Should Missionaries Seek Counseling? Part 1

There is a deep stigma in the church when you start talking about counseling. While it is getting better, many in the church still have a negative view of a Christian seeking counseling or going to see a psychologist. But should missionaries go to counseling? Should they seek counseling? Many say yes, but sadly in the church there are far too many that so no.

Shouldn’t missionaries be stable – spiritually mature christians who can work through things simply by reading the Bible? Many say yes, but I say no. I believe that counseling is not only necessary but beneficial for missionaries (and any Christian) to help work through situations, emotions, problems, team dynamic, isolation, transitions, that arise in their life. There are 100 bible verses that talk about seeking wise counsel. Let me give you a brief overview as out of the ESV Translation:
1. Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
2. Proverbs 19:20, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”
3. Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,.”
4. Proverbs 9:9, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
5. II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

While these verses do not come out and say that a missionary should seek counseling, I do believe that they say it is wise for us to seek wise counsel.