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I know Veritas Domain talks a lot about worldview, theology and apologetics. But I also believe that the Christian apologist in helping someone through doubt and intelluctual issues must also not be divorced from considering issues pertaining to the individual’s spiritual life. In the ministry, I find that at times, those who struggle in their faith might also be struggling in other areas of their lives as well. For instance, an individual might be struggling with the goodness of God in their lives–the equipped apologist can give an apologetic, but if the individual is swayed to think that God is not good because his own personal life at home and at work is a wreck, then it’s also important to address his life biblically and have the Word of God have a bearing in his problems. Hence, the need for the apologist to be equipped to counsel and able to teach the individual to attain godliness through discipline and those who are Presuppositional in their apologetics should be the first to understand and see the importance of this need. In this spirit, I recommend Jay Adam’s work.
They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover–and I say neither it’s size. This is a worthwhile booklet to read in striving for godliness. I enjoy the author’s effort in communicating the biblical truth of how to be godly involves discipline and his clear illustrations. Jay Adams, the father of biblical counseling, have written other works that have edified me and given me tremendous hope and paradigm shift when it comes to sanctification, living to please God and solving one’s problem with the power of Christ. It is valuable to those who read this work to understand that godliness requires discipline, and one must have the right intellectual understanding that this require patience, and no matter what everyone is being “disciplined” or making a habit of something always–whether for sin or to please God. I recommend that pastors and Biblical counselors use this work–as I have been using it recently with different members in our church, where I assign them to read the book, highlight key passages and then meet up to talk about it for the purpose of application.
What would you recommend for someone who has professed Christ for 30 years and is now not following him due to thoughts that he’s somehow, but not certain, that he’s blasphemed the Holy Spirit, as well as thinking he’s possessed. He struggles also with depression and does not read the Bible or attend church. We are not certain whether dementia has something to do with it, but psychiatrists suggested PTS from Vietnam, and have prescribed various antidepressants. Up until three years ago he was a regular church attender and very normal-appearing man who loved the Lord, and family is uncertain as to what triggered any of this. I suspect it may be due in part to faulty theology along the way.
Hey sorry for the late response as I was gone for a while on break from Veritas Domain.
I think the issue is ultimately spiritual/theological. As a general rule of thumb, I typically would want to explore whether or not they are saved–and I think that is the crux of the matter we must not forget in counseling. Usually when I meet up with someone when it comes to a counseling case, the first time I tried to ask a lot of questions (and have to hold myself from prescribing them something because in the past I’ve regreted what I told them). The reason is that at times I’ve thought something was driving the problem when on a better probe there’s an even more deeper issue that’s driving the situation. Asks many questions to assess the situation. Then pray to the LORD for help–for wisdom and the right words and solution! In this guy’s case, it sounds from what you shared, there’s an issue of assurance of salvation (and whether or not he is saved) in light of the comment about blasphemy of the HOly Spirit. I use a round of five questions for the person to diagnosed whether they are a believer: (1) Do you have fellowship with God and God’s people? (2) Do you love Jesus? (3) Is the yoke of obedience lighter as time goes on? (4) Has God changed you? (5) IS God discipling you when you are in sin? (6) Do you have joy in the LORD? If there are discreprencies, I would probe them to see if this concern them, and plead them to trust in the Gospel and be saved, or seek God for the assurance of their salvation. Essentially, I would preach the gospel at this point and call them to repentance and trust in Jesus for their offense of not trusting in Him. I know this might sound strange, but the reason why I want to bring this front and center is because any change will not occur without the Gospel being front and centered. If He is saved and then express a desire to change, I would definitely used this book that I reviewed here to disciple/counsel him. I would tell him to read it on his own, and highlight at least 10 sentences so that we can talk about it the next time we meet and when we meet I want to see the importance of His identity in Christ (SAVED, and A SLAVE OF CHRIST) will have a heavy bearing on him doing what right; but it won’t be easy, and God has required us to have discipline to do it. In a sense, it’s not as hopeless as it might be if he is a believer; if he is a believer, he will have God incline him to desire to do what is right, and also we are always discipling ourselves to do something–whether sin or godliness because we are creatures of habit.
[…] Recommendation: Godliness Through Discipline By Jay Adams […]
[…] booklet in my own life concerning self-discipline and how the dynamic of discipline works has been Godliness Through Discipline By Jay Adams. Concerning the problem of procrastination I found the booklet Procrastination: First Steps to […]
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