Captivating is a book about unveiling the mystery of a woman’s soul. It is for woman what Wild at Heart by John Eldrdge was for men. They address the three main desires in a woman’s heart, how those are damaged by our upbringing and the enemy, and then how to find healing.
There were parts of this book I enjoyed but there were many problems I had with the book. One of those issues was that, in my opinion, the authors downplay the sovereignty of God. At one point when talking about how woman desire to be loved they then take this to mean that God desires the same thing and that he is sitting in heaven just waiting for us to love Him. I do not agree with this picture of God at all. Most of the references to the Bible were poor at best but, once again in my opinion, they were not theologically correct nor applied correctly. The last thing that really got me was when they talked about how we need to renounce “vows” we have made so that God can heal us. I don’t disagree regarding the desires of a woman’s heart but I do disagree with about everything else. I would not recommend this book for others to read.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Tiffany,
I think you were very honest and truthful. good review .
I stumbled across your blog because we have friends as well as other things in common. But our opinions of this book, however, differ greatly! I am usually just a reader and never comment on other people’s blogs but I had to say something because I read this book and loved it. I never once thought the authors were down playing the sovereignty of God. In regards to what you said above about, God just sitting in heaven and waiting for us to love him, you said that in a way that actually shocked me. You said you do not agree with that picture of God? The word is constantly giving us imagery of a bride and groom. God calls us His bride and in Song of Solomon it even says that with one look of our eye towards Him, it RAVISHES His heart! I was sad that somehow that image of God waiting and desiring us to return his love was a picture that you disagreed with. Now I am not saying that is the sole image one should come away with about God. God is not some lovesick teenager longing for his Juliet. However, God has many attributes and characteristics and that is merely a piece of who He is and how He loves.
On the “renouncing vows” subject, again I disagree with your interpretation of what the author was trying to express. This is not meant to be interpreted as some magic spell or that God is not powerful enough to heal unless you break some pact, because He is. I read this as a woman who loves Jesus. I have known Him for many years now, but I also had a very rocky and difficult life full of heartache and pain prior to coming to the Lord. Now, Christ conquered the grave and since I entered into salvation through His blood and received the gift of salvation, I am healed in the sense that I was once dead and now alive and joined with Him for eternity in Heaven. Does that mean every scar is gone? Or every sore spot in my flesh? NO. We are always being transformed into the Glory that God has for us and are not finished products yet. That means we still have a lot of defects, some from the past and some that sadly will still be around for awhile. This is called sanctification and I interpreted this books reference to breaking those vows as one would interpret the Bible when it says that we are to bury the flesh. Often times we as people hold onto past hurts and things that do hinder our walks with God. The enemy does encourage that and loves when we hold on to them because it does weaken us. I also think it is very poignant of the author to remind us of the spiritual battle we are all in and to remind us that God is stronger than he in this world because we as believers often forget that aspect of our spiritual lives and walk around ineffective for Christ and feel defeated.
Sure the book uses very colorful language and romanticizes some points but I think it is written in a way that invokes inspiration. The metaphors used to describe our femininity are beautiful and there is nothing wrong with believing that we are worthy to be loved and desired. Overall, I thought this book was great! I am actually grieved that another woman of God would be unable to refer this to another woman. I mean you just have to read Ephesians to see what God has to say about who we are in Christ! He says that we are his children, that we are more than conquerers, we are predestined and called according to a purpose, He says we are justified, saved, sealed, and that nothing will separate us from His love.
I see nothing wrong with a book that encourages women to finally see and believe the truth about who God says they are. Even though His word is the best place to find that, it is never a bad thing to be encouraged from someone else too. I would recommend this book. I would first recommend the Bible of course but would never have thought this was a book unworthy of reading.