I Can Change!

Most of you know I've been reading You Can Change by Tim Chester (Nottingham:Inter-Varsity Press, 2006). Just finished it last night. Here's 7 reasons why I like it and strongly encourage as many of us to read it as possible (believe me... there's no commission earned on this!)

1. The book is organised into chapters that each address a key question as we think about change (or sanctification). They are as follows:

a. What would you like to change?

b. Why would you like to change?

c. How are you going to change?

d. When do you struggle?

e. What truths do you need to turn to?

f. What desires do you need to turn from?

g. What stops you changing?

h. What strategies will reinforce your faith and repentance?

i. How can we support one another in changing?

j. Are you ready for a lifetime of daily change?

Together, the questions provide a comprehensive treatment of what is involved in change.

2. The book is heavily grounded in good theology, and it's not 'ivory-tower' theology, but theology that's got 'feet'! In that sense, Tim shows us 'everyday theology'.

3. All throughout the book, Tim reminds us that change is ultimately God's work. This comes through his explanation of concepts such as 'sanctified by faith' (see blog below) and his emphasis of the liberating work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While one might worry that this might lead to quietism and passiveness on our part, Tim shows that the opposite is true - recognising it is the work of God actually leads us to desiring and wanting to respond to Him and the Spirit's leading!

4. Tim's analysis of issues and problems is not on the surface, but goes very deep. Often very probing, sometimes hurtful, but almost always true. For example, he challenges us to think through why we want to change - to prove myself to God, other people, or even myself? He gets us to think through how we are going to change - are we going to rely on our own righteousness, the law, or the liberating work of our Trinitarian God? He gets us to go deep into understanding how our struggles and temptations never cause sin, but rather the root cause is always our heart and its sinful desires; and he challenges us to turn away from sin by desiring God more than our sinful desires.

5. He never grounds change or sanctification as an individual project, but locates change in a community context, and in this sense, he is much against the individualism of our day, which we sometimes carry over into our Christian thinking - even in this area of change and sanctification.

6. He is a realist. He gets us to realise change is a lifetime task, and not only that, but is also a daily task. But at the same time, because of what Christ has done and because Christ is coming back, he gets us to see change is possible - I can change! While all this time under-girding this whole process in a lifetime of grace.

7. There is a 'change project' at the end of every chapter in the book which gets us to think through questions relating to what he has just covered with regards to one area which we would like to change. This makes You Can Change an excellent resource for reading with another person. Just read the chapter beforehand, and come together to discuss and pray!

Enough reasons?

Thanks Tim for putting out what I found to be an extremely helpful book.