Five Convincing Reasons Coaching is Christlike!
Honestly, I'm not a big fan...
What was God thinking when He gave us free will?
He knew we would mess up. He could foresee that all of us would miss the mark of perfection. It was a super risky choice.
When God made humans He made them different than the animals. Let's take a quick look at this passage from James 1:17-25 (highlights mine for further reference)
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
God gave humans the ability to interact with the Word. (Remember, 1 John 1 - the Word became flesh and dwelt among us?)
At its very essence coaching offers tools to help people discern the Word in their life and engage it personally.
Coaching is Christlike because Jesus did the same. He encouraged people to engage with whatever God was saying to them. He helped them learn to discern God's voice and then to walk out their faith in real life.
Here are Five Reasons Coaching is Christlike!
#1 A true life of faith is not simply about following the rules.
Matt 5:20, "I tell you that if you are no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
It's not about just figure out what the law says but about moving with the Spirit.
#2 The principles of our faith may look different practically from one person to the next.
Mark 3:23a, " So Jesus called the people together and taught them with stories."
Jesus could have just told people the new rule system, but instead, he offered a new kingdom way and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead the New Testament church.
#3 Jesus didn't spell things out for people.
Mark 8:17-18 "Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? 18 You have eyes, but you don’t really see. You have ears, but you don’t really listen..."
It seems that Jesus wanted people to engage with their hearts and He intentionally didn't spell everything out for everyone. He offered the gift of internal discovery to each individual personally.
#4 Throughout scripture this model was foretold.
John 6:45, "It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."
John 3:7-8, "Don’t be surprised when I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.”
God wants to interact personally with us- not to have a hierarchy or mediation for someone to hear from God for others. It is the SpiThis concept can be very releasing for leaders as they learn to help others discern for themselves and experience the relief of not having to tell people what to do!
The Wind blows where it wills. Coaching helps people discern the Wind of the Spirit!
If it were up to me I think I would have designed the system more clearly. Personally, I think it would be more clear if there were simple rules in how believers who love God should always move.
Yet, over and over, there is a recurring theme:
John 14:15, "If you love me you will obey my commands."
What exactly are those commands?
- Should I take this new job?
- Would moving or staying be the right thing to do?
- Is she/he the one?
- How can I get rid of this plaguing lie or doubt I have been dealing with?
- What can I find hope to work through my grief?
People can't, or shouldn't, answer these questions for others. They can offer ideas that worked for them, but perhaps the pathway God is offering for someone else is not going to be the same.
Take heart!
#5 Jesus promises His Spirit to live within us.
The passage continues in John 14:16-17
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth... you know Him, because He lives in you and will be with you."
The power of coaching comes alongside each of us helping us learn to discern what His Spirit is saying to us personally.
You can't see the wind but you can sure feel it!
Which way is the wind blowing for you?!
How can you help people learn to discern?
Coach Training can help.
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