John D. Street

Excellent work from Dr. John Street, though I am partial because he is a much loved professor and advisor! I read through this book alongside a counselee and it served as a trustworthy guide as we sought to navigate the waters of deep heart idols. For those hopelessly caught in the trenches of stubborn sexual sin, Dr. Street's analysis and exegesis of the Scriptures provide hope and direction.

The timeless and inexhaustible word of God reveals and exposes hidden heart idolatries that are operative in sinning heart. Rooting out these hidden idols is essential in winning the battle against sin. In a very helpful section, Dr. Street walks through 8 common and stubborn heart idols often involved in sexual sin. On one axes lies the hungering heart which seeks comfort, self-reward, flattery/praise, and power/control. On the other axes lies the hurting heart which is drawn to sexual sin through self-pity, discontentment, fear, and anger. At the root of all sin lies a covetous, demanding heart, disregarding God and commanding its own way through gratification. Often, these idols can lie dormant for a time or persist as a constellation of idols, making them harder to identify and put to death.

Oftentimes for Christians, the Bible is viewed simplistically as a manual of morals. God is little more than a therapeutic being who gives us what we want when we act ethically. Unfortunately, these thoughts have even crept into the church which has turned so quickly to psychotherapy and its sophisticated jargon for the answers to deep soul problems. Dr. Street's work, built on Scripture's sturdy foundation, is much more helpful. God is spoken of accurately and insights about how sin operates give hope for those stuck in sin's deceptive net. Lies need exposing and Christ as our Savior draws us back into fellowship with him as we confess our sin in all its variety and vileness (1 John 1:9).… (mais)