TIL 562: Is the Clinically Informed Biblical Counseling the Third Generation (feat. Ernie Baker)

In this episode of Truth in Love, host Dale Johnson engages Dr. Ernie Baker in a thoughtful exploration of the claim that 'clinically informed biblical counseling' (CIBC) represents the third generation of biblical counseling. Drawing from his deep involvement in the first and second generations, Baker critically evaluates the assertion using a six-part framework derived from David Powlison’s model: source of authority, epistemology, etiology, solution, methodology, and support systems. He argues that while CIBC emphasizes professionalism and the body’s role in counseling, it diverges significantly from the foundational principles of generations one and two—particularly in epistemology, where CIBC incorporates non-biblical psychological insights, whereas earlier generations insisted on building counseling systems solely from Scripture. Baker highlights David Powlison’s own testimony, including a classroom anecdote demonstrating his fundamental alignment with Jay Adams over Larry Crabb, to underscore the continuity of biblical authority across generations. The conversation concludes with a hopeful vision for the third generation: not defined by methodological innovation, but by faithful, creative, and rigorous application of Scripture to modern challenges, with a commitment to excellence and theological precision. Key takeaways include the importance of maintaining scriptural authority as the sole foundation of counseling, the need to evaluate all systems—including CIBC—through a biblical lens, and the call for the next generation of counselors to be both innovative and faithful. Baker emphasizes that true innovation in biblical counseling comes not from adopting secular psychology, but from creatively applying Scripture to new contexts. The episode closes with a call to action, promoting upcoming training events in Sioux Falls and Santa Cruz to equip church leaders in biblical counseling.