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In this editorial, David Powlison examines the notion that a person cannot appreciate the love of God if he or she was not loved by earthly parents. Powlison maintains that this notion flies in the face of Scripture and common sense. He points to the reality that none of the personages by which God describes himself—Shepherd, King, Master, Savior, God—necessarily have sterling human representatives. Powlison concludes that God is the good Shepherd in a world of bad shepherds, the good Father in a world of bad parents.

David Powlison served as CCEF’s executive director (2014-2019), a faculty member, and senior editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling. He held a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary. David wrote extensively on biblical counseling and on the relationship between faith and psychology. His books Seeing with New Eyes and Speaking Truth in Love probe the implications of Scripture for how to understand people and how to counsel. The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context explores the background and development of CCEF’s mission. David is survived by his wife Nan, their three children and spouses, and seven grandchildren.

What if Your Father Didn’t Love You?

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JBC Volume 12:1 (Fall 1993) PDF

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