In Romans 15, Paul is expressing his gratitude for the congregation at Rome. He speaks of them in ways there, however, that might surprise us. He views them, as average believers, competent to counsel one another. All Christians can become equipped to provide general soul care for one another.
Consider how Paul says this in Romans 15:14. He writes:
My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
In this passage he lists three characteristics which all believers can and should posses. These are the characteristics that enable us to be good soul care providers.
First, he notes that they are full of goodness. One wonders why Paul selects only this one fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22:23). Why not love, or joy, or patience. He selects goodness, I beleive, because it is a shorthand way to reference their christlike character. Jesus teaches that “no-one is good except God” (Mark 10:18). He is making a point about His own divine character. Paul uses that same idea to connect the Roman Christians to christlike character. To be good, then, is to reflect something of the divine character of Jesus. As Christians grow in their likeness to Jesus they are more equipped to provide soul care for others.
Second, Paul notes that these Christians are “filled with all knowledge.” That isn’t to suggest that Paul believed they genuinely knew all things. Rather, having the Spirit of God and access to the Scriptures of God, they had the necessary knowledge. Elsewhere, Paul articulate that all Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” And, he adds, that through Scripture the man or woman “of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The believer who knows how to study, apply, and share the Word of God is genuinely full of knowledge. Such a student of the Word is equipped to provide soul care.
Finally, Paul says of these Christians that they are “able to instruct one another.” Here is another aspect of soul care: to be able to provide wisdom and guidance to another. Of course, good soul care is not telling people what to do, but instruction can often be a vital part of counseling. Christians who have the Word and the Spirit can and should be able to instruct one another. This doesn’t mean you are understand every situation. The sufficiency of Scripture should not be equated with he competency of the counselor. Yet, there is a very real sense in which all Christians can grow in their competency to counsel.
What’s important to remember here is that these words are not written to or said about pastors and church leaders. These are Paul’s words to the average Christians in the church at Rome. The point being, then, that average Christians can become equipped to provide general soul care to one another. In fact, we would argue that this is necessary for healthy discipleship and growth in a local church.
Congregations cannot rely on paid staff to do the work of the ministry. This is the work given to all believers (Eph. 4:12). Professional counseling is a gift to the church. We obviously believe in it. We have been both recipients of such counseling and practitioners of it. Yet, sustained growth requires many hands and long-term support. This is where churches and Christians are essential. Your congregation can grow to become a church full of counselors. You can become equipped to provide soul care.
If this is something that you are interested in, Sparrow & Heart Soul Care would love to help. As a pastor of counseling for nearly 18 years, I trained many counselors. Krista and I helped both my own church and several other churches establish full counseling ministries. We would love to offer training to your congregation. Reach out today and inquire more about our Counseling Training Program. All churches should be described as being full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. May it describe your church.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 