Pastor-Teacher or Super-Counselor?
Randy Alcorn
January 1, 1997
Counseling is like the proverbial camel that sticks its nose into the tent and, once allowed that liberty, follows with its shoulders and forelegs, pushing till there's room for nothing else.
—Randy Alcorn What's it like to be a counselor?" The question often comes my way, usually from young men and women interested in a counseling ministry. They often ask with a sort of awe, convinced that counseling is the most fulfilling of all vocations, that counselors are the most fortunate of mortals. Though counseling has been a central part of my pastoral ministry for seven years, I never know quite how to answer their question. From a distance, counseling has a pretty face—it seems mysterious, stimulating, and challenging. Up close you see the pock marks. Because counseling is difficult, draining, and sometimes frustrating, it's easy to lose the sense of wonder about it. Pastor, Not Psychologist
I'm not a psychologist. I'm a pastor called to minister God's Word. Nevertheless, for some years I've borne the title "Pastor of Counseling and Family Ministries." I've worn two hats, the pastor's and the counselor's, which is a real juggling act, and I've discovered I'm not always a good juggler. I had always considered counseling as just one phase of the pastoral ministry. Now I know how easily it can overshadow not only your ministry but your entire life. It's like the proverbial camel that sticks its nose into the tent and, once allowed that liberty, follows with its shoulders and forelegs, pushing till there's room for nothing else. In my case, the counseling mantle fell to me by accident. There were originally two of us on the church staff, and we split the responsibilities down the middle. Counseling was one of my responsibilities and I ...
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