The Bible as Sufficient for Life
For many centuries, the written Word of God has been seen as the resource for teaching and instruction in right-living and a beacon of hope and redemption for the troubled soul. During much of Christian history, the full understanding and use of the Bible was quite limited due to the Hebrew and Greek and later Latin translations not being in print or available to the common person. When the Bible was translated and printed into the languages of the people, the Bible opened eyes more clearly to the reality and understanding of God, His promises to them, and the opportunity for a personal relationship that could address their trials and give them hope in a troubled world. It is still the best-selling book in the world and is used by thousands for their source of personal and spiritual strength. To those individuals who trust in it, the Bible is seen as sufficient, fully able through God’s wisdom in Scripture to speak to them in any circumstance of life, beneficial for all areas of spiritual growth, necessary in developing emotional well-being, and overall helpful in giving guidance for successful, healthy, and caring relationships.
Secularization and Declining Reliance on Scripture
Unfortunately, the world in general—and especially the West—has become more secularized. Help in spiritual growth, support in facing personal trials, and personal development is being pursued through means outside the Bible. The secular segment of the world’s population today, without a religious or spiritual compass, does not see the Bible as sufficient to address their personal trials, issues, or personal development needs. According to Rinkers and Jaffarian in 2022, The American Belief Study “found 33.3% of self-identified Christians are Practicing and 66.7% are Nominal (Nominal being attending fellowship less than once a month and their faith was not that important to them)” [Rinkers & Jaffarian, 2022].
The Turn to Self-Help and Secular Resources
The majority of people are increasingly looking to secular resources for help in dealing with the emotional stresses of life and personal development needs. In an article titled, The Rising Popularity of Self-Help Genre, the anonymous author known only as “Headfone” stated, “In the last few years, the self-help industry has seen multifold growth. There are more than 4.5 million posts with self-help or personal development hashtags and TikTok alone has more than 8 billion views on self-help content” [Headfone]. This is not a new trend but one that has become more pronounced with the increase in online resources in every field of study and inquiry. In 2021, Dennis Pierce in his article, Self-Help Books Fill a Burgeoning Need, noted, “The self-help industry has exploded in recent years: According to NPD Group, U.S. sales of self-help books grew annually by 11 percent from 2013 to 2019, reaching 18.6 million volumes. Meanwhile, the number of self-help titles in existence nearly tripled during that period, from 30,897 to 85,253” [Pierce, 2021].
A Long Human Search for Answers
Since the beginning of time, people have sought out answers to personal struggles, relationship issues, and have reacted emotionally to various situations (particularly those involving love, conflict, anxiety, fear, worry, mourning, or stress). Seeking help in these areas is a common desire in the human experience. We see emotional striving in examples of ancient literature and poetry in Western society as people expressed their struggles with the pain, sorrow, grief, loneliness, love, and numerous conflicts of life. The Confessions of St. Augustine is an autobiography grappling with his sorrow over youthful sin [Augustine]. An Old English poem, The Wanderer, explores the pain of loss and grief [The Wanderer]. Many other examples could be cited including the Bible. The authors of the Psalms respond to life’s trials and troubles with deep emotion. In Job, trusting God through the suffering and trials of his life is deeply debated. Ecclesiastes discusses the supposed vanity and meaninglessness of life. For the most part, it wasn’t until the study of psychology was developed through individuals like Sigmund Freud, Carl Rogers, B.F. Skinner, etc., that Western society sought answers to life’s most difficult personal struggles outside the church, without the help of a minister, and/or without consulting the Bible or personally crying out to God.
Psychology’s Growing Influence
As psychologically-based literature and counseling became more popular, even those who saw the Bible as the answer began to seek answers in the prolific resources of psychology far more than expected. Psychological terminology and approaches have long ago become the norm in Bible-college counseling curriculum and most Christian-based counseling services, combining an accommodated, integrative approach rather than using the Bible as the primary resource. Eric Johnson and Stanton Jones explain how this movement has developed [Johnson & Jones]:
The secularism that has pervaded the significant writings and major institutions of Western culture in the twentieth century is evidence that modernism has superseded Christianity in influence. Perhaps the most powerful and tangible example of this movement is the way that European and American institutions of higher learning have so remarkably moved from Judeo-Christian to secular sensibilities over the past 150 years. Institution by institution, colleges and universities have shed their original commitments to glorifying Christ and proclaiming the Christian gospel to embrace a secularized definition of mission and identity (a process in America that has been documented by Burtchaell, 1998 [Burtchaell, 1998]; and Marsden, 1994 [Marsden, 1994]).
Why Integrative Models Became Popular
Why have psychological-integrated approaches to counseling become popular in Christian counseling training and services? Why do so many modern institutions consider the Bible to be insufficient and an inadequate resource for counseling? Part of the answer lies in Western societies’ increased emphasis on the ego and a non-God-centered personal development. The individual’s needs, rights, and personal goals have taken first place in the lives of most people today rather than another-person’s care and focus. The psychology of self-love has been a popular ideology for many years and is nothing new in the history of mankind.
The Mantra of Self-Love
A recent example of how this ideology is the norm in psychology circles is from a 2019 article titled, You Cannot Love Someone Else Until You Learn to Love Yourself. Sarah-Len Mutiwasekwa stated, “It is sad that most of us are trying to conquer external battles like finding love, finding success, or finding happiness, but we do not understand that self-love is the root from which everything grows” [Mutiwasekwa, 2019]. The direction of this thinking is one of seeking whatever one believes will add to his/her own potential or personal goals by standards devised by oneself or society.
The Biblical Alternative
The pure, biblical approach on the other hand, teaches to seek God, His glory, and receive His love and redemption through Jesus Christ. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Your worth is in knowing that you are eternally loved and redeemed in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches sacrificial love that glorifies God and encourages loving others and putting them first. “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him…Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:9–11). The difference is in centering one’s attention on the Creator and all that He has already provided. The key to living in peace and joy from a biblical perspective is to humbly recognize the need for a Savior and, through submitting to Him, come to realize how believers are loved and supported in every way. We rest from our struggles in Him since, as John said, “So we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us” (1 John 4:16).
Limits of Modern Psychology
While modern psychology was developed as a helpful science to study the neurological reactions of the brain to a variety of trauma and life’s challenges, its methodology and success in helping people overcome personal and emotional struggles have been difficult to prove successful in the long-term because they rely on non-biblical practices. Building self-esteem and self-worth from within oneself—independent of God—is the overall focus of a psychological approach to personal development. Lasting success and personal peace offered by these approaches (so greatly touted by psychologists) are virtually non-existent because they provide no promise of any hope beyond this life.
Evidence Concerns About Psychiatric Outcomes
Peter Simons writes about these concerns in a 2023 article titled, JAMA Psychiatry: No Evidence that Psychiatric Treatments Produce ‘Successful Outcomes’. He states, “In a viewpoint piece published in ‘JAMA Psychiatry’ researchers write that there is no evidence that psychiatric interventions lead to ‘successful outcomes’” [Simons, 2023].
Why Biblical Counseling
But yet, to their detriment, people avoid biblical counseling from Scripture, which is sufficient for all their personal concerns and promises peace through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Biblical counseling is provided by trained and certified ministers or biblical counselors committed to Jesus Christ in a local church or via counseling services. If the counselee is not committed to Jesus Christ, the goal is to offer the opportunity through presenting the Gospel and continued discipleship encouraging the individual to develop an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ in order for the counseling to be fully effective. Taking individual responsibility for the consequences of feelings, reactions, and behaviors is reinforced along with acceptance of the sufficiency of the Word of God to address the Christian’s attitude of the heart toward God and others. The Bible is the textbook containing all the necessary guidance through God’s Word applied by the Holy Spirit to any personal concern, behavior, or issue, and assists counselees to a new life approach through Jesus Christ.
Nouthetic Counseling Defined
Those who adhere strictly to using the Bible as their resource for counseling are called Nouthetic Counselors. The term “nouthetic” comes from the Greek word “noutheteo”, meaning to admonish, warn, or instruct. Nouthetic counselors, those Christian counselors who apply biblical principles in counseling, are concerned with collecting information about feelings as far as how they affect behavior and have the goal of evaluating behavioral reactions, while first and foremost pointing the counselee to the Word of God and using it as the primary source of providing assistance. “People feel bad because of bad behavior; feelings flow from actions.” Jay Adams, a well-known nouthetic counselor, points to 1 Peter 3:10–11, where Peter quotes Psalm 34:12–13 [Adams].
Why the Bible Is Sufficient for Counseling
Why do nouthetic counselors and ministers see the Bible as sufficient for counseling and guiding people in the use of Scriptures for all of life’s decisions and struggles? First of all, they see the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. They believe that God spoke (through each biblical author) the very words required for each generation to know in order to address all of life’s questions and struggles. Over the centuries, Christians have believed that the Word of God has no rival in truth or authority. Christians believe that the understanding of the Scriptures has been revealed and nurtured through the Holy Spirit—the Counselor and Teacher given directly by God to believers in Jesus Christ.
What Scripture Provides for Life and Godliness
Those who teach, preach, counsel, and follow the Bible as the sufficient Word of God, believe that it contains all that people need to live healthy, happy, and joyful lives. They believe that the Bible’s guidance will assist them in overcoming the corruption and sin in their own lives and the influence of the world. All other knowledge is seen as inferior to what can be learned and applied through the Word of God. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3–4).
Addressing Severe Cases and Mental Illness
Those who question the sufficiency and adequacy of the Bible for all circumstances of life might question its ability to address severe cases of what is termed “mental illness” of various kinds, including psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and conditions of alcoholism and drug addiction. A trained biblical counselor is qualified to address these conditions. The perspective and understanding of these and emotional states of mind are approached from a biblical rather than a secular worldview. The differences in approach will include the counselee’s spiritual as well as physical and mental health. Scriptural wisdom and guidance is the foundation and ongoing methodology of treatment.
When Medical Evaluation Is Appropriate
Biblical counselors do not exclude the possibility of needing some medical evaluation of the counselee, if it is deemed helpful or necessary. After the biblical counselor completes a Personal Data Inventory with the counselee, the counselor will fully interview and evaluate the counselee’s issues contributing to their symptomatic condition, state of mind, and their understanding of the Gospel and status of commitment to Jesus Christ. The counselor may determine whether there is some organic contributing factor which may require an evaluation of any medications, the need for bloodwork, or other medical evaluation. The biblical counselor can recommend evaluation through the counselee’s medical doctor for any physical evaluation needed. The biblical counselor can discuss contributing medical factors with the medical doctor with the permission of the counselee. Any treatment the doctor recommends can be discussed with the counselee in how it might be helpful or not. With the additional medical information, the biblical counselor can help the counselee move forward with biblical guidance. If some medical treatment is needed, the counselee can be supported through continued encouragement, counsel through Scripture, and development of a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Special emphasis is given to reinforce the sufficiency of the Word of God for their life and healing.
The Problem of Looking Everywhere Else
People look to numerous resources today for answers to life’s struggles, stresses, and painful troubles. They are looking to psychology-based, self-help books, to celebrity talk shows, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media, and/or to numerous secular podcasts (often containing teachings based in psychology, New Age, eastern mysticism, etc.). They overlook the very resource that has all the answers for their life and personal issues, ignoring a holy God—and especially His son, Jesus Christ, who is a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (1 Peter 2:8a; Isaiah 8:14). The only One that can help them, they reject. The Apostle Peter explains, “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:8b).
A Call to Return to the Word of God
The tide must turn away from the idol of psychology and social media to the all-sufficient Word of God. There are numerous versions of the Bible that make it easier to understand, especially in today’s English. Additionally, we have other resources, such as commentaries and Bible dictionaries (both in book form or online). There are excellent books by qualified Bible teachers to help a person understand the Scriptures, apply the Word to their lives, and dig deeper into the Word’s full meaning. The Word of God is our precious guide for living successful and healthy lives, both physically and mentally. The Word will bring us out of darkness to walk in the light. As the Psalmist said, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
References
(The following sources were cited in this article)
- Rinkers, G. & Jaffarian, D. (2022). The American Belief Study.
Dirk Rinker and Michael Jaffarian. 2022. “Millions of Christians are Inactive in Their Faith: A Challenge and an Opportunity”, December 7. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.acstechnologies.com/american-beliefs/millions-of-christians-are-inactive-in-their-faith-a-challenge-and-a-opportunity/
- Headfone (anonymous author). The Rising Popularity of Self-Help Genre.
Headfone, Medium. 2023. “The Rising Popularity of Self-Help Genre.” May 30. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://medium.com/@headfone.org/the-rising-popularity-of-self-help-genre-d30b6c640d33
- Pierce, D. (2021). Self-Help Books Fill a Burgeoning Need.
Dennis Pierce, 2021. “Self-Help Books Fill a Burgeoning Need.” Mar 9. Accessed August 26, 2025. https://libraryjournal.com/story/self-help-books-fill-a-burgeoning-need.
- Augustine, St. Confessions. “The Confessions of St. Augustine,” in Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., Great Books of the Western World, Editor in Chief Robert Maynard Hutchins, 1971.
- The Wanderer (Old English poem).
Author Unknown. “The Wanderer,” Translated by Roy M. Liuzza, 2014. Accessed September 1, 2025. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159113/the-wanderer-636eba2a8c6ob.
- Johnson, E. & Jones, S. Writings on psychology and Christian counseling integration. Eric L.Johnson and Stanton L. Jones. 2000.”A History of Christians in Psychology.” Accessed September 1, 2025. https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Misc/2263-Chapter-1. 14.
- Burtchaell, J. (1998). The Dying of the Light.
- Marsden, G. (1994). The Soul of the American University.
- Mutiwasekwa, S-L. (2019). You Cannot Love Someone Else Until You Learn to Love Yourself. Mutiwasekwa, Sarah-Len. 2019. “You Cannot Love Someone Else Until You Learn to Love Yourself.” Psychology Today. November 12. Accessed June 5, 2025.
- Simons, P. (2023). JAMA Psychiatry: No Evidence that Psychiatric Treatments Produce ‘Successful Outcomes’.
Simons, Peter. 2023. “JAMA Psychiatry: No Evidence that Psychiatric Treatments Produce Successful Outcomes.” March 27. Accessed June 6, 2025. https://www.madinamerica.com.
Adams, J. Writings on Nouthetic Counseling.Adams, Jay. 1970. Competent to Counsel, Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 93-94.
Scripture References
- Matthew 6:33
- 1 John 4:9–11
- 1 John 4:16
- 1 Peter 3:10–11
- Psalm 34:12–13
- 2 Peter 1:3–4
- 1 Peter 2:8a (Isaiah 8:14)
- 1 Peter 2:8b
- Psalm 119:105
