Archive for Larry Crabb
Why Biblical Counsel?
Posted by: | CommentsWhy Biblical Counsel?
In this article I will investigate the distinctives of a biblical orientation to counseling. While models are numerous in both biblical and nonbiblical traditions, examples from both will be limited. In particular, a discussion of the nouthetic model of biblical counsel will be addressed as an example of a well-developed approach. A general discussion of biblical counsel including distinctives, goals, and the role of the Holy Spirit will also be included.
Larry Crabb’s Theory of Biblical Counseling
Posted by: | CommentsDr. Larry Crabb has a unique approach to counseling. His system of counseling, called Biblical counseling, will be explained in great detail. Dr. Crabb’s first book, Basic Principles of Biblical Counseling, was published in 1975. The basic parts and theories of his system, along many changes in theology and emphasis’ will be also explained in detail. Crabb (1975) believes that ". . . the most basic problem of every human being is his separation from God, a gulf made necessary by the fact that God is holy and we are not" (p. 17).
Crabb, like most other Christian counselors, claims that his system is biblically based. The foundation of Crabb’s counseling style is the Bible. God has revealed truth to us in two ways, general and special revelation. Crabb (1987) believes that,". . . many Christian counselors have adopted a method of study that treats the bible as helpful, informative, and insightful- but neither authoritative nor sufficient" (p. 37). The bible is to be allowed the final word. The questions that are answered by the Bible are authoritative.
Misunderstanding Crabb – Index Page
Posted by: | CommentsMartin and Deidre Bobgan have written several books containing criticism of the teaching of Dr Lawrence Crabb (Larry Crabb). Their criticisms are widely read and frequently quoted, but in my opinion they are thoroughly wrong.
The purpose of this essay, Misunderstanding People, is to consider and rebut the Bobgans’ criticisms of Crabb’s position.
I first published the essay in printed form, in 1992, and republished it in 1993. Now, in 2000, I am making it available on the Internet.
Copyright Notice
I, Trevor James Morrison, assert the right to be identified as the author of this essay and owner of the copyright. You may freely print a single copy of the essay for your own use, but anyone who wishes to print a larger quantity must e-mail me (Trevor Morrison) to seek my permission.
Trevor Morrison
Auckland, New Zealand
December, 2000
*** Mr. Morrison has kindly agreed to allow Learntheology.com to post his articles here. Be sure to check out his website. ***
Series Articles
1. Introduction
2. The Sufficiency of the Scriptures
4. Karl Popper and The Philosophy of Science
5. What Crabb Teaches About the Unconscious
Misunderstanding – Introduction
Posted by: | CommentsIntroduction
I remember once taking a young Christian through an article which he had found by Herbert W. Armstrong. It was a formidable task explaining what was wrong with Armstrong’s article. Rather than being guilty of one easily refuted error, Armstrong slightly and subtly perverted every scripture he quoted. His article was a compound of a hundred small errors which summed to major heresy, and each small error had to be separately exposed from the first principles of evangelical theology so that his overall argument could be refuted. By the time I had finished, I well understood why Armstrong had been called "Mr Confusion."
Misunderstanding – Scripture Sufficiency
Posted by: | CommentsThe Sufficiency of the Scriptures
How is the sufficiency of the Bible to be understood?
What My Net Don’t Catch Ain’t Fish
Before proceeding to the five propositions listed above, it is necessary to say something more about the sufficiency of the Scriptures, and how they are to be understood. Chapter 8 of Prophets of Psychoheresy I, entitled “Integration,” deals with the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture.
Misunderstanding – Crabbs Needs
Posted by: | CommentsNeed Theology
Disregard of Crabb’s Words
Emotive Attack
Footnotes
Disregard of Crabb’s Words
The Bobgans’ unreflective prejudice against Crabb can be seen in the way they treat the shift he has made from using the word "needs" to using "longings". In the preface to Understanding People, Dr Crabb says,
Misunderstanding – Philosophy of Science
Posted by: | CommentsKarl Popper and The Philosophy of Science
The Bobgans Misrepresent Crabb
The Bobgans Misunderstand Popper
Misunderstanding People – Crabb's Unconscious
Posted by: | CommentsWhat Larry Crabb Really Teaches About the Unconscious
Van Til on the Role of the Subconscious
Misunderstanding – Unconscious Biblical?
Posted by: | CommentsIs the Doctrine of the Unconscious in the Bible?
Ill-founded Assertions against Crabb
Misunderstanding People – Confusion
Posted by: | CommentsConfusion, Confusion!
In paragraph after paragraph of what the Bobgans have written, misinterpretation of Crabb’s words is intertwined with misapplication of Scripture, and the whole is bound together with faulty reasoning. It is a formidable task to unravel such material. It would be impractical to deal with the whole content of their critique of Crabb. In this section I will point out just a few more of the errors in what they write.
Read More→
Misunderstanding – Sin Drivers
Posted by: | CommentsDrivers and Shapers of Sin
Development in Crabb’s Thought
Drivers and Shapers Illustrated
Development in Crabb’s Thought
In the preface to Understanding People, Crabb refers to development that has occurred in his thought since he wrote his earlier books. One of those areas of development, I believe, is in giving greater place to fallen mankind’s commitment to autonomy as the essence of sin: the commitment that each descendant of Adam has to be his own god, making his own decisions about good and evil. Read More→
Misunderstanding People – The Loss of Man
Posted by: | CommentsThe Loss of Man
Simplistic Interpretation of Scripture
Selective Interpretation of Scripture
Man the Glorious Ruin
There is one more important error in the Bobgans’ thinking which needs to be discussed. This error can be called “the loss of man”. It occurs whenever Christians discount what the Bible teaches about man, believing that they have to devalue man in order to safeguard God’s glory. Read More→
Misunderstanding People – Concluding Remarks
Posted by: | CommentsConcluding Remarks
Four Prime Errors
I have identified four errors in the Bobgans’ thought which have prevented them coming to grips with and understanding what Dr Crabb is teaching. Those errors are:
(1) They have a simplistic view of what the doctrine of the sufficiency of the Scriptures means. Read More→
Misunderstanding People – Bibliography
Posted by: | CommentsAdams, Jay E. ( 1972 ) . Competent to Counsel, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House)
Bobgan, Martin and Deidre . ( 1987 ) . Psychoheresy (Santa Barbara: Eastgate Publishers)
( 1989 ) . Prophets of Psychoheresy I. (Santa Barbara: Eastgate Publishers)
Read More→