Seeing God: Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality [Paperback]

Gerald R. McDermott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

McDermott plumbs the work of Jonathan Edwards for insight into true spirituality. He offers 12 signs of the Spirit which can help readers chart their own spiritual growth and find their way among a confusing array of spiritual directions and spiritual directors today.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the New Age, where the practice of spirituality takes on such a variety of forms, how is the Christian able to discern the signs of an authentic Christian spirituality? McDermott (religion, Roanoke Coll.) offers sound guidance for Christians seeking answers to this question. In the first half of the book, he demonstrates the ways that some religious behavior, like the frequent and passionate praise of God, is very often a sign of superficial spirituality. McDermott then turns to Jonathan Edwards's treatise on religious affections to mark out the signs of a reliable Christian spirituality, including seeing the beauty of holiness and hunger for God. In elegant prose, McDermott recovers through Edwards a sense of the transcendent that much contemporary spirituality lacks. Essential for seminary libraries, but important for public libraries as well.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The joyful, God-centered theology that undergirds this book provides just the right foundation.....for a discriminating assessment of what is solid, and what is ephemeral, in a life of godliness." -- Mark A. Noll Wheaton College --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083081616X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830816163
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my top five books, March 28, 2000

By 

"soondoboo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing God: Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality (Paperback)

After reading this book I couldn't help but take time to carefully examine my own spiritual life. In a modern format McDermott write a "Cliff's notes" summary of Jonathan Edwards' work, Religous Affections. In three different categories he summarizes the unreliable signs of false spirituality and then gives us 12 reliable signs of true spirituality. He mixes biblical texts with his own comments as well as gives personal stories of people who illustrate these points. One could easily do a 12 week sermon series of this great book-one sermon per reliable sign. Please read this book!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read, but..., February 10, 2001

By 

Steve Lucas (Frisco, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing God: Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality (Paperback)

McDermott's "Seeing God" is a good read, but you would do better to pick up the original John Edwards, or one of Dallas Willard's texts.

McDermott does illuminate spirituality through his "twelve reliable signs;" however, he does not plumb the depth of spirituality in the way Edwards does with his "Affections."

This book would serve best in a high-school Bible class, or as a small group text for new believers. For those needing more meat, see J. Edwards.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McDermott Gives Good Intro for Postmodern Pilgrims, December 26, 2000

By 

"prewbee" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing God: Twelve Reliable Signs of True Spirituality (Paperback)

Excellent introduction to a vast 'gold mine' of deep spiritual insights available from Jonathan Edwards [really THE GREATEST thinker America ever produced] and leads you to deepen your spiritual life. Leads you into a largely 'uncharted territory' for mainstream 20th [oops 21st] Century American Christians--that great well of deep Christian theologians and thinkers of the mid 1600s to early 1800s. Preacher/Theologian/Writers like Edwards and Whitefield and Milton and others are great food for hungry postmodern pilgrims. I think McDermott lays good groundwork of which another good 20th Century Christian Preacher/Theologian/Writer has built upon and popularized even more, that is John Piper, who has really brought Jonathan Edwards to the forefront and Piper's writings are highly recommended as well as Dallas Willard. McDermott's book lead you to that place, as Piper calls it, of 'Being Delighted in God' as Dallas Willard puts it in his book 'Divine Conspiracy' "Knowing Jesus as an essential part of the here and now." In other words 'Seeing God' helps us to become people who are God-centered, God-treasuring, God-filled, God-honoring, God-glorifying with wholehearted, whole soul commitment. 'Seeing God' is a refreshing, introspective and challenging read. Get it and you won't be disappointed.