Customer Reviews

Introduction to Biblical Counseling

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Introduction to Biblical Counseling authors MacArthur and Mack develop an easy to read and understandable text that conveys to the reader the importance of nouthetic (biblical) counseling. I strongly recommed it as a must for any minister's library or anyone in the counseling field. It controdicts all main-stream psychological theories, while revealing the power and truth that the Bible holds. From cover to cover, I found myself fully embracing the simplistic yet accurate method of nouthetic counseling the writers desired to convey.

"Introduction to Biblical Counseling" has been a standard text in nouthetic (from the New Testament Greek word "noutheteo" meaning to exhort out of concern leading to change) counseling for over a decade now. Pastor John MacArthur and Professor Wayne Mack successfully edited a fine introduction to the history, theory, and practice of nouthetic counseling.

The authors focus their thinking around three core concepts: the historical role of lay and pastoral counseling in the local church, the sufficiency of Scripture in the change process, and the methods for implementing such care. The first two sections develop this historical and biblical approach to counseling. These sections are followed by sections on the process and practice of biblical counseling (all of the process sections were written by Professor Mack).

Readers of this text will receive a clear introduction to the concepts central to nouthetic counseling. What they will not receive, and no book can provide all one needs for counseling (other than the Scriptures), is information on what might be called "parakaletic" (from the Greek word "parakeleo" meaning coming along side with encouragement for one suffering) counseling. In other words, "Introduction to Biblical Counseling," while a fine overview of the historical and biblical role of helping believers to overcome sin and to grow in sanctification, is not an introduction to the historical and biblical role of helping believers to deal with the evils that they suffer in a fallen world.

Historically and biblically, both lay people and pastors have always dealt with both suffering (the evils we have suffered) and sin (the sins we have committed). "Soul care" is the historic term used for the process of sustaining and healing those enduring unjust suffering. "Spiritual direction" is the historic term for the process of reconciling and guiding those struggling with personal sin issues.

In the decade since this book was penned, nouthetic counselors have focused more on this area of suffering. To date, they have yet to collate their thoughts into a one volume set like "Introduction to Biblical Counseling." Such a publication will be a welcomed edition to the growing training literature of nouthetic counseling.

Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

Simple and engaging, yet very informative. I recommend this book to any Christian counselor who feels the Bible alone is not fully equipped for counseling. MacArthur makes a very strong argument for its adequacy and confronts all doubters head on. A great introductory resource for new pastors and counselors.

You will not be disappointed with this reference book. It was written by the faculty of The Master's College and is an important resource for anyone who is getting into counseling people from the Bible. I think it is one of the foundational works for a biblical counselor to read. At the end of it, you will find FAQs that will be very helpful to your work.

Be aware that if you are into psychology at all, you will not agree with this book. Its stance is that the Bible is completely sufficient in and of itself to help people find the answers to mental and emotional problems.

This is a must read for any Christian who is interested in counseling. Since we are all called to help others, this book is a valuable resource for any believer. MacArthur stresses the authority and sufficiency of Scriptures. Biblical counseling must rely only on the authoritative truth presented in Scripture, and not mix with psychology. Integrative Christian psychology does indeed serve to illustrate areas of the truth of Scripture, but can not add to the truth of God's Word.

This book is rooted in the authors' foundational belief in the "sufficiency, superiority, and practicality of Scripture for dealing with all the issues of life." The information given proceeds from many years of biblical counseling practice as well as insights gained from personal biblical study and teaching others.

All aspects of biblical counseling are addressed from the "Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling" to "Biblical Counseling and the Local Church." This is a basic guide to the principles and practice of counseling as a unique Christian ministry. In other words, the material is Scripturally accurate and is not based on humanism or secular theories of psychological counseling.

The book is divided into four parts. First, the historical background of biblical counseling is presented covering the paradigm of the English Puritans up to the Twentieth Century. Second, the theological issues of the sinfulness of humanity and God's answer to it through Christ's atonement are discussed in regard to counseling. Third, the process of developing a relationship whereby counseling can take place is practically examined. Fourth, how biblical counseling can be practiced effectively within the local church setting is offered.

This comprehensive volume provides essential help for pastors and local church leaders as well as others in the body of Christ who wish to become confident and effective in counseling those who seek their help. In fact, it is a textbook used in some biblical counseling seminary courses. However, it is just as valuable as a resource in the local church and for personal study.

In addition to a Table of Contents, this work includes an Appendix that has a Personal Data Inventory form useful for gathering background information from a counselee. An Index of Authors, Index of Scriptures, and Index of Subjects is provided along with a notable List of Contributors.

- D. Garland

MacArthur's book on Biblical Counseling has remained a groundbreaking publication over the years. The good thing is that it is current every time one reads it. The church must return to her former prime position in providing soul care and spiritual direction for the suffering!

Thank God for restoring His counseling to His people. Pschology has polluted our fellowships for too long. I'm so glad that there is an awakening and restoration to the ways of the Lord. We do not need to incorporate a lost world's philosophy into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This book is uncompromising and boldly states the truth. The Bible is sufficient for all situations. Let's hold up the Sword of the Lord in this time against the lies of the enemy of our souls. He has spead his hopeless poison long enough.

This is a metaphorical review on the book:

If Jesus and Freud were locked in a couseling battle cage, then Jesus would win. First of all, Jesus fights like 3 even though he is only one. Freud is dead and Jesus is alive today. Looks like Jesus would win that fight easy.

This book is biased, but so is the Bible. Secular psychology has biased world view which does not find its source in the Bible; therefore, psychology is limited by the capabilities of humankind. Human capabilities cannot match the divine capabilities of the Bible; therefore, the Bible is just plain better. Who cares if it is biased? It is right and true. The truth is biased, but I am not going to discount the truth as biased.

All counseling must find its source of success in the Scriptures. If counseling does not flow from the Bible, then all goals set are goals without a true north, so to speak. If you don't know where to take someone, then how can you counsel them right? Secular psychology guesses as close as it can to the right way to counsel, and the right place to take someone in counseling. Is guessing good enough?

This book urges counselors to consider the source and foundation of their counseling method. I believe it is a great resource. It is a multi-author book, so their are several perspectives voiced in the book. Most of the perspectives agree with each other.

I am a Christian counselor, and I am disappointed with this book in how it evaluates Christian counseling. This book is intended to be a textbook, but it is full of bias, bad logic, and wrong assumptions toward Christian counseling and Christian psychology.
The author claims that Bible is sufficient to deal with every kind of emotional and psychological problem. Therefore, psychology, especially those developed by the anti-Christian psychologists, should be expelled out of churches. Psychology will only degenerate the power of the Holy Spirit in the realm of healing the emotional problems. The author attacks Christian psychologists, saying that they made a compromise. They replaced biblical wisdom with secular wisdom. Yet I don't know any Christian counselor or psychologists who do not uphold Bible as their ultimate authority. The author assumes that ALL Christian counselors think that secular psychology is superior in dealing with emotional problems. This can't be further from the truth.
The author also attacks secular psychology as money-making business. It encourages people to pay money to get years of counseling only to be addicted to it. This is a very obvious bias. It is very clear that NOT ALL psychologists are business-oriented. Many of them are sincere in trying to helping people. Saying that they are all going after money is an INSULT.
Also, the author assumes that psychology is not true science, therefore is psudo-science. It is true that a lot of concepts of psychology cannot be verified by scientific method (How can you prove the existence of id, ego, and superego by science?), but it does not mean that every kind of counseling cannot be proved effective. There are many researches that evaluate the outcomes of certain counseling techniques. Some of them are ineffective, of course, but many of them do have positive outcomes. The author ignores these researches and say that all counseling methods are ineffective and cannot be scientifically verified.
Many of the counseling techniques used by Christian counselors, according to the author, are strange and unbiblical. The author then gave several examples of such techniques that I don't know any Christian counselor would use. I wouldn't use those techniques either, and I am a Christian counselor. This is a bias.
The author wants this book to be a textbook in counseling class. I believe that it's not objective enough to be a textbook. Sorry. Only one star.