Denver In Translation

Here is an excerpt from my recent venture into Clinical Theology.

Non-directive listening on the part of the clergy would be a valid human act even though they never got round to the specifically theological task of communicating the Gospel. I believe that every Christian working in this field, not only the pastor or psychiatrist, must wait until he has the freedom to speak which the Holy Spirit gives, before he advances from the universally acceptable human task of listening to his specific task of witness, namely to saying that Christ is also the great listener to every human conversation.

-Frank Lake, Clinical Theology, 1966

Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening, but he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God, either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God, too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies.
We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1954

I tend to try and figure stuff out by talking myself through my problems when I should probably just be listening to what God wants to say.  I don’t want to be a prattler.