Respectable Sins

First. SO theologically sound! So good!! Second. It will tear back layers of your heart you didn’t expect to even have. It is so refining!!

Just about a year ago, my bi-weekly Bible study started going through Jerry Bridges' book Respectable Sins. I was expecting a convicting book, and boy was I right. The premise of the book is that Christians too often focus solely on the big sins in each other's lives and the culture around us that we don't focus on the sin in our own life. So the book doesn't discuss things like adultery or murder. Instead, it devotes chapters to sins we try to ignore in ourselves like anger, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, judgementalism, and envy. The first few chapters are an overview of sin and the modern church culture. Jerry Bridges takes aim at how the church has stopped paying attention to these sins and reminds us that all sins are vile in God's eyes. He also reminds us of the importance of repentance and God's grace through sanctification to help us overcome these sins. Chapter seven of the twenty-one chapter book begins looking at the individuals sins. Many chapters are devoted to just one while some take on related sins. For example, he looks at gossip and slander in the "Sins of the Tongue" chapter. Since the chapters are about eight to ten pages each, Dr. Bridges never goes too deep. But he does use illustrations, usually from his own life, to show how easy and prevalent this sin can be. He'll then show from scripture how bad it is and offers us some reminders as we live our lives. Despite the fact that the chapters are short, they really pack a wallop. Most week's we've been going through the book one chapter at a time. While I probably would have read this 180 page book in a few days if it were up to me, this slower pace was good because it allowed me time to really think about what we were reading. Talking about it with others allowed the conviction to truly grow. And don't think you'll get out of conviction here. Every single chapter hit me in some way. Yes, some were more relevant to my life than others, but in all areas I had to do some soul searching and repentance. I can imagine how difficult this book would have been to write. None of the chapters gets too deep, and many of the subjects could use their own book. But I feel that Dr. Bridges does a good job of getting his point across in the limited number of pages he has. And if you want to know more about something, you can always research it on your own. Dr. Bridges even acknowledges that some of the topics addressed, like anxiety, might require greater help than he can provide through one chapter in one book. He assumes that most of his readers are facing normal levels of these sins, but when counseling might be needed, he does mention that in the chapter. If you pick up Respectable Sins and take it seriously, you won't put it down again the same. Not only does this need to be read by Christians, but it should be reread on a regular basis.

Fast shipping. We are enjoying reading this book. Using it for Bible study. Well written. Great questions.

Wonderful book. Hits home quickly. Brings you closer to God quickly. We are using it for a men’s Bible Study

"Respectable Sins" was an eye-opening and thought provoking read on the sins that we tend to overlook and justify. I went through this book with a Bible Study group at work, which really enriched the subject matter. It was beneficial to hear from other people and the areas that they either struggle with or identify with compared to my own. In summary, the book covers sins ranging from the deeply rooted ungodliness, pride, and un-thankfulness, to the ones we probably see more often, such as anger, sins of the tongue, and worldliness. This book is a pretty quick read and serves as a great tool for Christians to use in navigating their own life to seek out and do away with sins that we consider as "subtle", or in this case "respectable". Pros: quick read and great way to learn how to pray for guidance in allowing the Holy Spirit to expose sin in your own life, while also talking with those close to you to provide feedback on any "blind spots". Cons: some of the examples offered by the author, while appreciated, are not always relatable. Bottom line: a great book to read in a small group setting, or even on your own, for seeking out areas of your life that you may not be living in-line with scripture.

But eye opening for spiritual growth! One must know where they are spiritually before change can come to our hearts.

I really like this book. Makes one think beyond what we usually consider to be unacceptable behavior.

We don’t understand how many sins we do each day until we are exposed to them. This is a good study to learn about them. Some people don’t care for the title. I explain that they are the sins that we don’t realize are sins!

Only someone who is inspired by the Holy Spirit can write something like this. So powerful and it will convict you.

I haven't finished the book yet, but already Bridges does an excellent job of confronting Christians with the sins we tend to ignore in our own lives because we're too busy condemning society for its atrocities. His description of the word "saint" and what it really meant in the New Testament, and should still mean for us, was eye-opening to me. The chapter titled "The Disappearance of Sin" hits the nail right on the head. This is a great book for anyone striving to look more like Christ...and who is willing to endure the sanding and refining necessary to achieve that goal.

Shows the (little) sins we tend to neglect and accept them as common in present day. Shatters the many misconceptions about little sins and makes us to know our own sinfulness more deeply and guides to the Cross.

Excellent book, recommended reading

This book makes you think about all the sins you don’t think are wrong, like telling the odd fib here and there. It is well worth reading and I would recommend it.