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Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Bob

Bob — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:48:46 +0000

Bob, I have so appreciated the many powerful testimonies that people have shared on these comments, like yours. Knowing someone personally sure helps our assessment of their ministry. Bob

Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Bob Somerville

Bob Somerville — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:40:38 +0000

Bob, Thank you for an excellent article. I have been doing Biblical Counseling now for just over 40 years. I met Jay Adams right after I first became a Pastor in 1970 and just after ‘Competent to Counsel’ was published. I was subjected to integrationist teaching at the Seminary I attended and Jay graciously and with clear theological undergirding pointed me back to the sufficiency of Scriptures. I attended the training center in Philadelphia and observed him first hand as a compassionate shepherd guiding individuals in to Biblical, God glorifying change. I remember asking Jay when he was translating the Greek New Testament in to the “Christian Counselor’s New Testament”, ‘Jay, why another New Testament translation? We have plenty of those, why spend your time on this project? Just continue to write on counseling, that’s the need.’ This was Jay’s answer to me, “Bob, it appears that I will be continuing to write in the area of Biblical counseling and in order to be prepared to write from a truly Biblical perspective I want to have translated every sentence in the Greek New Testament in to English with the thought ‘how does this text impact Biblical counseling.’” That is a man committed to God’s Word. He has certainly continued to write and seeks to build every concept on the word of God. Jay’s teaching impacted my entire ministry then and continues to impact it today. May we continue to go to the Scriptures and build on this foundation. Thank you for giving honor to whom honor is due.

Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Bob Somerville

Bob Somerville — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:39:17 +0000

Bob, Thank you for an excellent article. I have been doing Biblical Counseling now for just over 40 years. I met Jay Adams right after I first became a Pastor in 1970 and just after ‘Competent to Counsel’ was published. I was subjected to integrationist teaching at the Seminary I attended and Jay graciously and with clear theological undergirding pointed me back to the sufficiency of Scriptures. I attended the training center in Philadelphia and observed him first hand as a compassionate shepherd guiding individuals in to Biblical, God glorifying change. I remember asking Jay when he was translating the Greek New Testament in to the “Christian Counselor’s New Testament”, ‘Jay, why another New Testament translation? We have plenty of those, why spend your time on this project? Just continute to write on counseling, that’s the need.’ This was Jay’s answer to me, “Bob, it appears that I will be continuing to write in the area of Biblical counseling and in order to be prepared to write from a truly Biblical perspective I want to have translated every sentence in the Greek New Testament in to English with the thought ‘how does this text impact Biblical counseling.’” That is a man committed to God’s Word. He has certiainly continued to write and seeks to build every concept on the word of God. Jay’s teaching impacted my entire ministry then and continues to impact it today. May we continue to go to the Scriptures and build on this foundation. Thank you for giving honor to whom honor is due.

Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Joe Propri

Joe Propri — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:38:10 +0000

I met Jay around 1973, almost 3 years after I got saved. I had read his first 3 books already and attended a two week training symposium. I found him a master teacher and discipler to me. He graciously allowed me to bother him with questions, even after he went to his room each night when sessions were over! He patiently engaged me, taught me how to think through the implications of my developing doctrines. Some others wouldn’t have let me in the room!
His manner, grace, and books have transformed my life personally and my counseling, and later my preaching. We have since become close friends, and when I hear the critiques of those who call him “rough” or “caustic” or lacking compassion, it bothers me. He is not those things at all.
His earliest books were written at a time when no Christian writing or teaching about counseling used the Bible! I remember reading the best known pastoral counseling books of the day, and was surprised that I found so little Bible in them, and the Bible verses they used were proof texts. I was only saved about 2 years and I could highlight the scripture twisting myself! Jay’s books were “prophetic” in tone, addressing the church, who abandoned the sufficiency of scripture for a mess of secular confusion. They were confrontational by design and necessity.
I think Christians who read those books assumed that he counseled the same way he wrote. He did not!
Jay Adams is a legend, a special gift from God to our times, who, though not perfect (as others have stated) used his passion for the authority, infallibility and sufficiency of scripture to not only criticize the intergration of counseling in and by the church (diluting the power of God’s Word) but also to envision and build an alternative approach, from the ground up, as you stated earlier in this blog.
He told me years ago that someone should write a book about motivation. I think the “heart idolatry” books have begun to address this concern. I mention this because he wanted others to build upon his humble pioneering.
The man deserves to be honored in that context, though he made faces at me every time I’ve introduced him with glowing words.
Lord, thank you for giving us Jay Adams!

Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Destaques On-line da semana – n.4 / janeiro 2012 « Conexão Conselho Bíblico

Destaques On-line da semana – n.4 / janeiro 2012 « Conexão Conselho Bíblico — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:31:44 +0000

[...] EM INGLÊS Artigo: Jay Adams is deep and compassionate Autor: Bob Kellemen Fonte: RPM Ministries [Bob Kellemen reconsidera o aconselhamento noutético: [...]

Comment on Jay Adams Is Deep and Compassionate by Garrett Higbee

Garrett Higbee — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:36:50 +0000

Amen Bob, we are standing on the shoulders of men like Jay. Let’s show honor where honor is due.