by David Barrett, Elysse Barrett
“I read this book over a period of months with a small group Bible study, so I've had a lot of time to interact with it; and yet, I still find that I am undecided about the book's value. It's too bad that Shelfari does not offer a rating in between "I liked it" and "I didn't like it". Ultimately, I decided to give it the latter rating, but on another day I might have leaned the other way; who knows?
The author makes excellent observations about our culture and the challenges facing families today. I have issues with his treatment of some Bible texts he uses -- sometimes I think he puts more interpretation into certain verses than he pulls out -- but his conclusions are not heresy. They're just not as Biblically imperative as he makes them out to be.
My biggest problem with the book is in his application. I have a feeling that most families would be horrified of the family structure that he proposes. That doesn't make it necessarily wrong -- there are some good ideas here. I wish he would have presented it more from the perspective of a good alternative for those that are strong enough to handle it, rather than that this is the only possible conclusion you could come to if you have a Biblical worldview. I beg to differ.
The tone of the book is a bit melodrammatic, which tends to assume the worst in each possible scenario. This leads to an awful lot of straw men arguments. And those who are not still living in an original, traditional nuclear-family arrangement (as so few are today) will find most of his suggestions virtually impossible to apply.
I admire the author's strong, uncompromising stand, and I am glad that it seems to be working for his family, but I don't think his arguments that this is for all Christian families who want to obey Biblical mandates hold water. I will have a hard time recommending this book to most.”
Sean I wrote this review Monday, March 23, 2009.
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