Biblical Counseling and The Psychologies

by Ernie Baker

In this book, my intention is to help you, the reader, to understand how a counseling theory is constructed. In addition, I want the book to be a reminder of the foundations and construction of a historic biblical-counseling approaching to life issues. I am hoping this will demonstrate the beauty of Scripture and help us grow in discernment as we hear the claims of other proposed models. Of course, this is all for the glory of God and the good of His people through the power of the gospel. ―From the Introduction

Genres: Counselling

100 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2023

About the author

Ernie Baker (M.Div., D.Min.) is Professor of Biblical Counseling at The Master's University and Seminary in Southern California. He served as a pastor for 25 years, is a certified conciliator with Peacemaker Ministries, and a Fellow with ACBC. Ernie and his wife Rose have six children and seven grandchildren. Along with discipling his own children to make a wise choice of a spouse and to be ready for marriage, Ernie has had extensive involvement in premarital and relationship counseling with hundreds of individuals and couples.

Reviews

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful contribution to the modern biblical counseling body of work. Baker’s writing is needed in a time where the boundaries of what is and what isn’t biblical counseling is highly contested.

I wish Dr. Baker would have given citations for Bavinck’s view of common grace and where to read more on this firsthand. The topic of common grace, seems to be a hotly contested point among some integrationist leaning biblical counselors who cite Bavinck’s position.

Aside from that, this is a great read. It is short and in-depth. It features plenty of quotes from earlier biblical counselors like Jay Adams and David Powlison. The reviews of CBT and trauma informed counseling using Dr. Baker’s “7 S’s” evaluative tool proved beneficial. The contributions from Dr. Chen are also helpful.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding short explanation of how to assess psychologies and their belief systems through a six point grid. He runs Cognative Behavior Therapy, Trauma Informed Theory, and biblical soul care through this grid in comparisons.
Baker avoids complicating the important point that the Bible stands tall above these competing belief systems. "All non-Christian systems demand autonomy for man, thereby seeking to dethrone God" (33). A biblical approach to soul care can not integrate with a competing belief system without corrupting itself and losing its core sufficiency and superiority.
This is a foundational point.

[Sheri Ingersoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This concise book addresses the current trend of practicing syncretism in Christian Counseling by integrating secular psychological therapies with biblical counseling. The author demonstrates how the counseling psychologies are more philosophies than they are objective science. Though they may "work" to a certain extent through behavioral modification or trauma therapy, they never get down to the root of the problem. The secular methodology causes a counselee to go inward rather than upward. A test case, "Larry", is introduced, and it is demonstrated how Larry will fare by applying the man-made theories vs. the Word of God applied through the power of the Holy Spirit. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68) "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3a)

[Guilherme Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful read that'll help some discern how to see certain counseling theories - CBT & Trauma-informed therapy- as what they are: subjective science that doesn't go to the route of the issue - the heart & its loves.
Only the Maker of our hearts can truly give us deep change.

Every scientific test has presuppositional biases that outright disagree with God's Word before any results have even been garnered.

"A presuppositional biblical counselor will need to keep in mind that all research has biases, and that worldview impacts even the way studies are designed. There is no neutrality." Pg 63

[Ryan Ahlenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Baker does a good job at fairly expressing concerns with modern psychologies. Modern psychologies are far more philosophies than they are ‘sciences’. He not only paints a picture for understanding that but offers a concrete example of how biblical truth brings real hope.