'...and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.' (2 Corinthians 5:15)
All people are born self-centred. Everything we do in life is motivated ultimately by this sinful orientation.
Jesus came to radically reset our hearts on Him. In Christ we are slowly changed to live for Him, not ourselves.
'All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.' (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Scriptures provide us with everything we need to live a God-pleasing, Christ-like life.
The solution to any behavioural, emotional, spiritual, attitudinal, or psychological problem is in the Bible.
'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.' (Colossians 3:16)
God has called us to live in community. The individual struggle with sin ought to take place within the context of a loving, encouraging, admonishing church family.
Counselling is the task of the Christian community. The church will function more effectively in this role as it is unified in a Scriptural understanding of the causes of and solutions for life problems.
'The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.' (Luke 6:45)
We are fundamentally worshippers. Everything we do is an expression of worship of the treasure of our heart.
The root cause of all sin is idolatry. God-pleasing change begins with a change of God.
'I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.' (Romans 15:14)
A competent counsellor is one who is filled with goodness and with the knowledge of the Scriptures.
All Christians are capable of being competent to counsel and should seek to attain such fullness.
'Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.' (Colossians 1:28-29)
Christlikeness is the standard at which all change must be aimed and by which it must be measured.
All counselling must be performed with the purposeful intention of presenting everyone mature in Christ.
'For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.' (Romans 11:36)
The ultimate goal of Counselling is the glory of God.
Counselling will only be to Him when its understanding and methodology are derived from Him and are carried out through His grace.
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