The pastoral counseling course has opened my eyes and heart to a fundamental issue with humanity. We worship but we worship things other than our glorious and great God, who sent His Son to atone for our sins. I’m also learning that counseling can also be dsrcibed as discipleship. A tendency that often occurs in counseling is to be the fix-it man who sees a problem and wants to solve it right away. Most men are like this, listening to others and my own tendency to fix problems. The problem though is that we’ll address the problem but not the person.
Indeed, as Paul says, we are a new creauture in Christ, but sin still remains, looking for a foothold to persuade us to act upon those sinful desires.
Counseling is not always a long process with a pator or elder, and usually includes a few sessions to identify heart issues and to encourage the believer to trust in God through a season of doubt or trial. The Bible is clear on the subject of suffering, although our evil hearts are quick to avoid and deny that such things are occuring in life. James calls the brothers to consider it pure joy when you face many trials. That is not the response that comes first in my mind as I face such trials. However, we can be comforted knowing that God sent His Suffering Servant to take upon our infirmities and to give us an inexpressible joy that clings to the goodness of God.
Therapy has taken a role much like photograpghy. When the negatives come in life, we need to develop them. The problem with this appraoch is that the focus is on man. Even therapy becomes a place where man uses others as currency to appease low sel-esteem and guilt that are an ever increasing dillema in our day. God gives us His revelation and shows what the true condition of man is and provides a way out through His sovereign plan of redemption.
The class ends tomorrow but I pray that I’ll continue to look to the Author and Finisher of my faith.
