Editor’s Notice: Our August 2024 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog offers a take a look at completely different sides of the BCC ministry, written by choose members of our Board of Administrators. On this last article, Betty-Anne Van Rees describes the distinctive advantages of the BCC Grace and Fact weblog. In different contributions to the collection, Steve Viars shares in regards to the creation and imaginative and prescient of the BCC Doctrinal and Confessional Statements, Curtis Solomon discusses the BCC Annual Management Summit, and John Henderson explains how the BCC occasions calendar aligns with our mission and imaginative and prescient.
Phrases, phrases, and extra phrases–by no means in human historical past have individuals had the type of entry now we have at this time to virtually infinite info and concepts. Gone are the times of ready till you can also make a visit to the library or dragging out a quantity of the encyclopedia. We’ve the potential to have solutions to any query we may ask with the clicking of a button. The difficulties we face at this time are discerning what info we’d like (do I truly have to know the place Azores is at midnight?) and the place we are able to get respected solutions to the questions that do want answering.
By the use of instance, at this time I’m in pursuit of details about a battery-powered lawnmower because it seems my gas-powered one has run its final journey round my yard. I may do a Google search, however who can be offering the solutions I obtain there? Do producers pay to be added to that “high 10” checklist? I’m skeptical. How do I do know if a solution is well-researched or if it was researched with out bias? As a substitute, I turned to my pals. These are the individuals whose character I do know—who’ve a confirmed observe file of faithfulness and honesty. They might not be as skilled on the subject of lawnmowers as a reviewer, who’s a stranger to me, however I do know they’re individuals of integrity who can have my finest pursuits at coronary heart.
In my thoughts, my lawnmower search shares some similarities with my seek for the appliance of biblical knowledge with the intention to serve the individuals God brings into my life. I’ve not attained to the extent of “skilled” in most areas of software of biblical knowledge, so it’s good and proper for me to achieve out to others who would possibly assist me serve extra successfully. After I can glean a few of this wanted knowledge from trustworthy brothers and sisters who’ve traveled a bit of longer or a bit of additional down the highway of a selected facet of care, I’m grateful.
However the place do I start? A Google search will provide me 29 million solutions in 0.22 seconds (precise numbers from a current search on biblical take care of anxiousness). How do I do know which web site to click on on? I’m going to make an argument for the Grace and Fact Weblog of the BCC, and no, nobody is paying me for this endorsement! It simply is sensible.
Why Learn the BCC Weblog?
Thoughtfully Vetted
There are concrete causes that the data and insights provided by means of the Grace and Fact weblog are extra dependable than many different choices you might have. For one, the weblog will not be self-published. The power to self-publish at this time—to look authoritative on any subject, no matter how well-studied or educated the writer is—is among the info crises of the fashionable period. So as to be revealed on the Grace and Fact weblog, a author is thoughtfully scrutinized. This entails requiring clear proof of a dedication to mining the knowledge of God in His Phrase, in addition to a cautious consideration of the non-public character of the author. Moreover, the entire authors of the Grace and Fact weblog are exhorted to keep up a congenial tone of their writing. The main target have to be the precise sharing of insights concerning the appliance of biblical knowledge to the problems of life. Whenever you flip to the BCC weblog, you don’t should wade by means of petty arguments or a cursory consideration of a subject. You discover the meat of the Phrase of God dealt with within the sensible methods through which individuals want to listen to it.
Selection
If the biblical counseling world is a well-known group to you, you already know that there are completely different “flavors” of counsel inside our household. One of many splendidly enriching realities of the Grace and Fact weblog is that it represents the total spectrum of our group nicely. This isn’t solely the spectrum that may be noticed inside America however a worldwide perspective as nicely. Do you wish to be taught to assume outdoors the confines of your little world (do you even know that these confines exist?), to be taught to use biblical knowledge by means of a extra international lens? Learn a few of the writings of our worldwide members of the family who contribute to this weblog! (Kyle Johnson from South Africa, Anne Dryburgh from Belgium, Jeemin Moon from Korea, Michael Leister from Germany, Steve Midgley from the UK, and Sacha Alexandre Mendes from Brazil, to call just a few). One of many grave interpretative risks in dealing with the Phrase of God is our tendency to learn it with out understanding the context of the unique writer and readers. Rising in knowledge from a worldwide group is a really efficient support in serving to us keep away from this threat.
I’d like to problem you right here a wee bit. The variability I communicate of could very nicely stretch you. Chances are you’ll discover a few of the writers making use of biblical knowledge in methods you wouldn’t have beforehand thought of. This can be good for you; your thoughts might not be modified, however as you learn, you’re given the chance to purpose deeply “with” a brother or sister in ways in which construct up group. Maybe you’d even select to achieve out to the author to dialogue about their dealing with of biblical concepts. This “iron sharpening iron” type of dialog has profound potential for God-glorifying progress in His Church.
Trusted Associates
Lastly, the authors of the Grace and Fact weblog are your mates. In the identical method that I may belief these I do know finest to help me in selecting what lawnmower to buy, these writers are individuals you might have actual potential to know. They’re a part of our group. They maintain your finest pursuits of their hearts as they write—yours and the pursuits of these you serve. They share your values and are dedicated to the identical issues you’re, so let me encourage you to affix in each the educational and the group that’s obtainable by means of the BCC weblog. Might the Lord be lifted excessive as we construct one another up in fact and in grace.
Questions for Reflection
- What are your causes for utilizing the Grace and Fact weblog as a trusted supply for biblical counseling subjects?
- What different sources do you depend on to ship thoughtfully vetted articles on a wide range of subjects written by trustworthy ministers of the Phrase?
