The Bible, Wisdom and Human Nature
the benefits in this respect. Hunter describes wisdom as including the idea of life-long learning that is not especially religious, or a natural possession, but which may be embraced through discipline and attention to those who are more experienced – in the context of Israel, especially learning within the family via parents. Contemporarily the value for our wellbeing of such family wisdom will depend, in part, on its links with God’s creation order – there is always the danger that human wisdom is merely ‘wise in their own eyes’ (Isa. 5:21; 47:10; Job 5:13; 15:8; 37:24; Prov. 3:7; 26:5,12). Following Crabb’s insistence on the relevance of relationship with God to our notions of mental health, he states three basic assumptions, one of which is that Christ offers us unique resources to help resolve every nonorganic problem. Hughes agrees with these sentiments in his early writing on counselling matters. In his later writing he offers a summary of his ideas:
God has designed us as relational beings who are meant first to relate to him and then to others. The closer we relate to him and draw from his resources, the more equipped we are to relate well to others and cope with whatever life brings.77 Having shown how important Hughes and Crabb believe the spiritual area to be in shaping us as persons, it is necessary to outline how Hughes develops this idea.
Relationality from the perspective of Genesis Hughes introduces us to pre-Fall humanity in the context of the opening chapters of Genesis: ‘We learn a good deal… by taking an in-depth look at what went on in the lives of the first human pair – Adam and Eve.’ 78 In a chapter in which Hughes outlines his ideas regarding God’s creation of Adam and Eve, he concludes: ‘Without doubt Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world. No sin, no disturbance of spirit, no suffering, no shame. The Almighty declared it ‘very good’. But not for long.’ 79 In offering a rationale for his model of personality, Hughes does not show awareness of other possible biblical starting points (eg Jesus), and thus 64
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