The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience

Jeremy Pierre, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written in The Dynamic Heart a comprehensive, one might say intense, textbook designed to aid God’s people (pp. 9, 101, 105). The author states early, “These pages are dedicated to showing how God designed people with dynamic hearts to experience the world fully only when connected to Christ” (p. 2). Faith is the key in the process: “Faith is the means by which the gospel is received; thus, faith is at the center of heart transformation…Faith is how God restores his design for the human heart so that people can commune with him and reflect his character…faith allows people to think differently as they receive the knowledge of God from his Word” (p. 3). With this in mind Pierre’s goal is to give “a theological vision of how faith in Christ restores the dynamic human heart and a practical vision of how to help people join in the process” (p. 5). Pierre is using the term “heart” synonymous with soul, spirit and mind, which he believes all describe the same types of functions. The heart is therefore the inner person and relates to “the unity and totality of the inner life represented and expressed in the variety of intellectual and spiritual functions” (p. 15). The author sees within the heart the dynamic interplay between the cognitive (intellect), affective (emotions) and volitional (will, choices). The book is focused on these three dimensions (pp. 12, 16-23, 31, 38-47, 60, 77-84, 103, 177).There is much to be commended in The Dynamic Heart: • It rightly states that theology is the standard by which people measure their experience, not the other way around (pp. 5, 33). • It teaches that sin corrupts the dynamic function of the heart (pp. 55. 60). • Idolatry is correctly defined and applied (pp. 65-68). • The role of faith is emphasized (pp. 71, 205). • It shows that the Christian’s old and new control beliefs are constantly at war (pp. 78-80). • People who relate destructively to others are doing the same to God (p. 113). • Humans are fallen and thus bad and broken (p. 133). • The final section is highly practical, providing excellent questions for use by counselors. • The Holy Spirit’s role in counseling is paramount (pp. 207, 236). • Sin functions much like weeds, stealing nutrients (pp. 227, 238). • It warns of the danger of self-focus (p. 235). • It correctly states, “We desire what we pursue, and we pursue what we desire.” (p. 238).Despite these valuable insights, The Dynamic Heart left me with a number questions I would like to pursue with the author if I had the opportunity.They include:• His statement that God designed hearts for a singular purpose: worship (pp. 23, 55, 101). While worship of God surely takes priority this seems too narrow. When one engages in non-worshipful activities, e.g. work, play, eating, etc., is the heart in sin? At best it would seem that worship is being defined too broadly. Pierre does say “The most important context of the heart’s reasons is God himself” (p.109), with that I whole-heartedly agree.• The author speaks of intuition as the preprocessing that drives human processing (p. 37). The author defines intuition as “nothing different than people’s deeply held beliefs, desires and commitments driving their response to everything around them.” But the word “intuition” is not a biblical one and normally would not be assigned such a definition. I am uncomfortable with labeling Christian concepts through the use of words not found in Scripture and that are easily confused with other ideas.• While Pierre believes in the fallenness of humanity and the corruption of sin (pp. 55-60), I would have liked more discussion on total depravity. The heart is not neutral, being corrupted by sin and strengthened by faith. The heart is totally depraved from the beginning of life. Viewing the heart as corrupt and fallen is not significantly emphasized. It is true that at regeneration the human heart is given a new capacity for godliness but this needs to be better clarified.• Similarly, while the author mentions the battle between the flesh and the Spirit (pp. 78-81), this struggle is not well addressed. The New Testament, when dealing with our spiritual warfare, focuses on the flesh and the Spirit (Gal 5:16-23); this interplay is seldom mentioned in the book. I am not sure how Pierre makes connection between the flesh and the heart.• Pierre (while clearly demonstrating its flaws) gives more credence to psychological testing, such as the Meyers-Briggs, than I believe is warranted (p. 96).• His section on self-image and self-love (pp. 124-144) left me with numerous questions as to where he is taking these concepts. Since both terms have their roots in modern psychobabble careful handling is necessary.• Pierre’s statement that some “people’s experience of gender does not perfectly match their given biological sex” is confusing (p. 132).• The author’s short discussion of involuntary victimhood needs further development as to what he means (pp. 133-134).• Pierre accepts “already-not yet” eschatology (p. 38).• His views that prayer reshapes desire (p. 220) and is a vital part of seeking the presence of God (p. 236), lacks biblical support and, in fact, in the book no Scripture is used to back either idea.• As is common today, Pierre uses the word “gospel” to describe broader categories than the good news definition found in the New Testament (p. 231).• The idea that Jesus lived dying the whole way (p. 232) at the very least needs more explanation.Even with the above issues, most of which could probably be clarified by the author, I would recommend this book, but not to the average reader. It is designed as a textbook, a manual for biblical counselors, and best utilized by those who have already studied such material intensely.Reviewed by Gary E. Gilley, Pastor-teacher, Southern View Chapel

While reading this book was not my first encounter with this material (as I was privileged to sit in on one of Dr. Pierre’s classes at SBTS wherein he summarized much of it, on one occasion), it fleshed out his ideas and their application a little more, and served as a great reinforcement of what I had already learned from him.With regard to the material itself, however, I need to say this: this is one of the most clear, careful, concise, and practical presentations of a scriptural theology of the human heart that I’ve come across so far (not that I’ve read dozens of biblical counseling books, myself). It is my opinion that anyone involved with intentional, interpersonal Christian ministry would benefit immensely from reading this book carefully and repeatedly.Note the commendation by bibilcal counselor Dr. Heath Lambert in the front matter of the book: “Christians are privileged today to have access to many books that are true and helpful. But every now and then a book comes along that is truly brilliant. The Dynamic Heart is such a book. Dr. Pierre expertly weds a theology of the soul and an explanation of the practice of personal care to create one of the most important books ever written in the biblical counseling movement. Every student and practitioner of counseling needs to become familiar with the concepts in this book.” Quite a review, from someone of no mean reputation in the biblical counseling world!In his book Dr. Pierre explains, among other things, 1) the importance of understanding how human beings usually respond “intuitively” to their environment, on a less-than-fully-conscious level, although they are still accountable for their responses; 2) the responses of the heart always involve at least three functions, all biblical and important to consider: cognitive (thinking), affective (feeling), and volitional (willing) functions; 3) each function of the heart reveals deeper issues: cognitive responses reveal deeply held beliefs, emotions reveal deeply held values/desires, and choices reveal a person’s deepest commitments; 4) the heart in all its functions was created fundamentally to worship God, in the context of its relationship to Him, to other people, to circumstances, and to self; 5) because of the Fall, the heart is corrupted in all its functions, and is profoundly self-focused; 6) faith, the fundamental instrument of salvation by Christ, progressively restores the heart in all of its functions, to worship God again and live for Him in all of life.Pierre is also very sensitive to the complexity of issues like mental health, the fallenness of our physical bodies (including our brains), and the distinction between “passive” and “active” responses of the heart to our environment. He is careful to always dignify human beings as truly responsible spiritual and moral agents, yet he also acknowledges that human fallenness involves true forms of “brokenness” which are not always direct results of our personal sin. Thankfully, salvation in Christ addresses humanity in all aspects of its fallenness and on the Last Day of resurrection there will not only be moral perfection in all the hearts of Christ’s people, but also physical and mental disease will be no more. Until that Day, ministers and counselors must exercise patience and have realistic (though hopeful) expectations for the renewed capacity for godly heart-responses on the part of their counselees.In the latter part of the book, Dr. Pierre outlines a four-step approach to counseling people (not in strict chronological order, but as a basic logically-ordered approach that will often be cycled through and involve much overlap in real-life counseling situations). The steps include “Read” (asking questions that will reveal how the heart is responding in each of its functions in the relevant contexts of self, world, God, etc.), “Reflect” (helping the person to understand their own heart-responses in a biblical way...what one mentor of mine referred to as “holding up the mirror” for them), “Relate” (relating Christ’s accomplishment of salvation and the full breadth of its biblical implications to the person’s situation, so that they may have their heart-responses renewed by faith in Christ), and “Renew” (encouraging specific, concrete actions for the counselee to take in order to reinforce renewed responses of the heart that are consonant with faith in Christ and worship of God, with all that entails).There are a number of very helpful charts and illustrations throughout the book, and especially toward the end there are dozens of specific examples of the kinds of questions that would be helpful in a counseling situation, along the lines sketched out in the conceptual parts of the book.This book is theologically nuanced and precise, and I found only a sentence or two here or there where I thought, “I might say that differently,” or “I might qualify this in another direction.” On the whole, though, I would challenge any reader to find a more careful or more biblically balanced modern book on human beings as complex image-bearers of God responsible for worshipful responses of the heart in all circumstances and relationships of life.The most critical thing I can say about this book is that the editing is very rough this go-around. I should have kept track of the issues and page numbers, but I didn’t. Oops. The substance of the book is no worse off for it, though.If you are involved in personal discipleship on any level--parenting, small group leadership, Bible study, formal counseling, preaching, classroom Bible teaching--please consider reading this gem of a publication.

Short: WHAT DID I JUST READ! (reader's mind is blown-up and reconstructed)Long: As a Christian who has grown up and received biblical training from seminary, the heart's importance was an obvious reality. However, with a combination of new pastoral ministry experience, struggles with depression and other issues, and real daily life, I was challenged to really take stock of my Christian life, but I when examining my heart, I didn't have categories to properly address the problems within and apply the Biblical truths of the Gospel to it.In short, Dr. Pierre brings deep exposition to God's design of the inner being of his imagebearers, how sin has afffected that good design, and how the Son of God redeems our hearts! Though he may seem very redundant, Pierre accomplishes the goal of engraving a more biblical framework for understanding our hearts not just for our self-soul care but also for counseling others!This work need to be given to every pastor, church leader, and really layperson who wants to really know what it means when we say, "Yo, check your heart!"

Dr. Pierre argues that because we are spiritual beings, everything about us is spiritual. If this is true, then Scripture plays a much more important role in counseling than it is often given credit.Christian counselors must know what the Bible says about spiritual mankind, know each person's specific situation, and how the Bible is able to point them to the path of healing and change in Christ.

I love the teachings on the heart and utilize them in my counselling session to teach others about their hearts

Great book !