David Powlison, On Every Christian’s Competency to Counsel

“All human beings are counselors, whether wise, foolish, or mixed. All Christians are meant to become wiser counselors. God intends that every word you every say to anyone is actively constructive in content, intention, tone, and appropriateness. That’s Ephesians 4:29. Those who face any affliction should find you a source of tangible, life-renewing comfort. That’s 2 Corinthians 1:4. Wisdom sets the bar high. We are to become a community in which substantial conversations predominate. You who are not pastors will grow in wisdom by considering how pastoral work particularizes the wisdom of Christ in the cure of souls whenever the body of Christ is working well.” (an article in the CCEF journal titled “The Pastor as Counselor”)