Saturday, January 7, 2012

Biblical Counseling Movement

Recently, Heath Lambert wrote a book entitled The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams.  I have not read this book yet, but I have read two reviews about this book from biblical counselors that I respect.  I have linked both reviews.  Why is this such a big topic for the biblical counseling movement?  In the title of the book, it says 'after Adams.'  That man is Dr. Jay Adams.  He is considered the father of the biblical counseling movement.  Back in the 1970's, Dr. Adams saw that the Christian church was referring her hurting members out to secular schools of thought when it came to counseling.  There was a growing mindset that the Bible wasn't sufficient for life's problems.  Dr. Adam's passion was and still is to bring the Bible back to the counseling table.  Not as an item to display, but as the only authority for life and godliness.  During this time, there was another growing movement within the church.  Christian counseling was becoming more and more popular because the church was seeing such a need for help.  This brought about what is called an Integrated model of counseling.  Counselors merge the Bible with secular psychology theory as the authorities in their counseling.  Often, the Bible just becomes a display item and the psychologist has full authority in these people's lives.  Most Christian counselors are godly, loving and devoted believers in Christ and truly desire to see God's children helped by Him.  The problem is that there is a disconnect in thinking that the Bible just doesn't cover the issues that we face today, or it is too simplistic to use as the sole authority to help the hurting.  Dr. Adams worked diligently and passionately to expose this wrong thinking and bring the Bible back to its place as God's inspired Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword and able to expose the intentions and motives of our hearts.  God's Word is sufficient for all of life. 
I was exposed to the biblical counseling movement by reading a number of Dr. Adams' books and God used those books to develop the conviction in me to serve in this ministry because I am convinced that the Bible is all sufficient for all of life's problems and struggles.  I shared Dr. Bob Kellemen's review of this book on my Facebook page and thought that the book could be a helpful resource.  Now, with Jay Younts' review, I am not so sure.  I think that the book has some good things in it, but I am in agreement with Mr. Younts' concerns about it.  You can read the reviews at:  http://christiancounseling.com/content/the-biblical-counseling-movement-–-because-of-adams and http://thegospelcoalition.org/book-reviews/review/the_biblical_counseling_movement_after_adams

I am indebted to Dr. Adams for his work and praise God that there are such men.  If you have read the book, please comment and let me know your thoughts.  I intend to get a copy and read it so that I can give my own review.

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