Expository Counseling
by Bill Blair on 17/06/08 at 4:01 am
Yesterday I got started on my J-term. I am taking Typical Problems in Biblical Counseling taught by Dr. Stuart Scott. This is my second class with Dr. Scott, and I am looking forward to learning a ton of stuff this week.
Dr. Scott threw out an idea in class yesterday regarding something he would like to see utilized in counseling situations. He referred to it as expository counseling. Before I describe his idea, I probably should explain the concept of Biblical counseling first because I am sure some of you don’t what it is.
I don’t have canned definition to throw out, but I will try to describe Biblical counseling the best I can. Have you ever been to a psychologist, Christian or otherwise? Were they licensed therapists? If you have and if they were, then you have an idea of what Biblical counseling is NOT. Biblical Counseling is based fully on the Word. Imagine a really good sermon then make it more in-depth and customize it for an intense one-on-one meeting and then you start to get an idea of what Biblical Counseling is.
Yesterday, Dr. Scott explained that he would like to see “expository counseling” utilized in counseling sessions. The way he described it was to essentially counsel people by unpacking entire passages of scripture instead of just using single verses. Essentially, expository counseling would look like one-on-one expository preaching.
I think it is a great idea. To understand the Bible properly, we must understand the context. It seems like if single verses are effective, then unpacking entire passages would be even more effective because the counselee would be coming in contact with the true meaning of the text. If it is good for the pulpit then it ought to be great for the counseling office.
Any thoughts?
Stephen Newell
Jun 17th, 2008
Well, for starters, I think that the insinuation that “Christian psychology” isn’t “fully based on the Word” is a caricature that’s been promoted recently, especially as the seminary moved from pastoral counseling to biblical counseling. Certainly, there are quite a few out there who aren’t much more than glorified secular therapists (I call them “Joel Osteen counselors”), but “Christian psychology” (at least at Southern at the time of the change) is a Scripture-based discipline. I’d encourage you to read Eric Johnson’s Foundations for Soul Care to get a good view of what “Christian psychology” actually is.
Now that being said, I like the idea, on the surface, of “expository counseling.” Leading a counselee through a whole block of Scripture that pertains to their situation has the potential to be life-changing. I already do this in couples/premarital/marriage counseling with Ephesians 5. But I’d like to know more about what Dr. Scott means by “expository counseling,” simply because if he honestly thinks people don’t do this (at least those in the recent generation coming out of Southern), he must not get out much!
Bill Blair
Jun 17th, 2008
Thanks for the response Stephen.
Regarding the first part of your comment, I think the trouble is the “Osteen counselors” as you called them. The type that might go fully with psychology with a few Bible verses sprinkled in. I included my description for some that might think of those type of counselors.
Dr. Scott’s comment regarding “expository counseling” was one of those “extra” discussions you get in a class that is not on the notes. The context was a teaching on biblical decision making and the importance of using good hermeneutics when searching the commands and principles in Scripture. It was a spin-off from the importance of context.
Using your example of Ephesians 5, I think what he has in mind would be to expand beyond that so the counselee understands the entire Epistle. The way I understand it is that he would like to expand beyond the passage or block in scripture that focuses on a person’s issue so they better understand the context. Whatever he has in mind, I am sure he is well aware of what recent Southern grads are doing in counseling since he is one of the main people teaching them; therefore, I think his vision of “exository counseling” would be an expansion beyond that. I’ll ask him tomorrow.
Stephen Newell
Jun 18th, 2008
Actually, Dr. Scott is pretty new. He didn’t seem to have that much interaction with those who were in the pastoral counseling program as it was going out. He and Dr. Stinson have primarily taught the biblical counseling students, and interestingly enough, many of those students, who were coming in as the PC program was going out, were solidly “anti-psychology.”