Against "Biblical Counseling": For the Bible

by Martin Bobgan, Deidre Bobgan

Against “Biblical Counseling”: For the Bible is a readable, challenging, controversial, and thought-provoking book about the rapidly expanding biblical counseling movement. This book gives reasons why Christians should abandon the biblical counseling movement and calls Christians back to the Bible and to biblically ordained ministries and mutual care in the Body of Christ.Christians often think they cannot minister God’s grace and wisdom to fellow believers because they have not been trained in psychology. Now many think they cannot minister personal mutual care to fellow believers, because they are not trained specifically in biblical counseling. Others have said they feel much more secure counseling fellow believers after having taken a class and having a manual to use. Thus increasing numbers of pastors and lay people are seeking training in biblical counseling, when what they really need is knowledge of the Word, understanding the Word, personal obedience to the Word, and confidence to discard all counseling and to use the whole armor of God.

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 1995

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE BOGANS NOW TURN AGAINST "BIBLICAL COUNSELING"

Married couple Martin and Deidre Bobgan run "Psychoheresy Awareness Ministries"; Martin has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, and Deidre has an M.A. in English. They have written many other books, such as ‘Psychoheresy,’ 'How to Counsel from Scripture,' 'Prophets of Psychoheresy I,' 'Prophets of PsychoHeresy II: Critiquing Dr. James C. Dobson,' 'CRI Guilty of Psychoheresy?,' 'Hypnosis and the Christian,' 'Twelve Steps to Destruction: Codependency/Recovery Heresies,' 'Four Temperaments,' ‘Astrology & Personality Testing,' etc.

They begin this 1994 book by saying, "'Against biblical counseling? I thought you were FOR biblical counseling!' We can hear the chorus of cries from even our closest allies. And our adversaries will relish the opportunity to use this book as proof positive that we are extremists... We ask you to hear us out. Our concerns cannot be stated briefly. For years we have recommended against psychotherapies and their underlying psychologies. We have severely criticized Christians who have psychologized the faith. There is a serious competition between whether believers will use psychological or biblical information or a combination of the two...

"In this book we will be critiquing those who propose biblical counseling as an alternative to psychological counseling. In doing this we realize that many of our closest friends in the faith may become upset... Be assured, we will continue to criticize the psychologizers. However, we believe that this book is a necessary critique of the growing biblical counseling movement in America... We begin by asking a very simple question, 'Is biblical counseling biblical?' Though the question is simple, the answer needs explanation. This book is an attempt to answer that question." (Pg. 7-8)

They state, "the biblical counseling movement has actually disempowered pastors by making them think they need specialized 'training.' Thus, what was intended to be a help has become a hindrance." (Pg. 11) They add, "we are now opposed to the biblical counseling movement ... We are so concerned that we are no longer recommending any biblical counseling centers or biblical counseling training programs." (Pg. 18) They advise, "One of our books, 'How to Counsel from Scripture,' encourages biblical counseling. While it is always difficult to repent of anything publicly, it is double difficult to repent about something already successfully in print. However, we are repenting of any statements in our past writings that are in conflict with this current book." (Pg. 24)

They ask, "Where is the office of counselor in the New Testament? Is there a specific calling of counselor as there is for evangelists, pastors and teachers? Are there specific offices as there are for elders and deacons? Why is the position of counselor absent, for instance, in Ephesians 4, which speaks of Christ's gifts to the church..." (Pg. 70) They add, "Both psychological therapists and biblical counselors have admitted inappropriate sexual contact (sexual sin). Even when outward sin is not committed, the counselor may usurp the husband's role of authority and leadership. The woman may become more devoted to the therapist than to her own husband." (Pg. 81) They contend, "psychotherapy is a business that tends to revolve around time and money, rather than around people and their concerns. We say categorically that any biblical counseling ministry that charges a price is unbiblical." (Pg. 87)

The Bobgans' books are always controversial; this one perhaps more than most. Still, it is essential reading for any Christians concerned about overuse/misuse of psychology.

[Craig Marshall]

Overall I did not agree with the book, but it did raise some good concerns to think about regarding the temptation to set up a "Christian alternative" to secular psychology. It reminded me how important it is to make sure what we promote is thoroughly biblical, and how quickly we can just incorporate assumptions we may have from living in a psychologized culture.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

informative, a good read.