Freedom from Sinful Thoughts

by Arnold, J. Heinrich and J. Heinrich Arnold

Book Overview

It's one of those topics most of us would rather avoid in conversation -- why would anyone want to reveal private jealousies, resentments, fantasies, temptations, or other weaknesses? Yet steady sales of this valuable little book attest that there are plenty of us who struggle with sinful thoughts -- and desire help. For anyone who wavers at times between obeying the voice of the conscience and giving in to the lower nature, this book offers sage...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874860946
• ISBN13: 9780874860948
• Release Date: May 2014
• Publisher: Plough Publishing House
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A Liberating Treatise on Renewing Our Minds

This is a wise and encouraging little book on a very important topic. It is 103 pages of text with an additional 8-page biography of the author, J. Heinrich Arnold. The eighteen chapter titles are as follows: The Struggle, Temptation, Deliberate Sin, The Will, The Power of Suggestion, Autosuggestion, Fascination, Suppression, Faith, Self-Surrender, Confession, Prayer, Detachment, Repentance and Rebirth, Healing, Purification, The Cross, and Living for the Kingdom. Arnold perceptively sees the distinction between our sinful nature and our will, but is also aware of the latter's inability to overcome sin without God's grace. He writes: "It is impossible to defeat one's sinful nature by will power alone, because the will is never wholly free, but bent this way and that by conflicting emotions and other forces at work on it." Thomas Kelly, in his classic "A Testament of Devotion" says it this way: "`I will' spells not obedience." This is because obedience comes through submission of our will to God, not independent exertion of it. It is as we walk in submission to the Holy Spirit that we overcome the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16) and bear fruits of righteousness. Although some theologians or authors make distinctions or use terms differently than others, one can benefit from a comparative analysis of Arnold's book in relation to others on the same or similar topics. Although such comparative analysis isn't an emphasis in this work, Arnold does incorporate insights from other authors such as Bonhoeffer, Pascal, Eckhart, the Swiss-French psychiatrist Charles Baudouin, and his father. Through my studies I've come to distinguish (contrary to some) between what I call unconscious, conscious, and willful sins. The first involves sins of character and attitude that we are not yet aware of in ourselves and include "sins of ignorance". The second, usually considered synonymous with the third by some, involves becoming conscious of what was previously unconscious for the purpose of repentance. It also includes our awareness of our sinful nature that produces internal temptations (via sinful desires) that we can overcome through our submission to the Holy Spirit. Arnold, in Chapter II, states that "temptation is not sin" (pg. 10). I would qualify this by saying that all temptation is sin, but not sin from the one being tempted. I believe this was Arnold's point since some Christians condemn themselves for being tempted. Our sinful nature "tempts" us internally and contributes to any external temptation, but we are not to deliberately fulfill its sinful desires. What I call "willful sin" equates, more or less, to what Arnold calls "deliberate" sin and involves our deliberate refusal to submit to God and the moral light he gives us both in our conscience and in His Word, the Bible. I personally think that willful sin should be distinguished from our sinful nature (ref. Romans 7:20 in context) and its lusts. To help others understand my

Thoughts are amazing things

Anything good or bad, large or small that has ever been accomplished in human history began with a thought. This is why our personal thought life is not only crucial to the health of our soul but can have a very wide impact for good or evil. When thoughts become a burden that drag us down and away from life's purpose the wisdom in this book can give help and healing.

Fulget crucis mysterium -Now gleams the mystery of the cross

This book is a profound book. Its piety is deep and true, centered on Jesus Christ crucified. I highly recommend it for Evangelicals and, despite a couple of minor theological difficulties, Catholics. Anyone interested in living within God's will should read this book.