Anthropology
1. Who and what is man?
Today’s common view of man is
that he is an evolved, sophisticated animal.
The theory of evolution has purported that man is the smartest species
of a long line of evolved organisms.
This theory leads many to view man through the lens of
man-centeredness. Space won’t allow for
discussion on the problems with evolution theory, but it must be mentioned that
it comes packaged with different views of man and it excludes God’s truth. How these views affect counseling will be the
next section.[1] To truly know man we must look through God’s
lens.
Man was created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27) for the sole purpose of glorifying Him (Rom. 11:36, Rev. 4:11). God formed man “of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” and formed woman “out of man” (Gen. 2:7, 21-23). From the beginning of creation it is evident that God made man different from animals. Man, not animals, has been commanded to obey God (Gen. 2:15-16) and suffer the consequences for disobeying (Gen. 2:17). Man’s logic and intelligence was shown from the beginning of creation as he obeyed God by giving every living creature its name (Gen. 2:19-20). Man has not evolved into an intelligent creature. Humans were set-apart by God from the beginning to be able to read, think logically, write, talk, understand justice, and obey laws of morality that no animal can do.
However, all of this was before the fall of man and the original sin. Adam was our representative and there was no better representative for mankind.[2] However, since his sin death is a reality because we have an inherited and personal sin nature (Rom. 5:12). The following references should be studied to see how our sinful rebellion has radically changed our relationship with our Creator. According to God natural man is born and conceived in sin (Ps. 51:5). We are separated from God because of our sins (Isa. 59:2), enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:20), helpless to save ourselves (Rom. 5:6), enemies of the cross deserving of God’s wrath (Phil. 3:18, John 3:36), and “we are held captive by him (the devil) to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:26). Natural man is unable to understand God (1 Cor. 2:14), unable to come to God (John 6:44), unable to hear the words of Christ (John 8:43), unable to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5), and unable to please God (Rom. 8:8). Natural man is alive physically but absolutely dead spiritually (Eph. 2:1-10). Just as physically dead men are not able to remove themselves from a casket, natural man is not able to come to God because “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God” (Rom. 3:10-12). Of course we as humans do very nice, polite, and kind deeds. However, our goodness never meets God’s standards. He knows our motives and He is able to tell us that even our most “righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa. 64:6). We can conclude that man is not inherently good and sometimes does bad things. Rather, man is radically corrupt, otherwise known as totally depraved. “The idea behind the word total is that in all parts and aspects of his life he is depraved – no area has escaped sin’s blighting effects”.[3] Man is more than mere flesh. God has also has given him a soul (or “heart” as the Bible often refers to it). Though man is earthy (made from dust) and he perishes, his greatest need is not physical. Rather, man’s corrupt, guilty heart condemns him before a holy God and he must be transformed through Christ’s goodness. God alone is “good” (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) and the only way that natural man can receive this goodness to his account is to be supernaturally justified through salvation in grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.[4]
[1] See Anthropology – 2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice?
[2] See Lecture 4, “Adam, Our Representative”, from R.C. Sproul’s teaching series “The Drama of Redemption” from Ligonier Ministries.
[3] Jay Adams, A Theology of Christian Counseling, p. 141
[4] See the responses to “Christology – 1. Why did Christ die?” and “Soteriology – 1. ‘Justification by faith alone.’ Discuss the meaning of this phrase” for a greater explanation on this statement.
Man was created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27) for the sole purpose of glorifying Him (Rom. 11:36, Rev. 4:11). God formed man “of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” and formed woman “out of man” (Gen. 2:7, 21-23). From the beginning of creation it is evident that God made man different from animals. Man, not animals, has been commanded to obey God (Gen. 2:15-16) and suffer the consequences for disobeying (Gen. 2:17). Man’s logic and intelligence was shown from the beginning of creation as he obeyed God by giving every living creature its name (Gen. 2:19-20). Man has not evolved into an intelligent creature. Humans were set-apart by God from the beginning to be able to read, think logically, write, talk, understand justice, and obey laws of morality that no animal can do.
However, all of this was before the fall of man and the original sin. Adam was our representative and there was no better representative for mankind.[2] However, since his sin death is a reality because we have an inherited and personal sin nature (Rom. 5:12). The following references should be studied to see how our sinful rebellion has radically changed our relationship with our Creator. According to God natural man is born and conceived in sin (Ps. 51:5). We are separated from God because of our sins (Isa. 59:2), enslaved to sin (Rom. 6:20), helpless to save ourselves (Rom. 5:6), enemies of the cross deserving of God’s wrath (Phil. 3:18, John 3:36), and “we are held captive by him (the devil) to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:26). Natural man is unable to understand God (1 Cor. 2:14), unable to come to God (John 6:44), unable to hear the words of Christ (John 8:43), unable to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5), and unable to please God (Rom. 8:8). Natural man is alive physically but absolutely dead spiritually (Eph. 2:1-10). Just as physically dead men are not able to remove themselves from a casket, natural man is not able to come to God because “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God” (Rom. 3:10-12). Of course we as humans do very nice, polite, and kind deeds. However, our goodness never meets God’s standards. He knows our motives and He is able to tell us that even our most “righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa. 64:6). We can conclude that man is not inherently good and sometimes does bad things. Rather, man is radically corrupt, otherwise known as totally depraved. “The idea behind the word total is that in all parts and aspects of his life he is depraved – no area has escaped sin’s blighting effects”.[3] Man is more than mere flesh. God has also has given him a soul (or “heart” as the Bible often refers to it). Though man is earthy (made from dust) and he perishes, his greatest need is not physical. Rather, man’s corrupt, guilty heart condemns him before a holy God and he must be transformed through Christ’s goodness. God alone is “good” (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) and the only way that natural man can receive this goodness to his account is to be supernaturally justified through salvation in grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.[4]
[1] See Anthropology – 2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice?
[2] See Lecture 4, “Adam, Our Representative”, from R.C. Sproul’s teaching series “The Drama of Redemption” from Ligonier Ministries.
[3] Jay Adams, A Theology of Christian Counseling, p. 141
[4] See the responses to “Christology – 1. Why did Christ die?” and “Soteriology – 1. ‘Justification by faith alone.’ Discuss the meaning of this phrase” for a greater explanation on this statement.
2. What role does anthropology play in counseling theory and practice?
Anthropology has massive implications
regarding the theory and practice of counseling. The last response stated that man is
radically corrupt, not good.[1] The claim that man is good derives from
psychological counseling that gets its foundation of man from theories of
evolution. Secular and “Christian”
counseling that includes psychological practices includes heretical views of
man. If man is good as Maslow has stated
than he will be counseled through his self-esteem and self-actualization. If man is not to blame as Freud has indicated
than he will dig into his Superego and rid himself of falsehood.[2] If man is able to be questioned to where he
can figure himself out as the Rogerian methods states than he will eventually
discover what he needs to do to feel right.[3] The enormous problem with all of these
counseling methods is that they substitute God for man. The problem with Maslow’s view is that man’s
needs are not what need to be top priority.
In His sermon on the Mount Jesus stated “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). The “these things” was in the context of
calming people over anxiety and common needs.
The Son of God didn’t say to seek ourselves to find peace but to seek
God and “His righteousness”. Freud would state that our over-socialized
Superego provides a false sense of guilt and the counselee needs to defeat the
Superego by taking a stand with the Id. This
wrong view of man leads to a wrong view of guilt and leads to no need for
repentance.[4] But repentance from a broken spirit over one’s
own sinfulness is the only acceptable condition of change God will accept (Luke
13:3, 5; Ps. 51:17). Rogerian counselors
will question a person until they autonomously choose their needs.[5] This wrong view of man encourages man to become
his own authority and decide his own morals.
If man is little more than an evolved ape than we have no absolute authority from God. We live by relative authority and are able to decide what we believe is correct. This is why the psychological fields have over 250 different viewpoints on psychology.[6] They each believe they are right and cannot agree. Rather than humbly submit to the One who has all authority and has given us his absolute morality they create their own standards to suit themselves and elevate their practice. This is a horrid rejection of God. To make matters worse it doesn’t truly help man. Man’s greatest problem is that he’s a guilty sinner before God. Taking God and His word out of the focus of counseling removes man’s need to repent, believe in the Gospel, and become sanctified. The Holy Spirit counsels and instructs believers “for good works” (Eph. 2:10). Counseling where God or man is misrepresented allows a counselee to remain in his sins or exchange them for sins and idols that make him happier. This type of counseling may make someone more comfortable but it forfeits his soul (Matt. 16:26). Thus, anthropology has an enormous affect on counseling. If man believes that he is good and simply needs to change or stop his bad behaviors he hasn’t met God’s requirements. God requires that we “lay aside the old self… and put on the new self… in the likeness of God” which can only be done through Him (Eph. 4:22-29). How will man “deny himself, and take up his cross daily” to follow Jesus unless he sees his need for salvation (Luke 9:23)? Man is not the source of hope. Man does not even know himself. He has no absolutes or promises he can keep. In contrast, counsel from God is authoritative, omniscient, and promises rest to all who come to Him wearied (Matt. 11:25-30).
[1] See response to question, “Anthropology – 1. Who and what is man?”
[2] Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 10
[3] Jay Adams, A Theory of Christian Counseling, p. 119
[4] See response to question, “Counselor’s Exam – 7. Define guilt biblically…”
[5] Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 78-81
[6] These statements originate from Jim Newheiser’s audio file, “Psychology and Christian Counseling” from the Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship’s audio series “Basics of Biblical Counseling” session 1.
If man is little more than an evolved ape than we have no absolute authority from God. We live by relative authority and are able to decide what we believe is correct. This is why the psychological fields have over 250 different viewpoints on psychology.[6] They each believe they are right and cannot agree. Rather than humbly submit to the One who has all authority and has given us his absolute morality they create their own standards to suit themselves and elevate their practice. This is a horrid rejection of God. To make matters worse it doesn’t truly help man. Man’s greatest problem is that he’s a guilty sinner before God. Taking God and His word out of the focus of counseling removes man’s need to repent, believe in the Gospel, and become sanctified. The Holy Spirit counsels and instructs believers “for good works” (Eph. 2:10). Counseling where God or man is misrepresented allows a counselee to remain in his sins or exchange them for sins and idols that make him happier. This type of counseling may make someone more comfortable but it forfeits his soul (Matt. 16:26). Thus, anthropology has an enormous affect on counseling. If man believes that he is good and simply needs to change or stop his bad behaviors he hasn’t met God’s requirements. God requires that we “lay aside the old self… and put on the new self… in the likeness of God” which can only be done through Him (Eph. 4:22-29). How will man “deny himself, and take up his cross daily” to follow Jesus unless he sees his need for salvation (Luke 9:23)? Man is not the source of hope. Man does not even know himself. He has no absolutes or promises he can keep. In contrast, counsel from God is authoritative, omniscient, and promises rest to all who come to Him wearied (Matt. 11:25-30).
[1] See response to question, “Anthropology – 1. Who and what is man?”
[2] Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 10
[3] Jay Adams, A Theory of Christian Counseling, p. 119
[4] See response to question, “Counselor’s Exam – 7. Define guilt biblically…”
[5] Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, p. 78-81
[6] These statements originate from Jim Newheiser’s audio file, “Psychology and Christian Counseling” from the Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship’s audio series “Basics of Biblical Counseling” session 1.