The Christian Counselor's Manual CH 9

Reconciliation

As we learned in Chapter 8 to address inter-personal problems up front, this chapter supports this behavior by stating that “Brooding is a violation of the promise made in granting forgiveness” (Adams, J.E., 1973, p. 65).

I’ve heard it said that when we have unforgiveness in our hearts this leads to depression, which is supported in earlier chapters. The author conveys the essence of forgiveness in that “Biblical forgiveness also involves the promise to avoid holding the offense over the offender’s head, the promise to tell no one else about it, and the promise not to dwell on it oneself” (Adams, J.E., 1973, p. 67). If we could practice this as counselors how much more effective would we be? And then as brothers and sisters in Christ, this forgiveness is very freeing! The reason it would be so freeing is because “...the root of the problem: [is] disobedience” (Adams, J.E., 1973, p. 70). Disobedience is not truth and being obedient to the truth will set us free!

Adams, J.E. (1973). The Christian Counselor’s Manual. p. 63-70. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.

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

Scriptures for further study:

Jam 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

2Cr 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.