A Paradigm Shift Frompastoral Counseling to Nouthetic Counseling in the Southern Baptist Convention: Jay Adams Approach

The word nouthesia is a Greek word its verb form is noutheteo, which has to do with to admonish, correct or instruct. Nouthetic counseling not a new idea to the Bible, but pastoral counseling has been promoted as the practice of advising and guiding people in the church until recently when some scholars such as Jay Adams begin to advocate the need to go back to the Bible. This article investigates the paradigm shift in history from the pastoral counseling to the nouthetic counseling in the Southern Baptist Convention, which is one of the most prominent Christian denominations in the United States. It is the responsibility of Christian counselors in the twenty-first century, to guide and counsel biblically to advance the course of Christianity in the age of relativism. The article critically addresses that similarities and differences between pastoral counseling and nouthetic counseling. It also submits to the practical and effective use of nouthetic counseling approach that focuses on the change of heart of man by the power of God through his word and the help of the Holy Spirit.