Customer Reviews

Danger of Self-Love

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The book's logic, I am convinced, is terribly flawed, but I am most taken aback at the way, to be very blunt, it subverts the gospel.

I hesitate to make such serious "charges" (in part because I certainly do not want to be less charitable than is Dr. Brownback displays toward those with whom he differs), but I will cite just a couple of examples of why I am convinced that the book subverts the gospel.

On pages 89-90, Brownback cites Narramore and Counts to the effect that our standing with God depends solely on grace. He then suggests that their stance is problematic. I think Brownback's comments on Narramore's and Counts' stance are representative of his stance throughout the book.

On page 91, Brownback raises the question: "If we can sin without loss of blessing and if we need not fear chastening, what is to stop us from sinning?" It seems to me to be uncanny the way Brownback's question echoes Romans 6:1. Accurately proclaiming the gospel (the way Paul the Apostle sets it forth in Romans 1-5, and the way Narramore and Counts set it forth in Freedom from Guilt), invariably raises that question on the part of those who do not appreciate the way appreciating grace transforms the hearts of those who understand it. But the fact that Brownback raises the question suggests to me that he does not appreciate the freedom from pressure to perform that is the heritage of the believer who is assured that his standing with God depends, not on his performance, but solely on the work of Christ. (Brownback refers over and over to the fact that one's lovability or worth are rightly rooted in one's performance. See, for example, pages 67 and 88.)

I am afraid anyone who supposes that Brownback's message is biblical will be terribly misled.

Brownback simply compares Scripture with the current self-esteem teaching in most churches and the churches come up wanting. However, Brownback doesn't merely demolish the self-esteem hersey and leave it alone. He then proceeds to open the Scriptures to define God's solution. It is the clearest biblical look at the subject I have ever encountered. If you don't have it in your library, you are missing an important work.