The goal of biblical counseling is allows
at least two people to come together to encounter the gospel of Jesus
Christ. The counseling encounter is illustrated by Paul in his letter to the
Corinthians. He simply wrote, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who
comforted us in all our tribulation" (2 Cor. 1:3,4). Although he stated
he received comfort from God in the midst of tribulation, he does not reveal
the particulars of how he received that comfort.
He does reveal how it occurred later in his letter. He wrote,
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my
glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all
our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no
rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within
were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down,
comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by
the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your
earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I
rejoiced the more. (2 Cor. 7:4-7)
In the first part of his letter, Paul stated that he had
received the comfort of God (1:4). In this latter statement he wrote he was
comforted by the coming of Titus. It was God who comforted Paul, yet it was
Titus who was the instrument of that comfort.
Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems of mankind. However, the healing
touch of God seems to always come through another person. The incarnation of
Christ among believers brings the comfort that is so often needed in living
life.
Paul stated, "Nevertheless God . . . comforted us by the coming of
Titus." The word comforted is from the root word in the original
language to the New Testament meaning, "to call to one’s side."
In the context of the passage of Scripture, it means "to console, to
encourage and to strengthen by consolation." In other words, Titus came
along side of Paul in order that consolation, encouragement, and
strengthening could occur in Paul. It was the comfort of God but it came
when Paul and Titus came together.
In the process of coming along side of another for the purpose of biblical
counseling, there are certain characteristics that always seems to be
present in the successful counseling encounter. The writer of Hebrew reveals
these characteristics by describing the essence of the life of Jesus.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Heb. 4:14-16)
The life of Jesus reveals the characteristics of the
effective biblical counseling encounter.
Compassionate
If Christ has the liberty to manifest Himself in the counseling encounter,
one of the characteristics of the encounter will be compassionate
understanding. The counselor recognizing his own oneness with Adam joins the
one who is being counseled in the "feeling of our infirmities."
Although he probably is not struggling in the identical circumstances of the
one who has come for help, he knows what it is to experience the infirmities
of humanity. He compassionately comes along side of a fellow human being in
the reality of experiencing what it means to be human.
Vulnerability
The second characteristic of the counseling encounter, if Christ is being
manifested, is that the one who is there to help understands his own
vulnerability. He can come along aside of his fellow man knowing that
temptation comes to all men. Even though the end result may manifest itself
in many different ways, the starting point of all temptation is the same.
Although the one who is there to help may feel he is immune to the
particular temptation of the one who has come for help, he knows he is
always vulnerable to temptation.
Approachable
The third characteristic of the counseling encounter actually evolves out of
the previous two. The individual who understands his own vulnerability and
is compassionate will be approachable. If Christ is manifested in the
counseling encounter, there will be a willingness to be open with each
other. When both human frailty and divine power is understood, the struggle
of human beings to live in the source of life is accepted. Judgment is
tempered and accessibility is intensified.
Merciful
The fourth characteristic of the counseling encounter is mercy. Anyone who
has struggled with the understanding of what it means to be Christian knows
that God’s mercy endures forever. People who find it difficult to give
mercy have lost sight of their own humanity. Mercy should flow in the
counseling encounter simply because everyone has been in the same
predicament and received mercy. By turning the focus of living successfully
upon Jesus Christ and not upon man’s effort mercy will always be extended
in the counseling encounter.
Beneficial
Finally, the counseling encounter will always be beneficial if Christ is
manifested in the relationship. There is always grace for every need when
Christ is experienced. When the grace of God flows freely, the provision for
successful counseling will be in force throughout the counseling encounter.
The two coming together can come boldly unto the throne of grace and find
grace to help in the time of need.
In the mystery of the incarnation of Christ coming into the gathering of two
people lies the successful counseling encounter. The Holy Spirit, who will
come along side to reveal Jesus Christ, will instill compassion,
vulnerability, approachableness, mercy, and benefit in those who are in
need. As with Titus and Paul, it is always God who comforts, yet that
comfort will flow through human relationships. Biblical counseling is the
coming together of two people to experience the manifestation of Jesus
Christ between them.
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