Does Method Matter?
The Non-neutrality of Methods
There is a method to the madness — right? Perhaps it should be stated that there is a madness that creates our methods. Methods of counseling are not generated from thin air. In fact, methods are created as a means to acquire or apply knowledge. Historically, psychology has amassed numerous amounts of methods for the care of people, but are these methods appropriate for soul care? Is God concerned about our methods? Methods reveal the motivations of man and the framework of knowledge from which man operates. God is concerned with our methods because they flow from our beliefs; therefore, methods are not neutral.
The Non-neutrality of Man
Man's actions are not neutral. Nor does he have a neutral thought. Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 15:18, and other passages declare that the heart of man produces words and actions. Since words and deeds are produced by the heart of man, every word and deed has a corresponding spiritual significance. 1 Corinthians 10:31 demonstrates the spiritual significance associated with all tasks of men, even the ordinary tasks of eating and drinking. Put simply, everything we think, say, and do makes a statement about God.
The Doctrine in Question
Many argue that general revelation has granted us the ability to know and understand man beyond the scope of special revelation. In fact, methods of caring for souls have been produced by simply studying man (general revelation.) This is a skewed understanding of this doctrine because general revelation is meant to reveal God, not to produce an understanding of man. General revelation declares the glory of God so that we will seek his special revelation for wisdom and understanding. Man is a dependent being and can only be understood rightly in relation to God. Adopting faulty methods, which find their source outside of Scripture, are attempts to understand man outside of his association to God. Not only does this lead to an inadequate or faulty view of man and his problems, but also to an inadequate and faulty view of God.
There are well-meaning individuals who truly care about others yet, adopt faulty methods for care. But, we must be aware that methods are not neutral even when one has a good motivation and heart-felt desire to help people. Because any method built upon faulty ideas of man, which necessarily lead to faulty ideas about God, has a spiritual significance that is judged by God as wicked.
Methodology in Scripture
In 1 Chronicles 13, we are introduced to Uzzah, through a certain narrative which tells of David’s desire to bring the Ark of God back into the land. The Israelites wanted the Ark returned in order to seek the Lord (v3). David, although with good intentions, chose to transport the Ark according to the method of the Philistines (1 Sam 6) rather than the method prescribed by God (Ex 25). A cart was chosen to carry the Ark, and along the journey the Ark began to fall. Uzzah, one of the drivers of the cart, with all well-meaning intentions reached out his hand to brace the Ark of God. Scripture says the anger of the Lord kindled against Uzzah, and he was struck down. God gave a method by which to carry his presence involving the Levites and poles. Although David and the Israelites were well-meaning in their desire, their actions kindled the anger of God. God's response showed that their actions were wicked in his sight and were judged as such.
God is not concerned only with right methodology. God is also concerned that we display the right heart attitude while practicing the correct method. There are any number of New Testament passages about the Pharisees one could choose to illustrate this point. A favorite description from Jesus toward the Pharisees seems to be "hypocrites" (Matt 22-24, Mk 7:6, Lk 12-13). God is concerned with a right heart attitude and the right methods.
When God seems silent
What if we think God has not given a method for the cure of souls? Are we free to interpret general revelation and mold it to care for the created souls of men? This makes the assumption that he has not given adequate knowledge and method. Are we free to create our own methods when we feel God has not spoken specifically? The story of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 provides special insight. Consider that the two elder sons of Aaron were called out by God to go with Moses to see the Lord and worship him (Ex 24:10). Later the two brothers, along with others, were called to be priests to the Lord (Ex 28). Now in Leviticus 10, the two brothers fulfilling their priestly duty are found offering incense to God. Only this time they offered strange fire that the Lord had not commanded and they were consumed by fire. Nadab and Abihu were not at liberty to create another way to approach God or worship him. Once again the Lord judged the actions of men as spiritually significant. This was not simply a case where God had prohibited their actions. Fire came from the Lord because the brothers attempted something that the Lord had not commanded them to do.
Abolished Self-Sufficiency
Through redemption, Christ has abolished all thought of human self-sufficiency. How are we to adopt methods that begin with humanity and promote self-sufficiency only to think that our Christian language makes it acceptable before God? When we adopt the aforementioned methods we are promoting a view of man, which is inconsistent with the Scriptural understanding. If we are guilty of bolstering these views of man, are there not spiritual statements being made? Does God not judge the views of our heart as revealed by our actions? If Uzzah were to offer clear advice from his sincere heart, he would agree that his method had spiritual significance. His method demonstrated a neglect of his clear commands. Nadab and Abihu would warn that our liberty in creating new methods are not spiritually neutral. Methods are significant because they are responses created in the milieu of our hearts and God judges the hearts of men. Only the Word of God is sufficient to discern and restore the souls of men (Heb 4:12, Ps 19:7). Scripture is sufficient and adequate to truly understand man in relation to God, in turn guiding us to correct methods. In fact, he has graciously "granted us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Pet 1:3). May our counseling methods seek the correct ends without neglecting the pure means because methods are not neutral. “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jer 6:16).