Page 164 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 4

The Counsel of Heaven

on Earth

Jones, Ian F. (2006). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman
Publishers. 250 pages. Hardback, $

Recommendation by Shannon Wolf

While there are no shortage of works on integrative ap- wisely dedicates much attention to the development of
proaches to psychology and counseling, it is more chal- the scientific community and the science of psychology
lenging to find excellent texts that are consistent with the in particular. Contributions made to the mental health
theoretical position of Christian Psychology. Professors field by notable individuals and Christian societies are
of Christian psychology and counseling programs know highlighted. Also included in this discussion is an exami-
that identifying works to be used in counselor training is nation of the difficult relationship between the modern
difficult. An addition to this brief list is The Counsel of scientific community and the Christian community. The
Heaven on Earth, authored by Ian F. Jones. This refres- author notes the contributions of such scientists and phi-
hing text differs from others in that it seeks to assist the losophers as, Francis Bacon, sociologist Max Weber, the
reader in exploring foundational assumptions that form Desert Fathers, Francis Schaeffer, Martin Luther, Augus-
professional attitudes in the mental health profession. tine, and others.
A professor of psychology and counseling at New Orle-
ans Baptist Theological Seminary, licensed professional Jones successfully argues that the foundation for under-
counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist, standing human-kind is found in Genesis: Namely that
Jones’ recognized expertise is clearly identified in the are- 1. Mankind was created in the image of God and was de-
as of counseling theory, historical church counseling, and signed to have a personal relationship with Him, 2. As a
multicultural counseling. While this work is generally result of the fall, God’s image became distorted, the rela-
intended as a textbook for psychology and counseling tionship was broken, and each person has a will to sin,
students, others in the mental health field will also find and 3. God continues to seek to redeem the human race
it an interesting and informative primer to Christian Psy- on His terms. To further make his point, Jones contends
chology. Thetext ismuch morethan amere introduction; that the fundamental flaw in secular counseling theories
it is clearly a persuasive work aimed at swaying the rea- is that they place both the source of the problem as well
der towards a specific understanding of Christ-centered as thesolution oneither theindividual orsociety andthat
therapy while making no attempt at developing a formal the center of all change is also found in either the indi-
theory. vidual or society. Jones writes, “A fundamental problem
with all the secular theories of personality is that they
cannot comprehend Genesis. They are unable to account
Summary for both the image of God in humanity and the fall – our
Jones introduces his work by exploring the question of pull toward altruism and the divine and our rebellious
what it means to be a Christian therapist. He recogni- predisposition toward sin and evil (p. 26)”
zes that there are a variety of philosophical camps for
Christian clinicians to choose from including Christian Another foundational premise of the text is the concept
psychology, integration, pastoral counseling, and bib- of lostness and the need to locate the person seeking the-
lical counseling. Choosing to swiftly move the focus of rapeutic help. Jones asserts that “The counseling process
the text away from labels, Jones instead centers the dis- is like trying to help a person who has wandered off track
cussion on the history of counseling, and more specifi- and hasbecome lostin aforest.” ForJones, thefirst stepin
cally, the significant role of Christians in counseling. He the counseling process is to locate the counselee.

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