Comments on: Challies on Discernment http://www.byron-harvey.com/2006/10/challies-on-discernment/ refusing to drink the kool-aid for anyone Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:59:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Byron http://www.byron-harvey.com/2006/10/challies-on-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-12057 Byron Sat, 14 Oct 2006 17:47:46 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2006/10/12/challies-on-discernment/#comment-12057 Well, I mostly agree with you in this, Matt: they are in different categories. I'm more critical of Jabez than are you, though; I think that Wilkinson was extremely shoddy in his "exposition" of that obscure part of Scripture (in addition to the quasi-magical stuff). I'd not recommend his book to anybody, because I think he handles Scripture pretty poorly. That said, if someone told me he was bound and determined to read one of the two books, it'd be no contest. Well, I mostly agree with you in this, Matt: they are in different categories. I’m more critical of Jabez than are you, though; I think that Wilkinson was extremely shoddy in his “exposition” of that obscure part of Scripture (in addition to the quasi-magical stuff). I’d not recommend his book to anybody, because I think he handles Scripture pretty poorly.

That said, if someone told me he was bound and determined to read one of the two books, it’d be no contest.

]]> By: Matt http://www.byron-harvey.com/2006/10/challies-on-discernment/comment-page-1/#comment-12054 Matt Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:35:45 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2006/10/12/challies-on-discernment/#comment-12054 <b>I agree with your point about our need for discernment!</b> However, I differ with you on your illustrations a bit. Reading one and having read the other, I think that "Your Best Life Now" and "The Prayer of Jabez" are radically different books--not at all in the same category. The problem with Osteen's book is its baptized worldliness. The problem with Wilkinson's is not so much the content (it is basically an exposition of an obscure portion of scripture) as the quasi-magical way it has been applied by people who bought it off of the New York Times Bestseller list. I can actually give it a qualified recommendation (while not thinking that it necessarily should be a best seller). But again, the main point of your post is undeniable. I agree with your point about our need for discernment!

However, I differ with you on your illustrations a bit. Reading one and having read the other, I think that “Your Best Life Now” and “The Prayer of Jabez” are radically different books–not at all in the same category.

The problem with Osteen’s book is its baptized worldliness.

The problem with Wilkinson’s is not so much the content (it is basically an exposition of an obscure portion of scripture) as the quasi-magical way it has been applied by people who bought it off of the New York Times Bestseller list. I can actually give it a qualified recommendation (while not thinking that it necessarily should be a best seller).

But again, the main point of your post is undeniable.

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