MIN-515 Topic 1 Overview
Biblical Foundations for Pastoral Care and Counseling
Introduction
This course begins with the foundation for all things as seen in the story of creation in the book
of Genesis. After humanity's painful fall from grace in chapter three, a very gracious and
merciful act of God is seen providing for his first two beloved creatures by clothing them as
they go out to face the world, alone (Gen. 3:26 [ESV]). God Almighty is now physically and
spiritually separated from them, and the world outside of his protective presence will not only
be tough but will now bear disastrous consequences.
On Being Human
A human person then, according to the Bible, is the wonderful creation of the author of life
itself, fashioned after the image of God, including God's own emotions and characteristics.
However, we, as humans, do not have the perfect mindset to use those emotions and must
remember that the human will is naturally turned away from God—hence, the struggles during
our lifetime. Humans are, therefore, imperfect and try to be what they are not: void of the
perfect game plan God had fashioned for optimum living. Due to this, all sorts of physical
maladies and psychological troubles (the word "psyche" meaning "soul") afflict human persons,
and the ways human persons seek to cope with these troubles often brings on more difficulties.
God's holiness and sacredness can fill the emptiness and provide help for all that is not good in
life, and those failings can be seen as opportunities to seek more of God himself. This is the
Christian life.
God's Rescue Plan
At the right time, God's plan to break through this great chasm of physical and spiritual
separation will come to pass. Not only will he help humanity reverse its fallen state, his grace
and mercy will work to steer the wayward soul into a life mapped out for his good purposes,
just as it was in the beginning. The nation of Israel will begin this reckoning, commanded to live
in a such a way that displays God's ways for righteous and moral healthy living. From Israel, it
will be the person of Jesus Christ, the one who will be the ultimate Good Shepherd and
sacrificial Lamb, that will bring full reconciliation with Yahweh for those who choose to do so
(John 1:29). This, then, is foundational for how those in ministry do pastoral care and
counseling when it comes to caring for souls, addressing this work of restoration and
reconciliation in full to affect the body, mind, and soul to experience God's righteousness.
Those in ministry are entrusted to assist the process of healing broken hearts and provide
counsel, hope, and encouragement alongside the living Lord Jesus Christ.
Understanding a Holistic and Biblical Nouthetic Approach
One important concept to understand is that of a holistic, biblical approach to Christian
counseling based on the concept of noutheteo, that is, the knowledge of truly helping a person
heal versus simply providing correction. This simply means the Bible clearly teaches that all
problems ultimately are spiritual in nature; however, not all healing processes or individual
journeys can be dealt with by merely a confession of sin (McMinn 2004, 36). The pastoral
counselor must understand the importance of embracing a theology of suffering, an
understanding of the gospel message that saves body and soul in due course but also
understanding that this ultimate healing may not be experienced until eternity. Any sound
Christian minister, pastor, or ministry leader must approach a person's situation humbly and
with great care when teaching a person how to live a better life "in Christ" (Reeves 2012, 90)
How the Trinity Serves as the Christians' Hope
The Holy Trinity, then, serves as the all-encompassing substance for all that God is, has always
been, and forever will be. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit serve together,
always, at the same time, and uniquely in this critical work of saving souls, not only from
wasteland of hell, but from the wasteland of the experience of hell on earth. As God directs,
Christians are to rely on the work of the Son who constantly intercedes on the behalf of
Christians and the Spirit of Jesus that "quickens the heart" to realize God's promises are true
and personally efficacious. The Trinity demonstrates that God is toiling at all times, serving
fallen humanity all because of the love God has for his people (Seamands 2005, 75). The
absolute Good News of the Cross is magnificently seen in the conclusion of the entire biblical
narrative: God wins.
Conclusion
Moving from one decade to the next, there have been many different kinds of tragedies and
troubles in the world. There are new and greater conflicts that arise in the social issues of the
day that cause extreme confusion. As mental health trials and tribulations rise up to different
crisis levels, new generations of pastors and pastoral counselors must be prepared to boldly
offer the message of the Cross for all that is wrong in the world, but also for what ails the mind
and the soul, perhaps now more than ever.
Note
If any of the situations presented in this course cause you distress due to traumatic
circumstances, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255, as well
as The Office of Student Care in Building 26 if you are on the Phoenix campus.
References
McMinn, Mark. R. 2004. Why Sin Matters: The Surprising Relationship Between Our Sin and
God's Grace. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Reeves, Michael. 2012. Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith. Downers
Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
Seamands, Stephen. 2005. Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian
Service. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.
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