Rating: 
Summary: Makes You Evaluate YOURSELF!
Review: Contrary to many of the negative reviews for this book, I believe this book is excellent for one reason...it really shows how the sinful nature operates. Before reading this book, I wasn't really aware that there were things that I, as a Christian woman, was responsible for doing such as guarding my eyes from watching lusty stuff, meditating on sexual thoughts, and putting myself in situations. This book makes the reader look at him/herself instead of blaming demons and situations. The reason Mr. Gallagher uses the scripture in James over and over again is because part of the reason why we are so caught up in sexual sin is because of our choices. Mr. Gallagher simply asks the reader to truthfully evaluate ourselves and let God do the rest. Our part is to allow the Holy Spirit to show us areas where we are allowing our temptations to run rampant and cut them out of our lives one day at a time!
I dont see how anyone could have an issue with this book. He has a very balanced view of things. He doesn't believe that demons are always responsible but does believe that they can influence, which is healthy. Mr Gallagher simply asks the reader "instead of blaming some demon, your family, and God, where have you allowed this addiction to take root in your life?" Bottom line: if you dont want to admit that most of sexual addiction is based on our choices and that we allowed these things to take root in our lives, you won't like this book. This is why Gallagher states "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
There was also a negative comment about Gallaghers opinion concerning men who are in sexual sin (that their spiritual life is lacking). Notice he is NOT saying that the men who are in bondage arent saved but merely deceived as to the severity (spiritually) of habitual sexual sin.
This book is wonderful and, as an aspiring theologian, the concepts are biblically sound.
Rating:
Summary: a life-changing book
Review: For any Christian man desiring freedom from bondage to sexual sin, there is no greater resource available. God continues to use Mr. Gallagher in a glorious way to lead countless men to freedom through his "Pure Life Ministres" (PLM) organization. Yes, there is hope! Yes, you CAN live a joyful and deeply fulfilling life, serving God with a clear conscience! The choice is yours. GET THIS BOOK! If necessary, enroll yourself in the PLM live-in or at-home program...
Rating: 
Summary: Look elsewhere!
Review: God has given fallen humanity some great resources for overcoming sexual addiction - in my opinion this is NOT one of them. I bought it based on the glowing reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere only to be disappointed.
This book is essentially a tired collection of American Evangelical Church clichés. (Just consider the bibliography which is filled with material and authors that were "cutting edge" twenty or thirty years ago) What is sorely missing here are some contemporary Christian works on this topic. Unfortunately, the author implies in the text that many of his colleagues are, "deceived".
On that last point, let me demonstrate to what lengths the author will go to make his case. Early in the book he states, "One [Christian Psychologist] even suggested that adolescent acts of homosexuality are `normal'," Then later, referring to pornography, Mr. Gallagher claims, "...there are even some `Christian' psychologists who urge couples to enhance their marriage bed with it." In neither case does he give the names of these poor misguided souls or provide a referencing citation so his position can be assessed by either the reader or future scholars.
I was especially troubled by the author's lack of any discernable grace, mercy, empathy, or compassion for the captive sinner. Jesus did indeed speak the truth to sinners but He did so in love (consider the sexually active, cult enslaved Samaritan "woman at the well" who He could have "Torah thumped" if He had chosen to!). Did Jesus not reserve his "righteous indignation" for the deliberately dysfunctional, self-righteous religious people of his day NOT the sinners? In fact, regarding the latter, the scripture even tells us Jesus was called, "The friend of sinners" - a title I simply can not imagine bestowing on this anger filled preacher.
Instead of this book I would recommend any or all of the following books:
1) Every Man's Battle : Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey (Editor);
2) "False Intimacy" by Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg
3) "Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction" by Patrick Carnes
I have found enormous practical help and significant liberation from our wonderful Savior through the healing conduit of these alternate resources and I believe that you will too!
Rating:
Summary: Shaming and Outdated
Review: I found this book to be a shaming and outdated pitch for the authors treatment center. Save your money to buy something by Patrick Carnes. I had high hopes for this book and was sorely disappointed. This author may be sober, but he is not well and certainly doesn't seem to know a lot about addiction. He uses the same three biblical quotes repeatedly, to the point where I wondered if he had read any of the rest of scripture. IF you believe that addiction is a sign of moral weakness, you will like this book. If you are looking for Christian hope and thoughtful insight, try reading False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Harry W. Schaumburg. Schaumberg fused scripture and addiction into something inspiring and useful.
Rating:
Summary: a life-changing book
Review: If you are a christian man and are striving to live sexually pure, buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: THE SOLUTION WILL KILL YOU
Review: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A QUICK FIX OR JUST WANT TO BE FREE FROM A CONTROLLING HABIT YOU WILL NOT FIND IT HERE. BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF LIVING A SELF-CENTERED LIFE AND WANT TO EXCHANGE THE SELF-LIFE FOR THE CHRIST-LIFE THEN I SUGGEST YOU READ THIS BOOK. STEVE GALLAGHER PULLS NO PUNCHES AS HE GOES RIGHT TO THE ROOT. AS YOU READ THIS BOOK YOU WILL FIND THAT GOD HAS ONLY ONE SOLUTION TO SIN.....DEATH! THE ONLY VICTORY WE CAN GAIN IS TO DIE. WHEN WE FINALLY REALIZE THAT GOD IS CALLING US TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS, THEN WE WILL LEARN THE KEY TO WALKING IN VICTORY. THIS IS CLASSICAL CHRISTIANITY. ONLY WHEN WE LEARN TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW JESUS WILL WE EVER BE FREE. WHEN WE ARE ENSLAVED TO THE LORD WE ARE FREE FROM SELF. I PRAY YOU TOO WILL FIND FREEDOM AS YOU READ THIS BOOK GOD BLESS YOU
Rating:
Summary: Challenging Book
Review: Our men's church group is going through this book so it was recommended to all of us by the church leadership. The author pounds on the need for sexual purity and the hope for those addicted to sex. He is honest about his own immorality. He stresses that this addiction is a life long fight. He addresses immorality of any form. I found the book challenging morally and sound scriptually. I disagreed with him only in a few minor points in exegesis. He is the more of the throw a verse at it, rather than exegete a whole passage, but he does use a lot a scripture. He focuses on you must hate the sin. You must place God absolutely first in your life: above your reputation and above your embarassment before you can conquer the sin. Only God can bring a man to this point in his life. The principles are simple and are hard to implement, but I believe them to be sound. If nothing else the author challenges you to really think about what it means not to be conformed to the world.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book For Men Period.
Review: Steve Gallagher is to be highly commended for his willingness to write this book. For far too long men have been patted on the back and told that Jesus loves them all the while they are living in sin and clear disobedience against God (Hebrews 10:26). Mr. Gallagher paints no pictures of easy, cheap grace answers for sexual addiction. He paints an ugly, sinful picture of someone bound for hell unless they repent (Luke 13:5; 1 John 2:3-6).
In this book you will read chapter after chapter of heart griping tales of sexual addicts in the Church. Many of them looked like upright men but all the while they were living in sexaul addiction (or as Gallagher puts it, "at the altar of sexual idolatry" since sexual addicts worship sex). Gallagher shares how God's Word can set men free if they are willing to lay down their pride, admit their sin to themselves, God, and their families and become accountable for discipleship, prayer, and holiness.
Truly "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). We are to make sure that we avoid sexual sins at all cost (1 Corithians 6:19; Hebrews 12:16) for truly, the sexual immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 6:7-9; Revelation 21:8).
Rating:
Summary: The unadulterated truth
Review: This book is awesome. Steve Gallagher is truly a blessing to not just men in bondage but to all Christians. There is substantial food in this book that should be eaten by all people and all Christians. Before I even finished the book, I had to stop and write Steve Gallagher a letter thanking and praising him for letting the Lord use him to convey this information. That just goes to show how much I had "eaten" before even finishing the book. I feel that if you do not have this book, you will either remain in darkness or be walking in the light with sunglasses on.
Rating:
Summary: The unadulterated truth
Review: This book is awesome. Steve Gallagher is truly a blessing to not just men in bondage but to all Christians. There is substantial food in this book that should be eaten by all people and all Christians. Before I even finished the book, I had to stop and write Steve Gallagher a letter thanking and praising him for letting the Lord use him to convey this information. That just goes to show how much I had "eaten" before even finishing the book. I feel that if you do not have this book, you will either remain in darkness or be walking in the light with sunglasses on.
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