Good Advice versus Good News
(January 12, 2015) |
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel (the good news) of Christ, for it (the gospel) is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. ROMANS 1:16
Whenever I'm given the humbling opportunity to meet with a Christian in weekly biblical counseling meetings, I yearn for him know upfront the Christ-centered orientation of our
meetings, in contrast to a problem-centered orientation.
Many Christians initially come to biblical counseling overwhelmed with a life problem and, as a result, are seeking advice. I always share the following introduction with them (noted in italics) to plant a seed of true hope in their hearts at the very beginning:
Worldly counseling starts with a premise that something is wrong with you. You have probably heard the remark, "Something is wrong with you. You need to get some counseling."
However, biblical counseling starts with a
promise that something is right with you. At salvation, God through Christ Jesus did a perfect work deep within you to forgive you and to re-create you anew as His child. This is not to overlook the fact that something may be wrong with how you are relating to a sinful stronghold, to ungodly thoughts, to another person who has wronged you, to an addictive chemical substance, to feelings that confuse you, etc.
However, I want to start this counseling process with you where God has started His perfect work of salvation in you. And then, and only then, we can build upon that salvation foundation established by God. This building process will be by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, who alone can expose and address the root of the problem you are presenting to
me.
Do you sense the hope of this approach? Are you willing to commit to this transforming spiritual process?
After this introductory presentation, the Christian typically catches a glimpse of the glory of the gospel. He
then hopefully realizes at the start of counseling, in seed form, that biblical counseling focuses on eternal transformation, in contrast with worldly counseling that focuses on solving temporary problems. This offers him true hope.
This past week I came across an article by Timothy Keller, based on quotes by Martyn Lloyd Jones, that
affirms this approach to biblical counseling. I was greatly encouraged. I hope you, too, are encouraged by this Rest Stop. |
The False Premise of Good Advice For legal and liability reasons, staff members of Journey in Christ never give
advice to people who come for biblical counseling. However, there is a more profound reason we don't give advice: We have something infinitely more greater than good advice, we have God's Word!
Romans 1:16 reveals that the gospel of Christ is the power of God, not human advice, even human advice that might
include Scriptural references to support the advice.
Martyn Lloyd Jones well notes the difference between good advice and good news: "Advice is counsel about something that hasn't happened yet, but you can do something about it. News is a report about something that has happened which
you can't do anything about because it has been done for you and all you can do is respond to it."
Lloyd Jones continues with a great illustration:
A king goes into battle to
defend his land against an invading enemy. If the king defeats the enemy, he immediately sends messengers back to the capital city with the good news (as there was no other means of communication). The good news-ers tell everyone, "The king has secured the victory! It's all been done! Therefore, respond with joy and go about your lives! Conduct your lives in this peace which has been achieved for you!"
However, if the king and his army do not secure a victory, the king sends military advisers back to the people to give advice such as, "Put swordsmen over there! Put marksmen over there! We're going to have to continue to fight for our lives!"
Lloyd-Jones notes that every other religion sends military advisers to tell people, "Here's what you need to do if you want your salvation. You're going to have to fight for your lives. Here's your laws and regulations and rituals."
There are also versions of counseling that purport to be "Christian" that mixes the good news of the gospel with good advice. For example, some "Christian" counseling integrates biblical truth with advice based on psychological principles. It is my conviction that this integrated approach subtly testifies of being ashamed of the gospel.
However, Christians should never be ashamed of the gospel! It is indeed the power of God! The good news of Jesus Christ is totally sufficient!
The True Promise of Good News God's Word
reveals the good news that through the Person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from the judgment for our sins and recreating us through our union with Christ to have fellowship with God for the glory of God forever.
Colossians 2:6 exhorts us, indeed commands us, "As you therefore have
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." We initially receive Christ through faith and repentance. So, my focus in biblical counseling is not to give good advice, but to walk alongside a brother in Christ with the Word of God to encourage him to continue walking in Christ by faith through his current, temporary problem.
To walk "in Christ" means to "walk in union with Christ." John 1:16 reveals the wonderful good news that all we need is promised through our union with Christ, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." Jesus is full of life, patience, hope, love, joy, peace, meekness, etc. And through our intimate union with Him, we can, by faith, receive these promises every step we take!
Therefore, through His salvation work for us, Christ has secured the victory for us to live in grace and freedom. He has defeated for us the enemies of sin, death, and Satan. And now the resurrected Christ promises us life in Him.
As a Christian, whether you are a lawyer, a homemaker, a plumber, a teacher, a counselor with Journey in Christ, retired, a janitor, disabled, etc, you have been called to be a messenger of this good news!
Thus, biblical counseling is the calling of all Christians to exhort other
Christians to live in the light of this good news even in the midst of trials and temptations. And as we grow in living in this light, non-Christians will be drawn into this light and out of darkness, for the glory of God.
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Timothy Keller provides a very helpful summary:
"We (Christians) send
messengers, not military advisers. This doesn't mean that there is nothing to do about it. Both messengers and military advisers get an enormous response. However, one is a response of joy, and one is a response of fear."
So, count it all joy that the King of kings has secured ultimate victory for you, even if you are experiencing temporary
trials and temptations. Also count it a most gracious blessing to be a child of this King!
You brother in Christ, Gregg
PS, Certainly, there are emergency situations,
including life-and-death situations, where we can offer advice to others. However, these are temporary situations. Only the good news of the gospel has the power to address root life issues and bring eternal life in Christ Jesus.
PSS, Below is an overview of the "message of the gospel" I will be teaching January
22-24. Please pray for me. Pray as people are in the process of registering this week. Feel free to contact me if you would like more details for this study. I would love to hear from you!
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Journey in Christ, Inc. is a biblical, Christ-centered discipleship counseling, teaching, and training ministry with a heart to come alongside pastors and the local churches in the Greenville SC area. I am a member of Holly Ridge Baptist Church in Simpsonville SC.
We
have three full-time staff members, one staff member trainee, six board members, one ministry assistant, and a multitude of ministry partners.
I would love to hear from you!
Contact me at (864) 483-3201 and/or gregg@journeyinchrist.org if you would like to know more how I can support you in your walk and ministry with Christ.
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