Recently my son Colin turned me on to Country music.
While bee-bopping around in his stripped down Jeep we found ourselves sing
along with George Strait, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks et al as they twanged and
crooned on “Thunder 104.5 FM.” Even
though I am somewhat eclectic in my musical palette (Enya, Winton Marsalis, The
Eagles, Yo-Yo Ma, Willie Nelson), I
found that the sometimes sentimental or forlorn lyrics of the songs of the South would sneak up on me. I discovered
that my growing affinity for home-spun story telling is founded on two
factors. First, I can actually sing
along and harmonize. Second, I realized that many of the songs revealed the
presence of Common Grace.
According
to Louis Berkhof, a Reformed Christian thinker “[Common grace] curbs the destructive power of sin, maintains
in a measure the moral order of the universe, thus making an orderly life
possible, distributes in varying degrees gifts and talents among men, promotes
the development of science and art, and showers untold blessings upon the
children of men,” [L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 1979, p.343]
I
remember as a young Army Chaplain who desired to be faithful to my Biblical
Christian identity and distinctives, that I was far too concerned about which
religious tradition any given SOULdier might have embossed on his “dog tags.”
As if knowing that, I would have a head start on how to provide ministry for
him or her. Little did I know at the time, but that anxiety-laced approach
actually created obstacles to genuine Gospel ministry. Thankfully the Lord
allowed an epiphany of sorts; I had a built-in point of connection with every
SOULdier and LEADer brought my way. It was the very real awareness that each
were made in God’s image (“No duh!”).
This alone established a bridge between us. (Later I would conclude that
for all the cultural contrasts, I could have a meaningful encounter sitting
with an Aboriginal father, playing his didgeridoo at the fireside in the New
Zealand wilderness. After all we
probably overlapped in our concerns, fears, hopes and dreams at some basic
level.)
In the
discussions about what constitutes “Christian/Biblical Counseling” certain
schools/approaches assert that they are genuinely Christian because of how they
bring the means of grace (Scripture, prayer, sacraments, etc.) to bear in a
person’s life. In striving for orthodoxy (right teaching) and orthopraxis (right method) there is a
rightful circumspection concerning secular models. Overplayed however, this
perspective risks throwing the baby out with the bath water as it assesses
other approaches. As one who subscribes to an integrationist approach which is
premised on the epistemological axiom that “all truth is God’s Truth” I am not
espousing an irresponsible eclecticism or sloppy pragmatism. Integration is not
careless syncretism or amalgamation which inevitably results in a muddle-minded
mess. Therefore I suspect that those who see themselves as Biblically purist in
the counseling closet are in some ways more integrationists than they may admit.
Within
the realm of Common Grace, the observations and metrics of psychology and
sociology can have a descriptive value (at least at a surface level). There may
even be some diagnostic value. But authentic pastoral care, founded on Biblical
anthropology (doctrine of man) and soteriology (doctrine of redemption)
provides the truly reality-based soul-cure where the root issues of the heart
(sin, fear, unbelief, etc.) are addressed.
Missions,
evangelism and apologetics have an embedded assumption concerning Common Grace.
Both of these ministries are expressions of the Incarnation and Emmanuel [“God
with Us”]. When we prayerfully move about
in life, we ask the Holy Spirit to make us sensitive, compassionate,
faithful in those occasions where we may share the Good News and invite/command
liberating submission to the Lordship of Christ. If there is a meaningful
connection between believer and the yet-to-be-saved it is in part because we
have actually listened to the hopes, dreams, fears, doubts, questions and
confusion of a fellow Image-bearer.. When we offer the cup of water in Jesus
name, we do so not only in obedience, but with a compassion born of
identification with another’s plight.
Of late this renewed awareness and appreciation of Common Grace, has humbled, empowered and motivated me as I live out what it means to be a student and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ in the real world of men and things.
See you at the Potter's wheel!
G.K. Sexton
G.K. Sexton
For He
makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on
the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45
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