This morning a thread come up on my Facebook feed. It directed me to a Facebook biblical counseling group where a biblical counselor asked the group this question:

“Any critiques of The Logic of the Body: Retrieving Theological Psychology (Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology)?

I was struck by the seeming one-sided nature of that question: “Any critiques…?”

Unsurprisingly, so far the comments about the book are negative.

The Typical Biblical Counseling Response to Resources from Outside Their “Camp”

I was also struck by how common this is in our modern biblical counseling world.

When we deem someone to be “outside our counseling camp,” we tend to view their teachings through the lens of a one-sided, negative, critical critique.

And, yes, I am aware of my potential for being critical about those who are critical…

That’s why I want to focus on another possible, more positive, fairer way to engage with the views of others. I want us to ponder:

How can biblical counselors engage other Christian authors and their resources in a humble, fair, and balanced way?

Positive, Fair, and Balanced Ways to Ask the Question 

Let’s say that you’ve heard people talking about The Logic of the Body by Matthew LaPine.

Let’s imagine that some of what you’ve heard strikes you as perhaps a tad different from the way some modern biblical counselors think about the role of the body, the brain, the mind, the soul, the emotions, the will.

And let’s say you wanted to ask a group of biblical counselors if they have heard anything about the book.

How might we word our question differently than, “Any critiques about The Logic of the Body?

Here are a few possible wordings…

• Are you familiar with any fair and balanced assessments of Matthew LaPine’s book, The Logic of the Body?

• Any assessments of The Logic of the Body that outline strengths for biblical counselors to consider, while also sharing possible concerns that biblical counselors might want to ponder?

• If you’re familiar with LaPine’s, The Logic of the Body, could you share any thoughts about where his study of Scripture, theology, church history, and neuroscience may be a “catalyst” for biblical counselors to consider/reconsider our thinking on the body, brain, mind, soul, will, and emotions?

Thinking Further…First, A Bit About Matthew LaPine 

Some may have zero idea who Matthew LaPine is, and no idea about his book, The Logic of the Body. Let me introduce you…

Here’s part of Matt’s bio at his website.

“Matthew LaPine is from Duluth, Minnesota. He is the Director of Christian Education at Citylight Church in Omaha, NE. He has been an adjunct professor for the last four years at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2019-22) and Reformed Theological Seminary (2022), where he taught Old and New Testament, Theology, Hermeneutics, Ethics, Apologetics, and Theological Foundations of Counseling (RTS).

He holds a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) under Kevin Vanhoozer. He writes on theology, emotion, and mental health. He published his book The Logic of the Body with Lexham Press in 2020. It was a finalist for Christianity Today’s book of the year in Theology and Ethics in 2021.” 

LaPine is a conservative, Evangelical Christian, trained at a conservative, Evangelical school, pastoring at a conservative, Evangelical church, and teaching at several conservative, Evangelical schools.

So when assessing The Logic of the Body, we are not talking about a resource created by an unbeliever. LaPine may or may not “self-identify as a biblical counselor,” but he clearly is a committed Christian.

When assessing secular materials, biblical counselors often ask,

“But what about total depravity and the noetic effect of sin?”

The unregenerated mind of a secular author provides credence for a more critical assessment of their writings about human nature. Even then, as Jay Adams often noted, the writings of unbelievers (such as Mowrer), can have a catalytic impact on believers—driving us to Scripture.

However, with a fellow believer like Matthew LaPine, our approach could be more akin to the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17:11.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

So, perhaps another way to ask the question:

• Biblical counselors, as you read LaPine’s, The Logic of the Body, how are you scripturally assessing the strengths and weaknesses, the possible benefits to biblical counselors, and any possible concerns for biblical counselors?

Thinking Further…Second, A Bit About The Logic of the Body 

I’d summarized The Logic of the Body like this.

The Logic of the Body is a comprehensive biblical theology of emotions.

Or, a bit more expansive:

The Logic of the Body explores emotions from the perspective of biblical theology, exegesis of major scriptural texts, church history—including Aquinas, Calvin, and modern Reformed theology, and modern neuroscience.

Here’s how the author and publisher summarize the book.

“In The Logic of the Body, Matthew LaPine argues that Protestants must retrieve theological psychology in order to properly understand the emotional life of the human person. With classical and modern resources in tow, LaPine argues that one must not choose between viewing emotions exclusively as either cognitive and volitional on the one hand, or simply a feeling of bodily change on the other. The two ‘stories’ can be reconciled through a robustly theological analysis.”

Here’s how Joe Rigney, previously President at Bethlehem College & Seminary, summarizes The Logic of the Body.

“Certain books have the ability to transform our understanding of ourselves, of life, and of ministry. For me, The Logic of the Body is one such paradigm-shaping book. This is Christian scholarship at its best―careful exegesis of biblical passages, illuminating retrieval of historical categories, thoughtful and critical engagement with modern science and secular sources, all in order to do constructive theology in service of the church. Every pastor, theologian, and counselor needs to read this book.”
―Joe Rigney, assistant professor of theology and literature, Bethlehem College & Seminary

Again, while The Logic of the Body may or may not be “a biblical counseling book,” it is a book that every biblical counselor would want to engage—as a thoughtful Berean (Acts 17).

I’ve read it twice already. Neither time did I read it with the mindset of, “What’s wrong with it?”

Both times I’ve read it with the mindset of, “What can I learn from this fellow believer’s in-depth research into a biblical theology of emotions, examined scripturally, within the context of church history, and while exploring modern neuroscience findings?”

And I read it with my Bible right next to me.

The Rest of the Story 

I hope to add a follow-up post where I’ll address specific “fair and balanced” questions that biblical counselors could ask from each section of The Logic of the Body. What could biblical counselors learn from LaPine’s The Logic of the Body? How can we scripturally ponder and examine LaPine’s findings in The Logic of the Body? 

Join the Conversation 

How can biblical counselors engage other Christian authors and their resources in a humble, fair, and balanced way?

Are you familiar with any fair and balanced assessments of Matthew LaPine’s book, The Logic of the Body?

Any assessments of The Logic of the Body that outline strengths for biblical counselors to consider, while also sharing possible concerns that biblical counselors might want to ponder?

If you’re familiar with LaPine’s, The Logic of the Body, could you share any thoughts about where his study of Scripture, theology, church history, and neuroscience may be a “catalyst” for biblical counselors to consider/reconsider our thinking on the body, brain, mind, soul, will, and emotions?

Biblical counselors, as you read LaPine’s, The Logic of the Body, how are you scripturally assessing the strengths and weaknesses, the possible benefits to biblical counselors, and any possible concerns for biblical counselors?