Do you feel church councilors are qualified to answer important questions?

Question

In my opinion this knuckle head that posted why he hates gays said, "he councils for his church and because someone was molested he hated gays" and never even sent this guy to a professional. This is one more reason I will not go to a church.

Answer 1

The guy who posted that is a moron. Just like there are some bad teachers, and some bad policeman, and some bad military men- NOT ALL ARE- and its a shame if you let a few mess up a whole community. YOu're not gonna stop going to school becuz your 8th grade teacher was bad- you just find a teacher who is good. Christians are people too- they sin, mess up, and will p*ss you off all the time. But, many try to do right and love and care. Do not punish God by avoiding him becuz of the people.

It's hard to live a Christian life in our culture- try it- you'll see.

Oh and yes, I think they are fine- as long as they are giving and showing BIBLICAL answers rather than political opinions.

Answer 2

Anybody simply appointed by church elders (or whoever) to "council" those who belong to the church, is not in any way qualified to advise anybody about anything, except as far as that church's position on beliefs and behaviours relating to that particular religious group. And those opinions, recommendations, and general advice are naturally going to be totally biased towards that specific church's belief system. For example, imagine a church being rigidly against divorce, and some poor woman getting the tar beat out of her every Saturday night by a drunken husband, goes to that church's councillor for advice what to do. Any REAL professional councillor would tell her to get the heck out of the house and away from her abuser before he kills her. I can well see that church-appointed "councillor" advising her that divorce is wrong, and she should hang in there and pray to "God" for guidance. LOLOL. Yeah, right! Actually I am laughing because I happen to know a case where that happened. The husband ended up beating her to within an inch of her life. She finally wised up, left the husband, and, I am glad to say quit that church.
My personal best advise, to anyone about anything, is if you want genuine UNBIASED, experienced and absolutely professional guidance about a matter of great importance to you, go to the right place and talk to the right person. Leave "church councillors" to advise you about such matters as Correct Protocol at a "Christening Ceremony" and other "churchy things"

Answer 3

While I believe that spiritual counseling can be helpful for an individual during a difficult time in their life. I feel that often well-meaning church counselors do not have the training or understanding to truly assist with a long term mental issue.

I have heard some church counselors tell people with Bi polar or other serious mental conditions, that their faith is not strong enough. If their faith was stronger they would be able to help themselves and not need meds.

My personal experience with a church counselor was during my divorce. This counselor had no outside training then church training. He mentally beat me down with God's word, until I believed that the divorce was completely my fault. That i was not doing as the bible said and that my husband was the head of the house. I went to counseling to find strength from the Words of God and found more mental abuse.

After years of private counseling, I realized that what this counselor had said was untrue. But that counselor had done enough damage to my faith that i am still estranged from my church.

Answer 4

Although they are often trained for crisis intervention and stabilizing the more serious problems until a referral can be made, the only psychological value of a church counselor is for confessional purposes, a listening ear that only has a requirement of maintaining confidentiality. It would be nice if they could make people aware of that before the counseling takes place, but unfortunately they place the expectation bar a bit high for what the layperson might take "counselor" to mean. You are free to take or leave any advice given, these people are not professionals. -- ONLY listening ears.

Answer 5

That really makes church folks look bad, I haven't been to church in a while because of the hypocrisy but I have to go for my own salvation; anyone full of hate should not counsel anyone. Period.

Answer 6

They are every bit as qualified as bus drivers, ditch diggers, or any other person. Know what I mean, Karrein Dear?

Opinions are like azzholes and unfortunately most church counselors "opinions", like their azzholes stink.

Answer 7

I think that it depends on each person/counselor... some are qualified for one topic, and totally not in other areas. We saw Christian counselors during our marriage difficulties and the problem they had was that neither of them were married! duh, how can you counsel someone on marriage if you have never had any of those experiences? I have better experiences in counsel when I find friends who have 'made it thru' whatever difficulty I am going thru at the time.

Answer 8

Yeah, I've never known one to have any kind of credentials or background in counselling. Even many pastors don't have educations in counselling other than "don't be alone with women or you can get into trouble."

Answer 9

They are not qualified. If they are homophobic they dont even know midle eastern tales and legends properly. Jesus was openly gay and enjoyed it. No one thought anything negative about his chosen way of life. How can so called christian dare be negative about their idol life style...

Answer 10

I do not base a system of thoughts based on a single person. Don't worry about the single people. Worry when all believe like that.
B