"Dressing Ourselves"

“Dressing Ourselves”

In 1981 I made a 250 mile round trip on ten consecutive Mondays to attend a nouthetic counseling course. This approach was popularized by Dr. Jay Adams, a seminary professor in Philadelphia. It comes from the Greek word noutheteo, literally meaning to put in the mind, and is usually translated warn or admonish. Adams’ thesis is that as people apply biblical truths to their struggles most of them can be dealt with successfully. The classes were very helpful in my pastoral work and continue to influence my chaplaincy ministry.

One of the principles Adams uses to implement his method is emphasizing the “put offs/put ons” found in the New Testament. Paul writes, “…Put off your old self…and…put on the new self….” (Ephesians 4:22-24). The thought he expresses tells us to put our old ways behind us and clothe ourselves with a new manner of living. But it’s more than a modification of our behavior—it’s changing something of who we are. How can this be done? Adams illustrates with an old corny “joke”: When is a door not a door? Answer: When it is a jar! (I can hear the moans and groans.) The point is that a door ceases to be a door when it becomes something else. And this is the objective behind the changes the “put offs/put ons” are meant to bring.

In each of the following nine articles the same general format will be followed: what we’re to put off (cease doing), what we’re to put on (start practicing) and the reason(s) for making this change. In these actions we must keep another Adams principle in mind: We can’t break a bad habit—we must replace it with a good one. (An example of how this works is seen in Philippians 4:8.) As we take the admonitions of the “put offs/put ons” seriously we’re dressing ourselves appropriately before God. To quote from Adams’ The Christian Counselor’s Manual: “The Scriptures give the needed hope, direction and goals, the Holy Spirit provides the power, and Christian discipline is the method.”

Do I have to change my wardrobe? Probably in some areas. I pray I’m willing to do so.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan