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An Interview with
Daniel Akin, Russell Moore, Paige Patterson, and Sam Williams 
Southern
Baptists are making an intentional and historic effort to return to a
theory and practice of counseling that is distinctively biblical. This
article interviews key leaders in Southern Baptist life concerning their
views on what makes a counseling practice distinctively biblical, what
role secular psychology ought to play in biblical counseling, and how
counseling fits in the overall mission of the church.
Those interviewed are Dr. Daniel L. Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Dr. Russell Moore, dean of the school of theology and vice president for academic administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Dr. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Dr. Sam Williams, professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and former licensed psychologist in Louisiana. These four represent a broad cross section of Southern Baptist life: weathered veterans of the fight for reform, young leaders who will lead well into the future, pastors, professors, counselors, those secularly trained, those with theological degrees, those who fought for the authority of Scripture from a young age, and those who came to the conviction of Scripture’s sufficiency later in life. The purpose of the interview is three-fold. First, the interview intends to garner testimonial evidence that Southern Baptists are embracing the Biblical Counseling model of pastoral care over the “integrationist” or therapeutic model. Second, it is designed to allow the leaders to articulate their definition of “Biblical Counseling” as it relates to key areas of counseling and church life. Third, it should create a format in which the practical implications of this shift to Biblical Counseling can be communicated to pastors and other church leaders. | ||||||
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| by Brad Hambrick | Christ-Centered
Alternatives to Self-Esteem II 
Nathan
sits staring at the phone. With sweaty palms, he has already dialed the
first six digits of her number eleven times. Each time he hangs up, goes
to the mirror, and rehearses his introductory remarks. He knows she asked
her friends to ask his friends to ask him to call her, but still it seems
so “risky.” If only he had the nerve to call and ask her out.
Emily has the resume and qualifications to secure a much better job than the one she is currently in. Yet every time she reviews a new position she begins to imagine all the more qualified people who must be applying for this job, becomes intimidated, and decides to wait for something that is a “better fit.” Jerry has never struggled with a lack of confidence a day in his life. Actually, his lack of appropriate inhibition has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion. Risks are no big deal. He enjoys the thrill. Jerry assumes that if something goes awry he is smart enough, articulate enough, athletic enough, and well-connected enough to get himself out of it. | |||||
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| by Brad Senter | 
Sue and
Becky met as freshmen in college. They became roommates, declared the same
major, joined the same sorority, and played on the tennis team together.
They were practically inseparable. They graduated from college and took
similar jobs with the same corporation. It was not too long before Sue was
selected over Becky for a promotion. Sue was earning more money, taking
lavish business trips, and discussing year-to-date reports over $75
lunches with the CEO. Becky continued to plug away at her job all the
while watching Sue scale the corporate ladder. It was more than Becky
could take. She eventually “blew a fuse,” destroying her relationship with
Sue.
What happened to Becky in a “weak” moment happens to all of us when we allow envy to distort our thinking about other people. Envy is coveting what someone else is or has, and feeling angry or bitter because you feel that you deserve the same or better. It is a painful, resentful awareness of someone else’s advantage joined with a desire to possess the same. Envy – just four little letters. Such an ugly survival. Solomon sees it this way: “A heart of peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Envy is like spiritual leukemia, it destroys our ability to think or reason. As a result, we harbor bitterness and end up lashing out at others. | |||||
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If you ask twelve different people to define codependacy you will
probably get thirteen different definitions. Even with that confusion
there are large numbers of people and couples who struggle to find peace
in their lives because of this style of relating to other people. This
seminar will seek to define codependancy, identifying its causes, and lay
out a plan for learning a new style of doing relationships.
If you ask twelve different people to define codependacy you will probably get thirteen different definitions. Even with that confusion there are large numbers of people and couples who struggle to find peace in their lives because of this style of relating to other people. This seminar will seek to define codependancy, identifying its causes, and lay out a plan for learning a new style of doing relationships. These questions are the focus of a seminar being hosted by Crossroads Counseling.
These seminars are a part of a quarterly partnership between Crossroads Counseling and the Augusta Association of Baptist Churches. They are designed to strengthen the Body of Christ in Augusta by providing biblical faithful instruction on counseling- related topics to pastors, elders, deacons, and lay leaders. If you know someone who would be interested, please forward this newsletter to them. To Register Now... | ||||||
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