Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives)

This is a good book for people who want to counsel others or for those who are looking for some answers for some of life's troubles. I wrote a critique on this book and if amazon will let me i will post it below:This is a critique concerning Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul Tripp published by P&R publishing company in 2002. This book is part of a series titled Resources for Changing Lives published in cooperation with The Christian Counseling and Education Foundation. Tripp does an excellent job presenting the biblical reason for many life problems Christians face and the biblical solution to those problems. I found this work to be highly edifying and encouraging.The root of the problem is sin. Christians sin because they are rebellious at heart but God offers another way. God can use anyone and every member of the body of Christ has a purpose. The Christian’s initial purpose is to bring the word of God to others. The problem here is that many Christians do not know how to use the Bible in their own lives and fall short as a result. The root of the problem is the heart of the individual. Every human at heart is a worshiper; some worship sin while others worship God. Those who worship God will deal with conflict. This conflict can come from family, co-workers, themselves, or any number of other things. However, God calls us to walk in him and trust in him to get us through these conflicts. He also calls us to be ambassadors to represent the message, methods, and character of the King. Tripp presents a four part solution to life problems titled “love, know, speak, and do.” This is not a four-step process; rather, “they are simply four important elements of biblical ministry”Tripp continues by setting the foundation of personal ministry in love. Counselors are to help people with the love that Christ shows the church. Many counselees will face fears and anxieties about their problems and counselors must help them face those fears as opposed to just spouting scripture at them. The counselor must let the counselee know three major things: the counselor has heard his/her struggle, God is there and understands his/her struggle, and the counselor will stand with the counselee and support them biblically. These things will build horizontal trust, vertical hope, and commitment to the process. Suffering will happen but it has a purpose. Counselors can tell personal stories to build a bridge between their past suffering and the suffering of the counselee. The counselor must not assume anything but rather, they should ask questions. All questions asked should be open-ended questions that provoke more than a simple yes or no answer.Confrontations are necessary and they require love not condemnation. Counselors must not be afraid of confrontation. Confrontation serves a biblical purpose such as when Nathan confronted David and told him a parable that allowed David to see the error of his ways. Counselors must be like Nathan in that they must allow the confronted party the right to condemn themselves and repent of their sins. Tripp follows with a poignant point; the counselor must not become a mini messiah by confusing his or her own personal agenda with God’s agenda. Then, he concludes with the importance of accountability. Accountability provides structure, guidance, assistance, encouragement, and warning.Tripp points out some biblical truths that were particularly edifying for me such as, “Sin is fundamentally idolatrous. I do wrong things because my heart desires something more than the Lord.” As a Christian, we do not often think in this manner but it is true. He follows shortly with “At its core, sin is moral thievery. It steals the worship that rightly belongs to God and gives it to someone or something else.” In addition, “Every human being is a worshiper, in active pursuit of the thing that rules his heart.” These statements concerning the nature of sin caused me to look at sin in a different manner. I gained a more thorough understanding of the problem of sin and how every Christian is susceptible to the problems it causes. Another enlightening passage is found in Tripp’s section on confrontation: “Failure to make loving rebuke part of our relationships gives the Devil a huge opportunity.” Here Tripp stresses the importance of love and the biblical preparation a counselor must undertake to achieve this love in any situation.This is a highly edifying and encouraging presentation of the biblical reason for many life problems Christians face and the biblical solution to those problems. This book will serve as a tool that I will use on a regular basis. With the helpful appendixes and homework suggestions, that the publisher gives the counselor the right to reproduce and distribute freely, I will find many uses for this book in the future.

In my estimations, Dr. Tripp remains among the strongest and proficient voices for spiritual health and reformation among Evangelical ranks of which I am numbered. The book Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands frames-out foundational values and principles upon which Tripp's highly-respected biblical model for effective ministry rests. The subtitle, People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change appropriately sets the tone with what has been universally known as The Wounded Healer. Although psychologist Carl Jung somewhat coined the phrase, the popular writings of Christian spiritualist Henri Nouwen, popularized the phrase within Evangelical circles with the selfsame title, The Wounded Healer in the late 70's. In the course of ministry, particularly counseling, according to Tripp's model it is imperative that, "We stand alongside each other." In humility we confess that, "We are equals" in working through the devastating consequences of Adam's sin and the resultant spiritual pandemic. Within the proposed framework of personal ministry, "We share the same experience of suffering." And yet he further suggests, "... our experience [life journey] has the same goal of holiness. This can only be accomplished through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on behalf of mankind.Contrary to the popular culture of theological seminaries, Tripp has determined through personal discovery and extensive counseling that, "...the foundation for people-transforming ministry is not sound theology: it is love." This is perfectly consistent with Scriptural precedent (cf. Jn. 13:35; Matt. 5:46-48; 1 Cor. 13). Throughout Jesus' ministry, he regularly reprimanded the religious Pharisees of His day for their misplaced zeal for The Law and their man-made obstacles. This in sharp contrast to the sacrificial love He offered to those who desperately recognized their need for His divine touch. Simply stated, the author states that, "Without love, our theology is a boat without oars." Ultimately, the Scripture confirms that the love of God for humanity is ultimately what drove God to send His Son to a sin-cursed world with the prospect of a horrific Roman cross (Jn. 3:16).Deliberate emphasis is placed exclusively on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and the life-changing impact of this event in the ongoing sanctification process of the believer. The minister is carefully reminded that the most important encounter the counselee should value is with Christ - not the counselor. Prevalent pastoral profiles of those who struggle with poor self-esteem, accompanied with a deep need to feel loved and respected will forever struggle in achieving this type of healthy relationship. Conceptually, the particulars of sin are deemed insignificant in comparison to assisting the counselee comprehend their new identity in Christ as newfound Liberator. In contrast to much of the performance-based teachings of my youth, Zack argues, "...personal ministry must not be reduced to a set of principles to live by." Rather, the "central focus is the Redeemer who rescues people from the power of sin and progressively eradicates its presence from their lives." In this lifelong sanctification process, those who minister alongside the counselee simply act as agents of Another's grace.This new identity in Christ must offer people new truth that addresses old ways of thinking about themselves, their relationships, bewildering circumstances, suffering, and God. As such, God intends that we act as instruments of change in the capable hands of The Redeemer. As conduits of His grace, we are people of influence, for His glory.

Great book, it goes beyond the great commission . So many ways we can walk together to be part of God plan