A Theology of Friendship
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“Though this survey does not include every angle from which to view friendship (e.g., the ‘one another’ passages), this survey does provide a fairly good idea of the Bible’s theology of friendship.” - P&D
Yes, You Can Forgive Unilaterally
Reposted from 2023. This one seemed to provoke a lot of thought, judging from the discussion. It was certainly a healthy challenge to my own (Aaron’s) thinking. The original 2023 discussion is included, but comments are open if anyone would like to continue it.
Dan Darling recently wrote a blog post on the topic of forgiveness. As usual with Darling, it’s thoughtful, clear, and helpful. I also agree with him. I want to expand a bit on why I believe he’s right, but first some background.
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When Your Spouse Doesn’t Believe: 3 Postures for Faithful Living
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“When you realize your spouse doesn’t have faith in Christ, it can feel like your union has suffered a major injury. Where God meant oneness, there’s dislocation, and you can’t heal it. But you can learn to walk by faith.” - TGC
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The Fading of Forgiveness: Tracing the disappearance of the thing we need most.
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“It’s no wonder that this culture quickly becomes littered with enormous numbers of broken and now irreparable relationships. Politics itself becomes a new kind of religion, one without any means of acquiring redemption or forgiveness. Rather then seeing some people as right and others as mistaken, they are now regarded as the good and the evil, as true believers or heretics.” - Tim Keller
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Before You Cut Off Your Parents: 3 Principles to Consider
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“In my work as a biblical counselor, I’ve seen some badly behaved parents….While our culture presents cutting off your parents as a viable option for self-care, it isn’t the only option. What does the Bible say about challenging relationships with parents?” - TGC
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Will Our Relationships with Others in Heaven Be Part of Our Eternal Rewards?
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On Luke 16:9… “After we die, Jesus is telling us, when our present assets of money, possessions, time, and life are gone, we may be welcomed by friends into eternal dwellings.” - Randy Alcorn
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Resolving Conflict: New Study Shows What Long-term Couples Can Teach Us
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“One important skill that married couples develop over time is the ability to Jointly Negotiate Conflict Resolution Strategies (JNCRS) to their mutual benefit…. Only a few small studies have looked at what goes right in marriages over the long-term in conflict resolution.” - IFS
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Book Review – David Brooks’ How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
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“David writes, ‘As a society, we have failed to teach the skills and cultivate the inclination to treat each other with kindness, generosity, and respect.’” - TGC
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Is the ‘Silent Treatment’ a Godly Approach to Conflict?
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“While most people recognize the damage caused by shouting matches and harsh words, fewer may realize the equally destructive effects of the ‘silent treatment.’” - TGC
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Are the Five Love Languages helpful? Yes, say researchers, but not the way people think
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“the focus on finding a partner’s primary love language can be too restrictive …. ‘all of the behaviors Chapman identified are important.’” - RNS
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