The Pressure's Off: There's a New Way to Live [Paperback]

Larry Crabb (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 16, 2004

There are two basic approaches to life–two pathways. One creates pressure, the other provides freedom.

In the Old Way of life, as best-selling author, psychologist, and spiritual director Larry Crabb describes it, “you have decided that what you most want out of life is within your reach, and you are doing whatever you believe it takes to get it.” But in the New Way of life, “you have realized that what you most want is beyond your reach, and you are trusting God for the satisfaction you seek. You want Him. Nothing less, not even His blessings, will do.”

The Old Way–the way most Christians define life and pursue fulfillment–is fundamentally wrong and harmful. It leaves us tired, in bondage, and feeling distant from God. But the New Way brings true freedom and refreshment as we tap into the power to draw closer to God in a personal way.

“We can’t always make life work. But we can always draw near to God. There is a different way to approach our problems. There is a NEW WAY to live.” —Larry Crabb

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Expectations have never been higher. Without the most recognizable markers of success, many non-Christians and Christians alike feel dissatisfaction and a vague discontent with life. They seek after blessings and believe that the good life comes to those who follow the rules. Not necessarily so, states Crabb (Finding God), who has had his own trouble with such "linear" thinking. Crabb details how this behavior-leads-to-blessings theology has become endemic within the church today. This "Law of Linearity" no longer holds true, he claims. Instead, Christians can embrace the "Law of Liberty," discovering the embrace of God without the pressure to perform. For openers, Crabb lays the groundwork for his passionate plea to forsake restraints that bind. Far and above any blessing God may give, he says, Christians' most urgent need is for the Father himself. Crabb soberly describes how weary this generation of Christ's followers has become, and how far, to their own shame, they've distanced themselves from God's plan for humanity. While there's no simple cure for the rampant decay that results from self-centeredness, Crabb notes that genuine seekers can be recognized by where they expend their energies. Crabb, who at times reads as self-deprecating, offers statements that are catchy and thought-provoking but not gimmicky: "Only the mature value the blessing of presence over the blessing of presents." Crabb's message resonates convincingly, giving Christian readers who have embraced the gospel of good behavior some fresh food for thought. (Mar.)Forecast: Crabb has a solid sales record in the CBA, a market that will likely welcome this refreshing title. WaterBrook will simultaneously release a workbook for individual and group study.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for The Pressure's Off

“If, like me, you see blessing-centeredness rather than God-centeredness as a great weakness of American evangelicalism, you will hail this exploration of the freedom and joy of grace as timely therapy, a word in season that we all needed. May it be widely read and thoroughly digested.”
—J. I. PACKER, theologian and author of Knowing God

“The evangelical church, choking under a pervasive legalism/moralism that suffocates the human spirit, finds a powerful voice for freedom in Larry Crabb. Writing from the inside out, he presents a vibrant way of living with
passion and without pressure.”
—BRENNANMANNING, author of Ruthless Trust

“C. S. Lewis wrote about prosperity knitting us to this world, and while we are seeking our place in the world, the world is actually finding its place in us. Dr. Larry Crabb has constructed a compelling narrative that shows how we have imprisoned ourselves by using the world’s ways to ‘get something from God,’ instead of appropriating God’s way to receive something from Him.”
—CAL THOMAS, syndicated columnist and author

“Dr. Crabb not only gives us a clear mandate to celebrate Christian freedom, he also is our accompanist and exemplar on the Way of Freedom. You know he has walked that way with you. A remarkably personal message.”
—JAMES M. HOUSTON, Chancellor Emeritus and professor of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

“This book makes a very important statement about how to live the Christian life. It takes the Christian beyond the obstacles and disappointments and, above all, beyond the age-old enemy of self straight into the arms of grace. Once there, the pressure is off. A real worthwhile read.”
—FRANK RETIEF, Presiding Bishop, Church of England in South Africa

“At last we have a book that confronts contemporary Christian culture with its increasing tendency to be taken up with blessings more than the Blesser. I doubt whether anything Larry has ever written, or may write in the future, will contribute more powerfully to the needs of modern-day Christians than The Pressure’s Off.”
—SELWYN HUGHES, director of the Center for World Revival and author of Every Day with Jesus devotional

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578568455
• ISBN-13: 978-1578568451
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. In addition to various speaking and teaching opportunities, Dr. Crabb offers a week-long School of Spiritual Direction and a weekend conference, Life on the Narrow Road. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors. His many popular books include Inside Out, Finding God, Becoming a True Spiritual Community, The PAPA Prayer, Soul Talk, and his life work, 66 Love Letters. For additional information visit www.newwayministries.org.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has impacted me like few others August 15, 2002

By Jace Rhee

Format:Hardcover

Last year, Wild at Heart won the honors as the book that impacted me the most. This year, it is The Pressure's Off from Larry Crabb. And it has made an impact on me five times the amount that Eldredge's book has. That's really saying something.

This book was very convicting for me from the get go. I believe that this book has a strong effect on me because of circumstances in my life right now. As I read this book, I felt so transparent as to look at my life and realize that I truly have been seeking God's blessings more than God's presence. By doing this, Crabb says that we are really aiming for far less than God can give us.

A lot of what Larry mentions in the book is similar to what is found in John Piper's books. Our chief end on this earth is to delight in God and enjoy him. Sure, I understood that when I read Piper, but this book seems to put it in more applicable terms for me. That was one good thing about the book, that Crabb showed us his vulnerability and shortcomings through various examples in his life.

I won't go more into the book because I could go on for hours. You can read the description. It really made a lasting impact on me. I can't wait to read it again. For those of you who truly look at yourselves (like I did when reading this book), you will probably get something from the book. For who of us doesn't at some time or another put a comfortable life ahead of the presence of God? And deep down, we know that the things on earth do not satisfy, but we buy into it. This book can seriously make you question what you are living for.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One more step in Crabb's developing viewpoint January 21, 2003

By S. Knapp

Format:Hardcover

No author from the last 50 years has ever impacted me as Larry Crabb has. He has been my "literary mentor" since my days in college, and it has been a marvelous ride to watch his viewpoints and convictions about the human condition evolve and mature as time goes by. I've read everything he's written (balanced against other Christian authors in his field and even his critics), and I'm still impressed with his authenticity, candor and ruthless committment to his path to Christ in the face of often rigorous criticism.

"The Pressure's Off" has to be the most insightful book I've picked up in years. A piece of literary prose, it's not. Those who are not long-time readers of Crabb can quickly become disenchanted with his personable, oft-repeating style of writing. I think Crabb has taken into account that the average reader needs a concept reinforced OFTEN before it becomes understandable and concrete in his/her thinking.

I don't think Dr. Crabb intended his work to be a step-by-step practical manual to reach a point where the "pressure's off", as some readers seem to have been expecting. Another reviewer criticized his supposed shortfall of Scriptural usage; when I meet with an old friend whom I'm aware has known Christ intimately for years, I don't expect him to be spouting Scripture in every sentence he says to me to prove spirituality, but I hear Christ in almost every word because I know where he's come from. That's Dr. Crabb to me: I'm aware of where he's come from, he's an old "literary friend" in Christ to me, and I hear Christ solidly proclaimed in every word he wrote in all of his works, and this book in particular.

This book is philosophical, not necessarily "practical." Philosophy comes before practicum and methods in most courses of learning.... Many can't (or won't) be patient enough to endure this path toward maturity. I'm still learning. But I'm better off having taken a new path at this fork in my maturity path by realizing the "pressure's off" and I can live a NEW WAY! Thanks again, Dr. Crabb. I'm looking forward to your next book with great enthusiasm.!!!! Read more ›

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Honesty Throughout May 16, 2002

By Daniel Ray

Format:Hardcover

The text is not choc full of theology, nor is it scholarly. It's appeal is the ability to relate to the average middle class American. It reads like a USA Today newspaper, quick, short chapters and sentences, and clever phrasing. Dr. Crabb is even quite candid regarding his writing style ("Even biblical discussion of this New Way, what you've read so far in this book, can seem like cotton-candy theology.")
Yet, Dr. Crabb's honesty about his own personal struggles and conflicts in following Christ make this book worth reading. Eventhough a majority of the text seems to read like it was tailored for the "market" his candidness and openness shines through and challenges us to think about where we are and what we expect from our Christian lives. The overall thesis of the work resembles Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Dr. Crabb does not fear exposing the falicies of wanting God's blessings and not God and how that leads Christians into linear thinking (if I do "A" God will do "B" for me). He exposes the subtle legalism which can hinder, quench and frustrate the life of a believer. The text has confronted me with the reality of spiritual pragmatism in my own life, doing what is most effective to gain our middle-class creature comforts, using a variety of methods to extract blessings from God instead of seeking intimacy with God. Dr. Crabb proposes we've fallen short in understanding how we have been created to enjoy God through intimacy with Christ Jesus (Phil 3:10). Rather than enjoy God through Christ, Crabb says, we've fallen into the trap of believing we deserve God's blessings and thus we strive, struggle and seek out methods and devices for obtaining blessings from Christ and not Christ Himself and all His holiness.... The book falls short of perfection, of course, but I am certain Dr. Crabb knows that and wouldn't want it any other way. I fall short of perfection, too, in everything I do. Where we are weak Christ is strong. Here's to the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a good book for confronting the state of our cultural religious piety, and an excellent discussion book for aiding us in returning to the Lord who loves us much more than we can imagine. Read more ›