We now have all heard the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Whereas we’d bristle at such a notion, the uncomfortable actuality is that the extra we turn into accustomed to, skilled, and proficient in one thing or with somebody, we are likely to lose a few of our awe and respect. We now have all skilled this—the joy of a blossoming relationship, the anticipation of a brand new job, the nervousness when becoming a member of a brand new workforce, or the eagerness that comes with new life in Christ; these emotions can dissipate over time as we turn into extra acquainted.
The identical is true in our biblical counseling. After I began my journey towards biblical counseling over ten years in the past, there was such pleasure and fervour for all that I used to be studying. I purchased piles of books, poured via articles, listened to lectures, attended conferences, and had prolonged conversations with different believers about biblical counseling. It was as if I had found a treasure trove of riches that might by no means be exhausted, and I needed others to share in my expertise.
Whereas I by no means misplaced my need to pursue biblical counseling, over time, I grew to become conversant in it. I nonetheless purchased books, however they collected mud on my shelf. I might cross over newsletters in my inbox and gloss over articles with out actually digging in. I mistakenly purchased into the concept “I’ve learn this earlier than; I do know what they will say.” I handed up alternatives to attend conferences or take courses, not as a result of I didn’t care about them however as a result of I felt they won’t educate me something new.
Searching for Earthly Consolation
If there’s one nice hazard I see within the North American Church immediately, it’s our affinity for consolation and familiarity. We regularly take nice strides to arrange existence which might be devoid of any discomfort, the place we will anticipate variables and calculate doable outcomes. Hardships are seen as inconveniences to our schedules, conflicts are an annoyance, and struggling is unimaginable. Sadly, there are a lot of occasions after I see myself falling again into the entice of prioritizing consolation. When left to my very own fleshly wishes, I simply wish to be snug; I would like issues to be simpler. And but, the Scriptures say:
“On the earth you’ll have tribulation” (John 16:33).
“Rely all of it pleasure, my brothers, once you meet trials of assorted sorts” (James 1:2).
“If anybody would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and comply with me” (Matt. 16:24).
“Beloved, don’t be shocked on the fiery trial when it comes upon you to check you, as if one thing unusual have been taking place to you” (1 Pet. 4:12).
Everyone knows these verses, however they’ll so usually really feel like a footnote or afterthought. With consolation and ease at our fingertips, we will generally be lulled into the concept life with Christ needs to be easy crusing. If that have been actually the case, biblical counselors would all be out of labor!
Conserving a Contemporary Perspective
If there’s one factor I’ve been convicted of as a instructor and biblical counselor, it’s that I must struggle in opposition to the acquainted. I want to stay vigilant and fight laziness. In any other case, I’ll fall into the identical habits, comply with comparable patterns in my questions, bounce to conclusions, reference my “go-to” passages of Scripture, and maybe worst of all, assume I one way or the other have all of it discovered.
I’ve just lately had the fantastic privilege of educating some biblical counseling programs, and one of many sudden joys has been rising my expertise as a counselor. As I work together with my college students, lots of whom are new to biblical counseling, I discover their questions deeply thought-provoking, inflicting me to dig deeper. As I learn together with them via articles and books (lots of which I learn in my early days), I’m reminded once more of the deep riches that may be present in God’s Phrase.
I’ve realized that to be an efficient biblical counselor, pastor, instructor, or pal means striving to maintain issues contemporary. If we let the truths of the gospel turn into stale to us, then we miss out on the chance to show God’s magnificence to these round us.
Discover New Methods to Educate Your self
Have you ever turn into caught within the rut of familiarity? Have you ever discovered your self missing in ardour for the truths you might be chatting with your counselees? If that’s the case, listed here are a number of solutions to remain contemporary in your ministry:
- Cease and pray. Ask the Lord to open the eyes of your coronary heart to see the place you’ve gotten turn into complacent. Ask the Holy Spirit to impress upon you the fantastic thing about Christ in contemporary and new methods.
- Breathe some new life into your private devotional time. Perhaps you could strive a brand new Bible studying plan. Perhaps you could spend a while meditating on a e book of the Bible you’ve gotten by no means actually studied earlier than—purchase a commentary on that e book!
- Develop your studying. One of many methods we will slip into familiarity is by studying the identical authors on a regular basis—I get it! Take a look at some books by authors you’ve gotten by no means learn earlier than. Additionally, strive diversifying what you learn. That is one thing I’ve been doing this previous yr, and it has been edifying in some ways.
- Lastly, spend a while with one other counselor—or higher but, go for counseling your self. Observe how they counsel. Take note of how they use Scripture. Hearken to how they pray.
Questions for Reflection
- The place do you see familiarity creeping into your counseling?
- Of the 4 completely different solutions for combating in opposition to familiarity, which one can you start to implement this week?
