May

15

Should Christians go to counseling? The arguments against.

May 15, 2008 |

Posted by ben hind · Filed Under Ethics, Christian Life, General Discussion 

I know a lot of Christians who have problems. Maybe not problems with sin, but problems none the less. Yet many Christians are reluctant to find help outside of praying, reading their bible and being advised to ‘claim the victory in Christ’. Many Christians feel guilty about going to councelling. As if it’s some terrible sin that they’re committing if they open up to someone they have never met… who might not be a Christian!

There are good arguments for and against, and I think it’s an issue that needs to be discussed as it has serious implications for our lives. I believe that many Christians may not have to go through the problems and suffering that they are going through now if they sought professional help. I have been to councelling many times, and I am not ashamed of it. But there are some who would disagree with me. Let’s first have a look at the arguments against going to councelling:

1. Councelling is based upon the theories of anti-God secular psychologists. It is a fact that many of the major theories put forward in psychology are by people who are anti-God. Freud, for example, was very anti-God and even used psychological theories to explain why people believe in God, and why they are mistaken. A lot of psychology follows his theories on the subconscious, childhood, sexuality, memory, etc.

Counter argument: Although some psychologists are anti-God, that doesn’t necessarily mean that their theories are anti-God. Modern psychology is based upon a scientific approach where evidence is needed to support a theory. This means that even though some psychologists are anti-God, their theories are based upon evidence and not upon their anti-God bias.

2. Councelling is based on the theories and principles of secular psychology, and not on Gods Word. To the Christian, the Word of God should be the source of guidance and truth for their lives. Believing and putting into practice the principles of secular psychology that you will learn through councelling is dangers, as it undermines the Word of God.

Counter argument: To say that the theories and principles of secular psychology go against the Word of God is a ‘false dichotomy’. This means that there isn’t necessarily a contradiction between the two, both can be true. For example, the theory that negative thinking can eventually lead to depression does not contradict anything stated in the bible.

3. Councelling makes you rely and depend upon it, rather than relying and depending upon God. The Christian should learn to rely and depend upon God for their emotional needs. Gods grace is sufficient for them and God is more than able to help them through their struggles. And so, councelling teaches them to rely and depend upon it to help them rather than relying and depending upon God.

Counter argument: Although we should rely and depend upon God, there is nothing wrong with relying and depending upon people aswell. When God created Adam in the garden of Eden, God said that ‘it is not good for the man to be alone’. God recognises that although we need God in our lives, we also need other people. We need help from other people aswell as God, and especially if that person is able and qualified to help, listen and give advice.


Comments

4 Comments so far

  1. Ellen on May 15, 2008 4:22 pm

    Yes…nouthetic counseling. Courtesy of Jay E. Adams.

  2. ben hind on May 15, 2008 4:54 pm

    Ellen,

    Great link, after reading what nouthetic counseling is I believe it’s exactly what we need to be doing. I’m curious, however, to how they would deal with someone with depression. Since it is limited to using the bible rather than ‘human ideas’, which bible verses would be used to speak on the causes and solution to depression?

    Would they condone medication and see depression as a ’spiritual’ problem where the person needs to either change their mind or repent over certain sins that might be causing their depression? Or would they see it as also being a ‘physical’ problem due to alterations in serotonin levels? Would they accept other psychological models that explain depression? Would they be comfortable in using empirically verifiable counseling techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Or would they just use bible verses that speak to the issues they’re facing?

    Or have I completely misunderstood what they’re about? :P

    I’m just trying to work out whether they’d be for or against secular psychology as the source for it’s counseling.

    - Ben

  3. Ellen on May 15, 2008 6:13 pm

    In “Competent to Counsel”, Adams says that outside of a biomedical cause for depression, it should be assumed (by the counselor) that depression from guilt needs to be addressed.

    I’ve been on anti-depressants. What they did (for me) was to merely mask my feelings and render me incapable of dealing with them. Did they “help” with my depression? Yes…but when I quit taking the pills I had to deal with the feelings…later rather than sooner.

    Nouthetics do leave room for medical depression…but there are far too many doctors who throw a pill at the problem and send the patient home.

    But nouthetics cover way more than that. I used to know a couple who were having marital problems. The wife had recently lost her sister to heart disease (at age 40) and the husbands was pretty unsupportive. Their “Christian” counselor advised him that it was not his job to be her support system. HUH?!?!?

    I was able to pull out my Bible and say, “mourn with those who mourn”, “bear one another’s burden”, and “live in understanding with your wife as the weaker vessel and co-heir in Christ.”

  4. ben hind on May 16, 2008 6:29 am

    Ellen,

    I agree completely about the ‘throwing a pill at the problem’. I think more things need to be addressed when it comes to depression than simply taking a pill. And I do think that we need to use biblical principles like ‘mourn with those who mourn’, etc. I was just wondering what to do in cases where the person is having issues that the bible doesn’t speak directly to. I would say anorexia and bulimia would be problems that I personally couldn’t find scriptural references that speak directly to the issue. In which case I would see counseling based upon psychology (and by that I don’t mean taking pills and sending home) as an option. Although I would still want the person dealing with the problem to get strength from the bible and pray about it. Would that be fair?

    - Ben

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