How should biblical counselors engage secular psychology and the many other voices seeking to understand human desires and motivations? In this final episode of our seven-part series on CCEF's distinctives, Gunner Gundersen is joined by Jonathan Holmes, Dr. Mike Emlet, and Dr. Todd Stryd to explore CCEF's seventh distinctive: "Biblical counseling engages with the voices around us." They discuss how biblical counselors can neither simply embrace nor dismiss other perspectives, but instead engage them charitably and critically.
The conversation explores what it means to reframe, translate, and be provoked by observations from secular psychology and other sources, always interpreting and refining them through the question, "Who is the Lord, and what does he say?" The group considers practical examples from OCD treatment and trauma, as well as how this approach shapes pastoral care in the local church. Throughout, they emphasize that Christians don't need to be fearful of other voices or diagnoses. Instead, we can listen with curiosity, bring the richness of Scripture to people's experiences, and minister as fellow saints, sufferers, and sinners.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Explore or purchase our new course: Theology and Secular Psychology at ccef.org/school
- Learn more about our beliefs and distinctives at ccef.org/about
- Cure of Souls and the Modern Psychotherapies | Article by Dr. David Powlison
- Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners: Loving Others as God Loves Us | Book by Dr. Mike Emlet