Be The Fruit

Empathetic Disagreement

by Bill Blair on 06/02/09 at 10:56 am

Jay Adams wrote a very helpful post titled “Nobody Understands” that can be read here.  The main point of the article is to show how we can be understanding of people’s problems, but still point out what they need to change.  Here is an excerpt:

The biblical counselor may experience much of the pain of his counselee; if he cares, he probably will. But he doesn’t merely sit there together with his counselee, singing the blues—he says, “Yes it’s serious” (and goes on to express those thoughts which reveal the fact to his counselee that he does understand his plight). However, he doesn’t pause there. He goes further, saying, “yes, I can see that your problem is such and such, but . . .”

That “but” is what makes all the difference.

Adams makes a great point because as Christians we are to bear one another’s burdens, but also speak the truth in love in order to help one another grow into the likeness of Christ. 

Read the full article here.