| It wasn't until the early 1970's when I was introduced to | | | | and focuses on three factors: The Holy Spirit is |
| Jay Adams that I begin to see a great distinction | | | | sovereign, the Holy Spirit works through means, and |
| between generic counseling and genuine biblical | | | | those means are the Word of God. This forms the |
| counseling. I was 21 years old at the time when the | | | | foundation of Adams' argument that Christians are |
| pastor of our new formed church bought and read | | | | "competent to counsel." |
| Adam's book "Competent to Counsel." My pastor | | | | Adams introduces us to the two Greek words that |
| raved on the significance of the book and proceeded | | | | form the apex of biblical counseling: nouthesis and |
| to indoctrinate our small flock with its contents. I didn't | | | | noutheteo. He explains how these words used in the |
| fully understand his zeal at the time, and it wasn't until I | | | | New Testament give us the authority to confront |
| was older that I came to appreciate his feelings. | | | | believers with their problems and sin. Thus he terms it |
| Our pastor served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force | | | | "nouthetic counseling" consisting of three elements: 1. It |
| who was coming to the end of his career. Most of our | | | | implies there is a problem. 2. Problems are solved by |
| congregation was young military Non-Commissioned | | | | verbal means. 3. Change the problem that is hurting the |
| Officers (NCOs). The day came when I was | | | | counselee. Adams continues to highlight the key |
| eventually transferred and left that church. As I | | | | concepts of nouthetic counseling by explaining the role |
| progressed in my military career, it was expected that | | | | of the pastor in counseling and contrasts nouthetic |
| NCOs would be counselors to their subordinates. Our | | | | confrontation with Rogerian counseling. |
| profession military education devoted entire chapters | | | | After laying a foundation and defining nouthetic |
| and lectures on non-directive or eclectic counseling | | | | counseling, Adams provides the reader with practical |
| techniques. Maslow's hierarchy of needs was drilled | | | | application, i.e., techniques and a methodology. He |
| into our heads. We were warned to avoid any | | | | expounds on James 5:14, "Is any sick among you? let |
| mention of religion, but instead to make plentiful use of | | | | him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray |
| psychological techniques. As I continued my military | | | | over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" |
| education it finally occurred to me why my old pastor | | | | This verses allows Adams to explore the thorny issue |
| was so jubilant over Adams' nouthetic approach. He | | | | of, is sin the cause of sickness. He details man's basic |
| had been inundated his entire career with same stuff I | | | | problem, how man covers up his sin, and how the |
| was now getting, i.e., worldly psychology. When | | | | counselor has to be both extensive and intensive with |
| "Competent to Counsel" hit the book shelves, it offered | | | | his or her questioning. Adams affords the counselor |
| my pastor a refreshing and innovative biblical approach | | | | with some principles such as leading the client to |
| that replaced the unscriptural psychology. "Competent | | | | self-discipline, how to record a client's progress, and |
| to Counsel" was a defining moment not only in | | | | using the option of team counseling. |
| psychology, but also in Christian ministry. Adams' | | | | Adams devotes a large chapter on the topic of |
| pioneering work earned him the unofficial title of "the | | | | communication. Here he emphasizes that "the basis for |
| father of biblical counseling." | | | | the restoration of communication is reconciliation with |
| Jay Adams begins his book by detailing his | | | | God." Actually, reconciliation with God through Christ is |
| experiences as a young minister trying to counsel | | | | an absolute necessity prior to the resolution of any and |
| members of his congregation. He speaks of his utter | | | | all problems. He acquaints us the idea of using the |
| frustration and the lack of biblical material to assist him. | | | | conference table as a tool to ensure families use |
| Alas, there wasn't any. Everything he had been taught | | | | biblical communication in conflict resolution. Adams uses |
| was from a secular perspective leaving him | | | | the final chapter of his book to show how Christian |
| completely unprepared for what lay before him. Hence, | | | | school teachers can act as nouthetic counselors and |
| he began the journey to develop a better way to deal | | | | how God uses the school teacher to develop |
| with "mental illness." | | | | structure and discipline in students' lives. |
| Adams provides a brief history of psychiatry and | | | | Finally, Adams closes his book by exhorting ministers, |
| quickly shows how it is bankrupt, not only biblically but | | | | Christian workers, and every Christian, that they are all |
| effectually. He explores the various theories and | | | | competent to counsel. Some Christians are more |
| discusses the results of following the teachings of | | | | competent than others but with discipline and study, |
| Sigmund Freud. Adams attempts to demonstrate that | | | | more can be. To assist the counselor Adams includes |
| the "mentally ill" are not ill at all, but simply sinners trying | | | | a personal data inventory example for counselors to |
| to run or hide from their sins. He introduces the Holy | | | | use and gather preliminary data on their client. |
| Spirit as the effectual change agent in a Christian's life, | | | | |