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literarymary95's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
5.0
This book is great for any Christian at any stage of their life. I really appreciated reading it at my current life stage (being a SAHM while working full time remotely) as it caused me to see the areas where idolatry could be creeping into my life.
curtmize's review
5.0
One of the most painful and helpful books I've ever read. It helps to reveal the heart, which is never pleasant and always beneficial.
dbg108's review
3.0
It's a bit unfair for me to review this book since I'm not the intended audience. I do appreciate what Bigney is trying to do in the book, and I think he manages it fairly well.
But 2 major pitfalls: 1) There's a lot of spiritual bypassing in this book. I wish Bigney offered a much more sophisticated look at social-emotional issues underpinning what's "wrong" in people's lives instead of using spiritual language to obfuscate what's really going on. Is it idolatry, or does the marriage just need some better training in empathy and communication? I suppose it could be both.
2) The Bible writers' obsession with idolatry is a matter of worship centralization. They wanted worship situated on YHWH alone in Jerusalem alone (rather than worship involving other deities at different locations). That was as much of an evolving political priority as it was a so-called spiritual or religious one. So when Bigney laments parents choosing their kids' soccer over church on Sunday and calls that choice idolatry, he's simply reinforcing the religious authorities' preference for centralized worship. The problem is that all this serves the religious authorities, the ones with the power. How do we know if the church itself isn't an idol of religious authorities own making?
If you read this and get something out of it, great. But I would recommend picking up Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero to go much deeper.
But 2 major pitfalls: 1) There's a lot of spiritual bypassing in this book. I wish Bigney offered a much more sophisticated look at social-emotional issues underpinning what's "wrong" in people's lives instead of using spiritual language to obfuscate what's really going on. Is it idolatry, or does the marriage just need some better training in empathy and communication? I suppose it could be both.
2) The Bible writers' obsession with idolatry is a matter of worship centralization. They wanted worship situated on YHWH alone in Jerusalem alone (rather than worship involving other deities at different locations). That was as much of an evolving political priority as it was a so-called spiritual or religious one. So when Bigney laments parents choosing their kids' soccer over church on Sunday and calls that choice idolatry, he's simply reinforcing the religious authorities' preference for centralized worship. The problem is that all this serves the religious authorities, the ones with the power. How do we know if the church itself isn't an idol of religious authorities own making?
If you read this and get something out of it, great. But I would recommend picking up Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero to go much deeper.
katiekoppin's review
5.0
Do not read this book unless you want to be challenged, convicted, encouraged and changed!
heddsomewhere's review
5.0
Have you ever thought that the reason why you struggle to grow and change as a Christian was due to idolatry?
Brad Bigney does an excellent job of using real-life stories to bring to light the idols that might be holding our hearts captive. In a way that only Pastor Brad can, he is honest in helping his readers to identify the idols in our lives and teaches us how to keep the Gospel at the centre of our lives.
Brad Bigney does an excellent job of using real-life stories to bring to light the idols that might be holding our hearts captive. In a way that only Pastor Brad can, he is honest in helping his readers to identify the idols in our lives and teaches us how to keep the Gospel at the centre of our lives.
danthemingo's review
4.0
This book deals directly with the idols we set up in our lives. A powerful look into self. It opened my heart to some things I may not have realized were there and challenged me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to find victory in their circumstance.
kamrynharned's review
challenging
fast-paced
4.75
The first few chapters of this book were ABSOLUTELY worth the read - it shed so much light on my heart, my anxieties, and really has facilitated some great conversations with my loved ones who have been affected by the idols of my heart. I had never drawn the line from idols to outward reactions before, so I’m so glad that that connection is now made so I can truly get to the bottom of conflicts/anxieties/frustrations. The writing style was, at times, OVERLY simple/cheesy and very run-of-the-mill preachy. Often times I took more away from the quotes included in the book from other Christian authors than from what the author had to say - but all in all, some very helpful concepts were discussed. The book could have been 75 pages and been just as effective.
jenennap29's review
4.0
Having been a Christ follower since the age of 8 I have learned what it really means to "go through the motions." I've essentially become so used to Jesus and my sins that I forget just how incredible my Savior is and how terrible my sin is in light of this. What this book did so well was exposed those sin areas that are holding me back from being fully free in Christ. I read this book as part of a summer bible study and the only thing we often found difficult to understand were some of the stories or broad ideas the author brought up, but it made for great discussion and "bible opening" as I like to call it!