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BIBLICAL COUNSELING
All Christians struggle with sin and the effect it has on our lives and our relationships. (See Romans 3:23; 7:7-25.) Whenever a Christian is unable to overcome sinful attitudes or behaviors through private effort, God commands that he should seek assistance from other members, and especially from the Pastor(s) and Deacon(s), who have the responsibility of providing pastoral counseling and oversight (Acts 6:1-4; Romans 15:14; Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2; Hebrews 10:24-25; James 6:15). Therefore, this church encourages and enjoins its members to make confession to and seek the counsel from each other and especially from our pastoral counselors. [1]
We believe that the Bible provides thorough guidance and instruction for faith and life (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:2-4). Therefore, our counseling shall be based on scriptural principles rather than those of secular psychology or psychiatry. Neither the pastoral nor the lay counselors of this church are trained or licensed as psychotherapists or mental health professionals, nor should they be expected to follow the methods of such specialists.
Although some members of the church work in professionals fields outside the church, when serving as pastor or lay counselors within the church they do not provide the same kind of professional advice and services that they do when they are hired in their professional capacities. Therefore, members who have significant legal, financial, medical, or other technical questions should seek advice from independent professionals. Our pastoral and lay counselors shall be available to cooperate with such advisors and help members to consider their advice in the light of relevant scriptural principles.
Click here for our confidentiality notice.
[1] This language is helpful in establishing the “clergy-penitent privilege,” which protects church leaders from being subpoenaed to testify in court regarding matters they learn through pastoral counseling.
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