To be a Theologian or not to be a Theologian: Why Theology is Essential for Biblical Counseling

“We don’t need those divisive doctrines; we just need to love everyone!” A common phrase among many in today’s church. This phrase itself is a contradiction in that in order for us to truly love, we must know the One who loves, and that in itself entails knowing doctrine. However, this sentiment, used by church leaders, is also echoed by their church members. The effect it ultimately has on the body of believers can be disastrous. Perhaps it is simply a misunderstanding of what theology and doctrine are, or perhaps it is blatant ignorance; either way, it isn’t beneficial for the church. To be a truly Biblical counselor, theology and doctrine are an essential part of what it means to be actively engaged in the public and private ministry of the Word. I will demonstrate this by answering some questions.

First, what is theology? Jay Adams, in his book A Theology of Christian Counseling, says, “In its simplest form, theology is nothing more or less than the systematic understanding of what the Scriptures teach about various subjects.”^[1] In other words, theology is knowing what the Scriptures have to say about any number of topics. If I want to know about God, then I would turn to the Scriptures. If I want to know about myself, I should turn to the Scriptures because it is the Scriptures that tell us what is true about God and His creation. At the end of the day, any serious pastor or counselor has to know and understand theology.

Second, what does it mean to be a theologian? To be a theologian is to think critically about all that the Scriptures say about a particular subject. One who refuses theology “simply cannot become involved in the attempt to change beliefs, values, attitudes, relationships, and behavior.”^[2] They cannot attempt these things because they do not know what God says about them. So, to be a theologian, one must know and understand what God says about these things through the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.

Third, what doctrines are essential for the counselor to know and understand? Sitting down to read an entire systematic theology can be daunting. In light of that, here are several of the more essential doctrines to look at as a counselor: the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of God, the doctrine of man, the doctrine of salvation, the doctrine of sanctification, the doctrine of the church, and the doctrine of the future state. This is a lot of work, but as counselors, we must know and understand who God is, who we are, and how He is currently working in this world through His Word and the work of Jesus Christ. Without these, we never truly know how to love and guide people who are living in sin and suffering.

Lastly, how does a counselor work with those who do not hold to these central doctrines? Simply put, in love and patience. It is also vital to keep in mind that “If you counsel Christians and unbelievers the same way, there’s something wrong with your counseling.”^[3] If an unbeliever comes in for counseling, they obviously will not hold to any of the central doctrines that a Christian should adhere to, and the session becomes more of an evangelistic endeavor. On the other hand, you might have a faithful Christian who does not understand these central doctrines; thus, the session becomes one of teaching, which requires one to be a theologian, while at the same time guiding. The counselor, by asking thorough questions and gathering data, will have to make this call as to whom they may be counseling.

In conclusion, we can see that to be a Biblical counselor means one must also be a theologian, as we cannot truly love and guide people in their sin and suffering without knowing God’s Word and its implications for all of life and godliness. To know God’s Word is to know theology; therefore, we should all seek to be faithful theologians. There are central doctrines that all people, especially counselors, need to know in order to live in a way that is pleasing to God. People everywhere are being deceived by the undoing of truth in this world, so getting them to a point where they rely on God’s truth is essential. As counselors, we can help them get there, but first, we must get to a point where we can stand on God’s truth for our own lives. Counselor, drink deeply and daily from the well of Scripture.

^[1] Adams, Jay Edward. A Theology of Christian Counseling: Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling. Ministry Resource Library, 1986, p. 11.

^[2] Ibid., p. 14.

^[3] Ibid., p. 309.