When asked what books Christian apologists should read the average Christian would think of works like Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands A Verdict and other books by popular Christian apologists such as Ravi Zacharias, J. Warner Wallace, William Lane Craig, etc. Works on Christian apologetics have their place. But Christian apologists should also read more broadly works covering other areas of the Christian intellectual life and the Christian life in general. One such area that Christian apologists should consider reading works on is biblical counseling.
Why?
- Don’t forget the Bible’s teaching on unbelief. In Romans 1:18 and following Paul teaches that unbelief ultimately is not an issue of inadequate evidences. God has revealed Himself clearly: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:20-21). Note how the two verses indicate a moral dimension to unbelief in that it is man’s sinful heart engaged in rebellion against God. Given the moral and spiritual dimension to the issue of unbelief it would make sense that a Christian apologist be biblically conscious and equipped to deal with the issue of sins as strongholds of unbelief.
- Sometimes some biblical counseling issue is more directly related to apologetics than one realize. From my evangelism on college campus I often hear people who apostated because they were mad at God. It might be helpful to address the topic of being angry with God. The counseling booklet Angry at God? is thus helpful for an apologist to read and be biblically informed on this topic.
- Reading works on biblical counseling has helped me enhanced my own apologetics’ skillset.
- As a pastor and an evangelist who use apologetics regularly I have benefited from works on biblical counseling which help one to train the counselor to identify one’s “idols” and “functional gods.” This exercise that is analogous to detecting presuppositions which helps one train to refute unbelief at the level of worldviews. A good “textbook” on Biblical counseling that has been helpful for me is Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.
- Contrary to the sterotype Biblical counseling is more than just being a Bible thumper. Biblical counseling involves collecting accurate data as well. That same biblical counseling skillset is also important in gathering data from one’s evangelistic conversation in an apologetics’ exchange to find out what that person genuinely believes, and to interpret that rightly. Again a good textbook on Biblical counseling that has been helpful for me is Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.
- One can’t grow in one’s apologetics’ skill if one is lacking discipline to study and practice those skillsets. So self-discipline is important. A helpful biblical counseling 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 Change by Walter Henegar to be helpful.
- Reading works on biblical counseling has helped me develop my own Christian virtue which helps me to be Christ-like as an apologist and a Christian witness.
- Christian apologists love 1 Peter 3:15. It states “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” Those engage in apologetics must not forget the requirement of displaying “gentleness and reverence” in their apologetics. How do Christian apologists cultivate graciousness? Is there any resources that is helpful? I recommend and have reviewed Graciousness: Tempering Truth With Love. What if you are struggle with being gentle and you are a person who can’t handle conflict well? Consider reading the biblical counseling booklet Conflict: A Redemptive Opportunity.
- Every Christian has areas of sin they are struggling with that can affect their witness to unbelievers. You don’t want Christ’s name to be blasphemed with nonbelievers relishing in your hypocrisy; this does not please God. Do you know how to deal with your problems in general? Consider studying through the biblical counseling booklet Problems: Solving Them God’s Way.
- Reading works on biblical counseling has helped my evangelism and apologetics by showing others how Christianity “works” in real life with day to day issues.
- Sometimes unbelievers experience a deep awareness of their own brokenness and the sinfulness of their lives. Yet they want to know if their is any hope. Of course the Gospel gives us hope of God saving us from the wrath of God! But it is also important to show how the Gospel and God gives us hope to deal with the problem of our sins in this side of eternity. Jay Adam’s biblical counseling booklet totally changed my own life in regards to my own problems and I can’t recommend this booklet enough: Christ and Your Problems.
- There are many wonderful biblical counseling booklets that is helpful for problems and issues. For anxiety and worrying I recommend both Overcoming Anxiety: Relief for Worried People and Why Worry?: Getting to the Heart of Your Anxiety. Since worrying and stress is a constant problem in our lives be sure to get Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to Peace and Stress: Peace Amid Pressure by David Powlison also for good measure. What about the problem of anger? Check out Anger: Escaping the Maze by David A. Powlison. For depression check out Depression: The Way Up When You Are Down and Out of the Blues: Dealing with the Blues of Depression & Loneliness by Wayne Mack. Marriage problems can be more difficult to deal with but I found this biblical booklet to be a helpful start: Help! My Marriage Has Grown Cold by Rick Thomas.
- Often people think of Christian apologetics is concerned with interacting with unbelievers or those who have rejected the Christian faith. But we must not neglect Christians who come to Christian apologists for help also.
- Say a parent comes to you with concern with their child’s consideration of leaving the Christian faith. Don’t be so caught up with data dumping to the parents of what they ought to say or technical apologetics’ books they should read to refute atheism, evolution, etc. See this as an opportunity to minister to them spiritually as well. I find the following booklet helpful for the parents in this situation: Prodigal Children: Hope and Help for Parents.
- Training others in apologetics involves discipling and coaching. You don’t want to raise up Christians to be “that guy” who only knows how to argue and is one-sided in his Christianity. Use these biblical counseling resources to foster a young budding apologist to be rooted in the faith and also to practice Biblical truths in all areas of life. I usually have the guys I’m discipling or dropping by for pastoral visitation read these biblical counseling resources. I instruct them to highlight what stood out to them in terms of helpful insights or helpful applications and base discussion upon them. Discuss not only with instructions of what “to do” but also apply the Gospel as to why one should lovingly obey God despite the temptation of their problems. The Gospel is powerful!
- Sometimes the problem of evil isn’t just something to solve intellectually; God might present a case of real oppression before you that involves you being the means God ordained to bring about justice or stop oppression. In the case of domestic abuse, which is very real, do you know what to do and how to counsel beyond mere syllogisms? Check out Domestic Abuse: Recognize, Respond, Rescue for starters and Domestic Abuse: Help for the Sufferer as a resource for the abused spouse. Here you also want to get others help but at least you want to be part of God’s solution to the problem of evil.
I don’t want it sound like it is a one way street in that it is only the Christian apologist that can learn from the field of biblical counseling. Those engage in biblical counseling can benefit from apologetics as well. See my post “Ten Ways Apologetics Help in Biblical Counseling.”
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you for the reblog! How has your week been?
Yankee Whiskey Bravo and it’s going well my friend and yours 🙏
We should never stop learning.
Amen sister Beverly. Wise words there. I hope you are doing well.
Wet but well. Not me but the weather.
An old pastor used to say, “Don’t be so Heavenly-minded that your no earthly good.” We sometimes dwell on the more “abstract” teachings of theology, but the Bible also addresses where the tire meets the road in daily life with all of its trials and temptations. I appreciate how you’re including practical Biblical counseling into your ministry and exhorting other pastors as well!
Your old pastor is right, “Don’t be so Heavenly-minded that your no earthly good.” The more I read the New Testament the more I see how in the epistles God wants us to have a right view of heaven and the Gospel spills over in its implication for our lives today! I know that sometimes with blogs people can get a “one sided” view of others and while my blog has a lot about theology and apologetics in my weekly ministry there is a lot more counseling and practical theology. By the way thank you so much for the prayers for my ministry last night at such short notice.
I very much enjoy books and discussions on “abstract” Theology 101 (not the appropriate word but you know what I mean) but practical theology/application is what helps my marriage grow, helps me to be a better father and friend, deal with worry, etc. Good stuff. Keep it coming!
RE: last night
I was up later than usual last night. My wife was on the other laptop and I was helping her pick out a new Bible. She’s really excited about it and I just sat there, thanking the Lord secretly for my wife enthusiastically desiring His Word. Just at that moment your prayer request came up and I think the Lord kept me up purposely for that. I was really blessed to be able to pray for you and the soul/s you were ministering to. I hope things went well.
Wow thankful for God’s providence right there. I”m constantly amazed at God’s sovereignty and providence both offline and online…thank you yet once again brother.
I agree completely. I would add (and you may have said this elsewhere) that Christian apologists should read what the unbelievers are writing about Christ, the Bible, and the Church. First, it gets us time to think how to respond when one of those challenges is thrown at us. Second, it helps us to learn their language and grammar (metaphorically speaking) so we can respond in the same language. Third, it removes their ability to ridicule us for being unaware of what they consider mainstream. J.
That’s very good what you wrote J. Dude now your comment makes me want to write a post on that of Christian apologists reading other things outside of Christian apologetics such as your point of reading unbelievers’ writings but I started also thinking about Christian apologists needing to read solid Christian theology works as well. It makes me want to write a series on the apologists’ reading. You don’t mind if in the future if I do write up this series I also quote your comment? Still an idea for now but I want to get your approval first in using your comment.
That sounds like an interesting series. Feel free to quote me (correctly) wherever and whenever you choose. J.
But how do you find atheist writings that are worth the time? Most of what I see is the same old arguments that have been refuted countless times.
Seriously is there a halfway decent bit of atheist writing anywhere?
Two of my favorite atheist writers are Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Douglas Adams. I am also partial to John Lennon and Woody Allen. I truly wish I (or someone) could have reached them with the Gospel. I’m sure that plenty tried. J.
Never thought of this
I think you would probably agree that Christian apologists reading more works on biblical counseling would “round out” the apologists more both spiritually as a person and also as an apologist…we probably all know “that guy” whose only tool is a hammer…
I think we all could be more rounded than we are. I know I could be.
I’m all for being more rounded mentally and spiritually. I could afford to be a little less rounded physically. J.
Of all the comments you ever wrote on my blog, this is gold and must be quoted 😂🤣😆🤣😂
This is great Jim, I never thought about that before. Now that I will be sheparding the flock, I need to work on my counseling skills anyway so this is perfect.
These small little counseling booklet series by P&R publishing and New Growth Press are great since sometimes counseling people in sin they might be more dull to reading a whole book length treatment concerning their issues; booklets that packs a lot in small bite that are biblical and practical and interpret the sin rightly are precious gems. I have grown in the Lord personally myself while reading through them as part of my counsels with others! I will be reviewing more counseling booklets in the future so stay tune! Also I’m praying to the Lord James for God to use you as an elder.
I have heard, ” don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good ” from cultural Christians who are irritated by the truly regenerate. They are like the Pharisees who resented Jesus because His light exposed their darkness. God the bible and God talk is acceptable only for 2 hours on Sunday. Anything beyond that is, no earthly good. They wont discuss theology but will wax eloquent talking of THEIR goodness and good deeds. They wont witness ever but will serve on some missional task, for 1 hour per week, to be seen of men.
As to the meat of the article it has caused me as a lay person to rethink my approach to defending the faith. Establishing empathy for the heart condition of others, when possible, should precede defending the faith.
Unfortunately sometimes false believers won’t even accept 2 hours for God on Sunday by the looks of how they demand a 30 minute fluff sermonette…
A very vivid picture of unregenerate’s pop Evangelicalism you have there TI
[…] 3.) Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books […]
[…] few months ago I wrote Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books. This is another one that I recommend for everyone for those going through suffering and those […]
Thank You for this Post! I believe mental health is a major issue the Church needs to acknowledge today, and I am glad you are doing this! I just started up my blog about being a female in seminary, and I have been told multiple times by pastors about the negativity of counseling practices. I believe this is not only disheartening but mental health is necessary for the Christian walk. Again, thanks!
[…] Why review a biblical counseling book on a blog on theology and apologetics? Check out our post “Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books” […]
[…] Why review a biblical counseling book on a blog on theology and apologetics? Check out our post “Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books” […]
Helpful suggestion. Reading biblical counseling books would assist removing some of the rough edges of some apologists.
Agreed
[…] 6.) Updated: Why Apologists Should Read Biblical Counseling Books […]
Thoughtful