Having had the opportunity to hear the Author and Pastor of this book preach, we looked forward to reading the book. The candor and openness in which the author writes of his own experiences, allowed my emotions to surface and I could easily evaluate and examine my own in light of scripture. The book is very relatable, stretching and urging a response on the reader from the pages in those areas where thinking or feelings need correcting.
As a biblical Christian there is a responsibility to be diligent in theology and doctrine, and it was helpful teaching to have biblical examples of how properly to look at our human emotions and how this relates in our relationship to God. The portions of the book we fond most helpful were on biblical authority, God’s truth, forgiveness and anxiety and worry. This is a comprehensive book and there is much to learn, so it will be read more then once. Thank you Pilgrim Radio for reading this book on the air.
With this said, one thing worth mentioning: A lot of people tend to come into faith with their feelings and emotions strongly guiding them, and doctrine and theology is usually relegated as a secondary concern, if it’s a concern at all. In the last pages of this book’s chapter on pg. 206, the author states “For some reason many evangelicals have become suspicious of the emotions and generally discount them.” I would just say, that it seems it is not emotions that many evangelicals are suspicious of, but ‘emotionalism’ which completely sets aside the practice of doctrine and biblical instruction from scripture for proper worship of God and living the Christian life, but it was not missed what was written in Chap. 4 the author does teach that we are to use our emotions as God intends, Gal. 5:23, in a biblical manner, sober minded, reasonable, and sensible and exercising good judgment. Rom. 12:3; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:12. Thank you for writing on this important topic.
Copyright © 2009 Brain S. Borgman
Publisher - Crossway
ISBN: 13: 978-1-4335-0363-4
Reading/Reviewed: March 6, 2010