A Conversation about Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity

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A Conversation about Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity

Final Recap: Links to Responses to A New Kind of Christianity

Welcome: I’ve finished blogging my way through a series of responses to Brian McLaren’s book A New Kind of Christianity. My focus has been on pastoral theology or practical theology response. As a pastor, counselor, and professor who equips the church for biblical counseling and spiritual formation, I was asking: “What difference does our response to each question make for how we care like Christ (biblical counseling) and for how we live like Christ (spiritual formation)?”

Final Recap: Word Document Format

I’ve created an edited version of my entire blog series in a Word Document format. It’s free, so I’ve posted it along with my other Free Resources (http://www.rpmministries.org/free-resources/). You can enjoy over 100 free resources for your life and ministry at RPM Ministries (http://www.rpmministries.org/).

Feel free to download and to share my final recap in Word Document format: A Conversation about Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity (http://bit.ly/b9FjP2).

Final Recap: Blog Format

If you’ve benefitted from this blog series, and if you think others would benefit also, please feel free to reference this series, link to it on your site, or post it on your site.

Here are all the links in my blog series on A New Kind of Christianity.

• Post # 1: Brian McLaren, I Accept Your Invitation http://bit.ly/a8D42I

• Post # 2: A Biblical Counseling Response to Brian McLaren http://bit.ly/dmXIll

• Post # 3: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 1: The Narrative Question http://bit.ly/d6XPTO

• Post # 4: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 2: The Authority Question—The Bible http://bit.ly/ctNf2I

• Post # 5: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 3: The God Question http://bit.ly/aUXFKr

• Post # 6: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 4: The Jesus Question http://bit.ly/a3JRHi

• Post # 7: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 5: The Gospel Question http://bit.ly/bOBn6e

• Post # 8: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 6: The Church Question http://bit.ly/cviqsN

• Post # 9: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 7: The Sex Question http://bit.ly/cs7BpU

• Post # 10: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 8: The Future Question http://bit.ly/bGM6pL

• Post # 11: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 9: The Pluralism Question http://bit.ly/bSuinZ

• Post # 12: Responding to Brian McLaren’s Q # 10: The What Now Question http://bit.ly/bscHA1

• Post # 13: Conclusion: The Final Word and the Word After That http://bit.ly/9RyERw

Six Views

I’ve also collated other responses and reviews to A New Kind of Christianity.

• 6 Views on Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity: http://bit.ly/cRfyfM

Join the Conversation

Which question do you think is most important and why?

The 20 Most Influential Books on Methods of Biblical Change

Kellemen’s Christian The Best Of Guide
The Best of Books on
Methods of Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide: Making your life easier by finding, summarizing, evaluating, and posting the best resources on a wide variety of topics from a Christian perspective.

The Twenty Most Influential Books on
Methods of Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Note: The following books focus on the methodology, practice, skills, relational competencies of biblical counseling and spiritual formation. They do not highlight theology/theory (see last week’s post for that: http://bit.ly/T75vO) (if it made last week’s list, it is not in this week’s list). The books on this week’s list focus broadly on methods of helping people to grow in Christ. They do not highlight how to help people with specific “issues” in living (such as depression treatment, anxiety treatment, etc.).

Note: For the sake of space, I have not reviewed each of these books. However, I do have a 55-page document that reviews over 125 books on Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation: http://bit.ly/sYx1U.

Note: That fuller document explains that I do not endorse everything in all the books below. That’s why my subtitle to this post is: “The Twenty Most Influential” rather than “The Best Of.”

Bibliography

Adams, Jay E. The Christian Counselor’s Manual: The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973.

Adams, Jay E. Competent to Counsel: An Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970.

Clebsch, William A. and Charles R. Jaekle. Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective. New edition. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1994.

Clinton, Tim, Archibald D. Hart, George Ohlschlager, eds. Caring for People God’s Way: Personal and Emotional Issues, Addictions, Grief, and Trauma. Nashville: Nelson, 2006.

Collins, Gary. The Biblical Basis of Christian Counseling for People Helpers: Relating the Basic Teachings of Scripture to People's Problems. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1993.

Crabb, Larry. Soul Talk. Nashville: Integrity, 2005.

Crabb, Larry and Dan Allender. Encouragement: The Key to Caring. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.

Fitzpatrick, Elyse, and Dennis Johnson. Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2009.

Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. Twenty-fifth anniversary edition. San Francisco, Harper, 2003.

Huggins, Kevin. Friendship Counseling. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2003.

Kellemen, Robert W. Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Revised Edition. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. and Wayne A. Mack. Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005.

Moon, Gary W. and David G. Benner, eds. Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls: A Guide to Christian Approaches and Practices. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity. 2004.

Ortberg, John. The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Expanded Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.

Peugh, Roger and Tammy Schultz. Transformed in His Presence: The Need for Prayer in Counseling. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2005.

Powlison, David. Speaking Truth in Love: Counsel in Community. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2005.

Welch, Edward T. When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 1997.

Whitney, Donald. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1991.

Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. San Francisco: Harper, 1998.

Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. Reprint edition. San Francisco: Harper, 1991.

Important Stuff

*Your Guide: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC, is the Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries (www.rpmministries.org) through which he writes, speaks, and consults to equip God’s people to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. He blogs daily at http://rpmministries.blogspot.com.

*My Necessary Disclaimer: Of course, I don’t endorse everything in every article, book, or link that you’ll find in Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide. I report, you decide.

*Your Suggestions Are Welcomed: Feel free to post comments and/or send emails (rpm.ministries@gmail.com) about resources that you think deserve attention in various categories covered in Kellemen’s Christian The Best of Guide.

Your Personal Invitation to Be Equipped

Be Equipped to Change Lives

I’d like to invite you to join me at the AACC’s World Conference from Wednesday, September 16, 2009 through Saturday, September 19, 2009 in Nashville, TN.

Our Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) has many equipping events planned to empower you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

BCSFN Pre-Conference

The BCSFN will hold its first “Conference-within-a Conference” during the AACC World Pre-Conference on Wednesday, September 18.

In the morning session from 9:00 AM to Noon, I will present on Developing a Theology and Methodology of Biblical Counseling. Learn seven essential biblical counseling competencies necessary to build a truly scriptural approach to Christian counseling.

In the afternoon session from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, Ron Hawkins will present on Using the Bible Accurately and Effectively in Biblical Counseling.

To register for the Pre-Conference go here http://tinyurl.com/nw5z2p and then select the Pre-Conferences by Kellemen and Hawkins to join others interested in biblical counseling and spiritual formation equipping.

BCSFN Track Presentations

During the AACC World Conference, from Thursday, September 17 to Saturday, September 19, the BCSFN has its own track, where we will be hearing from the following speakers:

*Ian F. Jones, “Biblical Counseling in the Historical Church,” Thursday, September 17, 8:45 to 10:00 AM, Session 103.

*Gary Moon, “Discipleship vs. Apprenticeship: An Experiential Approach to Spiritual Growth,” Thursday, September 17, 2:15 to 3:30 PM, Session 203.

*Robert W. Kellemen, “How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Implementing a Dozen Dreams,” Friday, September 18, 8:45-10:00 AM, Session 303. Learn how to care like Christ by providing Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

*Scott E. Wiggington, “For Crying Out Loud: Reclaiming the Lost Language of Lament in Christian Counseling,” Friday, September 18, 2:15 to 3:30 PM, Session 403.

*Phil Monroe, “Engaging Biblical Texts in Trauma Therapy,” Friday, September 18, 4:15 to 5:30 PM, Session 503.

*John Thomas, “What’s Good About Feeling Bad: Developing a Theology of Suffering, Saturday, September 19, 8:45 to 10:00 AM, Session 603.

*Rick Marrs, “Making Christian Counseling More Christ-Centered,” Saturday, September 19, 2:15-3:30 PM, Session 703.

To register for the AACC World Conference Tracks, go here http://tinyurl.com/l284w6 and then select the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Foundations tracks when you sign-up.

BCSFN Mixer

Please join us on Friday evening for the BCSFN Mixer. Our time together will include fellowship, connecting, discussing the latest happenings in the BCSFN, and interacting about ways our division can better equip our members. We want to get to know you and benefit from your participation!

Register for the AACC World Conference

Please visit the following link to register for the 2009 AACC World Conference: http://www.aacc.net/conferences/2009-world-conference/

I look forward to connecting with each of you.

Seven Questions Every Biblical Counselor Must Answer

Seven Questions Every Biblical Counselor Must Answer

In yesterday’s blog (http://tinyurl.com/o8cmq8) (Whatever Happened to Truth?), I included a section on Seven Questions Every Biblical Counselor Must Answer.

Many of my readers asked, “Where do you address each of those seven questions in Soul Physicians (http://tinyurl.com/d8grf6)?”

Glad you asked!

Seven Biblical Counseling Questions Addressed in Soul Physicians

1. Do I know how to use God’s Word to change lives?

I address this question everywhere in the book. I also provide concentrated focus on it in pages 1-58.

2. Do I comprehend how the Trinity serves as the foundation for how I relate to others?

Pages 59-116.

3. Do I understand people—biblically?

Pages 117-214.

4. Can I diagnose problems—biblically?

Pages 215-322.

5. Can I prescribe God’s solutions—biblically?

Pages 323-500.

6. Do I grasp how our eternal future makes all the difference in how we live today?

Pages 501-540.

7. Am I able to dispense God’s grace and care for others competently?

I cover this throughout the book, including in the two personal application/ministry implication discussion guides at the end of each chapter. Additionally, in my second book, Spiritual Friends (http://tinyurl.com/coh23r), I spend the entire book equipping pastors, counselors, and lay people how to develop twenty-two biblical counseling relational competencies.

*Quick Link to Your Copy of Soul Physicians on RPM Ministries: http://tinyurl.com/d96hc6

*Quick Link to Your Copy of Spiritual Friends: http://tinyurl.com/qh5tj4

PS:

Of course, the idea is not that I have “cornered the market” on the right answers. As I tell my students frequently, “Be a Berean and take these content areas and test what I teach against the inspired, inerrant Word of God.”

Connect through the VineLine

Connect through The VineLine

Are you ready to be equipped? Then receive RPM Ministries’ free monthly e-Newsletter, The VineLine. For your personal subscription, email us at rpm.ministries@gmail.com with the subject line: “Please Add.”

What do you get in each issue of The VineLine? Every issue you receive:

*Links to free ministry equipping resources that empower you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

*A timely, engaging article that relates Christ’s Word to your daily life and ministry.

*Updates about RPM Ministries’ speaking, writing, and consulting.

*News of note about what’s happening in biblical counseling and spiritual formation in the church and para-church.

*An opportunity to share your praise and prayer requests with a community of people who care.

*Special offers with major discounts on RPM Ministries’ equipping products.

What’s Up with The VineLine?

Many people have asked how I decided on The VineLine as the name for our e-newsletter. One hypothesis is that the Chicago Cubs used to have a magazine called The VineLine, named because of Wrigley Field's famous ivy-covered walls. Truth be told, that was part of my inspiration, being the diehard Cubs' fan that I am!

One novel idea was that it came from the song I Heard It Through the Grapevine! Well, the idea of keeping connected and communicating that is association with that imagery is intriguing, however the overall meaning of the song doesn’t quite fit the RPM image.

Abide in the Vine

No, the true source of the name The VineLine comes from John 15:5. “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Okay, “Great verse,” you say, “but how exactly does that connect to RPM Ministries?”

Ah, that leads to another little debate. People often want to know if RPM stands for “Revolutions Per Minute,” like “How many RPMs does your car have?”

Well, there is something of a play on words there with the concept of power. But . . . there’s more to it . . . much more.

What some people don’t realize is that RPM Ministries stands for:

Resurrection
Power
Multipliers

The Power of His Resurrection

And resurrection power multipliers comes from the theme verse for RPM Ministries: Philippians 3:10, where Paul says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection . . .”

Keep following the logic here. Think about another key aspect of RPM Ministries: "Equipping you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.”

Paul knows that it is Christ’s power that changes our lives. In fact, he prays in Ephesians 1:18-23, that we could be enlightened to know the incomparably great power at work in us who believe, that power is like the working of God’s mighty strength which he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead!

As new creations in Christ, we have the same power residing in us that raised Christ from the dead!

“But, but, but . . .,” we mutter and sputter, “then why in the world do we so frequently live such defeated lives!?”

Exactly!

The Creation of Adam

Here’s the final piece to the puzzle.

We live defeated lives because we are not tapping into Christ’s resurrection power. We must commune with Christ and connect with the Body of Christ if we are ever to experience Christ’s resurrection power and thus live victorious lives.

That’s why RPM Ministries is all about comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation. Being formed into the image of Christ is the ultimate goal of all biblical counseling, of all biblical ministry. We want our inner lives increasingly to reflect the inner life of Christ.

We do that only as we connect to Christ’s resurrection power.

The RPM logo of The Creation of Adam (the picture of God’s hand reaching out to touch Adam’s hand) represents this concept. I bet you never realized that!

People have often wondered why Michelangelo painted Adam’s hand so limp and lifeless. Because he was lifeless! Michelangelo was depicting Adam just before God breathed into him the breath of life.

Without the breath of God, without the touch of God, without the resurrection power of God, we are lifeless. Defeated. Dead.

We must abide in the Vine. We must tap into the power already resident within us. We must connect to and commune with Christ.

The VineLine

The name of our monthly newsletter captures the mission, vision, passion, and commission of RPM Ministries. Through The VineLine we want to connect you to Christ’s resurrection power so your life can change and so you can change lives with Christ’s changeless.

Change Lives with Christ's Changeless Truth

More Praise for Soul Physicians

To Order Your Copy at 40% Off, Please Visit: http://tinyurl.com/d96hc6

“Soul Physicians is no naїve verse-to-issue, sin-to-solution, mix-and-match biblical counseling reference. This is rich theology relayed in readable terms for grace-based care as shared by a stellar scholar-teacher. Soul care worthy of the title ‘Christian’ must address the core of shalom, the cancer of shame, and the destiny of the sacred. Soul Physicians passionately brings that holistic biblical redemptive story line to bear on the everyday life stories common in the practice of discipleship, Christian counseling, and spiritual formation.”
—Stephen P. Greggo, PhD., Professor of Counseling, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“Dr. Kellemen’s book came as a great refreshment to me. It was both clear and comprehensive, elucidating a theological foundation for counseling ministry based on a solid biblical hermeneutic. This book is beneficial for a multitude of audiences: from the lay counselor, to the pastor, to the licensed clinician. Its impact is to clarify the need, mandate, and roots of personal ministry taken from the Word of the One who created all. Soul Physicians addresses all the imperative issues of our fallen and redeemed state without trying to simplify the complexities of sanctification. It should not be considered merely a textbook contribution to the literature on biblical counseling, but instead a foundation for a curriculum. I require it for all my biblical counseling students.”
—Lynelle Buchanan, Professor of Counseling, Baptist Bible College

“Soul Physicians swaps shop-worn theology for biblically sound, compassionate soul care. Dr. Bob Kellemen skillfully invites readers into the huddle where academic theology is spelled out and onto the field where practical theology is lived out. It’s a privilege to endorse such a fine work.”
—Tammy Schultz, Ph.D., LMHC; Department Chair, Graduate School in Counseling, Grace College

“Soul Physicians is an excellent resource for counselors, pastors and students who believe that knowing and loving people in our world begins with knowing and loving God and His Word. The confluence of Dr. Kellemen’s comprehensive grasp of the story of redemption in Scripture and his practical wisdom about people with problems makes this book a unique and important contribution for those that want to counsel from a distinctively Christian perspective.”
—Sam R. Williams, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The tremendous issues that people face today call for a work that skillfully guides those who labor in helping Christians reach maturity in Christ. Soul Physicians meets that need and will be of great value to pastors, professional Christian counselors, students, and lay people. Dr. Kellemen’s credentials both in the theological world and the world of counseling make him uniquely qualified to produce a work like Soul Physicians. His work will prove to be invaluable in the field of Christian counseling.”
—Dr. Homer Heater, Jr., President Emeritus, Washington Bible College

“Soul Physicians is a ‘theological breath of fresh air.’ This comprehensive guide offers a wealth of knowledge that translates theology into everyday human relationships. It catapults the reader into confidently connecting with people soul-to-soul. My life and ministry will never be the same after reading Soul Physicians.”
—Pastor Dwayne Bond, Senior Pastor, Wellsprings Church

“Soul Physicians captures the essence of Christian soul care and spiritual direction. A unique balance of biblical theology and compassionate spiritual friendship makes Soul Physicians vital for the pastor, Christian counselor, or student of counseling. Soul Physicians will revolutionize the study of counseling at higher learning institutions that embrace the Christian worldview in their counseling programs.”
—Douglas McCracken, Professional Christian Counselor, Safe Harbor Counseling

“Personally, I can attest to the challenge of facing deep hurts and overcoming them through the use and application of Soul Physicians’ principles. Professionally, as a biblical counselor, pastor’s wife, and teacher, God has allowed me to use Soul Physicians as an equipping tool to mentor women. My classes using these concepts have now included over 500 women who testify that Soul Physicians deepened their personal maturity and equipped them to more powerfully minister to others.”
—Sister Ellen Barney, Women’s Ministry Director, New Antioch Baptist Church

“Soul Physicians revives the timeless tradition of soul care in the Christian community. If you are longing for a deeper relationship with the Lord and others, read on. If you desire to see others as God sees them, keep reading. If you want to relate God’s Word to suffering and sinning as you interact with image bearers, Soul Physicians is for you. If you’re willing to allow God to pierce your heart with His holiness and grace, then Soul Physicians will transform you and those you encounter.”
—Susan Ellis, Author of Sacred Friendships

“Soul Physicians offers theological depth leading to personal maturity. It unlocks a systematic, exhilarating understanding of how God created us to relate, think, choose, and feel in an imperfect world as redeemed Christians. Providing a myriad of scriptural tools, Soul Physicians equipped me to understand suffering and sin, enabling me to connect with people who are impacted by the evils of suffering and with those who are dealing with personal sin issues. In Soul Physicians, Dr. Kellemen shares his years of experience, diligent research, and dependence on the Spirit to endow counselors, pastors, students, and lay people with a scriptural blueprint to become more soul aware and, in turn, empower others with God’s profound grace.”
—Robin Shell, Graduate Counseling Student

“As a pastor and a church planter, I resonate with the major theme found in Soul Physicians—how to change lives with God’s changeless truth. The principles found in Soul Physicians are so practical and life-giving that I am using them in the foundation of our church plant. Solidly biblical and refreshingly relational, Bob combines his wealth of experience as a pastor, shepherd, coach, and counselor with his strong exegetical skills to outline an easily understandable theology of counseling that masterfully addresses the human soul’s need for healing from both suffering and sin.”
—Pastor Tom Gill, Church Planter, Life in the Balance Ministries

“Not only is Soul Physicians based upon solid exegesis and deep theological convictions, it is also presented creatively and insightfully. God will use these truths to transform readers into greater lovers of God and better lovers of God’s people. Personally, I ‘understood’ truth before I was introduced to these concepts, but now God is giving me His heart through Soul Physicians. Undoubtedly, I am more like Jesus and better equipped to minister for Jesus because of Soul Physicians.”
—Chris Boucher, Counseling Professor, Capital Bible Seminary

To Order Your Copy at 40% Off, Please Visit: http://tinyurl.com/d96hc6

Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Understand People, Diagnose Problems, and Prescribe Solutions—Biblically!

Join the growing number of lay people, pastors, professional counselors, and students who are using Soul Physicians as the twenty-first-century theology manual for Christian counseling. Learn our Great Physician’s authoritative truth about:

Nourishing the Hunger of the Soul: Preventative Medicine—God’s Word

Knowing the Creator of the Soul: The Great Physician—The Trinity

Examining the Spiritual Anatomy of the Soul: People—Creation

Diagnosing the Fallen Condition of the Soul: Problems—Fall

Prescribing God’s Cure for the Soul: Solutions—Redemption

Envisioning the Final Healing of the Soul: Home—Glorification

Dispensing God’s Care for the Soul: Spiritual Friends—Sanctification

Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D. LCPC, is Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department at Capital Bible Seminary where he has field-tested Soul Physicians for a decade. In his three pastoral ministries, Bob has trained hundreds of lay people as soul physicians. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, he brings a practitioner’s sensitivity to his writing. Bob is also the author of Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, and Sacred Friendships.

Soul Physicians, Part I

Praise for Soul Physicians

To Order Your Copy at 40% Off, Please Visit: http://tinyurl.com/d96hc6

“Soul Physicians is a great and unique book: deeply shaped by Scripture; promoting of a personal engagement with biblical teaching and with Christ; challenging and focused against sin; but practical, gentle in spirit, and discerning in method and counseling skill. The book itself exemplifies what a biblical counselor should be like. Its use of a redemptive-historical structure (creation-fall-redemption-consummation) alone is worth the price of the book, since the value of this framework has not yet been fully realized in Christian counseling. It should be widely used in counseling programs and local churches that value the Bible.”
—Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Pastoral Theology and Biblical Psychology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The Puritan writers were excellent counselors because they were also excellent theologians. Dr. Kellemen follows in that rich tradition; his quality leadership in counselor education flows from the depth of his theological underpinnings. Few books on counseling today are true to biblical hermeneutics; Soul Physicians is one significant exception, which is why I am using it as a required text for our course exploring Methods of Biblical Change.”
—Dr. Dow Pursley, Director of Counseling Programs, Baptist Bible College Graduate School

“Soul Physicians is an outstanding contribution to the fields of counseling and pastoral theology. It has succeeded remarkably in uniting counseling theory and the authority of Scripture. I know of no other work that is so insightful and equally practical. I strongly recommend Soul Physicians to pastors, educators, and everyone who is interested in intensifying practical sanctification.”

—Dr. Don Fowler, Professor of Biblical Studies, Liberty University

“Unlike many other books currently available, Soul Physicians can easily serve as a primary and comprehensive resource for those studying the theology of soul care. Dr. Kellemen’s innovative approach places the theology of soul care in the appropriate context of the Christian’s spiritual formation and discipleship. The text provides the vital addition of significant questions for the reader’s study and reflection, thus providing further options for classroom use in plenary or small group discussion.”

—Dr. Mara Crabtree, Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Christian Spirituality, Regent University School of Divinity

“Soul Physicians is a truly meaningful and valuable treatment of the theological, spiritual, and psychological dimensions of counseling, soul care, spiritual formation, and the relationships between them. It can serve as a textbook, a personal study guide, or a resource handbook for those desiring to approach people-helping from a thoroughly Christian and biblical viewpoint.”

—Dr. Richard Averbeck, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Director of the Spiritual Formation Forum

“In Soul Physicians, Robert W. Kellemen explores seven key biblical categories for developing a theology of soul care and spiritual direction. The result is a thoroughly biblical systematic theology written with the insights and illustrations of a mental health professional—appropriately constructed against the backdrop of a relational emphasis. I highly recommend this book as an important reference for evangelical pastors, counselors (both professional and lay), and other soul care providers.”
—Gary W. Moon, M.Div., Ph.D., Vice President and Chair of Integration, Psychological Studies Institute, Author of Falling for God

“In Soul Physicians, Dr. Kellemen captures the essence of delivering practical ministry in the real world. His teachings are applicable to the ‘every member a minister’ approach to caring for others, as well as being foundational for the professional Christian counselor. This material has enabled me to incorporate solid biblical principles into my counseling practice.”
—Melvin Pride, Director of Strategic Planning, Southern Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware

“The information in Soul Physicians, the perspective it gives on life, and the passion with which it is written has been the catalyst for my walk with Christ soaring to an entirely new level. The framework for life it presents has deepened my understanding of who Jesus is and provided me a clearer picture of God’s plan for my personal life and pastoral ministry. It has greatly enhanced my understanding of people and equipped me to powerfully minister to them.”
—Pastor John Heater, Youth Pastor, Forcey Memorial Church

“I read Soul Physicians expecting to learn many facts that I would need to become an excellent Christian counselor. God’s plans were that and so much more. He used Soul Physicians to speak truth into the deepest regions of my heart. It is naїve of us to plan to make an impact on those who are hurting, and hurting others, without first dealing with those parts of ourselves. Soul Physicians gave me a thorough knowledge of the subject, an increased self-awareness, and a realization of the many sensitive areas I face as I minister to God’s people. Soul Physicians is an apt title for a work that so eloquently presents the application of the Word of God to human suffering and sin.”
—Terri Polm, Lay Counselor

To Order Your Copy at 40% Off, Please Visit:

http://tinyurl.com/d96hc6

Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Understand People, Diagnose Problems, and Prescribe Solutions—Biblically!

Join the growing number of lay people, pastors, professional counselors, and students who are using Soul Physicians as the twenty-first-century theology manual for Christian counseling. Learn our Great Physician’s authoritative truth about:

Nourishing the Hunger of the Soul: Preventative Medicine—God’s Word

Knowing the Creator of the Soul: The Great Physician—The Trinity

Examining the Spiritual Anatomy of the Soul: People—Creation

Diagnosing the Fallen Condition of the Soul: Problems—Fall

Prescribing God’s Cure for the Soul: Solutions—Redemption

Envisioning the Final Healing of the Soul: Home—Glorification

Dispensing God’s Care for the Soul: Spiritual Friends—Sanctification

Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D. LCPC, is Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department at Capital Bible Seminary where he has field-tested Soul Physicians for a decade. In his three pastoral ministries, Bob has trained hundreds of lay people as soul physicians. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, he brings a practitioner’s sensitivity to his writing. Bob is also the author of Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, and Sacred Friendships.

Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal

Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal

· Author: Eric L. Johnson, Ph.D.
· Publisher: IVP Academic (September, 2007)
· Category: Biblical Counseling, Christian Psychology

Discerning Reader Editorial Review

Reviewed 04/23/09 by Bob Kellemen, Ph.D.

Recommended: A core text that expands the conversation regarding what makes Christian psychology truly Christian and biblical counseling truly biblical.

Review: What Makes Christian Psychology Truly Christian?

Writing before the advent of modern secular psychology, Old Testament scholar and church historian, Franz Delitzsch, noted that “biblical psychology is no science of yesterday. It is one of the oldest sciences of the church” (A System of Biblical Psychology, 1861, p. 3).

His assertion is vital to remember before any knee-jerk reaction to the subtitle of Eric Johnson’s book, Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal. It is not oxymoronic to link “Christian” and “psychology,” or “biblical” and “psychology.”

Dr. Eric Johnson is Professor of Pastoral Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Founding Director of the Society of Christian Psychologists. Dr. Johnson has committed his life and ministry to the epic task of answering one foundational question. “What would psychology look like if it were built solely upon a Christian understanding of human nature?

Foundations for Soul Care provides his answer, his opus. For Johnson, “psychology” is the study of the soul in order to care for the soul based upon the inspired wisdom of the Creator of the soul.

Wisdom, as Solomon uses it in Proverbs, is what Johnson offers in Foundations. Johnson combines scriptural interpretation, the history of Christian soul care, and astute life observation to develop a deep, thinking, intellectual, complex (in the best senses of those words) approach to Christian psychology.

Yet, like Proverbs, Johnson’s work is eminently practical in its purpose. He shows how biblical insights about human nature lead to Christlikeness—maturity in reflecting the Creator of human nature. Thus, Foundations refuses to offer a humanistic perspective. Rather, Christian psychology, in the hands of Johnson, is all for the higher (highest) purpose of glorifying God by helping others to reflect God’s glory.

Johnson writes courageously. He places himself outside any one “camp,” which, of course, means that those from all the various camps may take issue with him (and take aim at him) for assorted reasons. Positively, Johnson’s deep thinking should motivate members of every “camp” toward profound reflection.

Johnson presents a detailed overview of the reigning paradigms in the field of Christian counseling. Building on their respective strengths, he seeks to move beyond the current impasse in the field to develop a more unified and robustly Christian understanding. He proceeds to offer a new framework for the care of souls that is comprehensive in scope, and flows from a Christian understanding of human beings. The intended end result is a distinctly Christian version of psychology: understanding people, diagnosing problems, and prescribing God’s solutions—biblically.

As a professor, speaker, and writer on soul care and spiritual direction, I highly recommend Foundations as a core text that expands the conversation regarding what makes Christian psychology truly Christian and biblical counseling truly biblical. Readers won’t agree with every point, but with eminent scholarship Johnson thoroughly addresses every point worth discussing. All serious Christian teachers, students, and practitioners in the fields of psychology, counseling, soul care, and spiritual direction need to engage this text thoughtfully.

Nourishing the Hunger of Your Soul: Introduction

Nourishing the Hunger of Your Soul: Introduction

Be nourished by some core concepts from the Introduction to Soul Physicians.

“What would a model of biblical counseling look like that was built solely upon Christ’s gospel of grace?” (Soul Physicians, p. 3).

“Love is not enough. Truth is not enough. Love and truth must kiss” (Soul Physicians, p. 5).

“My passion is to infuse biblical counseling with Christian theology to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth” (Soul Physicians, p. 7).

“To what degree do you have confidence in the relevancy and potency of God’s Word in your life?” (Soul Physicians, p. 8).

“How do you evidence your confidence in God’s Word to help you when you are suffering?” (Soul Physicians, p. 8).

“How do you evidence your confidence in God’s Word to help you to have victory over sin and to grow in sanctification?” (Soul Physicians, p. 8).

“Do you agree or disagree that modern Christian counseling has lost its confidence in the relevancy and potency of God’s Word?” (Soul Physicians, p. 9).

“To what degree is your biblical counseling theologically informed?” (Soul Physicians, p. 9).

“What could you do to infuse your soul care and spiritual direction with Christian theology?” (Soul Physicians, p. 9).

“What makes biblical counseling biblical? What makes soul care and spiritual direction Christian?” (Soul Physicians, p. 9).

Are You Ready to Learn What to Do After the Hug?

Are You Ready to Learn What to Do after the Hug?

You care deeply. But perhaps sometimes you struggle to know what to do after the hug. Learn how to care like Christ--how to change lives with Christ's changeless truth.

In What to Do After the Hug, I've condensed all of Soul Physicians and all of Spiritual Friends in fifty pages. In fact, for good measure, I wove in and condensed Beyond the Suffering, too! In fifty pages, you gain my entire approach to biblical counseling and spiritual formation in miniature!

Think of it as your own refresher course on biblical counseling.

What a great way to equip those you minister to.

The Cost

The cost?

For just $7.50 you receive the fifty-page Word Document What to Do After the Hug as an e-document. It summarizes a Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed model of biblical counseling and spiritual formation to equip you to change lives with Christ's changless truth.

To Order

It’s simple. Order here by PayPal or with Visa or Master Card:

http://www.rpmbooks.org/credit_card_orders.html#hug

Or, phone order with Visa or Master Card to: 219-662-8138.

Or, send a check to RPM Ministries, PO Box 270, Crown Point, IN 46308, for $7.50. (Be sure to include your email address so we can send you your copy of the e-document: What to Do After the Hug.)

Enjoy!

Learn How to Change Lives

Are You Ready to Learn How to Change Lives

with Christ's Changeless Truth?

Do you sometimes struggle to know how to use God's Word powerfully, effectively, and lovingly to change lives?

Change that with:

Changing Lives: What to Do After the Hug.

In fifty pages, I have creatively condensed a lifetime of ministry equipping.

Learn how to care like Christ through comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

For just $7.50 you can order your E-Document as a Word document at:

http://www.rpmbooks.org/credit_card_orders.html#hug

You will learn how to view the Bible as the foundation for one another ministry through six practical spiritual life principles from God's Word.

You will learn how to use the Bible in your personal ministry through four practical relational competencies for biblical counseling.

Twelve built-in application sections make this the ideal equipping manual.

Be equipped to care like Christ and to change lives with Christ's changeless truth through comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical???

Comprehensive, Compassionate, and Culturally-Informed
Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

For over a quarter-century in ministry, I have followed a focused mission, vision, and passion. By God’s grace I seek to equip God’s people to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth through comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

Many have asked me to summarize the words comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed. In response, I’ve condense my view of biblical counseling and spiritual formation in less than 500 words.

Biblical Counseling/Spiritual Formation Is Comprehensive

Truly biblical counseling addresses the complexity of life lived in a fallen world. The Bible profoundly describes existence through the “CFR Narrative”: our Creation in God’s image, our Fall into sin, and our Redemption in Christ. Only when taken together can we understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically.

Biblical counseling follows a holistic approach to the nature of human nature. People are created in the image of God, reflected in our relational (spiritual, social, and self-aware), rational (images and beliefs), volitional (motivations and actions), emotional (responses and reactions), and physical capacities. Only when united can we help the whole person to become a whole person.

Biblical counseling takes a robust approach to counselor training. It refuses all shortcuts as it recognizes the need for equipping in the “4Cs”: biblical content, Christlike character, relational competencies, and Christian community. Only when combined can we produce truly effective soul care-givers and spiritual directors.

Biblical Counseling/Spiritual Formation Is Compassionate

As the modern biblical counseling movement enters it third generation, we must learn to integrate truth and love. We need to listen to the biblical wisdom of passages such as Ephesians 4:15 (speaking/embodying the truth in love), Philippians 1:9 (our love abounding in depth of insight), and 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (we loved you so dearly that we gave you not only the Scriptures but our own souls). No longer can the caricature be true of “take two verses and call me in the morning.” Biblical counselors enter deeply, personally into the lives of parishioners and counselees.

As compassion grows, our focus is expanding. Whereas some early approaches to biblical counseling highlighted almost exclusively confronting the sinning (surely a vital aspect of biblical counseling), current models must equally emphasize comforting the suffering. Historic models of sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding are allowing us to combine parakaletic soul care and nouthetic spiritual direction. Compassionate biblical counseling lovingly and humbly addresses suffering and sin through prescribing grace as God’s solution for our disgrace.

Biblical Counseling/Spiritual Formation Is Culturally-Informed

Modern biblical counseling had been the exclusive domain of white males. Now many diverse, new voices are being added to the biblical counseling movement. As we listen to the previously silenced voices of women and minorities, biblical counseling is being enriched.

As we hear their inspiring voices, we learn how to counsel more effectively in intercultural settings. Not only that, but the application and interpretation of this diverse biblical wisdom greatly enhance all areas of biblical counseling theory and practice.

How's Your Spiritual Love Life? Part Two: The Holy of Holies of the Soul

How’s Your Spiritual Love Life?[i]
Part Two: The Holy of Holies of the Soul

Why do we do what we do? What motivates us? Why do we love God or fail to love God? The biblical answers to these questions might surprise you. Join us on a journey of spiritual discovery in our new blog series on How’s Your Spiritual Love Life?

Hunger Was God’s Idea

Hunger was God’s idea. He created us with a soul that thirsts for what only relationships can quench. The Hebrew word for soul comes from a word that means “throat”—the organ through which we take in nourishment, fill our hunger, and quench our thirst. The Hebrews used physical body parts to represent immaterial aspects of our personality. Proverbs 25:25 is one example: “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”

As the throat craves physical satisfaction, so the soul craves personal, relational satisfaction. We long for and are motivated by a thirst for intimate involvement and union. These longings for relationship are part of our essential being as created in God’s image.

Love is to the soul what breathing is to the lungs and food is to the stomach. Without connection, we shrivel; we starve to death. With mutual, risky, giving, grace relationships we thrive. The exact center of our being is our capacity to give and receive in relationships.

What motivates us to do what we do? What impels us? In training counselors, I like to tell them, “Go where the action is.” The action is relational because we are relationally motivated. We pursue what we perceive to be pleasing.

“We have an immense void inside that craves satisfaction from powers and persons and pleasures outside ourselves. Yearning and longing and desire are the very stuff of our nature” (John Piper, The Pleasures of God, p. 48).

As the Puritan writer, Henry Scougal, reminded us, “the soul of man has in it a raging and inextinguishable thirst” (Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man, p. 108). We’re motivated to quench our relational thirsts.

Worship: The Holy of Holies of the Soul

We were born desiring worship. In our original design, God implanted in us a fundamental nature that must worship.

When I began working toward my doctorate at Kent State University, I decided to develop relationships as a precursor to sharing my faith. Or so I thought. Two weeks into my initial semester, our professor assigned a paper on humanistic psychology. As the class discussed our viewpoints, our professor encouraged me to share my position. “Bob, you wrote an interesting paper contrasting humanistic psychology with Christian thinking.” So much for my “go slow” approach. During the ensuing discussion, one student was particularly vocal against my views.

About a month later, in a course on counseling the culturally different, a Native American presented the guest lecture. Toward the end of her talk, she invited us to stand to worship the spirit of the four winds. Two students remained seated—myself and the woman who had vocally opposed my views in the other class. As soon as class ended, she marched up to me to thank me for not standing. “You gave me the courage of my convictions. But to be honest, I’m not sure what I believe in. You seem so strong and sincere in your faith. Could we talk about your relationship to God?”

This young woman exposed her fundamental spiritual nature. I could have said of her what Paul said of the people of Athens, “I see that in every way you are very religious” (Acts 17:22).

So how’s your spiritual love life? Prayerfully ponder:

*What quenches my thirst?

*What satisfies my soul?

*What fills my hunger?

*What do I crave?

*Can I say with the Psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you, and on earth I desire nothing besides you”?


[i]Developed from materials originally published in: Kellemen, Bob. Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 2007.

Biblical Counseling FAQs, Part 3

Biblical Counseling FAQs, Part 3

People have a lot of questions about what makes biblical counseling truly biblical. The purpose of these brief FAQs or Q/A paragraphs is to provide relevant, biblical answers to basic questions about biblical counseling.

5. What are the benefits of biblical counseling?

The benefits of biblical counseling relate to our definition of biblical counseling. Biblical counseling will help you to face your suffering face-to-face with God. While this side of heaven we may not find an end to suffering, we can find God and His perspective, purpose, and power in our suffering. Biblical counseling sustains you so you know that it’s normal to hurt, and it brings God’s healing to you so that you know that it’s possible to hope. You will experience soul care from your biblical counselor.

Biblical counseling will also help you to face your sin face-to-face with God. Instead of running, hiding, and covering up with layer upon layer of self-sufficiency (like Adam and Eve did), you will learn to “return home” like the prodigal son did. In returning home, your biblical counselor will help you to reconcile with God and others—repenting, asking forgiveness, and granting forgiveness. You will learn that it’s horrible to sin, but that it’s wonderful to be forgiven. In biblical counseling you will also find guidance so that you learn how to apply the truth that it’s supernatural to mature. You will experience spiritual direction from your biblical counselor.

6. When should I consider biblical counseling?

Based upon our definition, we should all be engaged in on-going biblical counseling and spiritual friendship with one another. Biblical counseling is not just what we “do” for an hour with an “expert.” It is to be a natural part of our normal experience of Christian community.

However, the Bible does teach that there is special gifting and can be special training for a more focused ministry of biblical counseling. When should you consider making an appointment for focused biblical counseling? You should see a counselor when you sense that your relationships with God, others, and yourself are spiraling downward despite your best efforts. You should see a counselor when you recognize that your beliefs about life are colored by earthly perspectives and foolish judgments that you can’t see to correct on your own. You should see a counselor when you find yourself yielding to purposes and actions that defy your core beliefs, but you can’t seem to change. You should see a counselor when you feel that you are less and less able to handle your emotions and manage your moods. In other words, you should see a biblical counselor when life’s suffering and your sin are overwhelming.

The Future of Biblical Counseling, Part 8

The Future of Biblical Counseling
Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Part 8: Dream Number Seven
Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Welcome to a multi-part Blog on The Future of Biblical Counseling. We need clarity on the issue of what makes biblical counseling biblical. I invite you to join the conversation.

Dream Number Seven: Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

Historically the two fields of biblical counseling and spiritual formation were one. It is our dream that they once again become synonymous—hence the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation name and mission.

Progressive Sanctification and Daily Transformation

Biblical counseling applies the principles of progressive sanctification to the daily lives of believers. It does so through spiritual formation which cultivates communion with Christ and conformity to Christ through the practice of the biblical/historical individual and corporate spiritual disciplines.

God’s Role and Our Role in Spiritual Formation

Such transformative biblical counseling will highlight God’s role and our responsibility in spiritual growth through its emphasis on the cultivation of the disciplines that connect us to Christ’s resurrection power. It will underscore the inner life through its emphasis on forming the character of Christ in us—our inner life increasingly mirroring the inner life of Christ. It will accentuate the Body of Christ by encouraging the corporate spiritual disciplines and by equipping believers in the individual spiritual disciplines.

Spiritual Theology of the Spiritual Life

Transformative biblical counseling will require the development of a comprehensive biblical theology of the spiritual life that provides the basis for a relevant biblical methodology for spiritual growth. Biblical counseling and spiritual formation will offer a theological and practical approach to sanctification that is effective in the “real” world where people hope, dream, stumble, fall, and live everyday.

Sharpening the Saw

Sharpening the Saw

I’ve picked up a new “hobby” the past year in a new home—woodworking. As in working with wood to finish my basement, including framing, building ceiling soffetts, putting in a wood floor, and putting in the floor trim and shoe.

Of course, all of this takes a sharp saw. Working with my circular saw for several projects, I finally decided to replace the blade. But I did something first. I timed how long it took to cut a piece of wood with the old blade. I then timed how long it took to cut the same length piece of wood with the new blade.

The old blade? Fifty-five seconds.

The new blade? Twelve seconds.

Not only was the time incredibly less; the work and effort were much less. It was like the proverbial hot knife through warm butter when I used the new blade.

There was something else about this little experiment that intrigued me. Since the saw blade only slowly became duller, I had not detected the extra time and effort necessary to use my saw. This was like another proverbial image: the frog in the kettle of slowly heating water who never detects that he is being cooked! I was clueless to the huge amount of wasted time and effort that I was indulging in by using a warn out saw blade.

Readers of Steve Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People will be familiar with the principle of sharpening the saw in one’s personal and professional life. The concept highlights our need to take care of the tool of the soul—the self. To perform at the highest level, to function well emotionally, volitionally, mentally, relationally, spiritually, and physically, we must keep our saw sharp.

What is the “saw” personally? It’s our inner character—our spiritual maturity through spiritual connection to Christ.

How’s your character saw? If it were dull, would you even detect it since you’ve not checked your blade in ages?

We can try to “do” ministry minus the sharp ministry tool of a soul fine-tuned by spiritual formation. Try as we might, we’ll eventually fail—hurting others with our dull blade.

Here’s to keeping our spiritual saw sharp.

What's the Connection?

What’s the Connection?
The Link between Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Many of you know that I am part of a new "launch" of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) for the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). With the launch of the BCSFN, an obvious, fair, and logical question is, “Why this ‘combination’? What’s the connection between biblical counseling and spiritual formation?”

Not only is it a logical question; it is a theological question. The theological answers to the question of the linkage between counseling and formation are many. I’ll offer two.

First, the Bible clearly links spiritual ministry and spiritual maturity. In other words, we can’t even think about offering spiritual help to others if we are un-formed spiritually. Paul puts it plainly and bluntly: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Galatians 6:1).

So, one of our main goals in the BCSFN is to encourage care-givers in their own spiritual formation.

Second, the Bible clearly describes spiritual formation as the ultimate goal of all ministry. Turning again to the Apostle Paul, we read, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).

Paul’s purpose-driven life focused on one magnificent obsession: participating with God in the transformation of character. What’s the point of biblical counseling? Helping others to become more and more like the Wonderful Counselor!

So, another of our main goals in the BCSFN to equip care-givers in their ministry to more effectively form Christ in the lives of their counselees, parishioners, and spiritual friends.

So, what’s the connection between biblical counseling and spiritual formation? We’ll let Paul speak for us one final time. “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Musings on Biblical Counseling: Teaching an Old Dog, New Tricks

Musings on Biblical Counseling

In seeking to launch the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN), I’ve invited over 100 “experts” from various backgrounds. Many e-mails have been quite encouraging.

However, one, from a leader in the field, who has never met me and really did not even know of me until my invitation, was disappointing. I wasn’t so much disappointed in what he said about me. I was more disappointed because what he said spoke volumes about his practice of his model of counseling. I won’t even go into what he said. Let’s just say that it was negative and confrontational.

I began to ponder this e-mail from a biblical counseling perspective. Step one in any biblical model of communication involves earning the right to communicate. Solomon reminds us that the wounds of a FRIEND are faithful. The Hebrew word for “friend” literally means “lover”—one who has demonstrated love for you. I was not “feeling the love” from this stranger. Not having established a friendship with me, biblically, his words were not “faithful wounds.”

Another common “step” in biblical counseling is data collection. After opening his e-mail with the words, “"I did not know of you before your e-mail,” he continued by confronting the motives behind the launch. Mind you, he did not interact about the lengthy document attached. It made me think, “If I had some questions about a complete stranger’s motives, would I drop them like a bomb? Or, would I ask questions to clarify, before confronting from a lack of knowledge?”

Another core aspect of biblical counseling is humility. Paul warns that those who seek to help a stumbling brother should do so in a spirit of meekness. They should demonstrate a conscious awareness of their own frailty, failings, and fallenness (Galatians 6:1-3). In this, Paul amplifies the words of Jesus regarding looking at the two-by-four in my eye before pointing out the sawdust in my brother’s eye. So, I thought, “How would I have wished for this brother to have responded to me, if he had questions about the motivation and sincerity of the BCSFN launch?”

First, if it were me, I doubt that I would have used e-mail which is notorious for miscommunication of tone and tenor. Second, whether by e-mail, phone, or in person, I would have liked for the brother to say, “Wow, what an intriguing endeavor. More power to you in trying to develop a network of biblical counselors and spiritual friends. However, I have some questions. Some things that potentially raise some red flag. I don’t mean to be judgmental nor condescending, so, could we dialogue a bit—some good old fashion give and take?” That would have been inviting. And humble.

Additionally, true biblical counseling is “holistic.” It seeks to sustain (“It’s normal to hurt”), heal (“It’s possible to hope”), reconcile (“It’s horrible to sin, but wonderful to be forgiven”) and guide (“It’s supernatural to mature”). My sense with this e-mail was that the approach was only one-half of one aspect of true biblical counseling. Its focus was on “It’s horrible when YOU sin!” There wasn’t any reconciling grace. Nor any guiding grace.

The approach of this e-mailer actually clarified further, even after a quarter-century of biblical counseling, the goal of biblical counseling. The goal of biblical counseling is NOT to spot sin. That is one sign post along the journey, not the destination itself.

The ultimate goal of biblical counseling, spiritual formation, and of life, is to fulfill the Great Commandment: to love God and love one another. We glorify God as we exalt Him BY enjoying Him and His children.

In biblical counseling, we glorify God as we help others to become more like Christ by exposing grace: we are to “spot grace.” In Romans 5-6, Paul reminds us that where sin abounds, grace superabounds. Counseling that has as its main goal to “spot sin” falls short of the glory of God. It falls short of glorifying God.

When we expose sin, it is an intermediate step toward exposing the grace that forgives, which in turn is an intermediate step in exposing the grace that guides—that empowers us to supernaturally mature. Biblical counseling with Christian seeks to stir up the grace-gift of God that God has placed in His regenerated children so that they love God and others better so that God is rightfully glorified.

So, what mood could the e-mailer have set if his goal were to “spot grace” and stir up the gift of God? What biblical and historical “method” could he have followed if his goal was to glorify God? Maybe something like this. . . .

“Wow, I bet launching this BCSFN is a wild and difficult endeavor fraught with risks” (sustaining).

“I’m praying for you that by God’s grace and by clinging to His Word, you and the team that God calls together will find His hope and peace and power” (healing).

“I do wonder if I see some red flags. If so, could we talk about a more godly way to go about this, and about God’s grace to forgive any sinful ways that might have crept in?” (reconciling).

“Most importantly, could I join you in the journey, as a co-laborer, if not with the BCSFN, at least in your life, helping you to be the most loving leader of the BCSFN that you can be?” (guiding).

“Because, more than anything, I want to see God glorified as you and your team love Him and love others well, and as you equip others to disciple people to love well” (the ultimate goal of true biblical counseling).

It’s amazing what an e-mail about biblical counseling can teach a biblical counselor. I guess that you really can teach an old dog (me) new tricks. You can even do it by throwing some rather distasteful bones at the old dog—because God can take our bones and use them for His best—to nourish us so that we glorify Him.