth in love.

Finally, we are convinced that lasting change comes only when both the inner and outer man is addressed by our counsel.  Biblical counseling is not shallow, simplistic, or focused on behavior only, but on the heart also.  We seek to use God’s Word, which can uncover our beliefs and motives along with the ensuing behavior, to lead to true lasting change.

Kerry Francetich, Counseling, Care, and Children's Pastor

   The term biblical counseling can carry many meanings in today’s context.  Today I would like to try to provide a better overview of what we at Road to Emmaus understand biblical counseling to be.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I am drawing upon some excellent work by Dr. Robert Jones to help us define it.  He says, “First, biblical counseling is counseling.  It helps specific individuals, couples, or families in their specific situations to know Christ better and handle life in God-pleasing ways.  It is conversational – interactive and person-specific in ways that go beyond public preaching or teaching.  In this sense, it is simply personal ministry…we might also simply call it discipleship, or intensive, remedial, or problem-oriented discipleship.”

   He goes on to say, “Second, biblical counseling is biblical.  Its truth source is God’s inerrant, inspired Word, and its focus is on that Bible’s main thrust, namely Jesus Christ and his life-changing, redeeming work for us and in us.  In that sense, biblical counseling is Christ-centered or Christ-driven.  In true biblical counseling the Bible is more than a grid, filter, control, or standard (all passive images); the Bible actively drives both theory and practice.  The concepts and methodology are not merely consistent with, controlled by, or ‘prooftexted’ from the Bible; they emerge from the Bible itself as one interprets it accurately.”

Kerry Francetich, Counseling, Care, and Children's Pastor