기쁨의 목회신학: ‘기쁨의 매개자’ 모델을 통한 목회신학적 통합 연구 = A Pastoral Theology of Joy: A Study in Pastoral Theological Integration through the ‘Mediator of Joy’ Model

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper seeks to restore ‘joy,’ an essence of the Gospel, as a central theme in pastoral care and counseling, moving beyond the limitations of the traditional suffering-focused paradigm in pastoral theology. To this end, it aims to establish a new identity for the pastoral counselor: the “Mediator of Joy.” This paper builds a theological foundation within the redemptive-historical framework of ‘Creation-Fall-Redemption-Consummation.’ Here, joy is understood not merely as secular pleasure or a positive emotional state, but as a dialectical reality, rooted in the goodness of creation, distorted by the fall, paradoxically restored amidst suffering through Christ's redemption, and ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. Based on this theological framework, the study employs a methodology of “theologically-driven integration,” adopting and theologically reconstructing key insights such as empathic listening from Carl Rogers, selfobject needs from Heinz Kohut, and narrative re-authoring from narrative therapy. These theories offer crucial psychological insights into the process of restoring joy, as they sensitively address the human journey of relational longing and the search for meaning. The core contribution of this research is to establish the “Mediator of Joy” model for pastoral counselors. The term ‘mediator’ is deliberately chosen to emphasize that the counselor is not the source or creator of joy. This model complements Angella Son’s “Agents of Joy” by emphasizing a theological humility that acknowledges God’s sovereignty over joy—rather than human effort or technique—and a relational stance of journeying with the client. Furthermore, the study proposes a three-stage counseling model consisting of ‘Creating a Safe Space for Lament,’ ‘Invitation to the Redemptive-Historical Narrative,’ and ‘Internalization of Joy.’ This process integrates insights from neuroscience and positive psychology to enhance the model’s theological validity and psychological effectiveness. In conclusion, this study reframes joy as a core resource for pastoral care and counseling and contributes to broadening its horizons by providing a theological integration model that moves beyond traditional approaches to support the client's holistic flourishing life.