Forum Post
Topic: Confronting Sin
McMinn discussed guidelines when confronting sin during a counseling experience, and the lectures reviewed some factors as well.
Case Study:
Jean (pseudonym) was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She reported having very little memory of her childhood. Her mother was severely depressed and, on several occasions throughout Jean's early childhood, the mother spent several months at a time hospitalized for her depression. When her mother returned home, she would at times "lose control" and start beating on the children. Jean's father left her mother when Jean was only three years old. Jean was eventually removed from the home and placed in foster care. She moved around from one foster care parent to another, and finally came to live with a pastor and his wife who raised her in a warm, loving family. Unfortunately, Jean started "looking for love in all the wrong places." Jean became promiscuous and eventually got pregnant. This was a great disappointment to the pastor and his wife. Jean had been attending church regularly before the pregnancy and had made a profession of faith in Christ. She felt extremely guilty about the pregnancy. The pastor's wife told Jean that she was extremely disappointed with her and that she was embarrassed to have her in her home. Not long thereafter, Jean secretly got an abortion. She then ran away with a young man to a hippie commune in California (during the late 60s). Jean is now 55 years old and has been in and out of counseling her entire life. Recently, she was referred for therapy following an attempted suicide.
1. Why can a sensitive Christian counselor not just automatically and quickly confront obvious sin in the life of the counselee?
2. Of the cautions mentioned by the class sources, which ones do you think counselors most often overlook? Why?
3. What forms of confrontation do you think would work best in this scenario? Why?
4. When would you confront this woman's sin in counseling with her?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
References:
McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Revised ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House. ISBN: 9780842352529.
Chapters 11-12: Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical & transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House. ISBN: 9780736943543.