Brilliant. Thanks for your clarity.

I read your post; found it informative… I have received some of the best seminary training at CBS…however, I often wonder why man feels the ‘need’ to complicate the gospel which is a simple message of God’s love and our need for redemption. Because of God’s undying love He has provided a way for redemption through His Son Christ Jesus. As for me, I like Paul (a great theologian) believe that we should preach Christ….”For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake” (2Cor 4:5) PERIOD!

You have made some outstanding points in this introductory article, Bob. I won’t take the time to quote all of them but two powerful statement that stood out to me included:

“In true biblical counseling, truth and love kiss.” While I understand that you are writing this post through the lens of biblical counseling I believe this statement can very well be applied to effective ministry as a whole. Whether it’s from the pulpit, within the pew, in an office, or on the street pure ministry occurs “when truth and love kiss.” So often these days we see one or the other. Or we are too far to the left or too far to the right. This is a powerful statement that I won’t forget quickly.

“True spiritual formation enters the mess and muck with real and raw relating that combines Scripture, soul, and society to relate changeless truth to change lives to be more like Christ and to change our world for Christ.”
Well said.

I pray that more people will read this post because there are valuable truths in it even if they have not read Brian’s books.

I pray that this series does more than simply rebut Brian’s views, but serves to show just how applicable Scripture is to our problems in this world. A lack of connection between the truth of Scripture and the lives of people is certainly a void that exists to some degree, but it is a void can be filled and I believe that biblical counseling sits on the front line of filling this void.

I look forward to reading this series.

Yes and Yes.

I met Brian back in 1995 (how time flies). Myself, Brian, and a couple of other pastors gathered periodically on the picnic table on the property in the field where they eventually built the church building where Brian pastored for a number of years. We’d talk, share, converse about pastoral ministry, and pray. Those meetings lasted less than a year. We’ve not re-connected since those early days. Needless to say, our journeys have taken some different paths since then.

When I launched this series, I emailed Brian to let him know about it. I think that’s only fair and right and ethical–it’s the Christlike way. I invited him to feel free to engage with my posts via comments on my blog, through his blog, or through emails. I’ve not heard from him yet, but it is just the first day, and he is very busy.