Comments on: The New York Times on “How People Change” http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-new-york-times-on-how-people-change.html PASTOR, AUTHOR, THEOLOGIAN Wed, 22 May 2013 22:09:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Destinations « Luggaged http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-new-york-times-on-how-people-change.html/comment-page-1#comment-13547 Destinations « Luggaged Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:19:17 +0000 http://www.jdgreear.com/?p=6578#comment-13547 [...] J.D. Greear interacts with a New York Times article about how people change. He hears and echo of the Gospel in the Times piece. Here is the concluding paragraph: Not surprisingly, Brooks doesn’t end his article with a gospel proclamation. At least not completely. But he does close by reminding his readers that the most effective way to engender change is not by “bludgeoning bad behavior” but by “changing the underlying context.” In many ways, this is what the gospel does. The gospel is not a message to “go and do,” but a message that salvation has already been done. The underlying context has been changed. We are changed not by being told what we need to do for God, but by hearing the news about what He has done for us. [...]

]]> By: Sparks for Wednesday, December 5, 2012 | Ponder Anew http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-new-york-times-on-how-people-change.html/comment-page-1#comment-13488 Sparks for Wednesday, December 5, 2012 | Ponder Anew Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:50:42 +0000 http://www.jdgreear.com/?p=6578#comment-13488 [...] How People Change (Brief Article) J. D. Greear (Brief Article) [...]

]]> By: Ramon Presson http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-new-york-times-on-how-people-change.html/comment-page-1#comment-13473 Ramon Presson Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:24:19 +0000 http://www.jdgreear.com/?p=6578#comment-13473 Thanks for your insights on this matter of change. I’m a marriage & family therapist in private practice and I can confirm that rebuking and shaming do not bring change. In Ephesians 3 Paul prays for the church, longing that they would get a glimpse, a taste, of what Paul himself knew and had experienced– a astonishing love that surpasses all comprehension that “you may be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God.”

Paul is saying if you and I really understood how much we are loved by God it would be life-transforming. Paul experienced and understood the profundity of God’s grace and love and it radically changed his life (and world history). It is demonstrated again in Victor Hugo’s character Jean Valjean, the convict who receives undeserved mercy from the bishop, who then responds by being a champion for generosity and mercy himself.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-new-york-times-on-how-people-change.html/comment-page-1#comment-13257 Daniel Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:52:49 +0000 http://www.jdgreear.com/?p=6578#comment-13257 Paul David Tripp and Timothy Lane wrote a book entitled HOW PEOPLE CHANGE. They believe people can change, but it is only through the power of the gospel that the deepest heart change happens. It is an excellent book on the topic of change.

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