Three Things You Don't Have to Do to Be More Christian - with Dr. Phillip Cary

You're not supposed to “let God take control” of your life and work. You're not supposed to “hear God’s voice in your heart.” And, you're not supposed to be guided by God’s Holy Spirit by inner feelings of peace, intuitions, or impressions.

These are three things believers have recently come to believe as being essential to being Christian. But according to our guest Phillip Cary, they are not found in the Bible and actually will cause harm – psychologically, morally, and spiritually. 

Phillip Cary is a Professor of Philosophy and the Chair of the Philosophy Department at Eastern University. He has written several books on Augustine, drawing on his doctoral dissertation at Yale under the guidance of Nicholas Wolterstorff. 

Brazos Press has just released the expanded second edition of his best-selling book, Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don’t Have to Do.

Andy Crouch says of this book, “Graceful and liberating, it is a word of wisdom and hope that just might convince anxious Christians that the gospel really is better news than we've yet imagined." 

Byron Borger wrote, "Tremendously rich and thoughtful and wonderfully written… This book is written by a gentleman [who] is, well, a genius… This is an anti-self-help book that takes historic and solid theology and uses that to counter the silliness – silliness that may become toxic – that is often found in popular-level evangelicalism. This is solid pastoral theology, inviting deeper and more mature thinking about the slogans and clichés we too often hear.”

Purchase this book from Byron at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. You can order online through their secure server or call 717-246-333. Mention that you heard about Phillip Cary's book on the Reintegrate Podcast and get 20% off!

>> Thanks for listening!

Your hosts for the Re-integrate Podcast are Dr. Bob Robinson (@Bob_Robinson_re) and David Loughney (@David_Loughney).

Go to re-integrate.org for the latest articles on reintegrating your callings with God’s mission and online resources for further learning. You can also find out about a Bible study book that you can use in your small group or individual devotions: Reintegrate Your Vocation with God's Mission.

On Reintegrate’s podcast page, you’ll find more episodes and ways to email us to comment on this podcast.

Music provided by Brian Donahue.