Couns 507 Adam and Barack critique
This critique will discuss two different biblical perspectives taken towards counseling. Both books take a Christian approach to counseling and examine multitasking of counseling; Adams (1986), and Backus, & Chapian (2000) provide the reader with processes and guides that can help a Christian to change their thinking/unwanted behavior. Adams believes and preaches that the Word of God is all that is needed to help people change. He opposes secular counseling and states that changes that do not follow an internal change of heart toward God, moves a person further away from God (Adams, 1986, 6). How to Help People Change (Adams, 1986) is viewed by many as controversial. Many people become upset while reading the book, in fact I was a bit offended in reading the book. Adams states that “ biblical counselors must not concede that Christian counseling is in anyway dependant upon psychology for its existence” and speaks negatively about openness/multitasking (p.34). Although Adams is not too open for the integration of secular techniques, he did provide a Biblical process which is helpful in the Christian counseling/church setting. Adams approach to change can only be beneficial to those who do believe in the word of God and who are obedient to the Lord. His ridged approach will not work for us all. Adams’ four step process to change towards becoming Christ-like includes teaching, conviction, correction, and disciplined training in righteousness. Adams seems to base his process on II Timothy 3:14-3:17, discusses the usefulness of scripture and how it can be used to make people wise about salvation. He emphasizes the importance of the use of scripture in ministry to effect change in keeping with teaching, conviction, correction and in disciplined training (p.14). It is mentioned that the Holy Spirit intends to change lives through the use of Scripture. Throughout the book, Adams (1986), provides scripture and examples on how it is successful in changing