Biblical Terms and Their Role in Modern Counseling

Introduction

The contemporary debate about the validity and need for counseling that takes into account biblical views and interpretations of key concepts should, at the outset, be briefly addressed. This refers to the ongoing tension between secular and Biblical or religious approaches to counseling. As one article on the subject states:

"Psychology approaches human behavior from a secular, humanistic perspective. Accordingly, Biblical revelation is irrelevant to understanding or changing human behavior. Psychology seeks to describe and explain human behavior apart from what God has clearly revealed. Its premises are derived from man-made theories, human wisdom, and research conducted without a corresponding search for truth as God defines truth." (What Is Biblical Counseling?)

This view stands in direct contrast to the strictly Biblical approach to counseling, which is expressed in the following quotation:

"By contrast, the emphasis in Biblical counseling is exactly opposite. Whereas secular psychology begins with a study of man's ideas, Biblical counseling begins with a study of the Word of God as it relates to human behavior and human need. It is dependent upon the revealed mind of God rather than the easily deceived mind of man. Yet it does not just begin with God — it follows a path that is in constant harmony with the Word of God and addresses man's problems in light of God's answers." (What Is Biblical Counseling?)

These two divergent positions represent the extremes of the secular versus religious counseling debate. However, both have been increasingly supplemented in recent years by a third alternative — often referred to as the secular-humanist approach — which attempts to integrate religious views and perceptions within the broader framework of psychological counseling. At the same time, the tension between secular and religious attitudes toward counseling reflects the larger secular-religious divide that characterizes discourse across nearly every modern academic discipline.

In light of this division, many scholars have proposed a more open-ended and intellectually liberal approach to counseling practice — one in which the Bible and religious tradition are enlisted to aid and expand the concept and meaning of counseling. This view tends to envision counseling in religious terms that are neither dogmatic nor necessarily bound by traditional interpretation.

Modern counseling also recognizes religion as an important component of the cultural factors relevant to counseling any individual. This form of counseling is described as a process of listening, communication, and sensitivity to religious criteria that influence the individual:

"Counseling is the process of prayerfully and sensitively listening to another person (Prov 18:13, 17), helping them discern real soul needs, and providing practical, biblical advice about changing their attitudes and behaviors in relationship to God and others (Mat 22:36–40)." (What Makes Counseling "Biblical"?)

This paper aims to demonstrate the usefulness and value of the Christian Bible as a source for counseling, as well as a means of expanding the secular understanding of counseling concepts. Through the analysis of words and concepts in the Bible and their comparison to modern counseling terminology, the paper also attempts to show both the significance and the complexities involved in this comparative process. It is further suggested that the use of Biblical concepts adds depth and enriches counseling in the modern environment in ways that are not necessarily subject to dogma or particular belief systems.

This also relates to the "relevance of religion and spirituality to counseling in the area of multicultural theory," where "psychologists have continued to call for psychological treatments and interventions that are culturally sensitive and relevant and that integrate aspects of client culture into the counseling process" (Walker, Gorsuch & Tan, 2004, p. 64). This stance engages theoretically with the view that "counseling is inescapably a religious endeavor, focused around the progressive sanctification of the soul" (What Makes Counseling "Biblical"?).

The paper will therefore discuss examples of Biblical terms and their relationship to modern counseling concepts and terminology, taking into account the secular-religious debate outlined above. The central thesis is that Biblical terms can not only provide a useful tool for counseling in social and cultural contexts, but that a study of these terms extends the understanding of counseling concepts and enriches the field of discussion, research, and application.

The discussion of these terms will be relatively open-ended and will take into account variations in the meaning of Biblical terms and the ways those meanings interrelate with modern counseling terminology. For example, while the term addiction belongs to the modern counseling lexicon, it can be related in meaning to Biblical phrases such as "in bondage" or "enslaved to." Likewise, the term deception can be linked to "self-deceived." As one commentator observes:

"Common words such as 'dysfunction,' 'bulimia,' 'self-esteem,' and 'cognitive therapy' are not used in the Bible — yet the Bible does describe them. Furthermore, while we do not read a clinical description of such things as panic attacks in the Bible, we do read about the problems that underlie and feed panic attacks and other such difficulties. Every problem that originates in the way we think and respond to life's circumstances is addressed in the scriptures!" (What Is Biblical Counseling?)

Research Methodology

The methodology used in this paper involved a number of different sources and resources to address the issue of biblical terms used for counseling. Articles and books dealing specifically with this topic were consulted, and the approaches of different theorists — from both theological and psychological counseling perspectives — were taken into account. This theoretical base provided the groundwork for an informed examination of certain terms used in counseling and the way those terms are reflected in Biblical usage.

The terms examined included: health, counsel, wisdom, communication, and help. A number of sources were used in the analysis, including online dictionaries and concordances such as Strong's Concordance. A number of biblical websites were also consulted, such as Crosswalk.com, which were cross-referenced with offline papers and articles dealing with the various terms and words. This methodology was employed to provide a wide, discursive, and inclusive view of the words and phrases, in order to explore the central theme of the paper: that Biblical text is an important element in modern counseling and in fact enriches counseling concepts without necessarily being dogmatic or exclusionary of secular approaches.

Healing and Its Biblical Dimensions

The term healing is broad and can be applied in many medical and counseling contexts. It is also a significant term with which to begin this discussion of the relationship between biblical and counseling terminology. The term healing, along with related words such as sickness and illness, was investigated using Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. More than fifty references to healing were found in the Bible, and these were cross-referenced with Strong's Concordance.

There are different versions and interpretations of the way healing is presented in both the Old and New Testaments. Healing appears throughout several of the New Testament Gospels. As one commentary notes, "In some cases Jesus' disciples requested the healing and in other cases Jesus himself saw the need and interceded directly without another person making a request. Most of the references are in the New Testament (n = 52), probably because of Jesus' influence and emphasis on spiritual as well as physical renewal in that portion of the Bible" (Byrd and Byrd, 1993).

The process of healing can be found, for example, in Luke 13:10–17, which refers to a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years. The healing takes place through the laying of hands by Christ. In John 5:1–18, we have the story of a seriously ill man placed at a pool waiting for healing; this episode stresses the importance of listening to Christ's instruction, and the man is healed when Jesus tells him to take up his pallet and walk. The aspect of instruction and counsel in the process of healing is explored further in the discussion section below. Healing through thought is also emphasized in Matthew 8:2–4, when Jesus cures a man of leprosy.

Easton's Bible Dictionary relates the term healing in the Bible to Ephphatha — "the Greek form of a Syro-Chaldaic or Aramaic word, meaning 'Be opened,' uttered by Christ when healing the man who was deaf and dumb (Mark 7:34)" (Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephphatha). This is significant, as the term is also related to our present understanding of the therapeutic implication of "opening up" — that is, disclosing one's inner thoughts and feelings — which in turn facilitates psychological healing.

Furthermore, in Strong's Lexicon, the Hebrew term for healing is defined as follows: "t'alah — a channel (into which water is raised for irrigation); also a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound): conduit, cured, healing, little river, trench, watercourse" (Strong's Hebrew Lexicon Search Results: "healing"). The idea of healing as a conduit and a channel also serves to connect the term to counseling and the therapeutic process. The patient in modern counseling is involved in a process of disclosure and opening up the hidden and problematic aspects of life and personality.

In the sense of the Biblical definitions and descriptions noted above, the therapist opens up channels and avenues that can facilitate healing. The difference, of course, lies in the fact that from a Biblical perspective, the source of all healing is God, acting through Christ in the New Testament. However, as suggested in the introduction, there is a growing acceptance in therapy and counseling that the counselor is a facilitator who opens avenues for healing — avenues that may be greater and more significant than any particular theoretical stance. This means that counseling in the secular environment is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of religious and spiritual aspects in the healing and intervention process. As Garzon (2005) states, "therapists are sometimes challenged in their work with appropriately religious clients to develop treatment components that incorporate the Bible" (p. 113). Garzon further emphasizes the perceived importance of scripture in counseling:

"Scripture remains a rich resource for clinicians in their work. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb. 4:12 (NASB)" (Garzon, 2005, p. 113).

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