Lawrence J. Crabb

Lawrence J. Crabb

Lawrence J. "Larry" Crabb Jr. (born 1944 in Evanston , Illinois ) is an American psychologist, professor, non-fiction author, and founder and director of New Way Ministries . He propagates pastoral care and advice based on the Bible .

Life

Crabb grew up in a Plymouth Brethren family in Evanston near Chicago . His father was a machine tool seller. He studied psychology, which triggered a crisis of faith in him. The argument with the Christian apologists Francis Schaeffer and CS Lewis leads him back to the Christian faith. He became convinced that this belief should play a role in clinical psychology . He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Ursinus College in 1965 and his master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois in 1969 , where he also received his doctorate in 1970. He took language therapy and philosophy of sciences as minor subjects.

From 1970 to 1971 he was a member of the psychological counseling service at the University of Illinois. In 1971 he received the Teacher of the Year Award in the Psychology Department. 1971–1973 he was assistant professor of psychology. 1973–1982 Crabb ran a private practice for clinical psychology in Boca Raton , Florida. 1982-1989 Crabb taught at Grace Theological Seminary and Biblical counseling at Grace Theological Seminary , where he was also chairman. At the same time he founded the Institute for Biblical Pastoral Care , which then replaced the School of Behavioral Sciences . From 1988-1999 he was Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Regent College in Vancouver . From 1989–1996 he was chairman and professor of biblical counseling at Colorado Christian University , where he continued to teach. In 2001 he founded his own organization, New Way Ministries , which conducts training courses and conferences for biblically oriented pastoral care and counseling. He is also a spiritual advisor to the American Association of Christian Counselors . In 2010 he spoke at the Willow Creek Leadership Congress in Karlsruhe.

Crabb is married to Rachael; they have two grown sons and live near Denver .

Teaching

As early as 1975, Crabb pointed out the shortcomings of secular counseling in his first book, The Basics of Biblical Pastoral Care , and outlined a more Bible-based approach. He gives the Christian view that man was created in the image of God and fallen into sin, preference over humanistic models. Negative feelings are the result of wrong behavior that comes from sinful thinking. Confession, repentance, and repentance are turns to right thinking, resulting in right behavior and then satisfying feelings. Searching for God is more satisfying than finding happiness, because the deep human needs of meaning and security are being met.

Crabb has also been referred to as an evangelical mystic . As a profound person, he orients himself more to the Christian classics of the early church and their spiritual practices than to the contemporary evangelicals , because they can quench his thirsty soul better. Daily devotions, not drinking, faithful attendance at church services, diligent participation in community projects and performance-oriented sermons would not have led him to dynamic joy in God. Jesus has mapped out another path, that of the Spirit, grace, trust, freedom and closeness to God.

Works

In 1975 Crabb published his first book on the basics of biblical pastoral care with the Zondervan publishing house. Since then he has written over forty books, some of which have also been translated into other languages ​​and into German:

• with Dan Allender : encouraging the other. Pastoral care in daily interaction. Brunnen, Basel 1986, ISBN 3-7655-3882-5 .
• The other's burden. Biblical pastoral care as a task of the community. Brunnen, Basel 1988, ISBN 3-7655-2348-8 . (4th edition 2007, ISBN 978-3-7655-3889-6 )
• “In the good and bad days.” Strategies for a fulfilling marriage. A guide for married couples and ministers. 3. Edition. Brunnen, Basel 1989, ISBN 3-7655-2433-6 .
• If God doesn't grant our wishes ... He has better plans for us! Let go and learn to trust. Brunnen, Basel 2003, ISBN 3-7655-1296-6 .
• Christianity without cramp. How God takes the wrong pressure off us. Brunnen, Basel 2004, ISBN 3-7655-1345-8 . (6th edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-7655-4030-1 )
• Seeking happiness or finding God. Differentiation aids in the world of cuddle Christianity. 3. Edition. Brunnen, Basel 2006, ISBN 3-7655-3886-8 .
• The silence of the men ... and what is really behind it. Brunnen, Basel 2007, ISBN 978-3-7655-3888-9 . (Original title: The silence of Adam )
• From the inside to the outside. Real and lasting change is possible. Brunnen, Basel 2007, ISBN 978-3-7655-3881-0 .
• Connecting. The healing potential of the community. A radically new approach to discovering God's sources of power. Brunnen, Basel 2007, ISBN 978-3-7655-3884-1 .
• Close to Heavenly Father. A new way to pray. Brunnen, Basel 2007, ISBN 978-3-7655-1395-4 .
• Understand who you are What our relationships say about us. Brunnen, Basel 2009, ISBN 978-3-7655-4064-6 . (Original title: Understanding who you are )
• Soul Talk - the language of the heart. How deeper relationships can arise. 2nd Edition. Brunnen, Basel 2010, ISBN 978-3-7655-1353-4 .
• Local community. But right! Stay tuned despite disappointments. Brunnen, Basel 2010, ISBN 978-3-7655-1460-9 . (Original title: Real Church )
• Places of security and healing. On the way to authentic spiritual communities. GloryWorldMedien, 2011, ISBN 978-3-936322-58-3 .
• 66 love letters. An invitation to take part in the greatest love story in the world. Brunnen, Basel 2011, ISBN 978-3-7655-1111-0 .

Web links

• [1] New Way Ministries website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ christianitytoday.com Interview with Crabb on Christianity Today 2013
2. ↑ newwayministries.org
3. ↑ willowcreek.de ( Memento of the original from March 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Crabb on willowcreek.de 
4. ↑ AufAtmen magazine 3/2004, pages 12–23: Love God more than his gifts. As a Christian psychologist