As I contemplate the year ahead I cannot help but become excited about the
ministry the Lord has planned for me. I also become a bit anxious about meeting the responsibilities of that ministry. Being
a Faith Based counselor does carry a great responsibility. Think about it! If we are faith-based counselors, that is, Christian
Counselors who have studied the Word of God and use it as the foundation of all our counseling, then we are ministers,
shepherds, teachers and evangelists as well as counselors.
As ministers, we have received a call from God just as Paul did. Acts
26:16
Jesus may not have appeared
to us when we were called. But our lives were, or should have been, changed by
that call just as Pauls life was changed. Our commission is just as incredible as Pauls was. If you do not believe this then
I ask you to meditate on these verses: 2 Cor. 4:6, Ephes. 1:18, 1 Peter 2:9, Acts 13:47, Romans
13:12, Ephesians 5:8, Philipians 2:15, 2 Peter 1:19.
We are
called to witness of the marvelous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to open the eyes of men and women to the truth of God,
themselves, and their world. We are to help them find purpose, meaning, and significance in life. We are to turn them from
darkness to light, to save them from stumbling about, falling and dooming themselves in the darkness of sin and shame (whether
it be their own sin or the sin of another which has affected their lives); to turn them from darkness to the light of holiness.
I Timothy
4:6 tells us that if we do this we are good ministers of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine
which we carefully follow.
As
shepherds, we are to feed the wounded sheep who God has led to us with knowledge and understanding. We should lead them
by example not by lording over them. If we are not ready to walk the walk as we follow after Christ, then we are not
ready to lead others. We cant cop out by saying; We are called to counsel not to be leaders, if we have been called by God
then we have been called to Leadership. As a leader, we lead by example not as a dictator, not by teaching one thing
and doing another but by living for Christ a pure and righteous life, being a pattern and model for Christ and for what God
wants His people to be.
If we
have entered this ministry as a profession, a means of livelihood, to serve mankind, because people said we had a gift for
it, or we would make a good counselor, or by the encouragement of family or friends, we have entered it for the wrong
reason. These reasons may surround a persons entry into ministry but they must never be the reason. Ministry is a call
from God, and no person should enter ministry without that personal call (I Pet. 5:2,3).
As evangelists,
we are called to the great commission of preaching Jesus and making disciples
of all men (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15).
As counselors,
we are to be guided by the Great Counselor, Jesus Christ, through the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit. While we
may hold much counseling knowledge, and are well learned in techniques, theories and therapy, it means nothing without being
Faith Based (that is our faith in Christ) and Spirit led! We must take all the counseling knowledge we have gained
and filter through the Word of God before we use it.
Finally,
as teachers, we are to teach sound doctrine, with love, from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. We are
not to turn from that firm foundation on which our counseling is based for if we do it will be as idle talk and of little,
if any, worth! I ask you, how can we teach and counsel with sound doctrine if we are not rooted and grounded in the Word of
God; if we do not make a daily habit of reading and studying His Word, and if we do not apply and practice that Word in our
own lives? Make no mistake, we are called to teach if we have been called to counsel. First and foremost by example
(I Tim, 1:3-7).
I hope
this article has provoked much thought which will in turn cause change in our lives. James 3:1 tells us that as teachers we
will receive a stricter judgment. The teacher tells others how to live, correcting them when they fall short. We therefore
take on the responsibility for the lives of others, and their spiritual growth. Because of this, if we fail to live what we
teach, we will bear a greater judgment and condemnation. However, if we faithfully follow after Christ, living out the Word
of God in our lives, we can look forward to that crown of glory that does not fade away which we will receive when the Chief Shepherd appears (I Pet. 5:4).
