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Problems

Solving them God's way

Too clinical

PROBLEMS
Solving them God’s way
By Jay E. Adams
P&R Publishing. 31 pages
ISBN 978-1-59638-184-1

Jay Adams has written numerous books on Christian counselling and living. This booklet is part of a Biblical Living series and is not aimed at counsellors — but at Christians who face problems. That’s a wide target audience!

Adams’s definition of a problem includes suffering and temptation, as well as the ‘myriad of small decisions’ we face. Adams states that Christians are best placed to deal with life’s problems. God is a problem solver and has equipped believers, through the Bible, and in the power of the Spirit, to tackle problems with confidence.

The booklet contains some good advice. We are reminded that, while not all problems are ours to solve, God has solutions to problems that hinder us from living righteously. 1 Corinthians 10.13 is used to show that temptation is not impossible for the believer to deal with.

More TV than Bible

The emphasis on the need to carefully study Scripture is helpful — as is the gentle rebuke that many Christians know more about TV programmes than the Bible — and so struggle to think biblically about issues.

However, for me, the booklet has a few problems of its own. Adams suggests an eight-point procedure for problem solving. The procedure includes: defining problems with a biblical term, using a Bible concordance, and discovering three key biblical principles. This formula may be helpful in some situations, but I felt it was rather clinical and would not always be easily applied. Problems (and people!) are often complex and, therefore, I question a one-size-fits-all procedure.

Although a short booklet cannot cover everything, I was disappointed that there is little on the role of other believers in problem solving.

While of use to those seeking to help others, I would not give this booklet to someone in a particularly problematic situation.

Jonathan Shulver,
associate minister, Farnham Baptist Church, Surrey