Why the Church Needs Biblical Counseling Now More Than Ever

Introduction

In 2022, a report from the NIH revealed that 23.1% of all U.S. adults aged 18 and older suffered from some form of mental disorder. The same report indicated that 6% of U.S. adults in this age group experience a serious mental disorder. This trend is expected to continue as fewer people seek help. In a world increasingly influenced by secular psychological methodologies, even within the church, Christians are increasingly in need of alternatives that align with their beliefs. Secular psychology fundamentally denies God and the truth that humans are made in the image of God.

So, where do Christians seek guidance that aligns with their beliefs? The answer should be the church. In this article, I will explore the necessity of Biblical counseling—what it is and how we can better serve the church through it. First, let’s define Biblical counseling: “Biblical counseling can be defined as a fluid event and process of a Spirit-empowered Christ follower providing face-to-face ministry of the Word to others.” Another way to view Biblical counseling is as a more structured and intensive form of personal discipleship with another believer.

If Christians are to receive help for the sin and suffering they encounter in this life—help that aligns with their faith—they should seek it from the church. Therefore, the church must prioritize a ministry of care and counseling to address the growing needs of its congregations, providing support that is rooted in God’s Word rather than referring individuals to secular counselors who may not share their beliefs. To begin, let’s explore what Scripture says about this need.

A Mandate for Counseling

God designed His church to be a unified body that cares for one another through the public preaching of His Word and the private, one-on-one ministry of the Word in care and discipleship. Biblical counseling fits into this private ministry as we seek to apply the Scriptures to our daily lives. Proverbs 11:14 serves as a good reminder of this, as the Psalmist calls us to seek wisdom through counsel rather than depend on our own ways, which can lead to sin and suffering. Let’s explore three ways Scripture encourages us to be a community of care in the church.

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

The entirety of Scripture encourages every Christian to lead a life of love towards God and each other. In Galatians 6:2, Paul explicitly reminds the church to love one another by caring for each other during times of suffering. Jay Adams puts it this way, “To bear another’s burden (in order to help restore him) is to fulfill Christ’s law. That is, of course, the law of love.” Jesus reminds us that all of the law is summed up in loving God and loving others (Mark 12:28-34). How unloving are we truly when we see another brother or sister in Christ suffering and choose to ignore them or send them to someone who completely denies their belief in God? The church must do better

Teaching and Warning One Another

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Peter Martyr Vermigli notes, “Let nobody make the excuse that this is the job only for bishops and pastors, for Paul in Colossians admonished everybody both that the Word of God should abound in us and that our conversation should always be flavored with the salt of grace so that we may know how we should answer each person.” As the church, we ought to embody the Word of God to such an extent that the wisdom of God’s Word flows from us as we care for and counsel one another. This responsibility is not limited to pastors, elders, or those with theological training; rather, it is a call for all of us to intentionally live by the wisdom of the Word and share it with others in their time of need. Teaching and admonishing one another with the wisdom of God’s Word should be a priority for the entire church.

Confessing to One Another

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Here in James, the reminder is that we should confess our sins to one another, pray for one another, seek healing for sickness, and even more for the forgiveness of our sins. Daniel Doriani states, “The prayers of the righteous have power, yet God gives us that righteousness by faith and by the Holy Spirit.” Through our faith in Christ and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit within us, our prayers hold the power to bring healing and restoration to one another. By confessing our struggles to each other and living in the light, we can support one another through prayer. This reflects love in action and embodies the way we are called to love one another.

Jesus, the Ultimate Counselor

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is always the primary example we strive to live up to and be confirmed by. John Calvin says, “It is not, therefore, because he knows all his Father’s secrets that the Prophet calls him Counsellor, but rather because, proceeding from the bosom of the Father, (John 1:18,) he is in every respect the highest and most perfect teacher.” While our personal opinions and secular psychologies fall short, the wisdom of Christ never will, and we recognize this wisdom through the Scriptures. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor from whom all true wisdom is derived, and this is the wisdom we seek to share as we care for one another during our current suffering. Jesus continues to counsel and restore through his church.

A Modern Crises

We live in a culture of rising relativism and individualism that ultimately draws us away from God. In the midst of suffering, we are constantly being psychologized by a culture that remains hostile to God. In 2022, Lifeway Research conducted a study among pastors, which revealed that about 54% had encountered congregants with a diagnosed mental illness. Another striking statistic from this same poll indicated that nearly 26% of pastors have experienced mental illness personally. These numbers are likely to continue to rise.

The church faces a significant crisis. There is a pressing need for Biblical counseling within the local church and for the community of believers to flourish in love by supporting one another. Pastors and elders have struggled with the overwhelming demand to handle all counseling, leading to a reliance on secular psychology outside of the church. We need to return counseling to the church in a way that meets the needs of the people and glorifies God.  

How Counseling Meets the Need

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

In biblical counseling, we believe God’s word is sufficient for the needs of the church and for the struggles we face. Hebrews 4:12-13 serves as a helpful reminder that God’s word penetrates deeply into the mind, body, spirit, and heart of every person He has created. Issues such as fear, sadness, trauma, and intrusive thoughts are all addressed in the Bible. Additionally, the main issue- sin- remains a primary concern. 

Biblical counseling asserts that transformation through faith in Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not only possible but is happening right now. 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us that Christ, through the Spirit, is renewing us day by day. Although things on the outside may appear to be wasting away, like our aging bodies, inside, we are being renewed and increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. Transformation is not merely possible; it is secure in Christ.

Strengthening the church as a whole is always a goal of Biblical counselors. As seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we seek to admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak with patience. In Biblical counseling, we aim to reinforce the church through accountability and discipleship. Not only does this foster growth, but it also strengthens the congregants and teaches them to care for one another as they receive care.

Counseling in the Church

All of this sounds promising, right? But how can we effectively implement care and counseling in the church? The first step is to take discipleship seriously. Counseling is a more formal and intensive form of discipleship, so we need to establish a solid foundation of discipleship within the church and then work towards growing and maturing in it.

Another important step in enhancing our discipleship may be to provide training in counseling for some individuals. Numerous organizations offer training and certification in Biblical counseling. While I have a preference for the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC), it is not the only certifying body. There are several major conferences that provide training, as well as smaller organizations. If you would like a list of these ministries, feel free to email me, and I will be happy to share it.

Creating open and inviting spaces where people feel safe and heard is also crucial. We were never meant to struggle alone, but individuals are often reluctant to seek help from those they feel are not genuinely listening or caring for them. Lastly, we need counselors who are willing to collaborate and continuously learn. Identify the a few people who good at listening and caring for others and train them to counselors who can teach others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is a pressing need for Biblical counseling and training within the church to address the growing needs of its members. Our care and discipleship ministries, which include counseling, are driven by a genuine love for one another and are Scripturally mandated. They create a supportive environment in the church for those who feel lost and hopeless in today’s world. As church leaders, we must ensure that we equip our members to continue these ministries long after we are no longer here. By functioning as a place of care and support for one another, the church can serve as a beacon of hope not only for those in need but also for the larger communities around us.

NIH, 2022 report. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

Henderson, John. https://christiancounseling.com/blog/the-gospel/definition-biblical-counseling/

Adams, Jay E. Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020, p. 59.

Graybill, Gregory B. Philippians, Colossians: New Testament. Edited by Graham Tomlin et al., vol. XI, IVP Academic, 2013, p. 229.

Doriani, Daniel M. James. Edited by Richard D. Phillips et al., P&R Publishing, 2007, p. 200.

Calvin, John, and William Pringle. Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Logos Bible Software, 2010, p. 310.

Lifeway Research.  https://research.lifeway.com/2018/05/01/13-stats-on-mental-health-and-the-church/