7 Affirmations   

Seven Affirmations

1. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical is pastoral. Counselling is a function of the shepherding work of local church leadership. The shepherd’s work includes counselling and the shepherd’s equipping work includes counselling training. Counselling that is biblical will not replace or usurp the God-ordained leadership position of pastor-elder. Since counselling belongs in the church, the biblical counsellor should support and extend the elder’s private pastoring to individuals in face-to-face application of the Bible.

Col1:28,29; 1 Thess 5:12; Eph 4:11,12,16; Col 3:16; Rom 15:14; Neh 8:8; Acts 20:20,31.

2. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical ministers Scripture. The Bible, as God’s authoritative and sufficient self-revelation, provides the church with the true interpretation of man’s problems and reveals the sure solutions to those problems. Common grace activities such as medicine and legitimate psychology must be welcomed and employed as providential subordinate helps to the primary categories of Scripture. Honouring the Bible’s claim to sufficiency means using only terms, categories, and concepts that are clearly taught in Scripture for understanding people’s trials and concerns and for giving directive counsel.

2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:3,4; Matt 4:4; Isa 8:20; Neh 8:8; Jas 5:14; 2 Chron 16:12.

3. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical requires ongoing hard exegetical work. The Bible does not present itself as an encyclopaedia of proof texts containing all facts about people, problems and solutions. The call of Scripture is to continually labour and think deeply about how Scripture speaks to counsellor, counsellee, the problem situation and how Scripture provides robust and rich antidotes for particular cases of conscience in the life of the child of God. Counselling that is truly biblical is the fruit of careful and conscientious exegesis based upon sound principles of interpretation, applying solid systematic theology to the specific cultural and life issues of the counsellee today.

2 Tim 2:15; Neh 8:8; Jer 8:8; 2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Pet 1:3,4; Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 10:6,11.

4. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical spends most time where the problem is greatest - the heart. Biblical counselling is concerned above all else for the guarding of the heart. The Scripture addresses the human heart, and counselling that is biblical will always centre and labour there. The greatest outward changes, without growth in grace, is but refined hypocrisy that provokes God with empty forms of godliness. The least step of repentance and faith in its concrete details, even with weakness and failings, is of great worth in God’s sight, though it may be unnoticed by people. What the heart does not do is not done. It is the inward man, the castle of the heart, that must be kept, and the one who counsels biblically will labour most in this soul-care.

Prov 4:23; Jer 17:9,10; Matt 23:25-28; Lk 6:43-45; Ezek 14:1-6; 1 Pet 2:11; 1 Tim 1:5.

5. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical is common, not clinical. Part of the authoritative work of the special office of pastor is counselling, and part of the work of the general office of every child of God is also counselling, or personal ministry, one to another. Each believer is to care for the souls of others as they have opportunity. Face-to-face discussion, both casual and structured, by both pastor and church member, of how Scripture applies to problem areas are common activities of the maturing local church. Church leaders who direct the affairs of their church after the pattern of Scripture will equip, train, approve, commend, deploy and supervise the informal counselling work of those under their charge. The idea of professional counselling for non-organic problems is foreign to Scripture.

Col1:28,29; Acts 20:20,31; Col 3:16; Gal 6:10; Eph 4:11,12,15,16; 1 Pet 4:10; 1 Cor 14:26; 1 Tim 5:17; Heb 13:17.

6. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical is good news. Biblical counselling offers what no other system of thinking offers. Christ, who is the Wonderful Counsellor, draws people from inadequate, skewed, futile systems based on human philosophies to His superior revealed process for effecting change in people’s lives. Patient and gentle instruction, with Christian kindness, should characterize discussion with those who differ. In striving to woo and win those who differ, the biblical counsellor should demonstrate the superior treasures of the Truth in a humble and gracious manner that reflects Christ’s character and brings pleasure to the Father of mercies. While there is necessity for clear exposure of errant teachings, the emphasis must be on the demonstration of the Bible’s positive alternative. The biblical counsellor must invite and patiently teach, not quarrel.

Isa 8:20; Col 4:6; 2 Tim 2:24,25; 1 Tim 1:10,11; 2:1; Eph 4:2,3,14,15.

7. WE AFFIRM that counselling that is truly biblical is careful in the use of Scripture. Biblical counselling is concerned with suiting the encouragements, comforts, motivations and directives from the whole counsel of God to particular conditions of the individual. There must be a right dividing of the Word of Truth. One who is a Christian and with good intentions tries to help someone may not counsel biblically. One who has experience in Christian ministry, even recognized with academic and theological degrees, may not truly do biblical counselling. One with no degrees and without years of experience may be said to excel in counselling biblically. The fact that the counsellor appeals to the Bible, cites specific teachings and gives direction and comforts from specific Bible texts - these, in and of themselves, do not make counselling biblical. Biblical counselling exists when one strives to consistently think and act under the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. When the counsellor looks at the person, the problem and the process through Scripture glasses, and then strives to suit the Scripture antidotes in their right season and in their right measures, again according to the teaching of Scripture - then it can be said that one is doing biblical counselling.

1 Tim 2:15; Jer 8:8,11; Matt 4:6,7; 2 Tim 3:16,17

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