Shepherd-counselor



Shepherd-counselor

The servant-advisor can maintain autonomy, which is after all, recognition of the free will God has given each person. However, in helping the client understand the impact of their decisions, the servant-advisor must extend beyond the impact within the context of society and the rights of others to a biblical context and the will of God. Nonmaleficence is maintained as well, but the idea of doing no harm includes no harm to the client's eternal spirit. Beneficence is contained within the idea of service, but biblical servitude includes the nature of not being better than the client. It involves a stronger obligation to the client's wellbeing. And in helping the client, long-term transformation is more important than temporary adjustments. Eternity should always be a focus. Justice is maintained by God, and the servant-advisor must abide by the leading of the Holy Spirit in service to each client. And certainly the servant-advisor must maintain fidelity in fulfilling obligations to the client and satisfying issues of trust. In addition to the ACA's moral principles, the biblical idea of a servant-advisor includes: the mandate to give advice, being competent through wisdom, living a life of faithfulness worthy of usefulness to God, having humility that allows God to work through them, and having empathy which can move the spirit of the client toward a positive, God-centered transformation.

The seven virtues espoused by Clinton and Ohlschlager (2002, p. 248) are very much in line with the characteristics of the servant-advisor defined here. Servant-advisors are accountable to God and those in Christian authority over them. Their service must be done in love. Fidelity to integrity and trustworthiness in keeping confidentiality are maintained through faithfulness. Competent beneficence can only be achieved through wisdom. Humility in justice is part of the overall humility of the servant-advisor. Sufferability stems from ...