Reviewed by Charli G. on

1 of 5 stars

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I have to say it - I did not like this book. At all. John MacArthur starts the book off by basically stating that all illnesses, physical and mental, are the products of a relationship with God that is not quite right. While yes, sometimes physical and mental ailments can be attributed to a person's relationship with God not being quite what it should be, this is not always the case. In fact, there are many people who are "right with God" and are still afflicted with mental and physical ailments.

I do agree with the author's assessment that our society has found a way to ignore our consciences and assign our guilt to something other than our own sinful nature. However, I do not agree that you may not be a Christian if you get angry with people easily or if you harbor unforgiveness toward someone. That is part of being human and frankly, it is something to be worked on, but it does not mean that you are not a Christian.

Finally, I take high offense to the idea that altar calls, which are done is most churches that I have attended, are manipulative things that mean nothing and that no free will is involved in a person's salvation or forgiveness. God does not forgive us of our sins until we actually make the decision to come clean to him about what we have done and ask for his forgiveness. If we do not ask for his forgiveness, he does not give it to us. But if free will is not a part of it, then we will never ask because we cannot make that choice.

All in all, this book flies in the face of everything I have ever been taught - in multiple churches that I have attended and I find much of this book to be self-serving to the author's beliefs.

(I read the paperback version, which Goodreads does not list.)

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 23 April, 2012: Finished reading
  • 23 April, 2012: Reviewed