The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Nouthetic Counseling

Nouthetic Counseling
For years I have been a fan of Dr. Jay Adam’s and Nouthetic Counseling.
I have even taken a few courses in a former Church I attended.

I am having a discussion with someone whose husband was up until recently a trained Nouthetic Counselor. They abhor secular psychology, but no longer believe Nouthetic counseling is a good option, because they personally know people whom it has done more harm than good to.

I asked to person to give specific example and the following is the example I was given.

I was hoping to get some feedback. Before I respond.




https://heresthejoy.com/2022/04/the...ounseling-works-sanctification-doctrine/

After reading through Ms. Davis' critique and objection of Dr. Jay Adam's booklet Godliness Through Discipline she wrote a response to what she thinks Jay Adam's was wrong teaching; holiness via works sanctification. Too bad she didn't read more of what Jay Adam's wrote and the basis of his foundational views in regard to biblical sanctification which is known as historic 'synergistic sanctification" vs. "monergistic sanctification". Methinks Phil 2:11,12 is clear enough on this distinction: "So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." We are monergistically predestined, regenerated, justified and glorified, but we are synergistically sanctified by the Spirit and our new nature created by the Spirit which has NO MERIT in regard to our salvation (justification). Ms. Davis thinks that "believing in Christ and His resurrection" is all that is needed to live a holy life, which indeed God demands; "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt 5:48). She takes issue with Adam's interpretation of 3 passages concerning the "old man" and claims that the old man no longer exists due to Christ's resurrection, but that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. IF that was fact, then why would Paul write for believers to "put off the old man" Eph 4:22ff. Notice all the injunctions for a believer, the person to DO this and that, i.e., stop living a certain way and begin living God's righteous and holy way IF that was already accomplished in Christ? The short of it for me is that she is not fully informed about Jay Adam's theological views re: sanctification and the work of Christ for whatever reason and her theology isn't biblically based, albeit shared by some others.