Marriage Builder, The

Rating:
Summary: Yes it is the Biblical view
Review: The "Reader" from Southern California who wrote the "not a Biblical view" needs to learn how to read! When the author talks about security and significance, he makes it quite clear that he is discussing emotional needs. He also shows how we receive that security and significance IN and FROM our salvation in Christ. He also says that you must deal with people's urgent perceived needs before they can hear a larger message - this is straight out of the book of James - if you try to preach the gospel to a starving man, how could or why would he listen to you? Feed him first. Similarly, Dr. Crabb deals with healing emotional pain as a road to spiritual healing.

Rating:
Summary: A Pastor says: "BUY THIS BOOK"
Review: This book challenged me during college (pre-marriage), and again during Seminary (after-marriage). As a pastor in a young church-I recomend this book all the time with great results. It forms the basis of 90% of my pre-marital counseling, also with great results. It is biblical, practical, and deeply challenging. I am convinced that any marriage would benefit from reading this book-regardless of age.
Many people find themselves opened up to a whole new world as they begin to grasp some of the concepts in this book, such as the difference between ministry and manipulation, soul oneness and body oneness, and the ultimate source of security and significance (which Crabb makes very clear that it must be Christ).
I ask couples to read the book slowly on thier own and then go through the study questions together perhaps on a date night. It is absolutely amazing what kind of discussions this book sparks between couples that have known each other for years.
Buy this book!



Rating:
Summary: Solid, Biblical guide to a strong, godly and happy marriage
Review: This book was a total blessing to me. The author argues that there are 3 ingredients to a healthy, godly marriage. Spirit oneness, Soul oneness and Body oneness. Note I am not saying happy. I think we are just so after happiness, that we forget the whole purpose behind marriage. Marriage is not to make me happy, but to make me holy! When I am transformed into an image of Christ that's where I am most happy to be. In His presence, the pleasures are forevermore. John 15:5 Apart from Christ I can do nothing! So there are 3 bulding blocks, Grace, Committment and Acceptance. If couples understood the grace of God and the biblical principles of marriage then the divorce rate in America wouldn't be so high. Must read for every couple umarried or married who want to please God and meet each other's needs. I reccomend it highly as I was able to put a lot of the book into practice in my own marriage and in my life !

Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource for Christian couples
Review: This book was used in our pre-marriage counseling group at our church. It was a bit intense, and perhaps too esoteric, for the younger engaged couples(20-something) but for those of us who were older it was an excellent tool. Periodically, I re-read this book to re-focus my thinking about my actions/thoughts as they affect my marriage. I think it is an excellent resource for married couples as an enrichment tool or as a counseling tool.

Rating:
Summary: Truthful, and full of the wisdom only God can inspire.
Review: We have just completed a study with another couple using Dr. Crabb's book, that has spanned more than 5 months, and we will be starting over again in a couple of months. This time however, we will be including several other couples because it is too good to not share it. This is truly a manual for a biblical marriage, whether newly-married, or married for a lifetime. Dr. Crabb describes our self-centerdness so accurately, and gives such realistic examples of the pitfalls we find ourselves trapped in. Fortunately he also gives examples of how to avoid common mistakes. His description of marriage as our chance to minister exclusively to our spouses and provide tangible evidence of God's love to each other is accurate and helpful. On many occassions I wondered if he had written this book especially to me. We have been blessed by this book and find it difficult not to recommed it repeatedly.