For nearly 30 years, the Journal of Biblical Counseling (previously the Journal of Pastoral Practice) of CCEF (the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) has provided a forum for biblical counseling’s development and application. The journal’s mission is to develop clear thinking and effective practice in biblical counseling through articles that faithfully bring the God of truth, mercy, and power to the issues faced by ministries of counseling and discipleship.
“The most significant question of this earthly now marriage is not, ‘Do we love one another enough?’ The most significant question is, ‘Are we actually, functionally, and practically devoted to Christ?’ The sweetest gift, husbands, that you can give your wife, and the sweetest gift, wives, that you can give your husband, is your pure devotion to Christ. I hope you can grasp the practicality of this. The problems in our now marriages first result from our lack of love for the Lord. Because we do not love Him as we should, we end up not loving one another as we should.” (Page 64)
“The wise biblical answer is that you are ready when you can assume the responsibilities of manhood or womanhood. And the church, counselors, and families need to teach our singles what this wise biblical manhood and womanhood looks like. Scripture is full of great passages and descriptions of characteristics of manhood and womanhood. I counsel many long-time married men and we have traced some of their marriage problems back to not accepting their God-given responsibilities as a man.” (Page 60)
“If Christ cannot be in His rightful place, their motives will be wrong for seeking a relationship, and they will be naïve about why they are attracted to others.” (Page 58)
“When boundaries become a lifestyle, we are going to think about self-protection more than love. The overarching image is that we should break down boundaries between ourselves and others rather than erect them.” (Page 24)
“But, instead of thinking, ‘How can I erect boundaries in this relationship?’ think, ‘How should I wisely love this person?’ and ‘What is my calling? What are my priorities?’” (Page 21)