21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Perfect Father, April 9, 2005
When many hear the world 'God', they feel uneasy. It's a word that may evoke pictures of an old man in the sky, angry at us for everything we've done, a distant, overwhelming authority figure. This isn't how God is portrayed in the Bible, not at all. Floyd McClung's "The Father Heart of God" goes about setting things straight, using scriptural evidence along with his experience as a counsellor and missionary.
God is like the perfect father, loving, patient and always there for us, but this is a truth that many find hard to accept. Hearing the word 'father' often can evoke visions of one's own father, McClung says. If one's father was abusive and violent, they will see God as abusive and violent. If one's father was strict and unforgiving, they will see God as strict and unforgiving, even though the Bible tells us this is clearly not the case. In his work, McClung has met so many scarred both emotionally and spiritually by a poor father.
When I heard about McClung's idea, I must admit I was a little skeptical. Past hurts makes it harder to come to God, yes, but surely people wouldn't mistake God for the behavior of their biological father, would they? As I read the book, I realized it applied to me too. My dad, though a great guy, worked very hard when I was growing up, and wasn't at home for very often. Even though his work was just up the road, he felt so far away. I believe in God, love him, and am doing my best to follow him, but sometimes I have felt that even though he is really close in my life, that he is distant from me for some reason. Where did I get this idea from? The example of my father! Though only a minor example compared to some in the book, I was rather shaken and humbled by the realisation.
So if God is like a father, but not like my father, you may ask, what kind of father is he? What does he want from me? What does he think? What does he feel? Where has he been all my life? McClung provides the answers in a series of well written, flowing chapters, along with strategies for getting rid of all the hurt of the past. Strategies (hand in hand with prayer) that work. I got a lot out of the chapter on "the Saul Syndrome", an analysis of the dysfunction of King Saul, the first Israeli king, applied to modern life.
It's a thin book, doesn't take long to read, but is filled to the brim with life changing material. I'd recommend it to Christians seeking to strengthen their relationship with God and to fathers looking to improve upon their loving environment in which they surround their children (there's a whole chapter devoted to fathers).
Those who are searching for truth or are new to the idea of God will get a lot out of this book too. McClung does interchange the word Jesus with God, with little explanation to the newcomer as to why, which could get a bit confusing, not a good feeling when you're all searching and vulnerable. Isn't Jesus a son and not a father, the newcomer might ask? I suppose you've just got to remember that Jesus came to show us what God is like. "Like father, like son" as the old saying goes.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revolutionary Thinking in the Age of Victimization, February 14, 2001
In God's design of the family, the father serves the role of priest, prophet and king. He provides the leadership and vision while setting the spirit of the home. He meets the physical and emotional needs of those in his charge. And he loves his family with a selfless and undying love, focusing on their best interests.
The selfish nature of humanity, however, tears down this design with alarming regularity. Men (and women) create pain and suffering in families and other social situations through their self-centered pursuits. The fallout is generations of individuals who equate the actions of people with the heart of God.
In this book, Floyd McClung leaves no stone unturned in the process of turning people towards the heart of God. Mixing the truth of the Bible with a love that comes from his own personal experiences, the author shows the reader how God truly views His creation. With sensitivity to the pain associated with rejection and abuse, McClung lays out the facts about the character of God in contrast to the sinful nature of man. The stark contrast will leave the reader with only one conclusion: God loves me unconditionally.
This book is an excellent resource for counselling professionals, victims of abuse and for Christians who want to know God in a deeper way.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly challenging and helpful book, August 2, 2000
By A Customer
I found "The Father Heart of God" to be deeply challenging and I would whole heartedly suggest it to anyone who has a desire to improve their relationship with God. Floyd is a fascinating author that punctuates the theological material with emotive real-world examples making the book a gripping read. Though he challenges many of the wrong impressions of God, this is far from being a negative book, as the overal aim is to build an accurate, biblical picture of God and His relationship with us.
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