I’ve been a bit concerned about some biblical counselors posting “95 Theses For Biblical Counseling,” not least for the (hopefully unintentional) implication that those who might disagree with them are in the same category as Roman Catholics and their indulgences were in Luther’s time.

Having said that, there are saner versions of this approach, a welcome contrast to the attempted return to the medieval times of biblical counseling which is undoing much of the wonderful reformation in biblical counseling that has been going on over the past 10-15 years.

I’ve written before about the mistake of equating the Reformation doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture with what some are arguing for in the biblical counseling movement. I’ve also highlighted how some modern versions of the sufficiency of Scripture are not just contrary to what the Reformers taught but actually end up unintentionally undermining the sufficiency of Scripture (here and here).

I’ve been close to entering this debate, not only to express concern about the damage that the aggressive tone and personal targeting is doing to the biblical counseling movement and its relationship with other Christians, but also to expose the internal confusion and inconsistency of some of the content. However, I discovered that Brad Hambrick, a biblical counselor that I highly respect, has decided to interact with Heath Lambert’s “95 Theses” and I’d commend this series to you. I’ll try to keep you updated as Brad posts subsequent articles.

In the meantime, you might want to have a look at these pages that present the case that Luther and Calvin were more “integrationist” than some would like to admit (see especially Table 1-2d). It looks like some versions of biblical counseling have more in common with Zwingli than with Calvin and Luther.

Blogs

Fishers of Men
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” My experience has shown me that the words are familiar to the church, but the actual work perhaps not so much. How might we better understand the words so the work can be more accessible to us?”

In a Distracted World, Solitude Is a Competitive Advantage
“There is no silver bullet to solving the complex problems ushered in by the information age. But there are some good places to start, and one of them is counterintuitive: solitude. Having the discipline to step back from the noise of the world is essential to staying focused.”

3 Ways Pastors and Church Leaders Undermine Themselves on Social Media
“Pastors and church leaders need to be in social media spaces. Here are three basic ways I see pastors and church leaders undermine themselves on social media, and some ideas about how to avoid these missteps:”

Violence against women—it’s a men’s issue
You don’t have to agree with all of Jackson Katz’s views on gender and equality issues to be helpfully challenged by this passionate speech. And, young women, if you want to avoid becoming a victim of an abusive husband, learn the signs to watch out for in Unmasking the Abuser. In fact, pastors and elders would do well to watch this too if they want to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse. If this these videos aren’t helpful examples of common grace wisdom, I don’t know what is.

Kindle Books

Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design by Stephen Meyer $1.99.

What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman $2.99.

Marriage Matters: Extraordinary Change through Ordinary Moments by Winston Smith $2.39

Video

Why should ordinary Christians read Bible commentaries?
Bill’s commentary on 1 & 2 Peter is available at Reformation Heritage Books.

In this video Shona shares her experiences with depression and I discuss my burnout and blood clots. Two broken people talking about one Great Physician.

Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Endless Demands (for women) [RHB]

Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture (for men) [RHB]

Blogs

Idolatry at the Office: Confessions of a Workaholic
“During these years, I worked so feverishly, not to serve God, but to relish the approval it brought me — and because I feared the implications for my identity should the praise fall silent.”

3 Questions To Ask As Soon As Your Work-Life Balance Stars Slipping

1. Is my work still fulfilling enough?
2. Why am I saying so connected?
3. Are my expectations too high across the board?

Eric Schmidt: Good Sleep Enhances Your Ability to Do Almost Everything
“Studies have shown people with interrupted sleeping patterns are prone to depression, are more likely to be compulsive eaters, and complain much more than those who sleep well. Good sleep can only enhance your physical and mental ability to do almost everything. Just remember, healthy sleeping habits make an absolute difference in your overall quality of life. Most likely, you are not sleeping enough.”

On the same topic here’s The Secrets of Sleep: Why do we need it and are we getting enough?

7 Spurgeon Quotes for Stressed Leaders
“[Spurgeon] battled anxiety, depression, and significant suffering. He knew the pressures of leadership and ministry like few others. Here are seven encouragements from one tired, stressed, faithful leader to you”

God Is with You in Your Panic Attack
“Panic attacks have been a source of both grief and grace. Grief, because they are terrifying and painful and disorienting and exhausting. Grace, because through them, God has humbled my proud heart and taught me to trust less in myself and more in Him. When Asaph says, “My flesh and my heart may fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,” boy, do I get it.”

Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving
“Resilient Ministry is a summary and analysis of American pastors’ reflections considering long-term fruitful ministry and the effects of stress. It considers an extensive array of subjects to include spiritual formation, burn out, strategies to improve longevity, emotional intelligence, marriage and family etc. It reaches a number of conclusions that are presented in a clear and helpful way. It is sprinkled with pithy and often wise observations that should benefit pastors living with the burden of their calling.”

Book

Refresh: Embracing a Grace-Paced Life in a World of Overwhelming Demands (RHB). This is the female version of Reset and was largely written by my wife, Shona. In it she shares what God has taught her through a painful time of depression/anxiety.

Video

How Can Husbands Protect Their Wives from Burnout?

It’s not just Christians who are concerned about he impact of digital technology. Non-Christians are increasingly alarmed about what our screens are doing to us and our children as well, as evidenced by a slew of books on the subject. Here are some of the best that I’ve been reading recently.

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids-and How to Break the Trance

Reset Your Child’s Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood–and What That Means for the Rest of Us

While researching this subject, I came across a Jewish video that made a profound impression on me. It’s from a group of Jewish acapella singers. The words and images are powerfully persuasive, and the surprising switch towards the end left me longing for a bygone age and wondering if we can ever recapture it again. I hope so.

Blogs

What I Want From the News
I suppose we can dream.

It’s gotten so I almost hate the news. I want to know what’s going on in the world, but I’ve lost confidence that there’s as much as a single organization out there communicating it in a trustworthy way. We hear lots of talk today about fake news, but I’m convinced this is less of a concern than what passes as real news. It takes little more than a brief visit to [insert your favorite, then least-favorite news outlet here], to see how the news is far more (and far less) than the news. If I could dream up the news outlet I want, it would be defined by characteristics like these.

Glory Thief
We’ve don’t just fall short of he glory of God; we steal it too.

Sunday as the pastor fenced the communion table and led us in a prayer of confession he asked forgiveness for “glory thieves.” The Lord raised a strong but gentle index finger to my heart and said, “Thou art the man.” I knew it right away. Guilty. I steal glory and rob God of his fame.

Why I Wrote Sipping Saltwater
This looks like a book worth reading.

Why did I write Sipping Saltwater? Partly, to understand my father and, more specifically, his addiction. Partly, to provide a bit of redemption to the dark tale of his life and my somewhat traumatic childhood. Partly, to provide a new angle on the topic of idolatry. Partly, to point to idolatry as the fundamental root of any addiction. Partly, to uncover a host of hidden idols and addictions in our contemporary culture. Partly, to confess that I’m the worst of addicts (1 Tim. 1:15). But the main reason I wrote Sipping Saltwater was to point to Jesus as the pathway to freedom from idolatry and addiction. He is the source of living water—the only drink that will quench our thirst both now and forever.

My Struggle to Smash the Food Idol
Looks like “Check out” has an idolatry theme today:

The abundant life we’re promised through Christ is filled with the sin-conquering power of the Holy Spirit. Even the most out-of-control eater can find the hope of being transformed and made new. Even if every meal plan, diet, or “lifestyle modification” you’ve ever attempted has failed you, Jesus won’t.

Two Indispensable Requirements for Pastoral Ministry
Kevin DeYoung: “In my experience, ministry won’t go well, and pastors won’t go far, without at least these two requirements: We must like studying the Bible. And we must like our people.”

Porn Is Not Harmless. It’s Cruel
What if on the judgment day every person you’ve ever consumed via porn was to stand beside the judgment seat? If the men of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba will be there as witnesses (Matt. 12:41-42), why not your porn victims?

“There’s a myth that porn is harmless. “It’s just a few consenting adults, doing what they want with their own bodies,” the thinking goes.  But this simply isn’t true. In reality, pornography is deeply involved in the exploitation of women and children, and it’s destructive to its consumers. Porn is much more than an individual decision—it’s part of a system that preys on women and children, and its viewers are participating in, contributing to, and being shaped by that destructive, enslaving system.”

Q&A: How Can I Ask My Church for Help with Mental Illness?
Amy Simpson answers the following question:

My husband has bipolar disorder, and my daughter really struggles with depression. My husband has started taking medication, but things are still rough. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it seems like it’s not working. My daughter gets so depressed, sometimes I’m afraid I’m going to lose her. And sometimes she seems like she doesn’t want to get better. Family life can be really hard, and I wish I had some help and support from my church. I’ve mentioned it to my pastor, and he says he’ll pray for me, but he doesn’t offer anything else. I think I might need to tell him some specific ways the church could help. Sometimes I feel like people are keeping their distance because they don’t know what to say or do. But I know these are good, loving people who care about me. What’s a good way to ask them for help?”

Kindle Books

For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping.

Can I really trust the Bible?: and other questions about Scripture, truth and how God speaks $2.99.

Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ by Kent Hughes $7.99. I love this homiletical commentary series.

Job: The Wisdom of the Cross by Christopher Ash $7.99.