Journal: Chafer Theological Seminary Journal
Volume: CTSJ 04:1 (Jan 1998)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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CTSJ 4:1 (January 1998) p. 13

Book Reviews

Competent to Minister: The Biblical Care of Souls, by Martin & Deidre Bobgan (Santa Barbara, CA: Eastgate Publishers, 1996). Reviewed by Robert E. Hempy Jr., Th.M.*

[*Editor's note: Mr. Hempy received his B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota, and the Th.M. degree from Talbot School of Theology. He is a public school teacher in Los Angeles and has taught at the seminary level.]

This book is the logical sequel to the Bobgans’ last book, titled Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible (which Cliff Rapp reviewed in the winter 1997 edition of the CTS Journal). This is the Bobgans’ tenth book on the subject of Christian psychology—evaluating the alleged theological bases for psychotherapy in general (whether so-called Christian or secular), and the biblical counseling movement.

This book is meant to express practical applications based upon the research and conclusion found in the Bobgans’ previous nine books that constitutes a body of literature representing some twenty years of research and writing by them on the subject.

Of the ten books on the subject authored by the Bobgans over the past twenty years, they have now requested that their second book, titled How to Counsel from Scripture, be voluntarily put out of print by Moody Press. Their latest work is meant to replace that book in light of their present modified position, as represented by the title of their most recent previous work—Against Biblical Counseling: For the Bible, and as explained in their present work that not only draws upon the research and conclusions of their previous nine works, but also draws upon a core body of literature in the area of works that are critical of so-called Christian psychology.

This reviewer has read all ten of the Bobgans’ books, as well as several other related works, the research, theological framework, and methodology from which the Bobgans draw conclusions. It is this reviewer’s sincere opinion that one will best understand the gravity of the issues, if he reads the Bobgans’ works in chronological order. However, if one reads some or all of the core body of related literature cited in the bibliography (see page bottom page 12), he will be edified.

Perhaps the best way to begin to grasp an overview of the Bobgans’ broad concerns about the impact of so-called

CTSJ 4:1 (January 1998) p. 14

Christian psychology upon evangelical Christianity would be to read their third book, titled Psychoheresy, in conjunction with reading Dave Hunt’s well known work, titled The Seduction of Christianity. The Bobgans and Hunt are personal friends and share a common concern about is...

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