“Respectable what? Respectable sins?” exclaims the worried-looking customer on our church bookstall, which I run. It’s fun to watch their bemused reaction when they spot this book!
As the sub-title indicates, Respectable Sins is about tackling the sins we tolerate - the ‘subtle’ sins which, as Jerry points out, we in reality consider ‘refined’ or ‘acceptable’. What honest Christian doesn’t sometimes convince himself a certain sin is ‘OK’?
Jerry has had a long, valuable ministry among students and in the community, and what he writes is relevant to all Christians. He is one of my favourite authors and his books have stood the test of time. His first book, ‘The Pursuit of Holiness” (1978), has sold over one million copies. You are always spiritually the better for reading one of his books.
In the first five chapters, Jerry looks at how the concept of sin is disappearing, it’s awful power, the remedy for sin, and the Holy Spirit’s power to combat it. There is then a helpful chapter with guidance on dealing with specific sins, followed by the core of the book, fourteen chapters examining in turn individual sins that we tend to consider ‘acceptable’. Finally, there is a practical chapter - Where do we go from here?
The core chapters cover some of the more obvious ‘respectable’ sins - e.g. pride, selfishness and anger, but also sins that we often rationalize as ‘OK’ - e.g. frustration, envy, lack of self-control, irritability and ingratitude. The style is easy to read, but the content is challenging and thought-provoking. I found that every single core chapter exposed my hidden sinfulness and made me wince. There is a great balance between the ‘negative’ and the ‘positive’. Assured that God no longer counts our sin against us, and extremely thankful for that, as Jerry says, ‘This twofold effect of encouragement and gratitude together produces in us a desire to deal with our sin’.
Respectable Sins is a book that can be used in many ways. I have recommended it at church; our Ladies’ Reading Group are currently reading it together and using it one-to one; and it could also form the basis for a sermon series, midweek prayer meetings and home group studies.
If we are serious about seeking to be more Christlike personally and towards others, then this book’s wise, biblical, practical and positive teaching is an excellent aid. It’s a book that you won’t regret reading.
Richard John,
