Counselling in the Light of the Christian Gospel (1)

What is often missing in the counselling of those in trouble is an understanding of the larger context in which all counselling takes places. Deep realities revealed in the Christian Scriptures are at work whenever helping is undertaken.

These realities are more than doctrine--although doctrine is important and has its place; more than narrative--a common reduction of today--even though narrative has its place too. 

These realities of which I speak can only be understood as: the things that God has done, His mighty acts as Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. God, the holy Trinity, made the creation and continues to sustain it by his mighty word of power.

Moreover, when our parents defied Him and were unfaithful to Him, He set about to rescue them, to save them from the penalty of sin that they had brought upon themselves.

He raised up a people to be a light to the nations and from that people He brought forth His unique Son, Jesus of Nazareth to be the saviour of the world. His death paid the penalty for our sin and his resurrection assured us that we have a future with Him in the new heavens and new earth.

All these mighty acts are revealed in the holy Scriptures and are witnessed to by the ecumenical creeds.

Moreover, these acts of God directly affect how we do counselling.

(For the counselling graphic above I acknowledge http://passionforpreaching.net )