Christian Author's Handling of Lust Applauded by Reviewers
by Rebecca Grace
September 14, 2004
(AgapePress) - Lust is not just a "guy problem" -- it's a human problem, says author Joshua Harris in addressing the topic. He warns his readers that unless it is confronted honestly, lust can destroy relationships and lives.Harris, author of the best-seller I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl, takes a direct and insightful look at a common issue facing males and females as they live in a sexually impure world. Harris addresses the topic of lust in his 186-page book titled, Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust (Multnomah Publishers Inc., 2003).
"One of the things that title reminds me of is how much I need God's help .... I can't live a pure life before God on my own strength," Harris said of the phrase, not even a hint, which he believes is a statement of God's high standard for sexual purity.
Therefore, he uses a three-step approach to directly attack sexual impurity from a Biblical viewpoint by discussing the following: (1) The Truth About Lust, (2) In the Thick of the Battle, and (3) Strategies for Long-Term Change.
Instead of dancing around the "forbidden" topic, Harris encourages readers to develop a custom-tailored, Scripture-based plan for defeating lust. As in his other books, he uses a variety of anecdotes to relate to his readers and share in their similar struggles.
Harris' book is delicately written for both males and females. Online reviewers describe it as "insightful" and "profoundly deep." One in particular notes that Harris does not set a legalistic or impossible standard for his readers.
"What I appreciate about Not Even a Hint is that the author's stance on sexuality is utterly biblical; it is rooted in grace," the reviewer writes, adding that Harris acknowledges and "celebrates" the fact that God made humans as sexual beings. "[Harris] doesn't trample on attraction as a sin. He thanks God for His goodness in making men and women to be drawn to one another in complimentary ways and points to the precious gift of marriage as God's intended setting for the fullest expression of our sexuality."
Rebecca Grace, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a staff writer for AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association. This article appeared in the September 2004 issue.
