Seeing God: Jonathan Edwards and Spiritual Discernment

by Gerald R. McDermott

Book Overview

This lively update of Edward's classic "Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" is an analysis of today's spiritual life, with vivid illustrations. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573831921
• ISBN13: 9781573831925
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Regent College Publishing
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Good Read, but...

McDermott's "Seeing God" is a good read, but you would do better to pick up the original John Edwards, or one of Dallas Willard's texts.McDermott does illuminate spirituality through his "twelve reliable signs;" however, he does not plumb the depth of spirituality in the way Edwards does with his "Affections." This book would serve best in a high-school Bible class, or as a small group text for new believers. For those needing more meat, see J. Edwards.

McDermott Gives Good Intro for Postmodern Pilgrims

Excellent introduction to a vast 'gold mine' of deep spiritual insights available from Jonathan Edwards [really THE GREATEST thinker America ever produced] and leads you to deepen your spiritual life. Leads you into a largely 'uncharted territory' for mainstream 20th [oops 21st] Century American Christians--that great well of deep Christian theologians and thinkers of the mid 1600s to early 1800s. Preacher/Theologian/Writers like Edwards and Whitefield and Milton and others are great food for hungry postmodern pilgrims. I think McDermott lays good groundwork of which another good 20th Century Christian Preacher/Theologian/Writer has built upon and popularized even more, that is John Piper, who has really brought Jonathan Edwards to the forefront and Piper's writings are highly recommended as well as Dallas Willard. McDermott's book lead you to that place, as Piper calls it, of 'Being Delighted in God' as Dallas Willard puts it in his book 'Divine Conspiracy' "Knowing Jesus as an essential part of the here and now." In other words 'Seeing God' helps us to become people who are God-centered, God-treasuring, God-filled, God-honoring, God-glorifying with wholehearted, whole soul commitment. 'Seeing God' is a refreshing, introspective and challenging read. Get it and you won't be disappointed.

One of my top five books

After reading this book I couldn't help but take time to carefully examine my own spiritual life. In a modern format McDermott write a "Cliff's notes" summary of Jonathan Edwards' work, Religous Affections. In three different categories he summarizes the unreliable signs of false spirituality and then gives us 12 reliable signs of true spirituality. He mixes biblical texts with his own comments as well as gives personal stories of people who illustrate these points. One could easily do a 12 week sermon series of this great book-one sermon per reliable sign. Please read this book!