A Word from Bob: You’re reading Part 4 of a 10-part blog series on 10 Common Mistakes Biblical Counselors Sometimes Make. For Part 1, see: Mistake #1: We Elevate Data Collection Above Soul Connection. (Part 1 also contains further background, explanation, and “motivation” for this series.) For Part 2, see: Mistake #2: We Share God’s Eternal Story Before We Listen Well and Wisely to Our Friend’s Earthly Story. For Part 3, see: Mistake #3: We Talk at Counselees Rather Than Exploring Scriptures with Counselees.
Mistake #4: We Practice Half-Biblical Counseling If We Address Sin but Neglect Suffering
In the 1960s, Frank Lake noted that:
“Pastoral care is defective unless it can deal thoroughly both with the evils we have suffered as well as with the sins we have committed.”[i]
The modern biblical counseling movement has made tremendous strides in the past several decades in addressing both sin and suffering. Most biblical counselors now helpfully look at Christian counselees through the lens of saints who face suffering and battle against sin on their sanctification journey.
And yet, as I supervise counselors—whether experienced pastors or lay people who are “rookie” counselors-in-training—I continue to detect a pattern where we look at fellow
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