One of our favourite local booksellers, Mr BK recommended this book to us when we were chatting with him. It was flying off the shelves and there were only a few left.
Since we knew he gave good recommendations and being kiasu Singaporeans, of course we snapped up a copy.
“Pursuing a Heart of Wisdom – Counselling Teenagers Biblically” by John C Kwasny has indeed lived up to its reputation, and is an important book to ponder over.
Many of the chapters delved into extremely pertinent issues of the day such as self-harm, eating disorders, pornography and suicide.
I learnt more about biblical counselling, that it requires four steps of deep listening, effective evaluation, compassionate confrontation, as well as edifying education.
Dr Kwasny also writes about how it is very important that we partner in community when it comes to biblical counselling. It should ideally begin at home, with parents who can counsel with spiritual truth, and who live their lives modelling out these truths, fallen human beings though we all are.
The church’s youth ministry should not be just a hospital we visit for spiritual problems. Rather, teens should have been regularly soaked in this ministry, which is the constant nourishing family of God. When encountering severe issues, parents should not put their children at the risk of confusion by seeking counselors who give worldly wisdom that is in opposition to the truth of the gospel.
The church will accept all who are struggling in their sin but this does not mean a total tolerance of their sin. Rather, we embrace every one who enters our gates, and seek to help and care for them by the grace of God, whilst pointing them to the truth of the gospel and their need of repentance.
Also, the more I read about biblical counselling, the more I think it is the right way to approach the challenging issues we humans face these days. Too much counselling is purely secular, and draws upon worldviews (such as self-actualisation, or therapy that over-focuses on attributing root causes solely to parents and childhood experiences) that are not helpful.
For instance, in the chapter on eating disorders, I learnt that its basis is idolatry of self, so “self-love” or “self-care” alone, is not a good prescriptive cure. Here are some pages to glimpse what Dr Kwasny writes on this issue.
As I read, I found so much of the advice relevant to adults too. Whilst teenagers are going through many changes, adults and kids alike struggle with sin.
Glad for these insights as I seek greater wisdom to journey alongside others and preach to my own sinful heart.
You can order a copy of this book from www.etulip.org or from Books Depository.
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