Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison

David Powlison in his book Seeing with New Eyes seeks to affirm and detail the sufficiency of Scripture in God's world to deal with all problems brought about by sin; thus, virtually all problems in the world that point sinners to counseling. Though the book is divided into individual articles, Powlison organizes them into two parts. These two parts are "Scripture Opens Blind Eyes" and "Reinterpreting Life."

In his first part, Powlison encourages his readers to run to the Scriptures as authoritative for everything they detail. In them are the answers to countless questions that probe men's minds. Counselors must trust in the Word of God, for to trust in anything else is wicked, and will not fix the problem with humanity. Man's ultimate problem is sin; and the Scriptures reveal the answer; namely Christ the righteous. Powlison examines Ephesians and some of Psalms and Luke in order to reinforce and practically prove the sufficiency of the Scriptures in the minds of his readers.

In the second part, Powlison argues that God knows why sinners do, think, and live like they do. Thus, when counselors are brought a problem from a sinner, instead of purporting some psychological theory, they must begin with the presupposition that God is right and has revealed Himself in the Protestant Bible. Powlison details why humans do what they do, desire what they desire, along with various unbiblical theories by psychologists. He examines all of these realities in light of Scripture, encouraging counselors to submit to the truth of God's Word instead of the changing whims of psychology that are founded on unbiblical presuppositions.

A Small Critique

I think Powlison stops short of the goal he should pursue. Christ-likeness is not the goal. Christ-likeness unto the glory of God is the goal. Being good or being like Jesus alone is not the goal of humanity. The goal is to bring honor and glory to God; this is impossible to do without the blood of Christ. Thus, pursuing Christ-likeness as an end in and of itself is idolatry; for it is impossible and can only lead us to pat ourselves on the back. I think to stop short of God's glory in any endeavor including in Christ-likeness turns something God means for good into an idol. The only reason to be like Christ is because it brings God glory. Thus, I think Powlison should have argued that the goal of humanity is Christ-likeness while constantly pleading the blood of Christ unto the glory of God.

Personal Application

This book has challenged me to see individuals that are facing terrible tragedies in my church through God's eyes. His mercy is available through the finished work of Christ. They have been provided with His Word to help them pursue Christ-likeness for His glory alone. God being glorified is the goal. All my counseling for these families must be God-centered, Christ-centered, redemptive, and pastoral (4). Thus, I must be loving and thoroughly biblical. The truth is the answer; and it will be tempting to candy-coat truth or shift the truth away from God to seeing their loved ones again. Lies or half-truths however do not bring glory to God.