Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/78

Contributor - Cor Kors

Title - An Alternative Call in Ministry

Topic - Ministry

As a seminary student, I often receive mixed reactions when I state that I have no wish to enter a pulpit ministry. As a matter of fact people are usually shocked and almost act as if I am committing some great blasphemy. What they must understand is that God calls people to different types of ministries; especially in a society where needs are different, and filled pulpits bring about the opportunity to pursue a specialized call. In the middler class at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where I am a student, very few plan to go into a pastoral ministry, only twenty-five percent to be exact. Therefore, I consider the pursuit of a ministry in Christian counseling, not only valid, but necessary in today's society. There is a distinct need for a Christian perspective in the world of counseling as opposed to the conventional sciences of psychiatry and psychology which dominate the field presently. At this time I would like to familiarize you, the Christian community, with the new movement that is taking place in theological circles at present. If it can't be considered a swing in the direction of conservatism, it can at least considered more Gospel oriented.

I once expressed my hope to go into Christian counseling to a minister, and he replied by saying, "Is there any other type?" Although there are other types, I cannot think of any other type that could be more meaningful for myself than the type of counseling which is based on the healing power of Jesus Christ. My aim is not to compete with psychiatrists and psychologists who theorize with concepts from Freud, Rodgers, and Skinner. Rather, I wish to give people access to the greatest inner peace possible. This peace as is found in God and His Word as the "peace that passeth all understanding."

There is a widespread movement in pastoral counseling to a strict biblical, or scriptural approach. The movement is lead by Jay E. Adams, a professor at Westminister Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He calls this type of counseling "Nouthetic Counseling" (pronounced as newthetic, rather than nowthetic). Dr. Adams utilizes scripture as his major resource to counsel. Although in some situations, he ignores material from the fields of psychiatry and psychology which can be very valuable in working with a counselee, I find his basic premise very useful and worthwhile. As Christians who find their origin in God, it should only be natural that we turn to Him when the need arises.

Recently I have had much opportunity to try my hand at counseling. Rather than go to pick a person apart critically, looking for discrepancies in what they tell me, and thus not being honest and sincere with them, I accept what they tell me. I listen to them patiently in love and find strength and guidance for them in scripture. The most essential element of scripture that must be emphasized in Nouthetic Counseling is that God is sovereign. In accepting the sovereignty of God it is not necessary to rejoice and praise Him for bad circumstances as so many charismatic movements attempt to teach. It is not necessary to ask that often asked question: "Why did this have to happen to me of all people?" One can just accept their circumstances, trust that God will ultimately work it for the good, and build one's life from there, always looking to God for guidance and direction.

I visited recently with an elderly widow of ten years who had fallen into a deep depression. She had many problems, which began with her great financial need. By letting her talk, over a period of time, she began to express that she felt that God must be held responsible for her circumstances. She had alienated herself from God as far as to stop attending church and couldn't see fit to approach God in prayer. Had I not represented the church and taken time to listen to her, the latter problems would never have been expressed. After listening to her verbalize her angers and worries I could turn to scripture and share God's Word with her. A passage such as Matthew 6:25-34 which says not to have anxiety for tomorrow can speak to such a person's situation. Even a novice counselor such as myself can bring comfort to a person such as this woman in the words of I Corinthians 13. We then had opportunity to turn to God in prayer and this woman was able to shed many of her anxieties through tears as we talked to God, together in Christian love. I have seen this woman since that experience and have found her much stronger, free of her depression, and looking to scripture daily.

The wonderful element of this type of counseling is that people are taught to turn to God for help. Thus, even if a human counselor is not available, they have secured comfort in God and His Word. That is why I feel my calling to the ministry is in this capacity, as more of a spiritual enabler on a one-to-one basis than a human analyst. A Christian based alternative must be available to those who have need of counseling. A theological training is essential to becoming efficient and sound in this new area of ministry. When a counselor has Jesus Christ to help him help others, he is wen on his way to becoming a counselor in the true sense of the word.

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