Today I'm adding 'Sex is not the problem (lust is)' by Joshua Harris to the Master Reading List under the category of Sex (Available from Amazon).
Sexual immorality is a huge problem in our culture. And Christians are not free from this favourite technique of Satan for ensnaring people in sin. Not surprisingly then, Harris' book is just one among many Christian books on sex. But what makes his different is that he calls attention to the fact that sex is not the problem, lust is. Thus in his second chapter Harris rightly shows that the sex drive is a good drive to drive us in a healthy direction toward the opposite sex - a strong desire to have sex is not wrong. But lust is wrong. What is lust? 'Lust is an idolatrous and ultimately insatiable desire that rejects God's rule and seeks satisfaction apart from Him.'
And once Harris has established that lust is clearly the problem, he spends the rest of the book equipping the Christian soldier in their battle against lust. The most important chapter is chapter three which shares the gospel with the reader - as without a correct understanding of the gospel you will never come close to conquering the sin of lust. Then chapters follow on:
- identifying when you are most vulnerable to lust so you can address those times (e.g. time of day, in front of the internet);
- how men and women can help each other in the struggle;
- masturbation (don't do it, it's self-centred sex);
- the media (primarily television);
- accountability partners;
- common lies you feed yourself about lust and their Scriptural antidotes (e.g. I can't control my sex drive; porn won't affect me);
- encouragement to work on spiritual disciplines in general (e.g. prayer, scripture, local church);
- the internet.
The book is well written and contains many illustrations throughout, both from Harris' own experience and the experiences of others.
If you want to get serious about sexual immorality in your life, you must start by conquering lust. And Harris' book is a most helpful weapon against it.
Showing posts with label Harris-Joshua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harris-Joshua. Show all posts
July 09, 2011
May 27, 2011
Courting: Boy meets girl by Harris
Today I'm adding 'Boy meets girl' by Joshua Harris to the Master Reading List under the category of Courting (Available from Amazon).
Most of us can sympathise with the book of Proverbs when it says: 'There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden' (Proverbs 30:18-19). Romantic relationships are indeed complicated and usually surpass our understanding. Particularly when they involve our own pursuit of a spouse.
But Joshua Harris is here to help as he wades into the difficult subject and teaches us the basics of Christian courting. In the first part of 'Boy meets girl' we are taught what is:
(i) purposeful romance (the relationship should have marriage as its goal);
(ii) wise romance (not just romantic feelings);
(iii) a right decision about who to marry and when.
Then in the second part of the book Harris gives counsel to those courting on:
(i) growing as friends;
(ii) communication;
(iii) the roles of men and women;
(iv) involving your local church in your courtship;
(v) maintaining sexual purity.
The third part suggests items that should be discussed before the marriage, including past sexual sin.
Overall, the book gives much wise counsel for would-be husbands and wives. Not only that, the book is easy to read and interspersed with helpful (and often entertaining!) illustrations.
If you want to understand the way a man should behave with the maiden he wants to marry, Harris is a most helpful guide.
Most of us can sympathise with the book of Proverbs when it says: 'There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden' (Proverbs 30:18-19). Romantic relationships are indeed complicated and usually surpass our understanding. Particularly when they involve our own pursuit of a spouse.
But Joshua Harris is here to help as he wades into the difficult subject and teaches us the basics of Christian courting. In the first part of 'Boy meets girl' we are taught what is:
(i) purposeful romance (the relationship should have marriage as its goal);
(ii) wise romance (not just romantic feelings);
(iii) a right decision about who to marry and when.
Then in the second part of the book Harris gives counsel to those courting on:
(i) growing as friends;
(ii) communication;
(iii) the roles of men and women;
(iv) involving your local church in your courtship;
(v) maintaining sexual purity.
The third part suggests items that should be discussed before the marriage, including past sexual sin.
Overall, the book gives much wise counsel for would-be husbands and wives. Not only that, the book is easy to read and interspersed with helpful (and often entertaining!) illustrations.
If you want to understand the way a man should behave with the maiden he wants to marry, Harris is a most helpful guide.
January 20, 2011
Committing to church: Stop dating the church by Harris
Today I'm adding the Stop dating the church by Joshua Harris to the Master Reading List under the category of Committing to Church (Available from Amazon).
One of the biggest problems with people today is a lack of commitment: a lack of commitment to employers, a lack of commitment to friends, even a lack of commitment to spouses.
So it is not that surprising that people lack a commitment to church, particularly when it is so easy to join in with the mainstream media and throw stones at it.
Joshua Harris understands this perennial lack of commitment and his book encourages Christians to stop dating the church and settle down with her instead.
Firstly, Harris point out how church daters cheat themselves, the local community and the world. Then he moves onto the most powerful argument for why a Christian should commit to a church by showing what a church dater looks like from God's perspective: you are not just scorning anyone, you are showing contempt for the bride of Christ, the family of God, the body of Christ, the temple of God! The rest of the book outlines the benefits of the local church (globally and locally) and how to commit to one.
If you know a Christian that is not a member of a local church give them this book. They will profit, you will profit, the church will profit, the world will profit.
One of the biggest problems with people today is a lack of commitment: a lack of commitment to employers, a lack of commitment to friends, even a lack of commitment to spouses.
So it is not that surprising that people lack a commitment to church, particularly when it is so easy to join in with the mainstream media and throw stones at it.
Joshua Harris understands this perennial lack of commitment and his book encourages Christians to stop dating the church and settle down with her instead.
Firstly, Harris point out how church daters cheat themselves, the local community and the world. Then he moves onto the most powerful argument for why a Christian should commit to a church by showing what a church dater looks like from God's perspective: you are not just scorning anyone, you are showing contempt for the bride of Christ, the family of God, the body of Christ, the temple of God! The rest of the book outlines the benefits of the local church (globally and locally) and how to commit to one.
If you know a Christian that is not a member of a local church give them this book. They will profit, you will profit, the church will profit, the world will profit.
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