Ed Welch: “I Can Help You in Six Words.”

I have to admit, when I first started this article (I Can Help You in Six Words), all I could think about was that old t.v. show, Name That Tune. Do you remember it? “I can name that tune in 3 notes!” “Well, I can name that tune in 2 notes!” “I can help you in SIX words!” “Well, can help you in FIVE words.”

But even as I inwardly chuckled at my 1970’s memory, I knew I was in for a great read because a) Ed Welch is a great man and a great author (still currently my favorite contemporary author even though Kevin DeYoung is gaining on him a bit); and b) he spoke right to my heart with his opening lines:

“Christians have said and written plenty of words. We hear long sermons about one word in Scripture … The longer the better. Every week I walk through a seminary library that is running out of shelf space. When I set out to write a book I inevitably write too much and have to delete thousands of words.”

(Cap’n Dave and I are currently working to trim around 300,000 words into the 75,000 word book that our contract with Baker Books requires.)

It always takes more effort to say less. But picking up the mantle of Dr. Welch’s six-word-counseling-challenge, I reflected in short statements that people have made to me over the years and then I have, in turn, repeated to hundreds of others:

– That’s condemnation; it’s not from the Lord.

– I’m so sorry for this suffering. This is so hard. I’m so sorry.

– Every day of your life will not be this painful.

– You’re giving the other person too much power in your life.

– When you take your eyes off of Christ and put them on the other person, you will always despair.

Ed Welch’s examples are much better, of course! I encourage you to read and enjoy them (and be challenged by them too—especially those of us who tend towards beaucoup de mots rather than les mots justes).