Grace Dependent

Part 2 of my ongoing study of Dr. Kellemen’s Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

The purpose it seems of this chapter is to emphasize the necessity to use Scripture, in it’s entirety, in our counseling sessions.  Too often the Bible is used as an encyclopedia and used poorly at that.  Here are some points of interest from my reading of chapter 2 of Soul Physicians:

• For the Bible to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we love, we must read it as the story of the greatest love ever displayed.
• The Bible is theology for reality – theology for real life.
• Our role as soul physicians is quite simple.  We listen well to our spiritual friends’ earthly stories, and then we assist them to see their stories from the perspective of God’s eternal story.
• Satan desires that we focus only on the smaller story and conclude that “Life is bad, and so is God”.  God urges us to focus upon the larger story and realize that “Life is bad, but God is good”.  One of the keys to our spiritual life and to soul care and spiritual direction is to move people from Satan’s view of life toward God’s perspective on this life and the next.
• [As] we trialogue with our spiritual friends…[we should ask], “What do you think God’s up to in this?”  “Tell me how you’ve been able to keep clinging to Christ.”  “How have you been cooperating with Christ to bring God glory even in your suffering?”
• Every experience of suffering is an opportunity to glorify God.
• Soul physicians say to their spiritual friends, “Remember the future.”  “Read the end of the story.”  “Discover the intersection between God’s eternal, universal story and your temporal, earthly story.”

Again, I would encourage anyone interested in biblical counseling to pick up a copy of Soul Physicians.  You may do so at RPM Ministries website.