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David Powlison’s new book Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness looks to reveal the nature of anger and equip Christians to use it for good rather than evil. He first unpacks how we experience anger and reveals how we all have a problem with anger. Then he explores the nature of anger through the eyes of both a theologian and counselor, showing both how it can be a good thing but also reveals how for most it’s a negative thing. The third section of the book gives practical application on how to change from our negative uses of anger toward positive ones that flow from mercy and love. Last he deals with particularly hard cases: never getting over something, everyday irritability, anger at yourself, and anger at God.

When reading this book I was often reminded of the Dallas Willard quote how “Emotions make excellent servants but terrible masters.” Powlison does a wonderful job pushing its readers to make anger a good servant. He defines anger as the “active displeasure toward something that’s important enough to care about” (39), which indeed can be an excellent servant in the Christian tradition as it propels people to combat injustice throughout its history. In a moral universe, anger is a good necessity.

However, for most of us, anger has become a terrible master many times over. We become irritable over little things, argumentative, bitter, violent, or self-righteous. Throughout the book, Powlison shows from psychology, physiology, and Scripture what anger is about and how to work towards a use of anger that aids rather than detracts from the Christian witness. While he gives the readers tools throughout, he also recognizes the need of the Spirit to actually accomplish such a task. Without the Spirit, no matter how hard we try, anger will always be a problem.

I also like how each chapter concludes with good, diagnostic questions to help readers contemplate and use the material in each chapter. I’ve found in many books that the end of chapter questions don’t guide readers well, but Powlison’s book is the exception. I think his experience as a counselor has aided him here.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for personal benefit to help others deal with this emotion that so easily becomes a master that takes us away from design of God. I know it was helpful for me.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review.

John Piper’s newest book Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power explores with brevity and clarity how the Christian ought to respond to the issue of money, sex and power in light of the gospel. He argues that they are good things that when properly used deliver incredible benefits. He dives into each area: sex, money, and power to show the Christian vision, then spends the last two chapters showing how the gospel completely changes our perception and uses of these issues. Continue reading Book Review: Living in the Light →

Sam Allberry’s book Why Bother with Church? And Other Questions about Why You Need it and Why it Needs You provides a brief sketch of the importance of church commitment. Today’s Christians very often view church attendance as sort of a hobby to enjoy when desired. Allberry, though sympathetic throughout, sketches a vision of what the church is and should be that compels the reader to take it more seriously as well as explaining different components. Continue reading Book Review: Why Bother With Church? →

Paul Tautges’ book Counseling One Another: A Theology of Interpersonal Discipleship seeks to provide theological application of how believers should disciple one another. For Tautges, true biblical counseling and discipleship are one and the same, which at times requires the reader to adjust to his use of terms. After going into a brief history of how the emergence of psychology (even in Christian settings) is connected to loss of respect for the Bible’s authority, he devotes several chapters to unpack a biblical vision. Chapter 2 reveals how the Great Commission (Command for Tautges) makes true discipling a priority for every believer. The next several chapters expound on how this must be done. Chapter 3 shows that as depraved sinners, our wholeness must come not from looking inward but a supernatural conversion where God saves us. Chapter 4 deals will the need for active engagement in disciplines to produce godliness. The next chapter shows how other people engaging with compassion to bring us into alignment with God and help restore us into communion is essential. Chapter 6 reveals the necessity of God’s word in this process to reveal our sinfulness and call us to holiness. Chapter 7 then shows how psychology and secular counseling fall short of what the gospel can do. To use it departs from Scripture and relies on worldly wisdom. He ends the book by calling Christians into a deep, Christ-centered community and rejecting the selfish, consumerist mentality of many Christians that leaves them unable to move into deep holiness. Continue reading Book Review: Counseling One Another →

As a pastor, I’ve been able to witness first-hand how many young persons’ lives are damaged by parents whose interactions are dominated by anger. I see many students who then lash out with anger themselves or are just defeated because of the volatility within their house. That being said, I was greatly looking forward to Israel and Brook Wayne’s book Pitchin’ a Fit: Overcoming Angry and Stressed-out Parenting as a resource to implement in teaching, counseling, or to recommend for parents to read. Continue reading Book Review: Pitchin’ a Fit →