12 Step Recovery Program Analysis

A 12 step recovery program such as Alcohol Anonymous is a program designed to help one who is labeled as an alcoholic to “recover” from their “disease.” In the 12 step program, the person is considered an alcoholic and will always be that way because it is labeled as a disease. However, the Bible does not call it a disease but a life dominating sin. Instead of calling someone an alcoholic, they should be called a drunkard. Since drunkenness is a sin and not a disease, the Bible has answers and solutions on how to put off drunkenness and to replace it with those things that are honoring to God (cf. Eph. 5:18). Further, one would need to investigate the counselee’s life in order to see what will need to be changed. A drunkard can develop sinful

It is very similar to behaviorism which was introduced by B.F. Skinner. The goal is to change the behavior and thinking patterns of counselee’s so that they feel better. The main objective is to change how a person feels so that they will feel better about themselves when they are done with the therapy. With this approach, there can only be behavior modification instead of sanctification. When one depends on theories and therapies to replace the work of the Holy Spirit, there cannot be any sanctification in the life of a counselee. Biblical counselors are not about behavior modification, they are about sanctification. Biblical counselors have the objective of making the counselee become more and more like

For example, if there is too much serotonin in the brain it causes anxiety and depression. However, this has not been proven, but is only a hypothesis. It is true that there are chemical imbalances in the body. When the condition of the chemical imbalance is proven, it is then labeled according to the chemical out of balance. For example, low thyroid is a chemical imbalance. It is called “hypothyroid” instead of a chemical imbalance. When people say they have a chemical imbalance and that is the cause of their anxiety or depression, it is because there are no laboratory tests to prove this. In order for there to be a disease or illness, tissues in the body must have some damage. If there is something wrong with the body, it can be proven by objective tests that are evaluated by an objective observer. Biblical counselors will help the counselee by teaching them biblical principles that apply to each problem and the presence of their bad feelings. Also, if a counselee comes in who is having anxiety or depression, it would be a good idea for them to have a physical exam to detect any organic problems. In other words, if there are not organic problems, the biblical counselor will use biblical principles to help the counselee with whatever problem they are