Biblical Counseling Goal

The ultimate goal in biblical counseling is for change. The change we are looking for is though is not merely that of replacing bad habits. The specific change we are focused on is that of seeing a Christian counselee begin to put off of non-Christlike habits and put on Christlike characteristics (Ephesians 4:22-24). God has called us as believers to admonish every man with all wisdom (Colossians 1:28-29). There is no secret process for imparting wisdom. We cannot make change come about simply through a creative or systematic homework collection assigned over a period of time to a counselee. To admonish someone with wisdom means we must teach them sound theological truth from the Word of God. It is then God that uses this truth in His miraculous sanctification process within the heart of a genuine believer. The miraculous change is all as a result of God and nothing else. His Word and the work of His Holy Spirit is what will foster eternal change in the heart of a believer (Psalm 19:7-14). Many say that it is our job to help the counselee identify the problem, that somehow we are to help them see the root issue beneath a manifested sin in their life. Unfortunately it is only God through a right understanding of His Word that will enlighten the eyes to see their sin in ugly contrast to the Holiness of the living God. It is God that convicts sin no matter how bluntly we point out that sin. We can simply assist a counselee in understanding right Biblical Theology. In doing so we will help them find hope (Romans 15:4) in the forgiveness, the restoration and the sanctification that God promises, in His Word. In teaching them right theology they will begin to understand and embrace that the true purpose in life is to glorify God in everything past, present and future (Romans 11:36).

Cast out demons, should we?

My simple answer to this question is no. My basis for this answer is the fact that biblical counseling is for believers only, and the Bible clearly teaches that true believers cannot be indwelt by a demon and the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit has taken up residency in your heart it is permanent and total residency. Our bodies are not built to be a duplex housing both a demon and the Holy Spirit. Colossians 1:13 says, “for He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” This is saying that there was a transfer of title and the new owner and only occupant is God.

Now, please note that if they are an unbeliever they could be possessed but they need the gospel and Jesus Christ crucified not an exorcism. If they submit to the gospel, God promises to restore and regenerate their heart. If someone claims to have a demon I would simply begin with prayer and then consult the elders of the church for wisdom on how to proceed.

There isn’t any place in biblical counseling for casting out demons. It doesn’t make sense to cast something to the pit when it will be cast there again (2 Peter 2:4). There is a definite transition in Acts from an apostle-led “signs and wonders” mode to an elders-led “faith and obedience” mode (Acts 1-11). Christ’s interactions with demons were unique and the New Testament always presents the casting out of a demon by Christ as a healing and miracle (Mark 1:22-28). There is a difference between Christ’s mode of warfare (command-control) and the post-apostolic era mode (classic mode).

Biblical methodology excludes casting out demons. The Archangel of God won’t rebuke the devil (Jude 9) and the Bible doesn’t teach Christians to confront and cast out demonic forces. Instead it teaches us to resist the Devil and not to rebuke him (James 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9; Eph 6:13). Progressive sanctification in the face of life’s troubles is at stake, not casting out demons.

Spiritual warfare requires that the counselee take up the spiritual armor; such as the breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Fear Homework

Fear Homework assignment:

• Photocopy Psalm 18 and highlight all the possessive pronouns in the chapter.
• Write a short paragraph on why David is using so many possessive pronouns.
• Make a second list of every description David uses for the Lord (i.e. my strength).
• How many times does David call the Lord his rock?
• Is the Lord your rock in this way? Describe briefly why not? Describe briefly what in your life is your rock? Make a list of everything in your life that is a relief for you or a place of safety or comfort during troubled times?
• Pray through these various lists confessing anything and everything in your life to the Lord that has been your false rock or your false hope that you have placed your security in or hope in to the Lord. Confess this as sin, as worship of a false or “other” god.
• Commit to the Lord to place Him in His rightful, sovereign place in your life.
• Each evening before you go to sleep review these lists briefly and reread Psalm 18 and pray again confessing again where you have misplaced your trust and hope during the day. The goal of this is the get you to retrain your mind and heart to place your entire hope, security and life in the loving hands of your creator.

Worry Homework

Worry homework assignment:

• Read chapters 1-3 of Jerry Bridges, Trusting God.
• Keep a running journal on who or what you are a slave to in your life. Have you completely submitted to the Lord in every area of your life? With your money? With your debt? Pleasure? Comfort? Commit in prayer to the Lord everyday to begin to die to these controlling factors in your life. Commit to Christ each day to be a faithful slave to Him not to anyone or anything else.
• Meditate during moments of worry on the concept “consider the cost” of being a Christian.
• Read Ephesians 6 and make a list of anything appears to be a command. Make a running “to do” list for yourself from this chapter and try to accomplish as many of them as you can during moments of worry. Keep a journal of your progress and struggles.

Depression Homework

Depression Homework assignment:

• Memorize Psalm 131
• Everyday make a list in the morning of anything that I am involving myself in that is too great for me to handle alone or accomplish within my abilities for that specific day.
• Meditate on verse 2 of Psalm 131 anytime you begin to feel depresses. Question yourself on wether or not you are controlling your emotions or if you are allowing your emotions to control you, your attitude or your speech.
• Keep a running journal on everything you are placing your hope in during the day. This will be critical in reviewing the moments or hours prior to depression setting in to see what things happened right before a depression begins. Where was your hope placed in those preceding moments? What is your hope set on during depression?
• Read Psalm 18 daily. Begin to look for what in your life is your rock. Specifically looking for what you consistently run to when you get depressed? Keep daily notes on these findings.
• Pray that God would help you to stay focused on Him and glorifying Him even during a depression by consistently fulfilling your daily responsibilities in life.

Anger

Anger is an emotion expressed to correct a perceived wrong. While it is part of being made in the image of God and in and of itself anger is not sinful, but I tend to believe that only God can be angry without sinning. I have heard too many people try to justify their anger as being a righteous anger but it is too easy to cross that line of self-righteousness in the process. The world is constantly teaching us that we have rights that should not be violated and it is anger that most often is used to defend these perceived violations of our “rights.” The bible teaches us to be peacemakers with one another. Even in the Matthew 18 discipline process the goal is restoration not simply that of an empowered rebuke. While anger may be a God created emotion, look at the account of Jonah and the Ninevites. Jonah was angry (a God created emotion) however it was within an uncontrolled anger that Jonah’s pride blinded him from being able to see the mercy that God has shown to the Israel nation countless times and it was in the same pride that Jonah refused to see a merciful God extending an opportunity for grace and forgiveness to the Ninevites. At best someone may be frustrated with something and be wrestling with how to react or respond to something but even in that moment before anger becomes full bloom, it is best to practice “even a fool is wise when he keeps his mouth shut.”
With my children I teach them through James chapter 4 and show them where more often than not their anger stemmed from a right desire that became wrongfully a “must have” in the situation. When one of my kids (or me for that matter) would like a situation or conversation to go a certain way for good selfless reasons and it doesn’t, the anger that follows cannot be deemed righteous. It must be looked at as idolatry, something that in the moment we have allowed to progress from a desire to a god. We want something, we don’t get it and so we get angry. Even if what we want is good, the anger is sin.

Depression

Depression develops a foothold in someone’s life when typical setbacks in life are not handled in a God honoring way. Depression can be caused by physical as well as medical conditions. When we are conducting our data gathering process we need to be very much aware of any medical conditions of family medical history conditions that may be symptomatic of depression like symptoms. Equally important is that of sleep habits. Many studies have been done by the medical world that have proven that depression as well as hallucinative conditions can be induced by a simple lack of sleep. When someone comes in regarding depression therefore it is critical that medical and physical causes have been ruled out prior to addressing the depressive condition. If it is true depression, where they are down or out, even if an organic cause will have been accompanied by poor decisions, all of this must be dealt with in tandem with the medical professionals. Someone may be on medications from a physician for the depression symptoms but we can easily be dealing with right thinking habits as well as right decision making habits so that the mind of the counselee is being washed in the Word of God throughout the depression. God has said his Word is sufficient and calls us to glorify Him in past, present and future aspects of life (Romans 11:36). Counselees need to take responsibility for their reactive actions to situations and people in the midst of every trial to the glory of God. Our goal is to give them the tools from Scripture as anchors in their life that will provide the lasting hope they need to battle any depth of depression. Many in the biblical counseling world will say that depression starts with not dealing with sin in a biblical or godly way, this is an over generalization and cannot and should not be used as a rule of thumb. Each situation with depression must be dealt with independently and with a thorough investigation prior to simply labeling the depression a result of sin. We are not the judge of the heart. Our role is to encourage, help and rebuke but all must be done in gentleness and love (1 Thes. 5:14).