Comments on: Scots don’t do praise

By: Friday’s Five to Live By | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs

Friday’s Five to Live By | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:04:00 +0000

[...] David Murray ponders why Scots (he is one) and modern Reformed Christians do critique better than affirmation. In the process, he highlights and recommends Sam Crabtree’s Practicing Affirmation. Read David’s thoughts in Scots Don’t Do Praise. [...]

By: Rachel Boyd

Rachel Boyd — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:09:27 +0000

Having the priveledge of the American influence in my life right now, (and being your BIG sister ) I guess it is about time I set you a good example

An anecdote for now:

A dear friend at church told me she is praying for me that “my joy would be full”. It is one of the nicest things that anyone has ever said to me. It choked me up when she told me, and still brings tears to my eyes when I remember it, and every time I see her.

It does not quite fit the category of praise, but it is certainly encouragement. And encouragment to render praise to God, which is a heart-warming exercise.

~Rachel

By: Do you “do praise”? « The Wanderer

Do you “do praise”? « The Wanderer — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:40:17 +0000

[...] it all at HeadHeartHand Blog. Rate this: Share this:TwitterFacebookEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]

By: Frederika Pronk

Frederika Pronk — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:14:04 +0000

It’s not only the Scots who “don’t do praise.” The Dutch don’t’ either (at least, they didn’t). Having lived on and off in the U.S. for nearly two decades, I did notice that this trait seems to have been modified among the Americans tracing Dutch descent. I also noticed that they do volunteering very well – probably stemming from the same “praise” trait. I have wondered whether the lack you point out it is not due to a certain kind of preaching on Lord’s Day 33 of the Heidelberg Catechism, where we are taught that our good works do not earn salvation (and rightly so). That part of the Lord’s Day would be emphasized in the preaching/teaching but little would be said about the part in this Lord’s Day about the “delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.” Interestingly, this morning in our in our daily devotional, Faith Alone, by Martin Luther on Gal.5:13, Luther laments the fact that the people of his day were now living a loose life, focusing on grace alone.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:19:30 +0000

As an American of mixed Scottish, Irish, English, Swedish, and German descent, my experience is that nearly all of Northern Europe has been plagued by that attitude for several generations. We Americans actually inherited it and continued it for a while. I think what you’re seeing in the US now is a reaction against that – perhaps even an over-reaction in some cases, as with parents who praise their children so highly for every little thing that they grow up jaded and feeling that all praise is feigned. The current therapeutic atmosphere can’t offer a real solution. It must grow from truly Christian soil. Thanks for shedding some light on this issue.

By: John Mowat

John Mowat — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:45:02 +0000

(Sadly) well analysed, David, you’re spot on.
Speaking as a Glaswegian, I recognize exactly what you describe as all-too-prevalent in the wider Scottish culture. That such a virus should often infect the church is another example of capitulation to the spirit of the age, rather than opportunity for counter-cultural witness.
Looking forward to your review of Sam’s book…

By: David Murray

David Murray — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:07:35 +0000

It’s your Scottish roots showing.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:07:14 +0000

You’re definitely right, there, James. Were not good at that either.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:06:39 +0000

That’s one of the most sensible suggestions I’ve every seen in a church report!

I preach in quite a few churches over her that do the confession/declaration of pardon. The idea is good in principle, but I get the impression that through repetition it just becomes part of the form/routine and therefore loses impact power. Maybe if it could be done from time to time it might have the desired effect.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:04:20 +0000

Yes, we’ve been trying that sandwich too – but we keep choking on it!