The Christian Counselor's Manual CH 8

Reconcililiation/Discipline Dynamic

When we have things that are not reconciled within us then it’s difficult to become disciplined in Christ, because of the, “Loose ends [that] are those inter-personal problems between Christians that remain unresolved” (Adams, J.E., 1973, p. 52). These unresolved issues need to be confronted at their first start, which might be difficult to do with a counselee that is not practiced. The counselor could first start by taking some of the easier examples of these challenges in the person’s life and begin to practice confronting them with God’s word. In this case it is very important for the counselor to, “Instead of … mild, oblique approaches, … learn, in such cases, to be irenically direct” (Adams, J.E., 1973, p. 59). Dictionary.com defines Irenical as, “tending to promote peace or reconciliation.” Scripture tells that if we keep our mind on Him, He will keep us in perfect peace. We are to excersize His top commandment of love, as we use God’s word with the counselee and peace WILL come.

Adams, J.E. (1973). The Christian Counselor’s Manual. p. 52-62. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

American Psychological Association (APA): Dictionary.com. Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 1, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/

Blue letter bible. (2008). Spurgeon Commentaries. Retrieved September 1, 2008, from http://blueletterbible.org

Scriptures for further study:

Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Isa 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Jhn 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.