This book is sub-titled “the use of means for communion with God” and indicates that it has plenty of practical pastoral counsel to offer those seeking to live free from sin in fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On the surface it could almost be a self-help book. Each chapter is broken up into several sections, firstly some scriptures, then an illustration or two leading into the main subject matter under consideration, this is followed by a “discuss the issue” series of questions, a “solve the scenario” section and finally a list of resources for each chapter entitled “Sit at the feet of Christ centered, experiential teachers.” This approach is one that challenges and invites the reader to examine himself in a healthy way. The publisher indicates the doctrinal slant that underlies the content, it is Calvinistic and Reformed but encouraging an experiential holy life, much in the vein of the Puritans writings. In fact there are a good number of illustrations from John Bunyan and his famous book “Pilgrims Progress.” Five chapters have the word ‘grace’ in their titles, “the grace of humility, of confession, repentance, prayer and of law.” Motives for repentance are examined and a long catalogue of sins too seldom confessed makes up one whole chapter. It is not often that we come across books that open up sin in the life of a believer like this one does. Remember, that the aim of all is to not simply open up issues regarding sin, but to bring the reader into meaningful, open communion with God in Three Persons. Because it is unusual for Christians other than those from a Reformed background to have a book like this come into their hands it makes it all the more worthwhile to obtain a copy and thoughtfully go through it, and perhaps in small group study as well.
