God, The Word, Holy Spirit And Conduct

Introduction

Nugent (2000) acknowledge the divergent views that exist when it comes to spiritual concerns in counselling, with those who ignore, evade or deny the significance of the spiritual dimension to a client’s wellbeing. However, he points out that there are many that are beginning to acknowledge the importance of spiritual matters in a person’s mental health. According to Miller (2003), the discipline of psychology broke away from the spiritual dimension to establish itself as a field separate from philosophy and the mental health counselling field in America supported a more secular approach to people’s problems until treatment programs for wellness and for problems such as addiction began to include the spiritual dimension as a component of counselling. Despite the later, the inclusion of the spiritual dimension in counselling, spirituality and religion are not always included in counsellor training.

Considering the subject of God, the word, Holy Spirit and conduct may not be a subject that would be part of a course in a Counseling Psychology degree at a secular University. However, being at Africa International University (AIU), a Christian University founded on the Bible and its revelation of Christ and subscribes to the statement of faith of Evangelicals in Africa would call for such a consideration. Students and staff must subscribe to the University’s statement of faith. The University’s objective is to train all in a deeper understanding of the Christian faith (AIU Senate, 2013). This understanding is to help students to be able to evaluate knowledge in light of scriptural truth. It in light of this that this paper will discuss the subject of God, the word, Holy Spirit and Conduct. To be specific, this paper will attempt to explain how God, the word and the Holy Spirit are divine resources for the Christian Counselor.

According to Walz et al ( 2004) and in agreement with them, religion and spirituality are often part of the client’s problem but can also be part of the client’s solution. Because spiritual and religious values can play a major part in human life, spiritual values should be viewed as a potential resource in therapy rather than as something to be ignored. During the assessment process, it can be ascertained how certain beliefs and practices of the client can be a useful focal point for exploration. This paper will confine itself to Christian beliefs in respect to God, the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Christian Beliefs

According to Miller (2003), Christian beliefs describe God as a father, creator of the world, and a part of a trinity, that is God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians are encouraged to develop a personal relationship with God by accepting Jesus as saviour. The Bible, the main text for the Christian faith is divided into the Old Testament and New Testament and these is what consists of the Word and the basis of Christian Counseling.

Use of Scriptures in Counseling

McMinn (1996) highlights the dilemma as to whether to use or not scripture in counselling. However, he points out that it is for the Christian counsellor to determine in what ways and under what circumstances scripture is used. It is pointed out that some use scripture as a foundation to develop responsible counselling strategies and techniques. For others, scripture is used to support existing methods or models e.g. cognitive therapy. Some counselors also advocate using scriptures as a therapeutic intervention in confronting issues such as codependency, sexual affairs or using Bible stories for individual therapy, confronting irrational beliefs etc. He also points out the fact that there are psychologists who recommend the Bible as a self-help book that is attributed to helping people make personality and behavioural changes. However, some Christians disagree with the thought of the Bible being reduced to a self-help book. That notwithstanding and in agreement with McMinn, it is heartening that non-Christian therapists perceive an increasing need to work within the value systems of Christian clients.

In agreeing with McMinn (1996), scripture is an essential tool for knowing God. Christian counsellors, therefore, must cultivate and maintain respect for scripture as it is through it that we know God’s truth. It should be noted that other sources of knowledge are not direct ways of knowing God and therefore counsellors must not hesitate to revere the God revealed in scripture as the ultimate standard of truth. However, caution is given to the counsellor to communicate respect for scripture without inducing shame or excessive submission in the client. The counsellor also needs to maintain humility regarding their interpretation of scripture and to avoid taking firm doctrinal positions on scriptural teaching. The later will be detrimental to the counseling relationship. The use of scriptures also comes with the need for some ethical legal consideration. According to McMinn (1996), the principle of competence suggests that counsellors should use scripture only in ways that are consistent with their training. According to the American Psychological Association in regard to boundaries of competence states that; “Psychologists provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience.”

In view of the above and in agreement with McMinn (1996), counsellors with no theological training should cautiously use scripture in counselling sessions. McMinn (1996) posits that informed consent requires counsellors to tell the client of the use of scripture in counselling and to discuss alternatives available elsewhere. However, he points out that charging fees and filing insurance for scripturally based interventions is an issue as is not recognized as a therapeutic intervention and not paid by insurance companies. It is also noted that use of scripture also introduces the risk of limiting the client’s freedom by imposing personal beliefs and values on a client. However, this should not be the case as Counselors are not suppose to impose their values on their clients (American Association of Christian Counselors, 2019). McMinn (1996) identifies how the use of scripture can lead to psychological and spiritual health. Scripture, as he points out can be used to move clients toward psychological health in the following ways; counseling strategies directly derived from scripture e.g. the use of scripture to counter faulty thinking using scriptures like Romans 12: 2 where an individual’s life can be transformed through the renewal of their mind. It could be through counselling strategies supported by implication in scripture e.g. use of imagery in depressed patients is consistent with scripture though not specifically taught or commanded by scripture and counselling strategies are not discussed or implied by the Bible but are not inconsistent with scripture e.g. using progressive muscle relaxation to control anxiety symptoms is neither advocated or prohibited by scripture. However, Christian counsellors are warned against using strategies that are inconsistent with scripture but are encouraged to test everything and to hold fast to what is good while abstaining from what is evil as recorded in 1Thess 5:21-22; “but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” According to McMinn(1996) and in agreement with him is that some of the strategies are in violation to scripture e.g. engaging in adultery as a treatment for midlife depression.

The Holy Spirit

According to Israel (1983), to be effective as a Christian counsellor is to be open to the Holy Spirit. Holcomb and Wilkerson (2013) emphasis the fact that counselling that lacks the dependence on the Holy Spirit ceases to be Christian. Human knowledge bases its trust on the discoveries of science and is the fruit of the living experience of mortal endeavour. However, the Holy Spirit raises us beyond the limitations of our understanding so that we may drink deeply of the knowledge of God. This knowledge flows to the receptive human soul though contemplative prayer so that a completely new perspective is given to all that the mind had previously accepted as the final truth. I Corinthians 2: 10-13 reveals to us the divine resources the Holy Spirit avails to the Christian Counselor; But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Role of the Holy Spirit

The role of the Holy Spirit as it is recorded in John 14:16-17 is that He is the Counsellor, Comforter, Helper and Advocate. Consequently, the involvement of the Holy Spirit in any counselling situation is the participation of three people: The Counsellor, the client and the Holy Spirit. However, for the Holy Spirit to participate as a counsellor in therapy, the Christian therapist must acknowledge and depend on the Holy Spirit’s presence and healing power in every counselling situation. Additionally, the counsellor to needs to have a basic understanding of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit (Tan, 2011). According to Tan (2011), the work of the Holy Spit biblically is understood in three major ways: The Spirit’s power (gifts), the Spirit’s truth and the Spirit’s fruit. God sends the Holy Spirit to enable believers to serve Him with power and authority. This, therefore, means that the Counsellor who desires to be used by God in their calling needs to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit for them to be effective. Tan further points out the need for the Christian Counsellor to prayerfully yield to the Spirit’s control so that they may be empowered and be guided by the Holy Spirit, who will work through the counsellor through the various gifts.

In view of the above and in agreement with Tan (2011), God sovereignly and supernaturally gives us gifts according to His will to enable us to be fruitful and faithful in the areas of ministry. These gifts according to Tan are God’s droplets of grace which God gives to empower us to have an effective ministry with love, gratitude and humility. Some of the gifts that are relevant for an effective counselling ministry led by the Holy spirit include exhortation and encouragement, healing, wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits and mercy. According to John 14:26, 16:13, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth to teach us and guide us into all truth. According to Tan (2011), it includes Psychotheological truth. These truths according to John 8.32 is to set us free. God’s word is inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore His work in the ministry and in this case counselling context will not contradict the scripture and therefore will always uphold the eternal validity of scripture. As earlier stated, AIU exposes students to courses like Bible Interpretation to help students be able to evaluate knowledge in light of scriptural truth. It is noted that Counseling Psychologists need to know how to integrate Theology and Psychology so as to be effective Christian Counselors. Entwistle (2010) in quoting Arthur Holmes, “All truth is God’s truth” reiterates the fact God will use science and any other source of knowledge in setting his children free by availing truth that may be needed in the course of counselling. However, Entwistle cautions of the fact that harmony must exist between truth obtained from biblical messages and truths that God makes available through other channels.

The spirit fruit is seen in the character of the counsellor and it is characteristic of mature Christlikeness. Galatian 5: 22-23 points these fruits as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fruits of the holy spirit are consistent with the qualities of a good and effective counsellor. According to Collins (2007), Christian Counselors use techniques that have been developed by non-believers and their understanding of counselling issues and effective ways of dealing with comes from a massive body of research that has been produced by secular communities. However, Christian counsellors have things that are distinct from others. These include the unique assumptions e.g. about the attributes of God, have unique goals which go further than those of secular counsellors like stimulating spiritual growth in the counselee, use unique methods like prayer in counselling sessions, reading of scriptures etc. and finally, they have unique giftedness as provided by the gifts of the Holy spirit as earlier highlighted. Having highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in Counseling and in agreement with Tan (2011), there is a need for balance. Power without love results in abuse and power without truth results in heresy. However, power based on biblical truth and is used in Christlike love can produce renewal and revival that is deep and substantial to heal broken lives.

How the Holy Spirit works in Counseling

Tan (2011) points out different ways the Holy Spirit works in Counseling. In implicit integration approaches to Christian therapy such as psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy, the Holy Spirit works as the giver of life and is more emphasized e.g. in enabling a client to have a sense of hope when all the client’s wishes, hopes have been spent. The Holy Spirit can also work in implicit integration that is intentional where the Holy Spirit’s work is quietly but intentionally embraced and expressed by the Christian therapist in acknowledgement that the client is worthy of love and acceptance of client’s worst experiences. It is pointed out that a focus on the process and the here- and -now during a therapy session can be a powerful spiritual intervention quietly guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can work in explicit integration in Christian therapy where religious and spiritual issues are dealt with more directly and spiritual resources and religious interventions are dealt with overtly and systematically with clients. According to Tan (2011), there are five identified ways that the Holy Spirit can work as will be briefly highlighted.

First, the Holy spirit can directly help the Christian therapist quickly and accurately discern the root problems of the client by providing specific and relevant words of knowledge or wisdom. This, in turn, helps the therapist engage in deeper spiritual conversation with the client. Second, the Holy Spirit can provide direction regarding God’s will for the Christian therapist and the client as they participate in more explicit practices during a session such as praying together or in discussing scripture. Third, the Holy Spirit can directly touch the client in a powerful way with His healing grace and power, which may occur spontaneously and supernaturally in God’s sovereignty or as facilitated by explicit use of prayer, especially inner healing prayer or healing memories. Fourth, the Holy Spirit can help the Christian therapist discern the presence of the demonic if there is demonization or demonic oppression in the client’s life. In this case, the Holy Spirit can empower the Christian therapist to engage in effective prayers for the deliverance and protection from the demonic. However, there is need for proper informed consent and full collaboration of the client if this is called for. Alternatively, it may be more preferable to refer the client to a pastor or to the client’s church or denomination. Fifth, the Holy Spirit can work through the spiritual transformation of both the client and the therapist into greater Christlikeness as they practice the spiritual disciplines e.g. prayer, intercession, fasting, worship in the power of the Holy Spirit which may be done in therapy sessions or as homework for the client between sessions (Tan, 2011).

Ethical and Legal Considerations for the Christian Counselor

According to McMinn (1996), effective counselling requires an ongoing assessment of treatment goals, assessment of client and assessment of counsellor. Goals and nature of the counselling relationship need to be defined at the beginning of the relationship and reviewed frequently throughout treatment. This also includes an ongoing assessment of the client to determine readiness for religious interventions. Counsellor’s spirituality, theoretical perspectives and approaches to counselling also need to be continually assessed to avoid getting into extreme ends and rendering the therapeutic relationship ineffective. Christian Counselors who choose spiritual interventions need to conduct themselves in an ethical manner. According to American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), “Christian counsellors do not presume that all clients want or will be receptive to explicit, spiritual Judeo-Christian interventions in counselling and therefore, obtain consent that honours client choice, receptivity to these practices, and the timing and manner in which these elements are introduced. This includes, but is not limited to the following: prayer for and with clients; Bible reading and reference; spiritual meditation; the use of biblical and religious imagery or music; assistance with spiritual formation and discipline; incorporation of fasting in the treatment plan as a spiritual discipline and other common spiritual practices”. According to AACC, it is noted that while Christian counsellors may expose clients or the community at large to their faith orientation, they do not impose their religious beliefs or practices on clients.

Conclusion

As earlier highlighted, religion and spirituality are often part of the client’s problem, but can also be part of the client’s solution. It is, therefore, encouraging to note that many are beginning to acknowledge the importance of spiritual matters in a person’s mental health. Even though not all clients are open to explicit Christian interventions, God in His sovereignty has made divine resources available to the Christian Counselor through the working of His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. God can work through the counsellor or directly on the client according to His will and good pleasure. However, the ultimate goal for the counsellor is that whichever way God works, it is for the glory of God and they are just but vessels that God has chosen to work through to reveal Himself to their clients.

References

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8. Nugent, F. (2000). Introduction to the Profession of Counseling. New Jersey: Merrill Publishing.
9. Tan, S. (2011). Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective. Michigan: Baker Publishing Group.
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