LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

A COMPARISSON PAPER:
EFF ECTIVE BIBLE COUNSELING
BY: LARRY CRABB




A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. JAEDUK KIM



IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COURSE PACO 507 THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY IN COUNSELING




BY:
GABRIEL ALDANA




JANUARY 26, 2014


PACO 507
2


I. Summary
a. Primary Goal
After the interaction with Larry Crabb's book one can find that the purpose
of writing it is to think of a model of counseling, which can be gracefully
integrated into the functions of the local church (Crabb, 1977, pg.13). .
b. Development of Problems and Personal Need
Crabb discussed about the understanding and dealing with personal
problems. A lack of clear understanding of how to develop problems is
doing nothing more than a warm conversation. (Crabb, 1977, PG. 113)
Therefore the development of problems begins with a need that has to be
filled. Then follows the motivation which is the unit to meet the needs.
Personal needs consist of whatever is required to personally survive, to
keep the person alive significance and security as a basis of self-worth
(Crabb, 1977 PG 114). Needs generate a motivation then a basic
assumption, and then a goal orientation behavior.
c. Biblical Integration
The Bible takes an important role in providing the framework for the
counseling session. Crabb stated that the only eternal family is the family
of Christ; our natural families through birth or marriage are temporary and
illustrative. Our heavenly family is eternal and deeply substantive. We
need to practice that truth in our local churches in many ways, including
loving support (Crabb, 1977, PG 166); and this is not possible without
PACO 507
3

the interaction with the Bible. In fact level II of counseling involves how
to handle difficult situations with biblical behavior (Crabb, 1977 PG 172).
d. Formula for Change
It is important to understand that the effectiveness of the Christian life is
the clear comprehension of our Christian foundation, and the Christian
experience begins with justification, or the act by which God declares me
to be acceptable (Crabb, 1977, PG. 23). To learn how to develop new
behaviors and beliefs that is rooted in relationship with God (Crabb 1977,
McMinn 2011).
e. Balance of Theology and Spirituality
As Crabb clearly stated in the introduction part of his book, some people
need to be specifically trained for a specialized ministry of counseling
involving deeper exploration into stubborn problems. This is a third kind
of counseling and is the major concern of this book (Crabb, 1977, PG 16).
The author combines theological concepts with spirituality in a very
balanced manner; however, I believe, the book is more spiritual as the
ultimate goal of biblical counseling is to promote Christian maturity.
f. Human Personality
The heart or basic direction of a person deals with both the rational and
emotional parts of a persons personality. The heart is ". . . that essential
part of the person which chooses his basic direction in life" (Crabb, 1977,
p. 97). People can chose to do what makes sense to them. Their behaviors
will be based on their beliefs, and on how they perceive a particular
PACO 507
4

situation. Thus, humans are by nature imperfect and sinful creatures that
are in need of redemption and transformation which comes through a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Crabb 1977).
g. Counselors Function and Role
In general terms, counselors will need to find out what things have
influenced a clients beliefs and images. Clients will be better able to
understand the images and beliefs they now have, if they first understand
what factors have influenced them during their childhood. Then, the
counselor/counselee relationship has to be open to reach the goals
established beforehand.
h. Major Contribution to Counseling
Therapeutic counseling in a Christian context can be highly effective when
it maintains narrowly focused goals in a time-limited setting (Banner
2003). He asserts that counseling is simply a relationship between people
who care and that its goal is to free people to better worship and serve
God. Meanwhile, Crabb agrees with Romans 12:2 that the main target in
counseling should be the mind. When the mind is renewed by replacing
wrong beliefs with biblical truth a chain reaction occurs where false
assumptions are challenged, goals are adjusted to God's will, godly
behavior is acted out on, and mature feelings follow (Crabb, 1977).
i. Limitations of this Counseling Theory
Some of the critics of Crabs theory mention his sufficient or insufficient
knowledge of the Scripture (The Bobgans - 1998). Crabb believes that a
PACO 507
5

counseling theory must emerge from the Bible, and not just be consistent
with it. The Bible does not answer every question directly. All important
questions though will fit into a theological category or biblical principle.
No psychological theory or idea that violates any biblical truth is to be
accepted as true
1
.
j. Classification
Crabb believes that the best counseling model is one in which the truth
from both the Bible and the spoils from secular psychology are
integrated into a combined counseling model.
II. Practical Application
a. Crabb offers four different approaches to the integration of psychology and
theology. The four approaches are: Separate but Equal, Tossed Salad, Nothing
Buttery, and Spoiling the Egyptians. On the approach of separate but equal,
psychology and theology, they have the same weight, but there is a wall between
them so that they never merge. In the approach of tossed salad, counselors
combined theology and psychology without taking into account if psychology is
biblical or not. This is very dangerous, since as Christian Counselors, we have to
look through the Scriptures to see if psychological techniques that we use can be
used. In the approach of nothing buttery, writing is all we need to help others. It is
not necessary to use psychology, because the word of God provides everything
one needs to live and grow psychologically. In spoiling the Egyptians, a counselor
can be used both in theology as the psychology therapy techniques. The

1
http://learntheology.com/crabb-biblical-counseling.html
PACO 507
6

difference between the approach of the tossed salad and spoiling the Egyptians is
that psychological techniques are only used if they are rooted in the Scriptures.
My life and ministry will align more with the combination of psychological
techniques that are rooted in the world of God. I considered it very important to
know and teach the world of God while doing counseling at the same time. The
Bible teach us what it is necessary to explain human behavior in general terms
and it can be used when applying psychology techniques. Although one day we
will be glorified and in heaven, first of all we need our imperfections to be
removed. (Crabb, 1977, PG. 24) This means that Christian maturity involves more
and more obedience to Jesus. For example, recently my wife and I were
counseling a couple that were having some difficulties in dealing with the lack of
forgiveness from the wife to the husband. After they understood the concept of
forgiveness from the Bible (Matthew 6:14-15; 1 John 1:9, and Daniel 9:9), and
decided to move on, it was a lot easier to develop some techniques to help them to
forgive each other and have God in their marriage.
b. In terms of counseling model, Crabb gives seven stages to identify symptoms of
behavior problems. 1 Identify the problem of feeling, once the problem has been
identified is considered the goal oriented behavior. 2 It identifies the problem of
conduct. 3 Identify the problem of thought, 4. It clarifies the biblical thought. 5. A
safe compromise. 6. It develops a plan and carries out a biblical behavior. Last 7.
Identifies the feelings the spirit-controlled.
This model is helping me a lot in counseling marriages as it provide the proper
order to develop the therapy in a biblical manner while maintain a secular
PACO 507
7

approach at the same time. For Crabb, the goal of biblical counseling is to
encourage Christian maturity, and help people to enter into a rich experience of
worship and an effective life of service (Crabb, 1977, PG. 29). Crabb believes
that this maturity has to be developed in two forms, (1) to deal with all
circumstances and problems in a manner consistent with Scripture, and (2) to
develop an inward character in conformity to the character of Christ: (Crabb,
1977, PG. 29-30). This is exactly what I believe a biblical counseling needs to be
focus on.













PACO 507
8

REFERENCES
Bobgan, M., & Bobgan, D., (1996). Trevor Morrison: Devoted to God and His Word, or to Dr.
Lawrence Crabb and His Teachings. Santa Barbara: EastGate.

Crabb, L. (1977). Effective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring Christians become
capable counselors. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Larry Crabbs Theory of Biblical Counseling
http://learntheology.com/crabb-biblical-counseling.html

McMinn R. Mark (2011). Ethical Beliefs and Behaviors of Private Office-Based and Church-
Based Therapists.

Martin and Deidre Bobgan. Larry Crabbs Gospel. 1989 pp 5-7.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.