tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post8404553461105126396..comments2024-01-24T12:51:19.125-05:00Comments on Not Sure: How It's All Different Now: Couples, Weddings, and Counselling. John Sukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-6982649861326553902019-05-23T03:33:24.740-04:002019-05-23T03:33:24.740-04:00Relationship Counselling in Delhi
good article pos...<a href="https://healthfirstwellnesscentre.com/relationship-counselor-in-delhi/" rel="nofollow">Relationship Counselling in Delhi</a><br />good article post.seohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15372910724689045001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-71624131904623592592014-05-09T02:45:00.433-04:002014-05-09T02:45:00.433-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07484126032428272527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-39217784180633656132014-04-11T06:16:34.409-04:002014-04-11T06:16:34.409-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12296615144439048059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-62037936268046058682014-04-02T21:36:03.936-04:002014-04-02T21:36:03.936-04:00The metanarrative is less-meta than it used to be....The metanarrative is less-meta than it used to be. The OT is very problematic for me as an equivalent part of the NT story. But I still have a big story--and it comes down to following Jesus. That's the story, the goal, the hope, the reason. It has to do with neighbours and the least and the last and hope for the ever and ever. More needs to be said--about the status of the NT (inspired but not inerrant or even infallible) and so on. But it is about following Jesus.<br />John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-73869720963377251932014-03-26T14:30:37.447-04:002014-03-26T14:30:37.447-04:00Thanks as always John for your honest, open and si...Thanks as always John for your honest, open and sincere response. <br /><br />This is exactly what both fascinates me and baffles me about your journey. It seems to me even without our cultural frame the job of a clergy IS steward, promoter, and helpful applier of a meta-narrative. You rightly step aside for the therapeutic practitioner (trying to practice within their own frame if that be possible without even an implicit meta-narrative) it seems all that remains is being a master of protocol. <br /><br />There is no doubt that the KOG we find in scripture is a function of its sitz im leben, the stewards of the meta-narrative attempt to continue to bring it forward into history through nearly incomprehensible change. Professionalism of course also comes into the conversation. <br /><br />My individual self-steward of the story relates to my professional role of stewarding. Integrity demands that these two selves not get too far away from each other. Your transition reflects this integrity. So my question then is what meta-narrative does your current context steward? Of has a more liberal church context given up on meta-narratives and mostly demands of its professionals the task of maintaining traditional protocol available for individual members to apply the narrative that they wish to assert? Paul Vander Klayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223428897906325654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-12217743783638757802014-03-24T19:22:19.793-04:002014-03-24T19:22:19.793-04:00Hi Paul. I've been focussed on getting a few b...Hi Paul. I've been focussed on getting a few blog posts up, so forgive the delay in responding! Actually, I've totally abandoned the therapeutic role, which is why I send people out for pre-marital counselling. I'm not qualified to do it. However, when in the course of a long year of preaching I do have opportunity to talk about promises and their role in marriage, and why it matters to Christians, I do--something I talk about when I discuss vows with couples planning a wedding, as well.<br />But you bring up the Kingdom of God--not something that a marriage counsellor is likely to bring up (especially a secular one!). That isn't, as you suggest a therapeutic issue. It's a worldview, big perspective sort of issue. Is the KOG something you or I would normally mention when we preach about marriage or promises?<br />I used to, but no more. I think the language of the KOG isn't very helpful anymore. Much of this anthropomorphic imagery is in scripture because of the self-conscious and subversive ways the Biblical authors wanted to undermine the pervasive, violent, and unjust Roman system (and perhaps even in the case of the gospel writers, the local Jewish leadership). But we've moved on. There is no Roman empire (unless we're thinking the Roman Catholic Church). There is no world empire at all (unless we, with some commentators want to talk about the American Empire). There is a whole new set of issues that New Testament writers could not have dreamed of--issues that don't lend themselves to KOG language (climate, wealth, consumption). KOG language is also so anthropomorphic that when we use it independently of the pervasive power of the Roman empire, it puts God into a hierarchal, almost comic-book sort of box, and invites Christians to triumphalistic views about what they're doing on earth as appointed representatives. So, while I hope I can still see and appreciate the sitz im leben of that language in its Biblical context, it just needs way too much reinterpretation and is way to prone to misunderstanding to be of much help today. All of which is not to say I've settled on an alternative metanarrative image to take its place, unless it is "following Jesus." Without a doubt, however, changing my mind about the narratives I grew up with invites a lot of uncertainty as one tries on alternative ideas, stories, and directions. John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-45072594432125273182014-03-24T19:07:49.939-04:002014-03-24T19:07:49.939-04:00Hi Erin. Sorry you fell that way. The most likely ...Hi Erin. Sorry you fell that way. The most likely actual answer to your question is that not all Christians believe the same thing, and neither do all congregations. There are different faith traditions. My story is one of moving from one faith tradition to another. Check out my book if you're interested in the story! It's available for order from this web page. Best wishes!John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-66262955979220612432014-03-22T07:57:22.538-04:002014-03-22T07:57:22.538-04:00How in the world are you the pastor of a church? Y...How in the world are you the pastor of a church? You are leading a congregation? I am baffled. Almost everything you write is laced with bitterness and is blatantly blasphemous. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06035607639467608841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-21087790487491933932014-02-26T19:16:22.195-05:002014-02-26T19:16:22.195-05:00I've mentally returned to your post since I re...I've mentally returned to your post since I read it, and returned to your answer too. They both make me sad. <br /><br />What makes me sad (perhaps) is what seems to be the diminishment of something I've always sensed ministry to be, the declaration of the kingdom of God. They seemed to have been exchanged for a lesser thing, a good thing but lesser. <br /><br />You've taken on a therapeutic role, pointing them to a wise counselor. That's a good thing and helpful. You're pointing to a value in scripture that it is fitting to have relationships of commitment rather than utility, that's a good thing. I would argue that in marriage, both the good and the broken there is a space for the glory and power of God to be revealed. It is in that space that the kingdom is announced, sometimes expressed, sometimes revealed, sometimes betrayed, but present nevertheless. It would seem to me that this is the space into which you step and you uniquely are positioned to step there and that is why the wedding happens not in the courthouse but in the church. I wonder how this fits into your journey to doubt. pvkPaul Vander Klayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223428897906325654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-38935176099077989122014-02-22T21:27:39.892-05:002014-02-22T21:27:39.892-05:00Well, like I said, there is a very helpful stream ...Well, like I said, there is a very helpful stream of insight about committed relationships in scripture, and I preach that. I make a point of preaching at weddings, so that the message incorporates some of this stuff in a very personal way. I insist on qualified pre-marital counselling (usually). We meet to talk about the service, the bans, the sermon. But that is it--a lot less than I used to do. When couples get married, which in my new context, is actually quite rare.John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-20796736190082444592014-02-20T20:50:12.980-05:002014-02-20T20:50:12.980-05:00So I'm not exactly sure where this post leaves...So I'm not exactly sure where this post leaves you. You point them to good books and help, hopefully you make the day nice like a caterer or an event organizer. Anything more? Do you have something to offer them besides pointing them to resources on how to make their relationship an enjoyable union if therapy, the economy, and health permits? Paul Vander Klayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223428897906325654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-15494627465281839952014-02-11T21:38:09.717-05:002014-02-11T21:38:09.717-05:00Thanks Steve! I remember your service well--one of...Thanks Steve! I remember your service well--one of the best thought out weddings, and most fun, that I ever officiated at! Nice venue, too.<br /><br />John Sukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14257475843355209416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119270472100281278.post-29205373681791405202014-02-11T21:02:33.198-05:002014-02-11T21:02:33.198-05:00The best part of your counseling, John, was when y...The best part of your counseling, John, was when you said, "Paul was a sexist," which said as much about biblical interpretation and contextualism as it did about mutual submission! We just celebrated 20 years; thanks for being there, and doing 2 weddings that day, 2 hours apart. - Steve FridsmaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com