Ruling Elders Are Competent to Counsel
Introduction
In every age, the church of Jesus Christ has faced moments when shepherds needed to step forward, not merely to guard the flock from wolves, but to bind up the wounded with the balm of the gospel. In our day, the call to “counsel” may feel like it only belongs to a professional sphere: credentialed therapists, licensed psychologists, or full-time pastoral staff. But the New Testament reminds us that the care of souls is not merely the work of the pastor alone. It is the privilege and responsibility of every shepherd in Christ’s church—including ruling elders.
This is not to disparage the good that can be found in various forms of counseling that exist outside the church. Instead, it is to give Ruling Elders a warm word of encouragement: By God’s grace, you are competent to minister the Word to His people in their deepest struggles. You are called to this, equipped for this, and needed for this.
The Biblical Mandate for Elder-Led Counseling
The Scriptures make no distinction between “shepherding” and “counseling.” Both are facets of the same calling: to apply God’s Word to God’s people in God’s love. The Apostle Paul charges the Ephesian elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock… to care for the church of God” (Acts 20:28). This care was not abstract. It involved teaching, admonishing, comforting, and encouraging in every circumstance of life (1 Thess. 5:14).
Samuel Stephens, in A Call to Counsel and Care, describes biblical counseling as “the loving, Scripture-saturated ministry of helping people see Christ amid their struggles, and walking with them toward lasting change through the power of the gospel.” Ruling Elders will recognize this as plain and simple shepherding.
The Sufficiency of Scripture for the Work
One of the quiet fears Ruling Elders may have is that the Bible might not be “enough” for the modern complexity of problems they might encounter. 2 Peter 1:3 says God’s word is for all of “life and godliness.” Our own Westminster Confession of Faith says, “All [66 canonical books of the Bible] are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.”
Heath Lambert, in Sufficiency: Historic Essays on the Sufficiency of Scripture in Counseling, reminds us that this is not a new doubt. In every age, the church has faced the temptation to believe that the Bible addresses only “spiritual” matters while leaving the “real” problems to other disciplines. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 insists that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” But then it goes on to make the remarkable claim that this equips “the man of God… for every good work.” The “every” is comprehensively inclusive. While Scripture may not provide technical instructions for repairing an engine or balancing a chemical equation, it fully addresses the human heart, relationships, suffering, sin, hope, and trauma.
Stephens, in Hope for Lasting Change, explains: “The gospel speaks to the very roots of our struggles, not just the surface-level symptoms. It gives us lasting hope because it restores us to the God who made us.” That is the very work ruling elders are commissioned to carry out. Again, WCF 1.6 teaches that the “whole counsel of God” is for the purpose of addressing “all things necessary for [God’s] own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life.” Ruling Elders ought to be encouraged that they are equipped with God’s word.
The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
Ruling Elders are not mere administrators or decision-makers; they are shepherds of people’s souls. To shepherd well, they must know the Shepherd’s own heart. Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly is a modern classic in this regard, painting a portrait of Christ whose tenderness and compassion are not diminished by our weakness but stirred by it.
When a Ruling Elder enters a counseling situation, he comes as an under-shepherd representing the One who is “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). Ortlund notes, “The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.” This means that a Ruling Elder, even if nervous about “counseling,” can rest in the reality that Christ Himself moves toward the hurting even as they do. He will work through them by His Word and Spirit in that moment.
Shepherding in All Seasons and Situations
Many have asked: What about complex trauma? What about mental health diagnoses? What about marriage crises? The answer is not that every elder becomes an expert in every subcategory of counseling. But every elder knows the Good Shepherd and His Word well enough to bring truth and grace into any situation. Some elders might be physicians but every elder knows the Great Physician.
Lambert’s A Call to Clarity notes that biblical counseling is not about having the perfect technique for every possible scenario but about “clarifying the nature of the problem biblically and applying the gospel wisely.” In practice, that means a Ruling Elder can listen well, discern the heart issues in light of Scripture, and offer counsel that points to Christ. If needed, they can then refer them to another Christian with more experience with that issue.
Stephens reminds us that while specialized training is helpful, “lasting change comes when people are confronted with God’s truth in love and are helped to trust and obey Him.” This is precisely what Ruling Elders are already called to do in home visits, session meetings, along with informal and formal pastoral conversations.
Confidence from the Call
One of the strongest arguments for the competency of Ruling Elders to counsel is the nature of their call. When the Church ordains a man to this office, She recognizes that he meets the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. This includes being “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). This “teaching” is not restricted to public preaching; it encompasses the skill to open God’s Word to a person in need. The best Ruling Elders I know are not incredible public speakers but excellent one-on-one mentor-disciplers.
The ordination vows often include a commitment to shepherd the flock “in the fear of God” and to “visit the people, especially the sick, and minister to them in all their afflictions.” That is counseling! It is not an optional add-on to eldering; it is part of the fabric of the role.
When elders doubt their adequacy, it is often because they compare themselves to full-time counselors or pastors with years of seminary training. But Christ has not called elders to be someone else. He has called them to be faithful in their office, depending on His Spirit, speaking His Word.
Practical Encouragements for Elders Stepping into Counseling
Here are a few practical encouragements for ruling elders who desire to grow in confidence to counsel:
- Be Saturated in the Word. The more you meditate on Scripture daily, the more instinctive it will become to apply it wisely in conversation.
- Pray for Wisdom. James 1:5 promises that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. Make prayer a regular part of preparation for visits or meetings.
- Listen More Than You Speak. Good counseling begins with careful listening (Prov. 18:13). Understand the person’s story before rushing to solutions.
- Connect the Dots to the Gospel. Whatever the presenting issue—fear, bitterness, anxiety, temptation—ask, “How does the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus speak to this?”
- Use the Means of Grace. Encourage the counselee toward Word, prayer, fellowship, and the sacraments. These are not clichés; they are God’s ordained channels for change (Acts 2:42-47; John 17:17).
- Know Your Limits and Resources. Being competent to counsel doesn’t mean you never involve others. Sometimes involving the pastor, another Ruling Elder, or a trusted biblical counselor is wise. But never underestimate the impact of your own presence and counsel.
The Blessing of Biblical Counseling by Elders
When Ruling Elders take up this work with confidence, the church flourishes. Sheep are not left to wander until the pastor can fit them into his schedule. Members experience the reality that they are known, loved, and cared for by the whole shepherding team. The gospel becomes the daily diet of the congregation—not just the Sunday feast.
Stephens puts it beautifully in A Call to Counsel and Care: “When elders enter into the sorrows and struggles of the flock with the Word of Christ, they embody the very presence of the Chief Shepherd in that moment.” What a privilege. What a responsibility. What a joy.
Conclusion: Take Heart, Brothers
Ruling Elder, you are not a second-tier shepherd. You are a man set apart by God and His church to care for souls. The Lord has given you His Word, His Spirit, and His people to serve. He has called you to counsel, not in your own strength, but in the sufficiency of Scripture and the gentleness of Christ.
You may not have every answer on the spot, but you know the One who is the answer. You can open His Word, point a suffering saint to His promises, and walk with them toward lasting hope. That is not only enough, it is exactly what Christ intends for His church.
So, take up the mantle with humility and confidence. Your counseling is not ultimately about your skill but about your Savior. And He is more than sufficient.