Customer Reviews

Inside Out

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I began reading "Inside Out" with a wait-and-see attitude, since I had heard it criticized as being "too psychological." I personally see psychiatry as valuable as long as it has a Biblical foundation, so I wanted to give Dr. Crabb the benefit of the doubt. I didn't really expect too much out of the book, especially since I had to read it for a class. But after a couple of chapters, my presuppositions were destroyed. When Dr. Crabb defined self-protection as a major sin holding many people in bondage, I knew that I was one of its chief practitioners.

As I read on, I could see how the hurts of my past had led me to practice self-protection, especially toward the opposite sex. I saw how insular I'd become, and that I had gradually ceased from taking relational risks with women. I rationalized my behavior by convincing myself that I was setting "boundaries" when in reality I was creating barriers. I have dedicated much of the last couple of years to knowing and loving God more, but I had failed to practice the other command that goes along with that: Love others as yourself.

I believe that God prepared my heart beforehand so that this book would have maximum impact. It cut through my barriers and exposed how the sin of self-protection has prevented me from reaching out and forming relationships. Since men are wired to be initiators, this was a terrible bondage to be in. I still had relational needs that were being denied, and at times I "medicated" them wrongly. But since I finished this book, I have sought to initiate more and take healthy relational risks. There's no quick fixes here, but there is the possibility of growth and progression in the right direction.

It's my desire that I not forget what I have read in "Inside Out," and actually apply its lessons to my life. I do not want to be bound by pain and living in a self-imposed prison. Yes, I realize that there is still the possibility of being hurt and spitefully used, and Crabb is realistic about that happening. I also know that my deepest needs will not be realized until I am face-to-face with God in Heaven. But while I'm here, I need to take the risk to love others regardless of how they may respond. Loving God and others more, and expressing that devotion in a healthy way is the best lesson one can learn from "Inside Out."

Crabb here offers some invaluable insights in what many people consider his best work. His theme, in accordance with the title, is that Christian maturity must come from the inside out. His goal is not just for believers to do good, but to be good.

The author opens his book by describing three common ways Christian maturity is mistakenly perceived to occur. The first way is by doing our Christian duty. This method is primarily a matter of willpower, and ends in discouragement. The second way is by depending on a special work of the Holy Spirit. This method is an improvement, but still does not compel us to face directly the sins in our hearts that may lie below the surface. The third way is by working through obstacles to growth. Psychologists who encourage us to examine unresolved issues in our hearts and minds champion this method. The shortcoming of this approach is that repentance of hidden sin never occurs.

In the remainder of his book, Crabb describes a new understanding of Christian maturity that combines the three ways just mentioned. The author then adds another dimension, that of repentance of deep sin. To identify this sin we must take an "inside look" that is illuminated by the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the people of God.

I recommend this work highly to Christian pastors, leaders, and professionals. For many believers the language may be too technical and intense, but apart from that shortcoming it is a very enlightening read. It is definitely worth the price!

Crabb's book focuses on the need to trust God and His love for us in changing our lives for the better.

Some of the principles Crabb mentions include:

1. Sometimes the ache in our hearts is due to a realistic appraisal of life.
2. Reasons why we should face our thirst for spiritual satisfaction.
3. Self-protection keeps us from relating to others in more profound ways.
4. We have no right to demand anything from God!
5. We must not be demanding of others - we will struggle with disappointing relationships.
6. We must allow God to help us clearly see ourselves as we really are.
7. How we can honestly face our thirst.
8. Most important of all - the gospel contains the power to change our lives for the better!!!

Read the book and prepared to be challenged and encouraged to change your life for the better!

This book was recommended to me during a crisis in my life. It took me a while to get through the book because Dr. Crabb was accomplishing 2 things: helping people deal with crisis and establishing a new way of thinking about such crises. The "help" comes in the beginning and ending sections of the book, which were the most helpful sections to me.

Because of Dr. Crabb's insight, I began to see the benefit of crisis as the birth of spiritual maturity. I have always considered chapter 2 in the biblical book of James as a passage written specifically to me:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

"Inside Out" explained this divine process of spiritual growth in such a way that I developed a deep appreciation for crisis, struggle, and yes, suffering. From that appreciation came sincere empathy-- something I quite frankly lacked, but always wanted.

I was strengthen so much by the book that I had my wife to read it, gave it to friends who also struggled in personal crisis, and asked members of my church's leadership team to read it (so we would be better at fostering spiritual maturity). In each instance, these individuals were confronted with issues that Dr. Crabb skillfully addressed. It truly is a challenging book and worthy "read."

Many books claim to have the keys to changing one's life in serious ways, but few actually complete the task. Most of them feed the mind with information which doesn't always make it's way easily to the heart. This book, however, is one of the very few that will strongly impact those who read it. I can honestly say my life was changed by God's work through this book. People reading this book do not have a choice but to look deep inside themselves and see what they have been hiding. It will expose the ways in which you are rebellious against God and either drive you closer to Him or drive you away. Good bye, luke warm Christianity!

You will read this book, if you'll able to, and it will hurt. And then it will hurt even more, and in a little while it will give you unbelievable spiritual pains to the points that you will see yourself as a Pharisee. Yes Brothers and Sisters Christians we are Pharisees. This book will blow away your hypocritical assurance of feel good moral Christian. Because we are not, we are liars to ourselves and to God. Good book, hard book. Recommend

If you are a pastor or not, read this book. I thought this book is going to be about psychology but it wasn't. I read this book because it was recommended by a book called "False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction (Paperback) by Harry W. Schaumburg"
The book is from a christian world view, and claims that the problems with people isn't mental disorder but the problems is from a fallen nature as the bible said. He also goes on to talk about the fact that we often try to use common sayings in the Christian world to sovle our problems, when they really don't. Some Christians will say that if your struggling with emotional problems, just study more, attend bible study and do all other kinds of Christian's duty to make things better. You can also ask the Holy Spirit to take your problems away. Why all these are good, sometimes Christians don't get to the root of the problem because of the image Christians try to protray that nothing is wrong. The one thing that I find that is helpful about the book is that, he does write that rather than asking God to take problems and past hurts away, ask hin to get you through it. Even if the pain is hurtful, like a cheating spouse, or divorce etc. While this is not what the world teaches us, the Scripture tell us that God is in control. Great book...

I enjoy Larry Crabb's books and think he brings enlightening and extremely thought-provoking Biblical/spiritual insights to psychological problems.

The first three-quarters of this book develops - maybe even "overdevelops" - a convincing thesis for the need to look deep into our hearts to identify the subtle sinful ways in which our unacknowledged prior hurtful experiences inhibit our ability to experience deep, healthy relationships with other people. However, in the last section, "Changing From The Inside Out", Dr. Crabb provides little in terms of specific techniques for using this knowledge to "improve" our hearts and, thereby, our relationships. At the end I felt I'd learned something that is, in theory, very powerful, but I'm frustrated because I can't quite tell what I'm supposed to do with this knowledge

The only reason I did not give this book a five is that after an incredibly penetrating and profound introduction the author spends too much time making his points. Other than that I would give this book a 10!!!!! In fact I am rereading it. Something I almost never do. As promised by Dr. Crabb this is a no holds bared journey to the depths of our souls and beyond. His insights into the sin nature we all struggle with and the cure for all evils, at times took my breathe away. More importantly my life has been changed by them. I am now much more at peace with myself and others. I no longer expect so much from them and neither do I expect so much from myself. There is much less struggle for "what is mine" and much more concern for what others need. Only read this book if you want the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the human condition... and yours too.

Dr. Larry Crabb does not sugar coat the truth about life in this fallen world. He addresses the underlying cause of sin in our lives and goes beyond the "thou shalt not's" that can lead to legalistic religion. This was an incredible book and I recommend it to anyone who is tired of fluffy Christianity.