Christian Counseling: A Needed Ministry In The Local Church

Several years ago a Christian lady whom I was counseling, called one day to cancel her appointment and to inform me that she would not be coming for counseling anymore. Realizing that we were just beginning to make some progress in the counseling, I was surprised by her decision and wondered if I had in some way offended her. When I asked for an explanation she told me that she had become convicted that it was wrong for a Christian to seek counsel. As our conversation continued I learned that the source of her "conviction" was a popular television preacher who was preaching against Christian counseling. I had heard him on more than one occasion, preach against counseling with a passion that showed extreme anger and bitterness. A few years later this same preacher was exposed for misconduct involving sexual lust. His denomination offered discipline and counseling but he refused and continued his ministry, only to be caught again some months later. Counseling is considered a fad by many and an outright threat by some church leaders. This is based primarily on a gross misunderstanding of what Christian counseling is all about.