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What You'll Discover in this Episode:
The Lord is Counselor
We're continuing the discussion about biblical counseling and realizing that the Lord is the actual counselor.
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I was taught to memorize Psalm 23 at a young age, and never really understood it until I was older. I am thankful for the reminder and further knowledge of this passage. How God, calling Himself the Good Shepheard, states that He provides and cares and protects us in a simple word. I really feel moved to talk and pray about this passage throughout the week, to rest and know that God is my Shepheard Who loves me and will not lead me to poisonous waters or into chaotic wastelands. God is the hope that I know everyone searches for, and only a few find. I want to be able to carry this message of hope to others through Formal and Informal counseling throughout my days. Jesus looks for the lost sheep, and God provides and protects from the thief that comes to kill and destroy.
Also I believe the fact that Christ Himself is our main counselor is so important because He doesn’t always use the same methods of healing in different peoples lives, even if the circumstances are parallel. Perhaps what worked in one life would not be the method the Lord would want to use in another. I believe this is why it’s so important to point people to scripture so they can be ministered to by the Lord Himself rather than telling people what to do. Instead helping a person see what is already theirs in the Word! I am amazed at the Lord’s faithfulness to guide in the details of life. He might not always give us instruction ahead of time but He will give us what we need when we need it. It is very validating that the Lord is the One who is faithful to Shepherd His sheep. I am resting in that promise in my current circumstances. Thank you for bringing these things up to meditate upon!
I really enjoyed this podcast. I love the focus that the Lord Himself is our Counselor and that we should expectantly look to Him to guide us and also that He is our Shepherd and provides everything we need. Incredibly grateful that He will counsel and not leave us orphans.
The word counseling has always been viewed as a secular form of help. I did not understand or ever put bible and counseling together. So verses like Isaiah 9:6 have been a major turning point for me in understanding God is our counselor and His Word is sufficient. Gives hope to be better equipped in ministering one to another whether formal or informal. God is enough to heal those broken and in bondage to sin. To add anything else , such as counseling techniques, man’s wisdom and or psychiatric care is to weaken or take away from the authority of God. Man can not see the heart only God can and only His Word and power of the Holy Spirit can penetrate the hardest heart. Unfortunately, many men and women have been turned away from the church for lack of understanding and not being properly equipped. My hope is to come alongside others with God is the expert and He is the all sufficient counselor. Thank you Pastor Jeff.
This really blew my mind especial reading the chapters first. when it spoke about the problems with self driven life. As someone who struggled with self worth this made no sense to me. I went to sleep praying and with many questions. In the morning, I continue reading and it answered my questions. its like the podcast states man has made many good ideas to help people but they come short. looking at my personal life trusting God has never failed me. it has made me confident that God keeps his promises. I believe many people would love to be counsel by God. However they don’t know how nor think its possible. How exiting will it be that God would us as an instrument to point people towards Him the faithful counselor. The end of psalms 23 comes to my mind ” Surely Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and will dwell in the house of the lord Forever.
Luis, I also believe that people really do want to be counseled by God. I would dare to say that most might prefer to hear from God than continue to hear the opinions of man. And yes, God has said that he will use His body of believers to minister to others in and out of the church. Like you, I am also looking forward to approaching my walk with Christ through an intentional lens of what my bible says how to give counsel like Christ gave counsel.
This podcast offered some awesome insight into what biblical counseling really looks like in action. Pastor Jeff clarified that a great way to make the Lord the counselor is to offer bible verses, prayer, a sort of homework that the person can take back into their daily lives and develop that intimacy with Jesus. I notice that offering godly counsel can be enlightening, but it doesn’t have that lasting and impactful discipleship that we as counselors are shooting for unless the Lord fully becomes their counselor, not us. David’s relationship with the Lord, poetically unveiled in Psalm 23, is the pronouncement that we desire every person we counsel to eventually make on their own behalf. “The Lord is my Shepherd… He leads me… He restores… I will fear no evil for You are with me… Your rod and staff comfort me… my cup runs over… goodness and mercy follow me”–these are all truths and confident statements that I want every person I counsel to know and lean on.
Caleb, your post reminded me of a unique distinction in the New Living Translation (NLT) for Psalm 23:1. I really needed to read, hear, and be reminded of this truth today.
Using the Blue Letter Bible, you can see fifteen translations of one verse on a single screen. Almost all the translations say: The Lord is my shepherd; followed by either –
I shall not want or I do not lack
NLT – The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
That is the counseling that I needed today.
This was another great pod cast and reminder of who the actual counselor is. I have had both worldly counsel and biblical counsel, and the worldly counsel focused on self and was very much limited to things in their own strength, and trying to get things figured out in their way. When I saw a biblical counselor they didn’t focus on anything but directing me to the one who could really help me and showing me who Jesus was. They directed me through scripture and not once ever took credit for even their obedience, they said they were just an instrument. Their counsel was through the scriptures and taking my focus off myself and feelings and emotions.
So true Margaret, worldly counsel can only be focused on self and your own strength and putting hope in the highly educated “credentialed” expert. When needing to get something fixed, it is logical to research for the most qualified, experienced and positive track record of that individual. We are putting our trust into that individual, from a worldly perspective. Once you have Christ as your Lord and Savior, that worldly focus gets replaced with our Godly focus and we realize that we have a greater hope that no man can provide!
Its a new realization for me that God is our main counselor in life and that people are really just an instrument used by God to point people to Him. the real source. Many times I have gone to people seeking advice instead of going directly to Christ. But God is a loving God who wants to have a personal relationship and not just be our guide in theory. Its important to know that God desires to be our counselor and there is so much scripture to back this up.
Hi Leslie,
Thank you for being vulnerable by sharing how in the past you gone to others for counsel then to Wonderful Counselor first. It is definitely eye opening when we discover who we choose to seek advice and counsel. It is great to hear that you have seeking God first. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
As I’ve been mulling over what Pastor Christianson shared, what really stood out to me was how humans attempting to counsel humans with their own skills and perspective, cannot deliver true peace, only a fragmented version of it.
Jesus is the peace this world desperately needs. It is both who He is what He offers, and it is far greater than just the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. Shalom is a much richer word than our English equivalent and essentially means complete or whole. This is what Christ brought into the world and what is offered. Peace that is holistic. A state of shalom – a wholeness not attainable any other way. He is shalom and lasting shalom comes only through Him.
If Christ is Shalom – then we must count it as joy and always humbly direct all to Jesus as the solution. It really comes down to understanding what is on the table: fragmented offerings of the world or the holistic Shalom of Jesus. Really, it’s living as a complete human being, in a relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s joyfully living within our design.
I’m excited to continue through the class, I have seriously already had my eyes opened in our first 3 days, can’t wait to see where I’ll be in two months.
Thank you for the wisdom you ate sharing.
I love this truth. that Jesus will counsel me. What a promise. I have been involved in both worldly and Godly counsel. It is so true that worldly counsel always falls short. We do not know all that is going on in a person’s mind like the Holy Spirit does. When we force someone to change their behavior by peer pressure, we have only got the job partially done. When we get someone connected to the vine, that is Jesus, we give that person the ability to continually draw nourishment and truth from the best source. It is like the old story of teaching a person to fish rather then just giving them a fish. Jesus is the source of all truth, and when we bypass seeking His wisdom by using our own wisdom we greatly short change anyone we might try to help. We must constantly be in the Word ourselves in order to be equipped to give help to anyone. That is our part of being connected to the vine.
Hello Harry,
The Vine and being connected to Jesus is especially fresh for me because recently, God has been speaking to my heart about the Vine and the source of life that He is. The picture of a vine and the nourishment the branches receives from it has stuck with me in a really powerful way.
I am looking forward to sharing this truth to those that God brings into my life to counsel because it is such an encouragement to know that our strength, everything that we need to flourish and thrive is received directly from Jesus.
I made a comment similar to yours, Harry. Being connected to the vine or being “taught how to fish” is the type of counseling we practice. This is an encouragement for me to keep abiding in Christ so that I can help others to abide in Christ as well. We have to be careful to stick to Jesus’ awesome design of the church body/life as the mechanism for healing and discipleship (counseling) to happen. Like you said, Jesus alone is the source of truth and wisdom so we have to keep it focused on Him.
This is so true we don’t know whats going on in a person’s mind, only God knows, but when we pray for the spirit to show us, He can guide us as long as we don’t depend on self to try and figure things out because our thoughts can be deceptive. We can’t change a person but we can show them truth and guide them to the one who can change their heart. When we rely on self we fall short but when we rely on God he is all knowing.
What a great way to begin this course, with the reminder that the Lord is the true Counselor. “Anchor your thinking in the fact that He is Counselor!” When I’m anchored instead in my own self or ability or strength, then I’m carrying an unnecessary burden and failing to point to the eternal and true Source of counsel.
So often when I approach a discipleship/counseling situation, I find myself anxious if I fall short in providing practical advice or even an “assignment” to take home. I want to solve the problem, tick the box, and move on with a sense of accomplishment.The reality is that this is a pride issue and makes it so that “man has to become an expert on man”. What freedom to be encouraged and reminded that I do and will fall short as a counselor, and my goal should instead be to send them off in a way that causes them to seek out an appointment with the real Counselor. Work yourself out of a job!
(side note- I live in Ireland where it’s spelled “Counsellor” so every time I see it typed with only one “L” it look sooo wrong but I forced myself to do it!!)
Hi Rachel,
Wow, that’s awesome you are in Ireland. I’d love to travel there someday!
I can completely relate to the anxiety of wanting to present and/or leave the other person with some “nugget” and a “paint by numbers” type of solution. Predictably, the times I have done the best job are when I have been directing them to Jesus and encourage them to pour into Him and not drowning them with “Bryan’s thoughts about EVERYTHING”. As you said, it seems like pride is always the greatest battle. I keep thinking if we do our job proficiently, it will be because we will have gotten out of the way as quickly as possible. More Jesus and less me.
That is the type of “Councellor” our world and churches need 🙂
Great point, its almost relieving to know that we don’t have to come up with an answer ourselves, but that God most likely has something for it in his word.
The world has made self-sufficiency the goal in life. Even as children are raised they are raised with the idea of one day making them self-sufficient. Little does the world know that we are created to be “God-sufficient”. The idea that He created humanity with the intention of always being there for us in every situation is amazing. The problem is that people have a hard time believing what they can not physically see or audibly hear. So many people say, myself included at one point, “I asked the Lord but I just don’t hear Him”. As Pastor Jeff said it is through the scriptures, reading, studying and teaching that we hear Him. It’s in that time of intimacy that He counsels us. I understand that now, and feel a great urgency for those in need to understand it to. I’m so excited for this new series!
The world tells us that we don’t need anyone and if you have to rely on anyone you are failing in life, especially if you have to rely on God. So many people see reliance on God as weakness. Like you said Ericka, “people have a hard time believing what they can not physically see or audibly hear.” If only those preaching this message of self-sufficiency could understand the freedom and strength that Christ offers us.
Well said Ericka. It’s such a lie of the enemy to tell us that we are enough or sufficient. It comes off at first as affirming and empowering, a self-boosting encouragement that we need. And then we realize as we go through life and fail and struggle that in fact, we are totally not enough and not at all sufficient. How wonderful that God makes provision for our weakness and that we don’t have to pretend to be anything other than what we are- broken people in need of a Saviour. Christ is Enough!
Erika, I love your comment, “we are created to be God-sufficient”. Amen sister! He is our need above any physical need be may have. He is our ultimate need! The world is filled with people trying to fill the holes in their lives with whatever they can find to satiate their desire when God created each person for Himself to be whole and free in the saving life of Jesus Christ.
You are right about those times of hurt where God comes and ministers to our wounded, broken hearts. He is a faithful, loving, caring Shepherd.
Pastor Jeff’s podcast was so encouraging for me today. We hear so many voices in this world. Sometimes the voices are loud and intrusive and what I love is that Jeff’s teaching brings the Christian right back to the heart of asking myself and the people in my life, “Who is my counselor, who is instructing me and guiding me along the path of life?” The world “should” in Psalm 32:8 was emphasized in my mind and heart. The Lord will instruct and teach me in the way way I should go and He has His eye on me! How comforting this is and has ministered to me greatly this morning. I want to be on His path and instructed by Him and Him only!
It struck me when Pastor Jeff reminded that men cannot see each other’s hearts. Only God can see into our hearts, minds and souls and so of course He is the only One truly qualified to counsel and minister to us within the depths of our being. The Holy Spirit counsels us from an eternal perspective but man counsels from an earthly perspective. How in the world could I counsel someone with my own point of view when God trumps any idea or opinion I may have with the undeniable fact that He looks right into the heart of man and knows exactly how to minister to that person. This also takes the burden off me or anyone else counseling because the Lord is the Counselor and my responsibility is to point any person seeking counsel right back to the Lord and His Word.
Amen Audra! Great to be reminded of that eternal perspective that we can often lose sight of- that the Holy Spirit counsels from an eternal perspective but man counsels from an earthly perspective. When you stop to consider this, it’s actually so heartbreaking to think of all the people who are seeking counsel from man- a broken, sinful, insufficient source. How wonderful that we can draw counsel (both as counselors and counselees) from a Source that is omniscient, loving, sufficient, and never runs dry!
Amen Rachel!
I share your same feeling, pointing a person to Jesus is infallible. It is a heavy burden to know someone is trusting the course of their life to you, not knowing if the advice I give was good or bad stopped me from counseling many times. In all honesty I’m glad it did because I would have given my own “Godly opinion” or maybe even bible verses but not ones that would lead them to sufficiency in Christ. I praise God for the revelation and preparation He is giving us threw Pastor Jeff.
I came across a very catchy title for a ministry group that was being offered at a nearby church. The title was, “Do you have hurts, habits, or hang-ups? Then this class is for you!” I thought to myself, wow this class must always be full because who doesn’t have hurts that they still need Jesus to help heal them from. Who doesn’t have habits that are contrary to God’s Word, and who doesn’t have hang-ups or things they haven’t gotten over yet? I am in! But to my surprise, the leaders of this group said this ministry is mainly for people who have addictive behavioral patterns and dysfunctional relationships and it didn’t look like I needed this type of bible study. I instantly felt sad because they replaced God’s word for their own judgment. They said it looked like I had it together, and didn’t need God to help me. But just like you read in Psalm 73:24 God wants to guide me all my life with His wisdom and counsel until he receives me into the glory of heaven!
The saddest thing is that this happens so often in churches. Not only the judgement but also integration of the world into the church. It’s like the church wants to make its self adaptable to the world forsaking even the intention of God for His creation. Every part of me wants to believe that it is a lot of un-informed (not conformed) Pastors and leaders.
That is so sad Tammy. As someone who grew up in the church those around me assumed that I never struggled with anything. I never felt like I could share my struggles because they were too small or I was afraid that people would be disappointed in me. That changed when God opened my eyes to the fact that nobody is perfect or should expect anyone else to be perfect.
We would never expect someone who is not a Christian to counsel God’s way so why would we expect someone who is a Christian to counsel the world’s way? One of the things that intrigued me about biblical counseling is that the goal is to help people get to a point where they no longer need an earthly counselor. I was talking to a counselor at my church and she was telling me that she always sets an “end date” for her counseling sessions. Her goal is not to make people reliant upon her but upon God for counseling. I know people who go to psychologists and they continue to see them for years on end with no noticeable change in their situation. I love that being a biblical counselor is less about giving people all the answers but about pointing them to the One who created everything.
I agree, I think this was the best revelation for me, that God himself would counsel me. and i’m sure to many others as well. Sometimes we just want to see Jesus with skin on and we go to other people! but how much stronger and more intimate can our relationship with Christ be if we go to him first. I’m sure he would provide all the answers, but it would require true seeking and trust, and of course finding it in his word.
I agree! I used to consistently go to others for counsel in my early years of Christianity. I have found that that did a great job of growing me in maturity as well as maturing those friendships/mentoring relationships however I have found as I’ve grown closer to the Lord I’ve needed to shift that a bit and go to Him first and foremost. I often feel free to share with others after I’ve first prayed to God first. I do know though how tempting it can be to go to a person first who we can see and hear. I do believe the richest life is to go to Him first. Such a great point!
Good comments Rebekah. We should always lead people toward doing business with God. We need to avoid the on going therapy session. A good Biblical counselor will always work himself out of a job.
This is a very good point and shows the signs of a sacrificial shepherd I believe knowing the goal is for the sheep to go to the true Shepherd. It is sad however that sometimes this can get mixed up for people and there can be some pretty strong dependencies upon counselors. Definitely a great thing to keep in mind as either the counseled or the counselor. To help a person become more dependent on Jesus and not the counselor!
Yes your are right why continue to seek mans self made advise when we can go the Boss the “wonderful counselor”. it seems like we are giving in to the worlds view or life principal and letting it come into the church. But God is where we get our Wisdom from.
That is one of the goals for a counselor to see the counseled dependent on the Lord themselves. I do appreciate the time frame and having a goal towards healing and not allowing the counselee to become stagnant. I hadn’t even realized the difference from Christian Counseling to biblical counseling. My prayer is for people to realize the authority of God’s word in our lives as we come alongside others in counseling. Blessings.
That is so true people who see psychologists go to them for years with no change in the situation, their answer is to give some times to give medication and rely on themselves. A biblical counselor will guide a person to rely on God through the Word and showing them that there is hope not in self but in truth and the only one who can change them.
One of the key highlights for me from the podcast is when Pastor Christianson said, Man can come up with good words of advice…, but they do fall short of the Lord’s best advice.
It is so obvious to me, and I’m sure to others when I provide counsel from my own strength, knowledge, and understanding. I desire to provide the Lord’s best advice to everyone I council.
As I think about providing the Lord’s best advice, I feel some anxiety about performing at that level. But then I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
He is the Wonderful Counselor!
Hi Chander, I definitely know the feeling of trying to provide counsel from my own strength. I may come away feeling momentarily accomplished but the reality is that my advice falls short of the Lord’s best advice! Great verse just to encourage us to trust in the Lord as opposed to our own understanding. Sometimes I think I totally understand a situation or issue someone is dealing with and I counsel according to my understanding instead of leaning into the Lord and seeking His wisdom. A constant challenge that He must increase and I must decrease!
I totally agree with you, I am so thankful that I will learn to rely on God for counseling. and the pressure will not be on my self-performance.
When I was studying for my Personal trainer certification I had to become familiar with many muscles groups. And one of the things we were taught was about muscle imbalances. It basically means that you have a muscle that is tight or stretched out, and this causes the the opposite muscle to be pulled or weaken. This can cause back, knee, shoulder, and neck issues. When Pastor Jeff spoke about the brain not being the cause of our thoughts, I thought of muscle imbalances. Just because your knee hurts doesn’t necessary mean it your knee is injured, it could be that you have a muscle around the knee that is tight or stretched out. that is where physical training can help heal the injury.
Just like our thoughts can bring pain, fear, and anger it not the brain that is causing the issue. We may think or believe it is, but like a muscle imbalance there’s is something else that is causing the pain. Which in most cases is our minds or thought life. Once we get our thought life in control by giving it over to the Lord, by studying the word of God and seeking him in prayer, all of our fears, pains, and struggles will be restored and healed.
This was a great reminder that I need to get deeper and not take counseling at face surface. Great podcast!
Hi Michelle,
That’s a really great connection you made involving muscle imbalance and the brain. It’s amazing how God will use His Word to to bring healings to the sinful state of our mind, washing us clean, giving us a new starting point. While Jesus is the one who does the transformation, we are called to make the choice for that process to happen. It’s often our biggest battle, not just coming before Him, but truly surrendering.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Bryan, Yes, you’re very correct is in stating the the biggest battle is process and surrendering to the Lord. We can sometimes make the process for healing and restoration harder that it has to be. Thanks for commenting. Blessings! Michelle
The great divide between secular and biblical counseling is the primary source of counsel. The biblical counselor is both a practitioner and recipient of counsel from the Wonderful Counselor; the Lord Himself. The Secular counselor and those trained in similar institutions are the sole sources of counsel and you are beholden to them. They are more than mere instruments, they are the catalysts for change themselves.
I am glad that Pastor Jeff has made this clear time and again because there can be a subtle deception to those who are ignorant of this divide. Additionally, the biblical counselor is just as in need of counseling as the counselee. The counselor has not arrived or apprehended to some level beyond the troubles we all face in this fallen world. This prompts us to counsel from a place of humble sincerity, not esteeming ourselves more highly than we ought to. It also serves as a precautionary reminder that we too are susceptible to the same sorts of deception and disobedience. I look forward to the next episode as we continue to go through Psalm 23.
You made a great point when you wrote …not esteeming ourselves more highly than we ought to. This is so important to remember, especially when so many secular counselors hold an elevated position in society.
During a meeting with several counselors, I mistakenly referred to a guest speaker as Mr. instead of Dr.; the offense was so significant the gentlemen interrupted the flow of the meeting and said to me, “please repeat the question and address me as Dr.”
Lord, may I always counsel from a place of humble sincerity, not esteeming myself more highly than I ought to. David Bowman – thank you for that reminder.
Hello David,
Your thoughts on counseling from a place of humility and being sincere resonate deeply with me. It sure keeps it real when we humble ourselves and give God the place of Counselor and understand that we are His ambassadors and our role is to point people to Christ as THE Counselor. This keeps us in “our place” which should be humble and not deluded into thinking more of ourselves than we ought or are. Good thoughts and word David. Thank You!
Right David. We must realize that we are just conduits of the grace and wisdom of God. This might not give us the glory and prestige that our flesh would like, but it does bring glory to God, where it belongs.
Thank you for ‘your teaching on ‘The Lord is Counselor’ podcast Pastor! ‘I am counseled as I study’ applied to me already. Furthermore, your counseling technique, God’s way, when you said, ‘ little do they know II am setting up an appointment with the Real Counselor’, revealed the difference between man’s way of counseling versus God’s – when people go to you for solutions – you actually point them towards the One who has answers to all life issues.
I am becoming more convinced that I am where God wants me to be, on the first day of Biblical Studies in Counseling. It seems simple and an easy common sense degree course, but you have to be in Christ to get it.
Angela, that really is a good word. Leading people to the true shepherd, instead of whatever tend is next.
Aawww! I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be here and study His Word and meet wonderful people like you along the way! I love that your answers reveal a little about each of you and it is amazing how God can use and meet us where we are. I am very simple in the fact that all I know and understand is, He is everything we need to make it in this life. When people try to meet their needs through some other source, all the time they find that a big part is still unmet and unfulfilled. I have seen that in my family, my clients and even a big majority in my church family.
I am glad that Michelle, Jared, David and the others in this class I have not met – yet – are one in pursuit of the wisdom and treasure of knowledge found only in Jesus Christ, as we help make that known to others.
Angelica, I am happy to hear of your zeal and excitement for your studies in biblical counseling. I know that the Lord will show you great and wondrous things from His Law every time you open it up.
Yes, I love the opportunity to set people up with the “Real Counselor”. It is a privilege and honor to see people go from dependence upon the counselor to reliance on Christ and His Word. This is a work of His Spirit and I hope to help set up many more divine appointments in the future.
Hi David! Thanks so much and just like you, I would love and take every chance I get to help set up an appointment between God and a client, family member or friend. As it says in Rom.15:14 and Col. 3:16, pointed out in our course material, The Psychologizing of the Faith – in essence, Christians are responsible to give counseling to others periodically, admonishing and serving one another. More importantly, I believe we will be equipped to do those if we do not overlook the fact that we all need counseling ourselves, the reason it is imperative that we read the Word everyday.
Hi Angelica, so excited for you, as you start this journey into calling that has been placed in your heart. Our Heavenly Father will be guide and give you all confidence and abilities to get through your studies. Welcome!
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23, 24)
Something that really resonated with me was when you said that the brain does not secrete thoughts as the liver secretes bile.
Then looking into the two things that bile does for our bodies: that it is critical for digestion and absorption of vitamins, but also turns the what isn’t needed into waste. So then if we don’t deal with or allow our thoughts to be dealt with, then they just stay in our minds weighting us down, so to speak.
Then taking that into Psalm 23 with the Lord being our shepherd, taking us where we need to be so our souls can be restored.
Hey Jared! Thanks for writing. Yes, the brain is a physical organ, while the mind is not. The spirit and soul (Hebrews 4:12) are NOT the same thing as the brain. Many people get this confused.
Secular research suggests that more and more behaviors are caused by brain function or dysfunction. But is it ever legitimate to blame misbehavior on the brain? How can I know whether “My brain made me do it”?
Viewing brain problems through the lens of Scripture, we distinguish genuine brain disorders from problems rooted in the heart. Understanding that distinction will enable counselors to help others—or themselves—deal with personal struggles and responsibilities.
Jared, I also found that point to be of interest. The heart of man that is referred to in Scripture is not the four-chambered organ that pumps blood throughout the body in a rhythmic fashion. It is the seat of our emotions and will.
Proverbs 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Proverbs 12:20, Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
Only the Lord can truly discern what’s in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Therefore, we must submit our every thought, word, and deed to the scrutiny and examination of the Lord and His Word. In this way, we can avoid self-deception and dwelling in the futility of our thoughts. The Fall of Man is solid proof that when we reason with evil/sin, we end up deceived into disobedience.
This thread of comments reminded me of the calling we have as biblical counselors. The world’s population is growing by the minute, and it seems like the culture and the people are getting darker each day. Despite all our progression and advancement, consciousness, neuroscience, the soul, spirit, and the mind are all topics that are barely (and often mis-)understood by leading secular figures. This just highlights how much we need to direct people to Jesus, the all-knowing Shepherd, as our guide and counselor.