Theory of Biblical Counselling by Larry Crabb - Book Report/Review Example

? Crabb and Hawkins Critique Malisa Anderson Liberty Reading critique Summary of to Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling The basisof human life is his interconnection with God. Therefore, according to Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling, the major problem of every human being is his separation from God (Crabb, 1977). God has revealed the truth to humanity through two different ways; general revelation through which all people can access the biblical happenings, and thus can be inspired through the happenings, and the special revelations that occur to individuals informing them of God’s desired ways. Thus, the bible is informative, informing individuals of God’s desired conduct of His people, insightful in that it helps people to reflect upon their actions and also authoritative, since Gods word is final (Crabb, 1977). Therefore, there is no condemnation for those people who are in Christ Jesus, since they live their life in accordance with the biblical requirement, which is also the will of God. However, since people are always in doubt of whether they fit well in the requirements of God, they tend to seek for the confirmation of other Christians. Thus, it is not the fact that mans relationship with God cannot be perfected. Man has made the confirmation and approval by others so much important, such that once the others do not approve of his deeds, man tends to think that his relationship with God is also that of disapproval too (Crabb, 1977). What people should understand is that; God is always in the process of sanctifying us, and we do need the approval of others to prove God’s perception of us. There are two problems that man faces. The problems that result from the natural and physical causes and the moral problem that deals with the inappropriate behaviour of people. In all these problems, the bible is the ultimate solution, since it can be applied to provide a counsellor with a framework that is applicable in solving both the physical and the moral problems of people (Crabb, 1977). The Bible speaks to every aspect of human life, giving insights and truths that regard personalities, which are capable of guiding the counsellor in applying the dynamics of therapy. It is that trying that may make an individual fail to recover fully under therapy, because they are still in doubt. Therefore, the Christian principles, which are drawn from the bible are sufficient to undertake counselling and therapies for both physical and moral problems (Crabb, 1977). Therefore, psychology, counselling and therapies should be applied based on the theological principles, at the expense of the psychological view, since the psychological view has a combination of both the secular and the acceptable Christian principles. The fundamental principles of counselling are significance and security (Crabb, 1977). Therefore, any counselling system should make the individual seeking the counselling services to feel worth, adequate and important. Additionally, the individual seeking counselling services should be made to feel secure; a continued unconditional love and appreciation. Through satisfying these two needs, the individual feels worthwhile and free from the psychological problem. These basic principles are fully covered by the biblical principles, thus qualifying the Biblical counselling system, to be the most valid counselling system (Crabb, 1977). Summary of Hawkins “training for model” The “training for model” provides that man should undergo the training informed by the biblical principles, through upholding and practicing the biblical principles, as did Apostle Paul in the Bible. This is sufficient counselling, to help man undergo full therapy and recover from his problems (Hawkins, n.p.). According to "trying and training for change” by Ronald Hawkins, the biblical model trains for patience and for Godliness, but not for trying, because trying means that an individual have some hope that they can get some spiritual strength to behave differently, without the conviction that the counselling will get them better (Hawkins, n.p.). Hawkins interprets the Biblical system to mean his version of the “training for model,” which focuses on training individuals based on the contents of the Bible, as advocated by Apostle Paul (Hawkins, n.p.). Apostle Paul requires that individuals put into practice what they have learnt, to gain the peace of God. Thus, the Biblical system of counselling can also be interpreted to mean Hawkins’s “training for model.” Evaluation The strength associated with the Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling, is its ability to draw from both the world of secularism and the Christianity. Under the spoiling the Egyptians concept, Crabb observes that the counseling system should operate on the basis of applying the Christian principles, and looking at the other secular principles that are compatible with the Christian principles for adoption (Crabb, 1977). Thus, Crabb advocates for the adoption of the further external principles, as long as they compatible with requirements of the Bible. Nevertheless, while the Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling has some firm basis that guide the counsellors in offering their therapy and counselling services, it tends to disregard and in fact reject the psychological and psychotherapy strategies that may not be aligned with the Biblical teachings (Crabb, 1977). There are many patients and individuals who prefer the Christian counselors, for the reason that they tend to believe and have confidence in them, since they feel the tenderness and warmth of the counselors. However, there are many other counseling and psychological strategies that do not necessarily agree with the biblical provisions. Nevertheless, they are also tested and proved to be effective in addressing the psychological and the psychotherapy needs of the patients, thus making the disapproval of such strategies questionable. The other questionable aspect of the Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling, is its universal applicability. Despite the fact that it establishes two fundamental principles of counselling, which are most dear to the wellbeing of the individuals seeking the counselling services as significance and security, there are many other individuals who profess different faiths, whose personal and faith-based beliefs do not necessarily agree with the biblical principles. This means that individuals are left out of the Biblical system of counselling. The secular counsellors also observe that there is no place for search assertions in the psychology and psychotherapy fields, since the assertions serve to limit the application of the psychological principles, through eliminating the aspects of psychology that are not compatible with the biblical principles (Crabb, 1977). Another controversial aspect of the Biblical counselling system as provided for by Crabb is the fact that; under the spoiling the Egyptians concept, he advocates for the counselors to look into the world outside Christianity, and pick the principles that are compatible with Christianity, while disregarding the ones that do not tally with the biblical principles. This concept presents his counseling system as controversial, since Crabb has advocated for the application of Christian principles alone throughout his presentation of the validity of the biblical principles application in counseling. The act of drawing some compatible aspects from the secular world, and incorporating them into the biblical counseling system, indicates that the Biblical principles alone are not sufficient to address the psychological and counseling needs of the patients, which contrasts with his earlier assertions that the biblical principles sufficiently covers a patients counseling needs. In conclusion the Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling is an advocacy for the establishment of a counselling system that adopts the biblical and Christian principles. However, there are some disparities that make this system questionable. Its lack of universal applicability, its disregard for the non-Christian psychological and psychotherapy principles, as well as Crabb’s call for the combination of the Christian and the secular principles that are compatible, makes the biblical system of counselling controversial and questionable. Application The concepts learnt from both the the Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counselling and Hawkins “training for model” indicates that the Bible is an important source of counselling principles, since most of its provisions resonates well with the training needs of the patients. Additionally, more counselling principles can be borrowed from the psychoanalysis and psychotherapy fields, as long as they are compatible with the Biblical principles of counselling. Therefore, the Bible shall form an important source of counselling principles. Reference Crabb, L. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Hawkins, Ronald. "Trying and training for change”. Read More