The notion that biblical counseling is a type of discipleship is a different way of looking at the practice. Compared to the conventional way of living out a person’s life as a disciple of Christ, believers are expected to do what Christ instructed by how He defined discipleship in Scripture. Biblical counseling within a church is a ministry, but the character development and correction that happens through ministering the bible to people with real problems can have therapeutic value. Helping people who want counseling by getting into their lives involves specific one-to-one interest that requires a detailed understanding of a person and the issues faced. Targeted discipleship includes biblical counseling in contrast to group-wide discipleship in a church setting.
To further understand the meaning of biblical counseling, it would be helpful to understand how it is characterized. Or a description of the practice with distinctions about what it does as compared to secular counseling. Interpersonal counsel occurs between people with regularity as an informal type of ministry or discipleship. Still, the formal practice of biblical counseling should have a purpose where further levels of care by qualified counselors can offer more meaningful help to those with more deeply rooted issues. Qualified counselors acknowledge various clinical methods of help, but biblical counselors within the church context are better supported by God’s people. And how Scripture ministers to people at a more personal level don’t include dispensing biblical truth through its use by counsel that involves more careful attention unique to individual circumstances.
While problem resolution at individual granularity can be unpleasant, it’s a vital function of a pastor who helps people who undergo hardships. Pastors and elders minister to people not as a professional pursuit but as a ministry that reaches people to help solve problems that cause them to seek counseling for lasting change. Educated and qualified people who serve as counselors support churches as they minister to people. Still, vetting individuals for soul work should involve more than a standard background check among leaders. There are widespread abuse claims against leaders among evangelical churches that generally happen through counseling sessions that take advantage of the vulnerable. Counseling that occurs among elders and congregation members must involve much more than trust, but a high degree of certainty that there could not be undue social repercussions or stigma that follows without consequences to counselors. Confidentiality is of utmost importance as morally, ethically, and legally permitted by the magistrate.
Both public and private proclamation of God’s word is supported through Scripture (Acts 20:20). Meeting with people privately is a more direct and intimate way of getting at impediments to sanctification as believers mature in Christ. Compared to a public proclamation in the church where exhortations and corrective measures are not specific to a person, pastoral and elder messages are informative and potentially result in heart change among congregants. Individual and private sessions are more kinetic as they produce work within the believer to effect restoration or perspective among hardships. Pastoral counseling one-to-one with people was Apostle Paul’s work and of Christ himself. Shepherds of the church should do likewise. Refer to the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (biblicalcounseling.com).
Pastors and elders are not to be isolated from church members and are integral to counseling efforts that occur with regularity involving elders, certified counselors, Stephen ministers, and the like. Biblical counseling takes persistence with people, and insights into the human heart, including a deeper understanding of Scripture. Bringing both together for the work of ministry as a biblical counselor is an integral and Scriptural approach to discipleship that honors God.
