Biblical Authority and Counseling: Part One

As an engineer, I was passionate about gaining understanding and answers to topics like creation versus evolution. However, over time, after studying these issues and teaching them, I began to understand more profound and broader implications of biblical authority.1 For example, all the matters related to biblical counseling because of the human need in a world affected by sin and its consequences.

I have seen firsthand the consequences of sin in my own heart and in the lives of those with whom I’ve shared the Christian life over 20 years, pastoring in a local church. Therefore, although I do not pretend to express everything that could be said, I would humbly like to share “some advice for counselors.”

An Ancient Battle

A first piece of advice is to remember that although we know all of Scripture is central for the edification, encouragement, and comfort of the believer (2 Timothy 3:15–17), Genesis—especially the first 11 chapters—is the historical foundation on which all our doctrine is based, either directly or indirectly.

In this historical narrative, we learn about the origins of all created things, everything that came into existence by the Word of God (Hebrews 11:3). We see that everything was made good and beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11), according to God’s eternal purposes and for his glory. Here we find, for example, the origin of marriage, the foundation of identity, and the purpose of humanity in relation to the Creator.

In the beginning, humankind lived in a correct relationship with God and creation. This was so until God’s counsel was intentionally challenged in the temptation of the serpent to Eve. Genesis 3 narrates that key moment when the Word of God was attacked.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1–5)

This is an attack in two phases and becomes the paradigm for how Satan tries to distort and deny the Word of God. I agree with what Joe Owen comments on this:

Although more could be said about how the serpent (actually misused) the Word of God, we can generally say that the way he deceived Eve was a two-phase attack:

1. Attack on the content of God’s Word.
2. Attack on the purpose of God’s Word.2

With the first question (“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”), Satan attacks the content of God’s Word and questions its good counsel. Satan, with just a hint, leads Eve to think that what God proposes may not be so beneficial or might have some complexity or hidden intention. Satan was very clever and subtle in this first phase to not directly contradict God’s revelation and intentions (he simply introduces doubt).

The second phase of Satan’s attack is to deny what God says (“You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”)

Thus, Satan attacks both the content and the purpose of God’s Word. He aims to undermine the trust that we should place in God’s Word.

The second phase of Satan’s attack is to deny what God says.

A second piece of advice is to be very aware of Satan’s strategy! Satan has never stopped using this strategy! Of course, if something works, why stop using it? This method has proven effective. He continues to work at corrupting the truth and ultimately denying it in a kind of progression.

This ancient battle has unfolded throughout history, and not everyone realizes this struggle, which is based on the foundational question of what authority defines and interprets reality. Ken Ham comments on this:

Throughout the centuries, God’s Word has been under attack in different ways in different periods of history, and God’s people have had to deal with these attacks while contending for the faith. We must ask ourselves: What is the Genesis 3 attack in our time in history? What is the “Did God really say?” attack of our day that will be used to make people doubt and finally not believe God’s Word?3

A third piece of advice is to be careful not to think that you are immune to this strategy. One could come to believe that we are not at risk of being deceived like what happened in Genesis regarding matters that the Bible addresses. Scripture is clear about the nature of this spiritual battle (2 Corinthians 10:3–5), and that reminds us of our deep need to depend on and return continually to God and his Word (Ephesians 6:10–18). In this way, we can protect ourselves from the deception that seeks to attack both the content and the purpose of the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 10:12).

This strategy of attack is aimed at the foundation of our Christian worldview: the Word of the Lord. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian church about this risk!

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2–3)

We do not always realize the nature of this battle or the intricate structure of thoughts and assumptions that shape our understanding of reality. Therefore, Paul expresses his fear and at the same time warns believers about the risk of being deceived into believing lies and not faithfully believing the truth revealed by God. In this battle, there is no middle ground. We must either have God’s Word as our starting point or the word of men as the final authority for interpreting reality. Join us in Part 2 for more advice for counselors.