Soul Care 101 (Part One)

The Bible is clear; we have a soul. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30, CSB). Soul, like spirit, has various shades of meaning in the Old Testament, which may be summarized as follows: “Soul,” “living being,” “life,” “self,” “person,” “desire,” “appetite,” “emotion” and “passion.”[1] Some have said our soul is the seat of the will, affections, and personality; since the Bible says we have a soul, we should be mindful of shepherding our souls.

Too often, we read the tragic stories of lives and ministries devastated because of immoral, unethical, or even illegal behavior. Families and homes are falling apart; personal unhealthy patterns and habits erode our spiritual, emotional, and physical well being. How does this happen? Could it be that a part of the problem is our inability to practice soul care? Pastors know they are to shepherd the souls of their flock, but who is shepherding their souls? Leaving a legacy of faithfulness requires the skill of learning how to define and practice biblical soul care. Billy Graham was once asked how do you want to be remembered, he said, “As someone who was faithful to their calling, who live with integrity and character.” 

3 ESSENTIALS FOR SOUL CARE:

DEFINE SOUL-CARE.

Soul-care can be described as being mindful of your limits and needs so that you can ensure your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Soul-care primarily focuses on the inner self, taking care of your soul. Christian soul-care emphasizes developing personal habits and practices to manage stress, reduce anxiety, repent of idolatry, and rest in the gospel.

GUARD AGAINST Elevating SELF-CARE Over Soul-Care

The modern self-care movement is grounded in humanism and assumes that the power for healing and rest lies within our own power and capacity. The gospel counters that true power can only come from Christ. It offers profound and eternal care that addresses even our deepest needs. This does not mean self-care is not important and needed, but we must recognize soul-care and self-care are distinctly different.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, CSB)

PRACTICE CHRISTIAN SOUL-CARE.

Christian Soul-care is a leadership skill. The apostle Paul was clear when expressing to the Elders (leaders) of Ephesus, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, CSB), as leaders, they were to pay attention and take care of themselves. You will never lead others if you cannot lead yourself.

STAY TUNED FOR SOUL CARE PART TWO: 6 DISCIPLINES FOR SOUL CARE

[1] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993), 182.