Missional Communities as Extension of the Counseling Process
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At Kaleo church, we call our home groups “missional communities,” (MC’s). The title serves as an intentional reminder of why we exist here on this earth: to love God and neighbor. Not surprisingly, this is also one of the healthiest assets to a formal counseling relationship. Gone is the separatist mentality of old-school counseling: “me and my therapist.” Gone is the stereo-typical break in relationship between counselor and counselee: “I have no relationship with you outside of my office.” In their place is the Scriptural portrait of “brother and sister,” “life-on-life,” and valued body members, all “in Christ.” Its a beautiful thing, yet strange to individualist (worldy) thinking.
In truth, this body relationship is foundational and is what “creates” one-another counseling for Christians. Its a full-on, Acts 2:44 model. And its also what moves us out to “counsel the world” together (as the title “missional” and “community” imply), for the community that lives under the cross also takes the cross to the ends of the earth together, as they are gripped and transformed by the pursuing love of Christ (As proof, Acts 2:47 tells us God added to their number daily those who were being saved.)
We are called to fight “a good fight” against sin and strongholds in ourselves, one-another, and in every dark place on earth, armed with the cordial of God’s love and grace, and the resources of a mighty army of counselors called the church.
This is why in my counseling I am always thinking about “connecting” (also the title of a helpful book by Larry Crabb) a person with an MC. If I can help knit the counselee into the fabric of a local worshipping MC (where they can be looked after, counseled, have some practical needs addressed, and find a community in which to worship and serve), then I can feel confident that the renewal designed by “the Wonderful Counselor” will flourish. “…and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” 2 Cor. 5:15). Good communication and feedback with the MC regarding the counselee thus becomes a truly indispensable asset.
Counselors are not lone-rangers. Nor should a counselee ever be. We have each other, with Christ our glorious Head. He counsels and comforts us so that “we may comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received (2 Cor. 1:4).” And that indeed is a beautiful thing!