Why It’s Important That Your Counselor Has a Biblical Worldview, Part 1

This article is part 1 of a 4 part series, where we will look at the biblical worldview and how counseling practices are downstream from these important beliefs. In each part, we will answer the worldview question and then look at how the answer to that question helps shape the foundation of biblical counseling. We will also look at some common beliefs taught in secular counseling and how these come from incorrect answers to the worldview questions. 

Part 1 Question: Who made us or how did we get here? 
Part 2 Question: Who am I and what is my purpose?
Part 3 Question: What is our problem? 
Part 4 Question: What is the solution and how do I obtain it?

Who made us or how did we get here? 

It’s important that your counselor believe that God made us. Even though God created us (and everything else), he is not one of us. He is spirit, eternal, has no beginning and no end, and does not need anything. He is perfect in all his ways and is complete in his holiness, love, justice, and sovereignty, among other things. (Gen 1:1, Neh 9:6, Isaiah 45:18, Acts 17:24-28)

Because God is outside of us, he is the source of truth and his decrees are the standard by which we know the difference between right and wrong. We are completely dependent on him for life and breath. Any good we experience in this life like the love of other people, a warm home in the winter, and food to enjoy are all because of God’s grace. (Mark 10:18, Acts 14:17, Ps 89:14, 1 John 1:5)

As biblical counselors, we start with the foundation that God is the creator. The implications of this truth work itself out in practical ways, and here are just a few:

-When it comes to discussing topics like intense emotions, personal conflict, broken relationships, intrusive thoughts, sinful habits, deep personal hurt, and suffering, God’s word will always be the ultimate authority and the standard by which we will judge all other input into our lives. 
-Only God through his Son and by the Holy Spirit can give us what we need to respond rightly in our thoughts and actions to any situation we find ourselves in. 
-As creator, only God can discern the hidden thoughts of man.
-Only a wise, loving, and sovereign God can promise and deliver on the truth that no trial you endure is meaningless, that all suffering has a purpose, and that He will make all things right.

If the answer to the question of “Who made us?” is “Nobody”, then your counselor may tell you that you can decide for yourself what is true and good, or that the bad things that happened to you were just a random act of evil, or that another human’s research will give you the most helpful and hopeful insights into your disordered thoughts and behaviors. If your counselor tells you that your life has value (which it does) but he or she does not believe in a creator, then the words will have little value as there is nothing outside of their own opinion in which to ground that statement.

Written by Casey Davidson