Edward T. Welch provides a valuable resource for any pastor who has faced the questions of chemical imbalance, families struggling with Alzheimer’s, and members who have children diagnosed with ADHD.  Only a few hours before sitting down to write this review I found myself engaged in a conversation with a family who is struggling but persevering with a very troubled teenager “diagnosed” with ADHD.  A few hours earlier I found myself in another conversation regarding how to counsel a family struggling with a husband and father with Alzheimer’s.  The body of Christ should stand ready with answers, help, and hope for those facing such difficult and painful trials. 

            Welch provides organization to the whole issue of the brain.  First, he sets out on the most important task of establishing Scripture as the interpretive grid.  This must be done since much of the discussion regarding the brain enters into the realm of philosophy, world and life view, and sometimes mere conjecture.  Without God’s framework of values how we view the brain would be distorted and at the mercy of relativism.  This may be why so much of what has been proposed by many researchers seems to reflect what looks more like their agenda and not what their data supports.  By looking at the heart issues first and viewing them from God’s perspective we can offer genuine help and hope when “the brain did it, maybe did it, or didn’t do it.” 

            Essential for approaching the topic of the brain through a biblical world view is the issue of sin.  Can your brain make you sin?  Welch argues from Scripture that the answer must be no.  This may be perceived as “harsh and unsympathetic.”  However, as Welsh notes it respects the image bearer status.  This is a multifaceted blessing.  It allows us to pursue God in faith, helps to maintain a sanctification view of trials, and reveals that the promises of God’s grace are genuine. 

            Welch notes that every one has different strengths and weaknesses as it relates to the brain.  This is of great significance in the area of counseling.  Weakness in certain areas of brain function can influence behavior.  As noted in the book, this is never an excuse for sin.  However, our approach to people will be marked with greater grace, forgiveness, and mercy as we try to understand and see things as they see them.  This will help you guide them to take responsibility and act godly.

            In addressing the three possibilities (the brain did it, maybe the brain did it, and the brain didn’t do it) the book provides a paradigm for evaluating and helping people.  First you need to “get information.”  Second you must “distinguish between spiritual and physical symptoms.”  Finally, you “address heart issues” and “help maximize strengths or minimize weaknesses caused by a physical symptom.”  This is very helpful since it honors people by seeking to know them and then lovingly help them both in the spiritual and the physical realms by seeing their situation through the lens of Scripture.

            This book provides excellent information as we counsel people.  How then do we affectively help our people who are inundated through television, Christian radio, other pastors, and through other media to think differently?  Many in our churches look with great suspicion on the concept of biblical counseling but quickly and without a critical eye believe in the reductionist approaches to their problems.  Where do we begin the important work of helping our people look consistently through the lens of Scripture as it relates to psychological problems?   Blame it on the Brain will bring biblical wisdom to the table as you think through these important issues.

          Gary Thomas challenges the common assumption that marriage is foundationally about happiness.  His assumption is that marriage has to do with God’s designs to make couples holy.    Thomas states that the first purpose for marriage is to please God. 

            This purpose for marriage has profound implications.  It brings love, honor, prayer, and sanctification to new depths.  Love which remains even in the face of trial, difficulty, and the imperfections of each spouse.  Prayer is deepened because of the need for continual reconciliation with our spouse.   Since the marriage relationship has a keen way of revealing our sin, sanctification is pushed forward. 

            Thomas reminds us of the discipline of perseverance.  This implies principle based living instead of living according to feelings of happiness.  Thomas calls us to face the difficulties in our marriage with an eternal perspective as an aid for perseverance (Rom. 2:7-8). 

            An outworking of the goal to become holy is the need for forgiveness.  He states that we probably do not get married “because it gives us an opportunity to learn how to forgive.”  These opportunities will certainly arrive.  They are more opportunities to become more holy.  Thomas calls the entire process of living graciously with another sinner “falling forward.”  His counsel to couples is to fall forward, not away.  His counsel is to fall forward even in the face of the most bitter of circumstances.  Since holiness is the goal of marriage the following areas will also be important for the couples to develop:  Servanthood, sexuality seen as a gift from God, spiritual development, and clarifying our calling.

         Definately a good addition to any biblical counselor’s library of resources!