When it comes to church, there are a lot of moving parts. It takes a lot of time and effort to get everything just right. However, what happens when your church is not moving in the right direction? How do you get it back on track? Biblical counseling is one-way churches can start moving in the right direction again. This blog post will discuss how biblical counseling can help your church move in the right direction!
How should a church move forward with Biblical Counseling?
Biblical Counselors have shared three viewpoints that are often fiercely disputed when considered in the context of counseling:
- The church must counsel individuals through their difficulties rather than depending on persons outside the church.
- The objective of counseling is to help people make a long-term positive change in their life, and the greatest change that individuals need is for them to trust Christ enough to go His way. This faith has far-reaching effects on all other decisions made throughout one’s life, allowing one to better face the challenges of existence. Counseling never puts faith as a secondary issue.
- We learn from the life of Christ that we should rely on the Holy Spirit and holy Scripture, and therefore we should work to increase our reliance. We lack the capacity or knowledge to alter for ourselves. To change, we need the power of the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Scripture.
These three ideas are typically accepted within the church. However, many Christian therapy clinics encounter skepticism and resistance when these beliefs are presented, leaving them out of treatment.
So what do you do if you are troubled by this too?
First, you should educate yourself on the basics of biblical counseling.
Second, you should start attending a local church already implementing biblical counseling. This will give you a first-hand look at how it works and benefits those who receive it.
Third, you should reach out to your pastor or elders and express your interest in seeing biblical counseling implemented at your church. Ask if there are any plans to do so in the future, and offer to help in any way you can.
Fourth, Do your church, and community members think to turn to your church for help? In a post-religious nation, counseling the hurting may be a great entrance for the gospel into your neighborhood. When your church is recognized for high quality and consistent service, neighboring people are aware of it. The atmosphere of love that envelops your congregation attracts many to Christ. On the other hand, if your church cannot provide answers to people in need, it confirms for many skeptics that the institution has no relevance to their existence.
Fifth, The Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC) website provides a wealth of resources on biblical counseling, including articles, books, podcasts, and more.
Finally, if you are serious about wanting to see biblical counseling implemented at your church, consider pursuing training through an accredited institute like the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). This will give you the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively counsel others from a biblical perspective.
By taking these steps, you can help move your church in the right direction with biblical counseling.
Our initial aim was to use Biblical Counseling as an outreach ministry, but we are now discovering that it influences every aspect of the church’s ministries. Biblical Counseling is competent and capable of performing this function for a church since it aligns with what God has called churches to be and do. So embrace the adventure and go forward. If you are unsure where to begin, contact us, and we will be happy to assist you. Call us today for counseling.