Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells

Rating:
Summary: Recommended for both Protesant and Orthodox readers!
Review: Although I've read a handful of books more than once, "Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells" is the first book that finished and started right over again!

I am a former Evangelical who had raised many questions about the Protestant church, but continued to hang on for lack of an alternative. It wasn't until I heard about the Eastern Orthodox Church at a lecture given by Frank Schaeffer in 1997, that I began investigating this pearl of great price.

Gallatin's book appeals to me in that he asked many of the same questions I did, but with his philosophical background, he approached them in greater depth. One friend of mine says that he attacks the rationalism of Protestantism using a rationalistic argument. This may be true, but some of us coming out of this background need to have head questions answered before we can commit our heart. (Once you become Orthodox, you realize this is all backwards.)

In the final chapter of this book, Gallatin writes, "I pray that Protestant readers have been challenged to come to grips with the inescapable inconsistencies of their theological heritage. I hope many of their misconceptions regarding the ancient Orthodox Faith have been dispelled. Most of all, I hope I have helped them to see Christianity in the light of its historical truth and its sacramental spirit."

He continues in the next paragraph with, "When it comes to Orthodox readers, my prayer is that this book has nurtured within them a deeper appreciation of their faith. Perhaps they have come to understand it better. Most of all, I hope that they will be able to use the perspectives presented here to help them as they share the truth of their faith in a predominantly Protestant society."

I would agree that he's on target on both counts. I'd recommend this title to both Protestant inquirers and Orthodox "evangelists."

Rating:
Summary: Recommended for both Protesant and Orthodox readers!
Review: Although I've read a handful of books more than once, "Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells" is the first book that finished and started right over again!

I am a former Evangelical who had raised many questions about the Protestant church, but continued to hang on for lack of an alternative. It wasn't until I heard about the Eastern Orthodox Church at a lecture given by Frank Schaeffer in 1997, that I began investigating this pearl of great price.

Gallatin's book appeals to me in that he asked many of the same questions I did, but with his philosophical background, he approached them in greater depth. One friend of mine says that he attacks the rationalism of Protestantism using a rationalistic argument. This may be true, but some of us coming out of this background need to have head questions answered before we can commit our heart. (Once you become Orthodox, you realize this is all backwards.)

In the final chapter of this book, Gallatin writes, "I pray that Protestant readers have been challenged to come to grips with the inescapable inconsistencies of their theological heritage. I hope many of their misconceptions regarding the ancient Orthodox Faith have been dispelled. Most of all, I hope I have helped them to see Christianity in the light of its historical truth and its sacramental spirit."

He continues in the next paragraph with, "When it comes to Orthodox readers, my prayer is that this book has nurtured within them a deeper appreciation of their faith. Perhaps they have come to understand it better. Most of all, I hope that they will be able to use the perspectives presented here to help them as they share the truth of their faith in a predominantly Protestant society."

I would agree that he's on target on both counts. I'd recommend this title to both Protestant inquirers and Orthodox "evangelists."

Rating:
Summary: From a Protestant perspective to the Orthodox Way...
Review: As a recent convert to Orthodox Christianity from Protestantism, I'm always looking for things pertaining to the Orthodox Church as it is in America, and without the overtones of being "Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc." This book does that.

The first part of the book is that of the author's personal journey to Orthodoxy. After decades of trying to find the "True Way" among various Protestant denominations, he still felt that something was *missing* in the Protestant view of the Church and of the world. He also goes on to elaborate just what it was that seemed to be missing or contradictory in Protestant doctrine, both specifically, and in general.

The second part of the book is almost a handbook as to what the Orthodox church may look like to those coming from a Protestant viewpoint. Things such as veneration of icons, formal prayers, and church tradition are discussed here in a way for those who probably have had very little experience with these things.

I, myself, am tickled to read about others' journeys to (and within) Orthodoxy, particularly in America. I just sent this book in a package to my mom. I don't know if she will read it, but if she does, I hope that she will at least come away knowing that me becoming Orthodox has everything to do with the church, and very little to do with me being fascinated with Russia or whatnot.

Rating:
Summary: From a Protestant perspective to the Orthodox Way...
Review: As a recent convert to Orthodox Christianity from Protestantism, I'm always looking for things pertaining to the Orthodox Church as it is in America, and without the overtones of being "Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc." This book does that.

The first part of the book is that of the author's personal journey to Orthodoxy. After decades of trying to find the "True Way" among various Protestant denominations, he still felt that something was *missing* in the Protestant view of the Church and of the world. He also goes on to elaborate just what it was that seemed to be missing or contradictory in Protestant doctrine, both specifically, and in general.

The second part of the book is almost a handbook as to what the Orthodox church may look like to those coming from a Protestant viewpoint. Things such as veneration of icons, formal prayers, and church tradition are discussed here in a way for those who probably have had very little experience with these things.

I, myself, am tickled to read about others' journeys to (and within) Orthodoxy, particularly in America. I just sent this book in a package to my mom. I don't know if she will read it, but if she does, I hope that she will at least come away knowing that me becoming Orthodox has everything to do with the church, and very little to do with me being fascinated with Russia or whatnot.

Rating:
Summary: More Than a Conversion Story; An Apologetic Too
Review: Ex-Seventh-Day Adventists, Ex-Evangelical, ex-Charismatic preacher Matthew Gallatin's book is both a personal journey to the Orthodox faith and an apologetic for the Orthodox faith. Matthew traces his humble begginings as a child who feels God's presence, to his conversion as a child to Seventh Day Adventism. Interesting enough, one of my reasons for leaving Adventism is similar to Gallatin's in that it involved the issue of "clean and unclean" foods as well. He then converts to the "Sunday" Protesttant lifestyle (yes, Adventists are Protestants like Charismatics, Baptists, etc).

This becomes a central point to Matthew, in that church's of the Protetstant tradition rely on "sola scriptura" which ultimately means "I." It involves how "I" interpret the Bible. This method fails to produce comprehensive truth for it makes man's interpretation of scripture more important than what God is actually saying. He devotes a lot of pages to the self-centerdness of modern Protestant Christianity (although it may be unintentioned by the Christian).

He gives a great apologetic for Eucharist, the Liturgy, and prayer. His chapters on Mary and the Saints are a little too small; Because so many Protetstants are mis-informed or just don't undertsand the issues here, that stronger chapters should have been developed here. Overall, this book is much better than most in mixing "biographical" infomration and "apologetic" material together.

Rating:
Summary: More Than a Conversion Story; An Apologetic Too
Review: Ex-Seventh-Day Adventists, Ex-Evangelical, ex-Charismatic preacher Matthew Gallatin's book is both a personal journey to the Orthodox faith and an apologetic for the Orthodox faith. Matthew traces his humble begginings as a child who feels God's presence, to his conversion as a child to Seventh Day Adventism. Interesting enough, one of my reasons for leaving Adventism is similar to Gallatin's in that it involved the issue of "clean and unclean" foods as well. He then converts to the "Sunday" Protesttant lifestyle (yes, Adventists are Protestants like Charismatics, Baptists, etc).

This becomes a central point to Matthew, in that church's of the Protetstant tradition rely on "sola scriptura" which ultimately means "I." It involves how "I" interpret the Bible. This method fails to produce comprehensive truth for it makes man's interpretation of scripture more important than what God is actually saying. He devotes a lot of pages to the self-centerdness of modern Protestant Christianity (although it may be unintentioned by the Christian).

He gives a great apologetic for Eucharist, the Liturgy, and prayer. His chapters on Mary and the Saints are a little too small; Because so many Protetstants are mis-informed or just don't undertsand the issues here, that stronger chapters should have been developed here. Overall, this book is much better than most in mixing "biographical" infomration and "apologetic" material together.

Rating:
Summary: Simple, But not Simplisitic
Review: Matthew Gallatin has done a fine job in explaining his reasons for his conversion to the Orthodox Church. While the book may strike some as too simple, the content of the book however is right on target. He does a fine job showing the implausibility of the protestant teaching of sola scriptura and addresses other issues as well. Recommended especially for protestant inquirers into Orthodoxy.

Rating:
Summary: One of Many to Enlighten anyone on a Spiritual Journey
Review: Matthew Gallatin reports on his journey to the Ancient Christian Church. He began by asking himself "Do you know what you believe?", "Yes, you know what you believe. But is it the truth?"
Peter Gilquist in his book Becoming Orthodox, Clark Carlton in The Way: What Every Protestant Should Know about the Orthodox Church and Charles Bell in Discovering the Rich Heritage of Orthodoxy describe very similar journeys and struggles. They sorted through the false man-made doctrines of false teachers and prophets throughout history. And found their way back to the Church that the Lord himself founded in Matthew 16:18-19 and Ephesians 4:4-6. (Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity by Jordan Bajis) is also highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: On the heart and soul of Christian worship of God
Review: Thirsting For God In A Land Of Shallow Wells: Thirsting For God In A Land Of Shallow Wells is the judicious perspective of Matthew Gallatin, a philosophy professor and devoted evangelical Christian minister for more than twenty years. Written especially on the conflict between the viewpoints of Protestantism and the Orthodoxy, and what it means to live the Way of Love, Thirsting For God In A Land Of Shallow Wells is an thoughtful, emotional, highly recommended and spiritually profound treatise on the heart and soul of Christian worship of God.

Rating:
Summary: A good testimony for the seeker of Orthodoxy
Review: Thirsting for God is an excellent book for those who have come to see the problems in evangelical Christianity but cannot quite figure out what to do about it. The author spent many years searching, starting out as a 7th day Adventist, next a Fundamentalist, then a Charismatic (being a Pastor) and finally coming into Orthodoxy. The interesting parts of this book for me focused on the downfall of the Fundamentalist and the Charismatic doctrines, and their inability to explain why those who believe have huge questions that do not get answered such as "why is there no genuine transformation in my life" and "when is the Holy Spirit going to bear witness with my spirit that I am a child of God"? Gallatin has an interesting point of view, having been a pastor; he plainly describes the lack of insight he had. As a result, he gave the typical responses such as "pray about it", "read your bible" even describes the powerlessness he had to help those who sought his council.
The work is not scholarly; rather, it is a lay testimony. Read as such, it is very good.