by Josh Liu

Every person (and counseling system) operates on a presupposed worldview. That set of beliefs form a system through which a person interprets his observations, thoughts, experiences, actions, feelings, past, values, problems, etc. Therefore, it is critical to establish or define the biblical counselor’s worldview—this series introduces the underlying theology that makes biblical counseling biblical.

In a previous article on the full sufficiency of Scripture, we mentioned general revelation—which some Christian psychologists use as support for “plundering the Egyptians” (taking anything useful from secular psychology) as a complement to or even higher authority than Scripture to understand and address man’s problems. Biblical counselors must understand God’s perspective on the world around us in order to be guided in how to view psychology.

General revelation is “the general (unrestricted), non-verbal disclosing of God’s existence and perfections (including His truth) to all people by means of nature, conscience, and history.” [1] For example, Psalm 19 begins with, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…” and Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Thus, Scripture reveals that God discloses Himself through creation—the world around us. No one can say that there is no proof, or not enough proof, for the existence of God. As a result, all persons are accountable to acknowledging God, giving thanks to Him, and living according to His moral standards (Rom 1:20; 2:14-16). Millard Erickson says,

From the revelation in nature (Rom. 1), man ought to conclude that there exists a powerful eternal God. And from the revelation within (Rom. 2), man should realize that he does not live up to the standard…. everyone should reach the conclusion that he is not fulfilling that standard. In other words, the knowledge of God which all men have, if they do not suppress it, should bring them to the conclusion that they are guilty in relationship to God. [2]

So, the world in which we live in points to God. More than that, reality and true science conform to the revelation of God’s Word. Creation itself testifies of God’s glory (Ps 19:1). External evidence does not prove God’s Word but affirms that which is absolutely true. It can be helpful to see how Christianity is significantly corroborated by science, history, and archaeology. Specifically regarding science (and true observations), Scripture describes a spherical earth (Is 40:22), Earth suspended in empty space (Job 26:7), valleys in seas (2 Sam 22:16), springs and fountains in seas (Gen 7:11; 8:2), oceanic currents (Ps 8:1ff), and the water cycle (Job 26:8; 36:27-28; Ecc 1:6-7).

However, looking at the stars, reflecting on human experiences, or studying molecular biology do not provide the specific knowledge of the gospel message. While our world aligns with reality according to God’s truth, no one can say that our senses and experiences inform us where God’s Word falls short about the reality we live in, thus appealing to secular psychology. While psychology can provide true observations (e.g., general revelation), it falls short of special revelation (Scripture) and is insufficient for life and godliness (see 2 Pet 1:3ff). First, general revelation is non-verbal (Ps 19:1-4). Second, general revelation is limited by the curse on creation (Gen 3:17-19; Rom 8:18-25), man’s depraved nature (Rom 1:21-23), and does not include salvific truth (Rom 10:8-15). Creation has been impacted by man’s sin, giving rise to disease, disaster, death, and decay. Man is willfully and rebelliously blind to God’s truth, even as revealed in creation (Rom 1:21-23; Eph 4:17-19; 2 Cor 4:4). So, if the goal of biblical counseling is ultimately sanctification in Christ, general revelation is insufficient. Special revelation is

the personal and primarily verbal disclosing of God’s existence and perfections (including His will and His truth) by supernatural means to particular selected persons, for various purposes, including (after the fall) bringing people to be saved and worship him aright. Before the Second Advent of Christ, the final special revelation consists primarily of the words of the Bible (Rev 22:18-20). [3]

General revelation and special revelation are inseparable. In Genesis 1:26-30, for example, man was created to exercise dominion over creation (i.e., general revelation; God as creator) and God spoke to man and commanded him to subdue it (i.e., special revelation). General revelation is rightly understood and responded to with God’s special revelation. Both general and special revelation are authoritative—given their respective purposes—since God sovereignly discloses Himself through both creation and direct speech. However, special revelation contains all the truth that God requires man to know, respond to, and be equipped with (Deut 29:29; John 6:68; 2 Tim 3:17). Biblical counselors use the Bible, not primarily the observations of human behavior and thinking.

[1] James Mook, “Theology 1: Section 2: Bibliology, Part 1: General/Natural Revelation,” (Lecture, The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, CA, Summer 2014), 33.

[2] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 196-97.

[3] Mook, 33.