Curing the Heart

A Model for Biblical Counseling

Howard Eyrich and William Hines

• Publisher: Christian Focus Publication
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9781781913819

Online Resources

You can download two forms to use with this eBook from our website by visiting the link below:

Appendix 1: Weekly Counseling Record

Appendix 2: Personal Data Information Form

http://christianfocus.com/pages/redirect/-/-/dp_dl_162?to=%2Fdownloads%2F162-Appendix+1+and+2+of+Curing+the+Heart+download.pdf

Appendix 3

Four Levels of Problems
and their Solutions

Downward Spiral	Upward Spiral
Perception Level: Where the Problem Begins Mind-set, belief, established attitude interpretation of reality, idols of the heart.
Preconditioning Level Learn patterns, chronic anger, avoidance of conflict, lying, self-pity, deceit, immorality, self-orientated fulfillment.
Performance Level This is the “doing level.” Ask what, when, how and who questions to discover “why” this behavior is characteristic of the counselee. Performance includes: brooding, slander, perversion, short-tempered, overeating, slamming doors, holding grudges, critical, clamming up, etc.	Developing Spiritual Dimensions
Presences level What is felt: This includes what a person projects – constant frown, rigid muscle tone – and what he feels and talks about feeling. Severely depressed, listless, confused, fearful, drug dependent, poor interpersonal relationships, unable to control anger, suicidal.

Appendix 4

Evangelism and Renewing the Mind:
Inseparable Issues in
Biblical Counseling

There are two issues in Biblical counseling that set it apart from both secular and integrative Christian counseling. These are: 1) whether a non-Christian can be counseled as defined biblically and 2) the ability to think as a Christian or the renewing of the mind. The reason for the importance of these two is simply that if a non-Christian is unable to think biblically our counsel will not be interpreted properly. At best our counsel would be accepted or rejected by the counselee as a work of the flesh from the natural man. We recognize, therefore, that biblical admonition or counsel cannot be successful unless the person being admonished or counseled is truly a Christian. The reasons for this are more simple than one might initially think. These reasons begin with our definition given in chapter seven of this book.

Defining Biblical Counseling/Admonition

In chapter seven we adapted the research of several linguistic scholars and commentators to state the following: To engage in a ministry which seeks to warn, to stimulate and to encourage people to Christ-likeness is to do the work of biblical counseling. We encourage the reader to review chapter seven to define the various terms and review the footnotes. It is most important to remember that our point here is that Christ-likeness or becoming increasing like Christ is not possible unless one is a true Christian.

Why We Cannot Biblically Counsel a Non-Christian: The Mind of the Unbeliever

It may sound harsh at first to say that we cannot biblically counsel¹ the non-Christian. Yet it becomes more clear why it is necessary when we read what the Apostle Paul has to say about the two categories of people – the Christian and the non-Christian.

After explaining that Christians have received the Spirit of God and are able, then and only then to think and speak spiritual thoughts and words, he goes on to describe the unbeliever this way:

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor. 2:14-15 nasb, see also v. 13). Jude 19 also refers to unbelievers as natural men who do not have the Spirit and in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Paul writes that many have their spiritual eyes blinded by Satan so that they cannot see the light of the gospel. So while the Christian has eyes to see and a heart and mind to understand the things of the Spirit the unbeliever, while he might have a sentimental feeling about Christianity, is unable to truly understand the things of the Spirit. The result is that when the unbeliever is confronted with spiritual things he can only see them in accord with his nature. Without the Holy Spirit living within him man lives according to his original fallen nature, which is one who is estranged from God and committed first and foremost to himself and his own personal agenda. God, for the natural man, is whatever or whoever he wants him to be because ultimately man is his own god if he refuses to bow to the true God.

As in our day Paul’s time was filled with people who desired to profit from the gospel. One problem resulting from this was that they thought a mere knowledge of the Scriptures or being born to a Jewish or a Christian family was all that was necessary for salvation and spiritual thinking and faith. But as H. A. Ironside wrote in his Commentary on 1 Corinthians: “What is needed to bring a man out of that state [the state of being a natural man or non-Christian] into that of a Christian? There must be a new nature, a renewing of the mind, he must be born of God. ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3)”.

What we are saying is that a person without Christ cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God since he has not received the Spirit of God by faith. Without the Spirit living within a person that person cannot discern spiritual thoughts (1 Cor. 2:12-15). The non-Christian simply does not understand them without this work of the Holy Spirit in bringing salvation to us. So what are we to do when we are confronted with a “Counselee” who may not be a Christian? We give them a clear presentation of the gospel and explain to them how Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems they face.

What This Process Should Look Like

Since there can be no renewing of the mind (biblical change) without the mind of Christ in us (Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 2:16; Eph. 4:20-24) we must evangelize. Without evangelism the most we could achieve with a person would be a work of the flesh that might very well trick them into thinking they are Christians when they are not. This would be one of the cruelest things we could do.

How to Evangelize in the Context of Counseling²

1. Ask the counselee to explain to you their understanding of what a Christian is and what attributes they would expect to see in a true Believer.
2. Do they believe they possess these attributes of a true Believer?
3. If you are uncertain of their position in Christ ask them to read a good basic booklet with you that clearly explains the gospel. We suggest Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard, Evangelical Press. It is not simplistic as are many of the four step booklets nor is it so long that people would be turned away by the length.
4. Go over their insights into the booklet in your second session and see how God has worked. The first few sessions may become opportunities to answer questions they have long had. Perhaps other homework will be appropriate as you help them answer their deepest questions about life.
5. If you find you are needing help witnessing to this person you could ask their permission to bring in a Pastor or friend who is better equipped in their area of questioning. Most often I find counselees quite agreeable to this process.

What if I Am Unsure of Their Salvation?

1. Ask them whether their life changed when they received Christ by faith?
2. Have they become, “…dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11-14)? Go over their journey with Christ with them and see whether you can find any reason to think they are truly “in Christ”. Review Romans 6 and 1 John and question them further as to whether there has been any change at all. If so, proceed as you would with an immature Christian who needs to “grow up” in the faith. If you still have questions return to # 3, 4 and 5 above and do not be afraid to kindly tell them that you have concerns that need to be satisfied in order to move on. Remember that one way to evangelize is to share the attributes of the Christian life with them. If they respond in an affirmative way you can have some confidence that they are “in Christ”. If their response is negative you have planted a seed that we pray will grow to spiritual maturity (1 Cor. 3:6).

A Note of Encouragement

Only God knows for sure who is a true Believer. If you proceed with a counselee as though they are of the faith and they are not you will find out soon enough. They will show signs of a lack of fervor for God and will seem to go through the motions of counseling without real change. They could become frustrated and show by word or deed that they just don’t understand. Keep praying that God will give you wisdom to see and that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and their need for Christ.

The Mind of the True Christian

The word mind is one of those words in Scripture that is often too narrowly defined. Many think of it as the “brain” or the part of man that thinks in a manner devoid of emotion. I have often heard people say something like, “Listen to your ‘heart’, not your ‘head”. A closer look at a few passages of Scripture will help us here.

The Meaning of “Mind”

As a young Christian I was taught that there was a clear distinction between the terms “mind”, “emotion” and “will”. In this teaching one term’s definition was not confused with that of another. The same was true of “spirit”, “soul” and “heart”. Yet my seminary studies taught me otherwise. I learned that while each term had a distinctive meaning there was also a sense where terms such as these overlap in their meaning and usage. Charles Hodge gives us a good example of this.

Renewing the “Nous”

In his commentary on Romans 12:1-2 Charles Hodge offers the following ideas that will help us understand how various words overlap. “The transformation to which Christians are exhorted, is not a mere external change, but one which results from a change of heart, an entire alteration of the state of mind. The word nous, mind, is used as it is here, frequently in the New Testament, Romans 1:28; Ephesians 4:17, 23; Colossians 2:18, and others. In all these and in similar cases, it does not differ from the word heart, i.e., in its wide sense for the whole soul.”³

Similarly, William Hendriksen views the mind as something broader than the reasoning of man. In his discussion of Romans 7:23 concerning the war that is “waging in [man’s] mind…”, With Paul the inner man is hidden from the public gaze. It indicates the heart. It is here that a new principle of life has been implanted by the Holy Spirit. By means of this implantation the sinner has become a new man, a person who is being daily transformed into the image of Christ.”

How This Helps Us In Counseling

We cannot expect a person to simply become convinced of the truth of Christianity as applied to their particular problems if they do not have the Holy Spirit working in them (Rom. 8:9-11). As stated above, it is the Holy Spirit who guides us and convicts us and changes us from within (John 16:5-15). For a Biblical Counselor to speak God’s truth to an unbeliever and expect them to be changed by God’s living Word (Heb. 4:12-13) is to speak the words of faith to those who only understand the law and cannot, therefore interpret the words with a heart of faith. They understand the words in terms of language but they do not interpret them by faith and so they are not changed.

We find ourselves, then, back to the issue of evangelism. The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit so we must teach them the good news of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and regeneration unto new life (Titus 3:4-8).

Counseling an Atheist

A couple came to me for counseling. She wanted Christian counseling because she had become a Christian. He was willing to counsel with me but made it clear that he was an atheist. I asked him if it would be alright with him if we took the last 10 minutes of each session to talk about the issues that kept him from coming to Christ. He gladly agreed. Soon those 10 minute sessions turned into 20 minute sessions. I was clear with him that I could help his wife grow into a more mature Christian but that my work with him and my prayer for him would be to the end that he would become a man who believed in Christ by faith. That was okay with him.

After many weeks he and his wife met me early one evening. I asked why they were early and he informed me that he wanted me to pray “that prayer” with him so he could become a Christian. The seeds that had been planted and watered over time had germinated and were growing. All the time I was doing evangelism but from his point of view he was getting marriage counseling and some questions answered. The difference was I used the Word of God to explain marriage and how to have a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit regenerated Him and opened his eyes to the truth.

Remember that the principles in the Word of God, if they are not combined with faith unto repentance will accomplish nothing more than Pharisaic stumbling in the dark. Be honest, speak the Word clearly and pray fervently. The Holy Spirit will draw people to the Savior.

---

1 I am using the word counsel here and in the continuance of this article to refer to counsel, admonition, discipleship. Not simply the giving of advice.

2 This is only one approach. We do encourage you with all fervency that you not settle for a simplistic defi nition. You can be both kind and direct as the Holy Spirit works in you. It is better to be wrong and discover they are Believers than the reverse.

3 Hodge, Dr. Charles, The Epistle to the Romans, Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA, 1975, p. 385.

Appendix 5

Counseling People Taking
Medications - by Kurt Grady

Counseling people taking mental health medications can be both a challenge and a rewarding experience. It can be challenging because of the presuppositions these people often embrace and it can be rewarding as you see the counselee embrace God’s Word and reduce or eliminate their desire to continue the medications. Please do note, however, that at no time should you direct a counselee to discontinue their medication(s). Many drugs in the mental health arena require tapering off as opposed to abrupt discontinuation. When the counselee is making sufficient progress, it is appropriate for you to recommend they see their physician to discuss their medication in light of their improvement. Do not be discouraged if the physician decides to keep the counselee on the medication. Over time, as the counselee changes biblically, it will become evident to the physician the drugs are no longer needed. As an alternative, you may wish to develop a relationship with a Christian physician who can see the counselee and intervene medically.

Let me state that I am in no way against the use of medications in people who have proven medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. As a clinical pharmacist, I have had many years of experience seeing the benefits drug therapy can afford those who are acutely or chronically ill. It has been proven time and time again how drug therapy is beneficial for people with a host of medical conditions. However, the arena of mental health is different.

There is no organically verifiable pathology in mental health diagnoses. Put another way, we can measure a blood pressure by an objective means (sphygmomanometer), we can draw blood and objectively measure a host of blood chemistries, we can perform an x-ray to see a broken bone, and a pathologist can look at a tissue sample under the microscope and see whether or not there are cancer cells present. There are no such object tests in mental health. All of the diagnoses are subjective. Moreover, we have no confirmed data on how the mental health drugs work in people with depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, and all the rest. In contrast, we do know how penicillin kills bacteria, how albuterol opens airways, how calcium builds bone, and so on. No mental health drug in the physician’s armamentarium holds a definitive mechanism of action. In other words, we know the drugs do something and that some people improve, but we do not know how the drug works or if there is even a disease present.

This is what makes biblical counseling so exciting! We know, from reading God’s Word that man’s problems in the so-called mental health area are not a result of what may or may not be going on in his brain. Rather, as the title of this book explains, the problem with man is in his heart. I think this is best summed up in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (NASU) The sickness is in man’s heart, not his brain, and the cure is in God’s Word, not in a prescription bottle.

Let’s first take a brief look at the human brain. The human brain is a magnificent work of creation. It holds without question, the distinction of being the most complex organ in the human body and very well may be the most complicated construct in the entire created universe. Ancient physicians explained the brain as a type of radiator used to cool the blood. More modern analogies have likened the brain to a telephone switchboard and even more recently to a computer. Yet the brain is much more than these things. We know it is the physiologic control center directly or indirectly overseeing virtually every organic process within the body. Medical scientists believe the brain functions by chemical, electrical and hormonal means, though they do not understand how these processes relate to thinking, memories, ideas, or learning. What little is known about the human brain is largely based on the results of brain injury or tumors or upon experiments per...

Table of contents

• Testimonials
• Title
• Indicia
• Contents
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Section One the need for a biblical approach
• Section Two the need for a biblical counselor
• Section Three a model for the counseling process
• Bibliography
• Online Resources (Appendix 1-2)
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5
• Christian Focus