The Bible, Wisdom and Human Nature
flexible enough (within limits) to capture the particular variances within our common humanity. It will then meet the criterion of comprehensiveness required of any model of practice, as set out previously. With a history of abuse, a person is likely to be less disposed toward Niebuhr’s self-glorifying tendency (although this could occur as a defensive ‘reaction formation’) as compared to an individual whose salient relational history has communicated great value. Thus, some adjustment of our general premises can help avoid an over-generalised rigid method, borne of lack of practical wisdom and discernment. This latter problem has been highlighted by Fouque and Glachan concerning empirical evidence that ‘biblical counsellors’ were ‘too fixed’ with their methods towards clients who had been sexually abused.193 This research further illustrates the value of Hughes’ assertion that his model should not be regarded as a ‘straightjacket’ but as a framework of principles that need to be applied with both discernment and sensitivity. In light of the issues highlighted here, along with the more extensive discussion of wisdom in Chapter 3 and of Scripture in Chapter 1, I conclude by quoting Hilber. He succinctly sums up the position for which I have argued with regard to discernment of Spirit-imbued wisdom:
Scripture guides the appropriation of knowledge from other sources and in counselling, (sic) the value content, theoretical orientation and methods of psychotherapy are ultimately subordinate to biblical theolog y and ethics.194
Implications for Counselling (a closer look) With the proviso set out in the previous section, a more detailed discussion of specific counselling goals and interventions will follow. A comparison and contrast between Christian and secular perspectives will be founded upon Dueck’s framework, itself developed from Niebuhr’s five categories of how the church throughout history has interacted with culture. Focus will be on Dueck’s first two categories, ‘critique’ and ‘analogy’, as they provide the clearest means by which comparison and contrast can be made. A biblical wisdom approach, because of its creation and anthropocentric focus, gives 140
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