Customer Reviews

The Struggle

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Struggle" is a terrific book. Steve Gerali takes the time to show how American culture has stigmatized and shamed something without taking the time to understand it. More importantly, he only preaches where the Bible preaches; where it is silent he offers that we think and engage critically on the issue. When the Bible does take a stand, you will not find a stronger supporter. Moreover, I think Gerali's definitions of lust and sexual sin are better and more whole than any I have ever seen.

As a Youth Pastor, a man trying to follow the Lord, and a soon-to-be Father I have read "The Sexual Man", "Every Man's Battle", and "Every Young Man's Battle" (among others). "The Struggle" is the best of those books for several reasons: "Every Man's Battle" is a subjective take on lust and the issues therein. It is practical and useful, but it does not get to the heart of the matter as well as Gerali does. As a Youth Pastor I have slowly learned that there are no simple answers; my kids do not want or need a simple fix. They (and I) have been greatly renewed and freed by the purpose of Gerali's book: that we live in the freedom Christ offers, we take our lives before the throne and examine them, and we do not shame and guilt our way into a gospel of sin management.

I highly recommend this book for anyone desiring real answers and a powerful gospel message that relies on Christ. While I have enjoyed the above-mentioned books, and even found them helpful, Gerali's book is the best I have ever seen.

This book was the best I've read on the subject of the Christian's response to masturbation. Steve does a tremendous job of helping people come to their own Biblically-based stand on a difficult subject. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

This book does an incredible job of debunking myths about masturbation. The truth is that masturbation is a common struggle among men...and women. But what the book argues is that we do not have to be tied down by our sin because Christ has set us free and we do not need to be yoked by the bondage of masturbation. Dr. Gerali does an exellent job of looking into masturbation in the setting of past, present and future. I highly recommend this book, it is worth the read. It is very informative and interesting.

This is an excellent source for a bible study with young men in high school. It gives some very interesting historical data that is actually quite entertaining that I used to "break the ice" with my group. It then goes on to analyze all the supposed verses in the bible that people have used in the past to address masturbation. The exegesis is excellent in every case. The author ends the book by offering a very practical outlook on the subject, but still emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this to all young men and all high school counselors.

Great book! Really breaks down the history of masturbation and why Christians believe what they do about it and let's you make an informed decision about it. This book was pretty freeing for me. I won't go into details though lol.

I was very happy with the book. It arrived in the alotted time. I would buy from them again.

Although the information on myths about masturbation was excellent, and the biblical commentary was above par, the question "Is masturbation a sin?" was not answered. I agree that it may be relative to the individual, but Gerali should not have had a pretense of perhaps answering that question. He should have made it perfectly clear that he was not going to answer the question so the reader would not be expecting formal guidance.

However, the book company is called TH1NK from NavPress, so it does get people thinking, and I guess it at least accomplished that job.

Contrary to the reviews below, the book is a fairly shallow look at what the Bible says. A better book is 'Not Even A Hint'.

To summarize it (and you can read some excerpts) 'The Stuggle' throws this behavior in with whether you eat meat offered to idols. However, the author fails to mention that we are commanded to avoid sensuality, immorality or impurity. It argues that because the specific word is not used, we are free to decide on our own.

Actually, had the book pursued the concept that we are to treat it the same as the early Christians were to treat meat offered to idols, it would have come up with the opposite conclusion. The book would have concluded that we can do nothing that could cause someone else to stumble, or that we feel guilty about.

It would have been better if the author had emphasized confession and forgiveness. Explain the power of sensuality, that we are called to avoid it, and that if we confess, God will forgive.

As a former member of the Navigators, I am disappointed they put out this book.

Ron, former youth worker and short term missionary.