This is a very helpful clarification that puts us on the same page, I believe.

I did thoroughly enjoy the chapter. It really opened up Isaiah 61 for me.

Thank you for taking the time to interact with the book, and to post your thoughts as well as considerations after each chapter. As an avid reader of your blog, I always take away something to mull on and consider. This post was no different.

You write, “Or is that question suggesting that cognitive behavior therapy and medication are OK as long as Christ-centered Biblical Counseling is used as well, or primarily? It’s not clear.”

I believe Ernie and myself could have been more clear here because we don’t believe it’s an either/or approach meaning that either a person participate in CBT and medication OR they receive Christ-centered counseling. I believe what we would say is that CBT apart from the empowering person and work of Jesus Christ doesn’t have the power to change hearts and redeem people.

I believe CBT can be very helpful and there are aspects of the model which I find to be very in line with biblical principles. That being said, I think that biblical counseling as it continues to grow desires to see change not only in how one thinks (cognition), but also how he/she loves (affective/emotional), and relates to others (relational).

Thanks for the opportunity to interact. Look forward to the remainder of the chapters!