Preface: This was written for my Nouthetic Counseling class when I was a student of Bible & Ministry and submitted February 1, 2000.
The Sin Problem
The “Sin Problem” is not so much the actual problem of a sin, sinning, or being sinners; but rather, I believe, the problem is relating to the ‘worldly’ views of sin. For many, sin seems to be something that we can escape, find a cure for, justify in some way, or just simply ignore. Yet, it is an indisputable fact of life as a result of the ‘fall’ of Adam and Eve. Therefore, there are no solutions to sin itself; instead there are choices of preventative measures, including the path of life we choose to take, that are biblically based to help deter sin from interfering with our lives and roles we have in the Body of Christ. The choice is whether to live your life in a feeling-motivated or commandment-orientated way. Due to our destined nature to sin, we, as humans, subconsciously veer toward a feeling-motivated way of life, or human directed lustful way. Where instead, we, as the Body of Christ, need to strive and consciously work for a commandment-oriented way of life, or God directed loving way. This is where the Christian counselor comes in, for the purpose of restoring the usefulness of the fellow Christian in the Body of Christ, with both having the ultimate goal of glorifying God to the fullest. As we see in Galatians 6:1, “…if a man be overtaken in fault, …restore such a one in the spirit of meekness…lest thou also be tempted.”
When sin is discussed there are types and themes that coincide with it. In relation to the types, there are the external and internal. The external type of sin deals with the physical action (Ps6: 16), and obviously this is the more easily determinable type. Murder, adultery, drug abuse, gossiping, blasphemy and sexual immorality are just a few examples. Identifying the internal type is requires a little more digging often times as it is also referred to the ‘mental’ type and can be not quite so clear cut. Including, pride, arrogance, worry, lack of trust in the Lord, self-pity, bitterness and even lust this is usually the driver for the outward version of sin. There are also common themes to sin, which I believe include both ‘types’ of sin. All themes to sin, however, arise out of living a feeling-oriented way of life. To name a few, rejection to God’s word, blame shifting (including shifting of blame onto God), trying to hide something out of pride, and a false guilt (or feeling the sin of others upon yourself). When beginning a counselee/counselor relationship it is important to be able to determine what sin(s) you are dealing with so as to know how to approach it in the most effective and biblically grounded way.
Sin is largely influenced by feelings and being as we are humans and creatures of habit, we have also created some common themes for sin. It seems as though most common ones actually work with and grow with one another, like a snowballing effect. Initially it starts with the rejection of God’s word. Through this, you lose site of the ultimate goal-glorifying God. With the backbone of your necessary commandment-oriented way of life lost, you start to head down the wrong path, which eventually will turn into sinning and the complications and consequences resulting from sin. Also, as part of human nature, we feel the need to place blame on anyone or anything, including God, for our actions, which could have initially been prevented if we would have never rejected the Word to begin with. Supporting that is Galatians 2:20, “…nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” Christ, dwelling in us, enables us to overcome sin. In addition, one variance of the aforementioned is the sin of self and other. Meaning, that the sin of others is placed on your heart wrongfully by your own doing, which can then put you into the snowball effect all over again. However, irrelevant of what the influences are, what the sin is, what complications and consequences arise as a result and where the blame is placed; sin is sin. To get of that wrong path, follow Ephesians 4:22-24, “That you put off concerning that former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; … And that you put on a new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” This is more easily attained through Christian counseling.
The major, and most important, difference between counseling and Christian counseling is the ‘Christian.’ This is the factor in Christian counseling that changes the whole outlook, approach, and possible solutions to the counselee and intended problem. There are responsibilities that both the counselee and counselor have. It is the counselor’s responsibility to determine the affecting theme(s) and/or type(s) of sin and what biblically based solutions or actions need to be taken. The Christian Counselor must have a proper interpretation and understanding of the Scriptures relating to the matter at hand. Prayer is also a basic underlying necessity in any and all efforts in life, paired up with hope, love, support, and motivation. The counselee must be aware of the tactics of Satan (2Cor2: 11), to be able to understand what and why the counselor provides the solutions that he does. Also, a willingness and commitment to gain the knowledge, believe, and take action in the right direction. Christian counseling does not require talk, but also discussion combined with biblical action. Which is why the conclusion of each counseling session should result in a change by the counselee, to get a little bit closer to that goal of being restored to a useful point in the Body of Christ. An actual solution consists of two objectives: getting out of whatever the difficulty is, and staying out of it in the future. The first of these requires confession and forgiveness. Confession is an agreement with God about one’s sin. Confession is the first and foremost thing that needs to happen in order to progress (Prov28: 13). Following confession is the forgiveness from God in a fatherly manner, rather than the forgiveness from when we first believed in Jesus, as stated in 1John1: 9, “If we confess or sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.” The second objective consists of change and structuring against the return of the sin. Change actually refers to the removal of the sin and replacing it with the biblical alternative (Eph4: 22-24). The structuring against the sinful return is where the solution setting falls into place. It needs to be made clear that there will be future temptations and we must be aware and prepared for them. There should be short and long term goals in lace. Also, implementation must be built into a plan, consisting of the ways and means, the techniques, and the detailed steps and procedures on how to achieve the final goal of restoration. When referencing the commitment necessary, both the counselee and counselor must understand the proposed plan of action, have the desire to reach/or help reach the goals in order to please Jesus, and “pray without ceasing.” (1Thes5: 17)
There are far too many details and factors to competently discuss this topic of the Sin Problem and how to deal with it in a biblically complementary way. However, as it goes with all things in life, no one will ever know everything and it is not the goal to know everything; but rather that everything you do is with the same goal in mind: the glorification and edification of God through his grace from your faith in him. The sin will always be there, as will the Christian counselor. So the only thing I can offer to you is that of the words of God as your guidance, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus….Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”(Phil4: 6-7,9)
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2000 Copyright Shannon Yáñez
