5 top Christian blog posts of the week. Posts by Tim Keller, Paul Tautges and more on grief, social justice, social media, and more.
Poetic Soul Care
Sometimes we so focus on “truth” that we miss the reality that God’s Truth—His Word—is not just in didactic form, but also in poetry. Anna Mondal at the Biblical Counseling Coalition reminds us of that:
“Thirty percent of the Bible is poetry. One-third of God’s Word is written not just to give information, but to evoke imagination, ignite emotion, and play with rhythm… Given poetry’s vast representation in Scripture, how could our biblical soul care make space for it?”
This is a powerful, beautiful, and wonderful article for all of us—especially for biblical counselors. Enjoy it here: Poetic Soul Care.
How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul
Are you weary in 2020? Weary with COVID-19 social isolation? Weary with the social media wars about social isolation, masks, conspiracy theories…? Weary with all the Christian bickering on social media? You’re not alone. Alan Shlemon explains:
“Could it be that God didn’t wire us to carry every event, taking place in every part of the world, at every moment, as if it were ours? Could it be that technology has produced a faux omniscience and omnipresence that is hurting mankind and not helping it?”
Read…and then rest…here: How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul.
A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory
I appreciate how Tim Keller strikes a biblical balance when related to social justice and the gospel. Some evangelicals seem to miss the wide biblical sweep of justice. Others seem to capitulate to secular ideas. Tim Keller, in A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory, helps us to learn and apply the biblical teaching on justice.
Gentle and Lowly
My favorite book of 2020 is Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. At the Biblical Counseling Coalition, Jared Poulton reviews the book. Jared concludes:
“This book has many immediate applications for biblical counseling. Biblical counselors have sought to restore the use of biblical truths to contemporary problems because the author of Scripture is also the creator of the world (Gen. 1-2) and every human heart (Ps. 33:15). Many counselees reach a greater trust in God through exploring the theological categories of God’s transcendence—such as His simplicity, aseity, immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. At the same time, counselors must balance these lofty doctrines with God’s revelation of Himself to us in Christ—the exalted triune God is gentle and lowly in heart. The God of indescribable glory condescends to us in love. Since biblical counselors seek to care for sinners and sufferers, counselors will benefit from exploring Ortlund’s expositions of the heart of Christ toward their counselees.”
Read Jared’s full review at: Book Review of Gentle and Lowly.
Grief Is an Exhausting Journey
Paul Tautges shares his own story, then relates God’s story of hope to our stories of grief.
“In the valley, we have anchored our faith to three stabilizing truths drawn from three portions of Scripture. I hope these principles can be applied to your own journey through the valley of grief, whatever the circumstances, whether expected or unexpected.”
Be encouraged by Paul’s three stabilizing truths in Grief Is an Exhausting Journey.
Join the Conversation
Which post impacted you the most? Why and how?
What additional blog posts from the past week do you recommend?
