I hope you’re ready for round two of this reading blog! I’ve been collecting many great quotes as I’ve read, and if you know me at all then you know that I do love a good quote! We’re now journeying through chapter one which is entitled: ‘Rediscovering Biblical Counseling’ and this particular chapter is written by John MacArthur, Jr.
In this chapter, MacArthur begins by highlighting many passages of Scripture which command believers to counsel one another in different ways, whether it be to “admonish” (Romans 15:14); “encourage” (Hebrews 3:13); “comfort” (1 Thessalonians 4:18); “confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed” (James 5:16); or even being told to “bear the weaknesses of those without strength” (Romans 15:1); and the command for those who are “spiritual” to “restore” those caught in trespasses with a spirit of gentleness, and again to “bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). There are more that could be referenced, however, I just want to give you an idea of the sorts of biblical passages that were mentioned as opposed to an exhaustive list.
An important observation that MacArthur makes with regard to counselling and especially with reference to these sorts of passages of Scripture is that these “instructions apply to rank-and-file church members—not only to some priestly caste of experts“. He summarises the point in saying:
“Counseling—particularly counseling that skillfully employs and applies God’s Word—is a necessary duty of Christian life and fellowship. It is also the expected result of true spiritual maturity.”
This is an important reminder, as we live in days of chasing experts (although seeking experts isn’t necessarily wrong in and of itself), we’re easily led to look straight past the reality that “everyday church members” are actually commanded to do the “work of the ministry” which is soo often just left to the pastor or other leaders. Or further still, when it comes to the area of counselling today, the church is either soo far removed from the discussion or so far removes herself that we would only direct people outside of the church to “professionals” who may or may not even be Christian at all. I think MacArthur highlights what drives this tendency when he says:
“Too many have bought the lie that a crucial realm of spiritual wisdom exists outside Scripture, and that some idea or technique from that extrabiblical realm holds the real key to helping people with their deep problems.”
This is an important point in this discussion surrounding counselling as a whole. As we surely live in times where we generally take a step back as churches when it comes to counselling people and opt to instead direct people to professionals for help, I can’t help but be challenged by the reality of the sufficiency of Scripture.
There does seem to be a true sense in which many Christians today believe that God and His Word are insufficient in helping people with their deepest problems. Whilst those who functionally live this out might never speak such a sentence from their own mouths, the fact that we soo regularly direct people away from the Lord, from His Word, and from His church in order to find help and healing for their deepest problems tells the real tale.
Yes, I believe that we can surely say that all wisdom is God’s wisdom, yet God’s wisdom is in Christ, in fact Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). God’s Word is where He’s spoken all that we need in order to be taught, reproved, corrected, trained in righteousness; made competent, and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Freedom from all sin is, in Christ, the Son who makes us “free indeed” (John 8:36). Freedom comes by God the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). To look outside of the Lord, His Word, and His Spirit-indwelt-people, the church, in order to find freedom and healing in our lives is contra-biblical and leaves us in submission to the wisdom of man which is ultimately foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Much like the passage in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 which speaks of the gospel being God’s message of salvation despite being foolishness to the world, in this day and age, to suggest that people can only find healing for their deepest problems in the gospel is seen as equally ludicrous. Yet, indeed the “foolishness of God is [still] wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25)!
The gospel is the solution to all of mankind’s deepest problems—I truly believe this!
What we all need in our deepest and darkest times, in the deepest and most troubled areas of our hearts and minds, is the renewal of God, in and through, His gospel. We need to have the gospel more thoroughly and robustly applied into every area of our lives and every inch of the brokenness within.
I think the worst thing about our confession that God and His Word are enough and yet our functional trusting in the wisdom of the world is the fact that we actually believe God and His Word are effective, to a certain point or degree, but once things get too heavy then we need to bring in the big guns—and generally this avenue has little, if anything to do with God, His Word, or His people—I think we can all benefit from reflecting upon MacArthur’s words as we consider the reality of where we are ourselves in this area.
May we all be led to more wholeheartedly trust in the Lord and His Word, to live it out, and to direct one another to it all the more in our days and times of trouble!
Amen!