The influence of psychology on pastoral ministry

This is an excellent analysis of how secular psychology has invaded a fundamental responsibility of the Christian faith. This takeover was really pretty overt when you listen to Powlison's analysis. CCEFs mission statement becomes more compelling after you listen to this.

Restore Christ to Counseling and Counseling to the Church.

The Center of the Universe: You, kind of...

About a year ago, John Piper received a sort of exhortation from a woman in his church whom he really respected and which he heeded. He talks about it here. The crux of the matter is that in all of his (right) emphasis on God being the main point, he unintentionally downplays how God feels about us. One way he often puts it is this: do you feel most loved when God makes much of you, or when you are allowed by God to make much of him? This is a good distinction, especially as ballast in our boats as we sail through the frothy seas of our culture's "self-esteem" talk (though my sense is that the current of the self-esteem movement from the 80s and 90s is ebbing and being replaced with other currents to achieve self-actualization). But the question still lingers a bit--God is gospel and therefore our chief hope in heaven ought to be union with him and not merely the absence of pain, reunion with loved ones, etc; however, how do we experience some of God's massive affection for us and do so joyfully in a way that doesn't ultimately make much of us? Or to put it yet another way, how do we seek God in a way that sees him as an end and not as a means to other ends for which we might seek him?


I don't exactly know the answer, but this post (thanks RP) by Kevin DeYoung points to a biblical way to think a little more about it:

Do not think that salvation comes to sinners because God has a cosmic purpose for the universe and individual sinners happen to be a part of that universe. The movement of salvation is not from everything to individuals, but from individuals to everything. Don’t mistake regeneration, redemption, and adoption as byproducts of the larger work God is doing to restore creation. That logic is backwards. Biblically, it’s the renewal of all things that rides in on the coattails of the salvation of sinners. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19-21). The creation is waiting to experience the freedom and glory we already experience as the children of God. The next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, or feel unappreciated, or imagine yourself ignored by God, remember: In Christ, you have what the universe is after.

More on Biblical Counseling

As I listen to David Powlison's lectures, I am more and more convinced of his approach and more and more aware of how much secular psychology we have swallowed in the church. And it is really unhelpful--even harmful--to do not correct our wrong thinking here.

Here is an example of some of his wisdom, "couched" in a little humor. (Video only below.)

Some Resources to Help Us Think About Forgiveness

The Forgiveness Project (Tim Keller)
Relating to Someone who Really Hurt You (John Piper)
The Forgiveness Quiz (Chris Brauns)
Forgive us our Debts as We Forgive our Debtors (Piper--a less practical approach than the aforementioned)
So Far as it Depends on You (Piper)
Keller Audio -- Several Messages. Free if you click on the Titles, pay if you click on the "listen" links.
Ligon Duncan message audio or manuscript.

And, well, a bunch of good ones over at Gospel Coalition

Are we excited about the gospel?

"There are some wonderful instances of ordinary Christians, not least the young, who are concerned to preach the whole gospel unabashedly and do good first to the household of God and then, as much as is possible, outside as well. That has got biblical mandate behind it. . . .
My warning would be to those who are coming along and talking a lot about, “I want to be faithful to the gospel, but I also want to do social justice and good works.” My warning would be: it is not just what you do, it is what you are excited about.

If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.

If the gospel—even when you are orthodox—becomes something which you primarily assume, but what you are excited about is what you are doing in some sort of social reconstruction, you will be teaching the people that you influence that the gospel really isn’t all that important. You won’t be saying that—you won’t even mean that—but that’s what you will be teaching. And then you are only half a generation away from losing the gospel.

Make sure that in your own practice and excitement, what you talk about, what you think about, what you pray over, what you exude confidence over, joy over, what you are enthusiastic about is Jesus, the gospel, the cross. And out of that framework, by all means, let the transformed life flow."

– Don Carson, lecture, “Is the Culture Shaping Us or are We Shaping the Culture?” delivered at the CBMW Different By Design Conference (Feb. 2, 2009, Minneapolis, MN)

(HT: CJ Mahaney via Tony Reinke via Desiring God)

Tools for seeing and preaching Christ in/from the OT

Here.