Eyes of Honor: Training for Purity and Righteousness

by Jonathan Welton, Graham Cooke (Foreword)

Open your pure eyes. Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8). After struggling with sexual temptation for years, author Jonathan Welton devoted himself to finding a way to be completely free from sexual sin. He read books, attended 12-step groups, and participated in counseling—with no success. Spurred on by countless friends and acquaintances who shared a similar broken struggle and longed for freedom, the author searched Scripture—there he found the answer and shares it with you in a compassionate, nonjudgmental way. Eyes of Honor helps you understand how to live a life of purity by Eyes of Honor is honest and refreshing, offering hope and complete freedom and deliverance from sexual sin. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and your salvation guarantee rescue from the appetite of sin. Your true identity empowers you to stop agreeing with the lies of the enemy that ensnare you.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Self Help, Christian Living, Christianity, Theology

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

A fifth generation believer, Jonathan Welton is propelled by a powerful Christian heritage. Exhibiting extraordinary wisdom as a teacher, he helps individuals discover fresh experiences of kingdom realities. Even those who have grown up in the church are challenged afresh as they hear the unique perspective that Jonathan carries.

With a duel calling of both teacher and seer, Jonathan raises the standard for walking in wisdom, character and power. Carrying a revelatory forerunner anointing, he trains and equips believers to use their spiritual senses to see in the unseen realm. Jonathan has earned two Masters Degrees, one in Biblical Studies and the other in Practical Ministry, as well as the National Herald of Christ award. Jonathan is the author of four books. The School of the Seers, Normal Christianity, Eyes of Honor, and Raptureless. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Theology and lives in Rochester, NY

Reviews

[Z]

This is a better book than most on the subject. I really resonated with Jonathan’s story, as well as his frustration with the proffered advice from the evangelical world. It’s hard to find books that set such a high vision for Christian holiness. Finally, someone sticks up for the book of 1 John!

I did think there were some weak points, though:

Pros:
- it’s honest and forthright without being titillating.
- the emphasis on identity in Christ rather than behavior modification is much-needed. This truth was absolutely pivotal in my own journey to freedom.
- the reframing of temptation is an empowering message.
- the high standard and expectation of victorious Christian living was a breath of fresh air.
- the best part of the book is the corrective it brings to Every Man’s Battle (EMB)’s infamous ‘bouncing the eyes’ strategy: truly seeing women as we men are supposed to them, and loving them as our sisters and God’s creation. I can’t stress enough how much I wish more men would hear this!


Cons:
- the characterization of Christian counseling was alarming, but made me wonder if it was a caricature. Maybe Jonathan’s experience was as bad as he makes it sound, but it can hardly represent all of Christian counseling today. Along that line…
- …his characterization of what other Christians teach could be accused of broad-brushing. I share his frustrations with a lot of material out there, but Weldon doesn’t provide any actual quotes of what he’s critiquing; he just claims what ‘everyone else’ says as a foil to his own theology.
- like EMB (ironically) many of the “Tools” given are anecdotal and really only attested in the author’s personal experience. There’s no data, psychology, or even sometimes scriptural principle to back them up. They’re not bad — just perhaps limited.
- some interpretations of Scripture are strained, like using the story of Sarai to claim that God ‘rewrites your past’ and that it ‘doesn’t exist.’
- the author quite frequently switches translations to support his view, or outright argues against all existing translations. This might just be a personal annoyance, but to me it smacks of a wee bit of arrogance.

Still, this is a book I’d recommend to a struggling friend.

[Jason]

This was amazing. It's the best book on the topic of sexual purity that I've ever read, or heard of. I would highly recommend this for all christian men. The book is broken up into three parts:

1. Who am I? (identity)
2. Who is the enemy? (recognizing and countering enemy thoughts) and
3. Who is she? (how men should view all women)

The last section was my favorite. Jonathan makes a strong biblical case about how we, men, should see all women––outside of our spouse––as sisters, and that we would be either loving protectors of women, or their selfish predators, there is no middle ground––just one of the many points he expounds upon. I love his proactive approach and hope this becomes a classic!

[Miranda]

An excellent read on purity and identity. For anyone trapped in unhealthy thinking or addictions. Although the target group for this book is men, it is also very applicable to women as well.

[Jordan Evans]

Best Book on the Topic

I’ve read every book I can find on grace, identity and beating addiction. This is the best book I’ve ever read on the subject and I highly recommend to anyone, man or woman, who wants to understand who they, what they have, and what is available to them - lasting freedom. I would also recommend Ivan Roman’s Identity Manual - both of these make great resources for student ministries, men’s ministries, and classes on identity.

Thank you Jonathan,

I used to struggle in this area of my life and now I’m free. Now I want to teach others to walk in this freedom as well.

[Steve Roberts]

In his latest book, “Eyes of Honor”, Jonathan Welton boldly confronts the primary issues facing the Twenty-first century Christian man; sexual sin and misplaced identity. He addresses these subjects in such a way that this book may very well be the only one of its kind in the marketplace today. Holding nothing back in his relentless assault on the lies that the enemy has perpetrated on mankind, Mr. Welton exposes sexual sin for what it truly is, first by reflecting on his own struggles and recovery and then by illustrating for the reader the true path that one may take to attain complete victory over bondage in this area. Make no mistake, Jonathan Welton isn’t playing around here. This is strong stuff and if someone truly wants to overcome this type of sinful behavior, Jonathan clearly points the way. This isn’t a how-to manual or a 12-step program, but, and here comes the surprise, an identity shift of who we are as men, designed and created by God. Once we understand who we actually are in Christ, we can easily confront the enemy because he has, in fact, already been defeated. Once our new identity has been established (one of victor, not of victim) we can confront sexual sins as conquerors in Christ, not through will power or self-denial. Finally, we are taught to see women in a new light, through eyes of honor instead of eyes of lust. All women are our sisters in Christ, created by God, and very much worth protecting instead of preying upon. This book should be in every church bookstore so that men can learn to take their rightful places in the kingdom. It comes as no surprise that men today are constantly bombarded with sexual images and innuendoes of every kind from the countless media sources available to them and that influence is likely never going away. This book gives men the firepower to fight back and win over the so-called “every man’s battle” “Eyes of Honor” is a must read for every man in the twenty-first century. This book was given to me for review by Destiny Image publications.

[Orion Maple]

The best book I've read on deliverance from pornagraphy

This book takes one of the best approaches to seeing freedom from addiction, specifically pornography that I've seen. He talks from his own experience, and contrary to what the world, and even much of the church, you are not an adulterer or whatever, sinner forever. I got set free by Jesus 8 years ago, but the content in this book was a great reminder of what it's like, and that not everyone has a supernatural deliverance, like I did.

[Poptart19 (the name’s ren)]

1 star

This guy thinks the Internet was inspired by the devil for the sole purpose of making p*rn ubiquitous. Yeah, no. Not anymore than the printing press. All technology and innovation has the potential to be used for good or harm. Not buying it.

[Isaiah (aka Isaiah Ward) Herrero]

Wow this book really reminded me of my identity in God and the fact that there's a lot of lies in the church (and by that I mean things that they try to bring from the world, religion, etc.) that need to be exposed.

[Iliana Hdz]

Excellent of bring us into perspective of our identity!

[Aaron Cash]

Loved this book, just took too long to finish it. I believe that this is a good strategy to develop Godly Men who are free and pure.

[John Fields]

ABSOLUTLY AMAZING! Could be called guide to being a Christian man
Every man should read this book!!!

[Lance Gillespie]

Good read, must read

Very well written and non traditional, he said what had to be said. Thanking God for this book.. must read.

[Jordan Mudrock]

Best book I've read regarding A Christians identity in Christ. This is a must read for every believer.

[Richard Monyer]

Highly Recommended!!

A great book for every man to not only read, but to meditate on. This book has so many nuggets of truth and simplistic realities that have left me feeling free and empowered. This is a book you may want to read more than once until you start to believe the truth more than the lies that have kept you where you may be today.

As someone who can relate to Jonathan and understand the struggle most men battle trying to remain pure and in good standings with God and his wife, this book has opened my eyes and dismantled the lies I was believing. There comes a time when you get sick of band-aids and things to just cover up the real problem and you're ready for the solution and you don't care how difficult it is or how much it's going to hurt; you just want healing. This is that kind of book and all of your excuses (lies) will be removed and you will see the reality and just how amazing we are in Christ and just how much God loves us. This book leaves you feeling empowered and provides tools to implement change which actually have to do with renewing your mind. I am so grateful to the simplistic realities that Dr. Jonathan teaches and it has freed me of the daily struggle and condemnation that I used to fight.

[Marsha]

This book is a rare piece; there isn’t another book in the marketplace who gives you the keys to sexual purity like his book does. Jonathan really gets down to the root of the problem give you the complete solution. This is surely a book of transformation, empowerment, and encouragement for men into great change in their life. The book is cut into three section the first focus is on who you are in Christ means your identity (how God sees you) and how to live a righteous relationship with god. The second section is focus on The Enemy, how to recognize the enemy and strategies to deal with the enemy. And the third section focus on how men see woman (men are made to be protectors beauty). In each chapter have a “Tools” section to put into practice what you have learned. I will recommend this to this book to all the men in my life .Please all men who is struggling in sexual bondage this book will give the answers and freedom you desperately desire. This book is Awesome. My review is on the free eBook that was given to me by the publisher from Destiny Image.

[Robert]

Eyes of Honor will hit your right where you need it! This book targets as a man's common struggle with Sexual Purity, and it is, plus multiplication! Jonathan has interpreted many scriptual mis-understandings to lead us into, not only freedom from personal sins and victomized woundings, but encourages, empowers and challenges us as incredible warriors, as men of God, to take action. I have worked through many books and seminars on healing, restoration, and purpose driven focus. This book is packed full of direct scripture and simple identification of whom we are in God, as well as an appilcable understanding of our Father's heart. He takes the word and specifically applies it to where we are at with practical tools to make real, what can be an alluding theology for those lacking a true revalation of our purpose here and now.

[Ebesta]

This book is really good. I have read Jonathan Welton’s other books and they were really good but this one is the best he has written. It’s so amazing to see how God healed and restored him to purity. What an amazing testimony. I had watched the interview on Sid Roth but the book is so much better. And as you read the book you can feel that something has been deposited in your spirit. An impartation of living a life of purity and righteousness. I believe that if anyone is struggling in any bondage of addiction if they read this book they will be encouraged in knowing that there is no situation which is beyond deliverance. God can turn an impossible and hopeless situation around and make vessels of purity come out of the situation. God is really amazing!!! and he loves empowering us to rise above every bondage. He's really awesome!!!.

[Jonathan]

Jonathan Welton has done an excellent job in capturing the true path to freedom from lust and sexual sin. Many books on this subject tackle outward things like bouncing the eyes, having an accountability partner, etc. While these things may demonstrate to a certain degree a level of freedom, they treat the symptoms without addressing the disease. Jonathan exposes the truth that Christ's finished work on the cross is what is truly needed to bring the appropriate heart change, and he settles for nothing less than God's best for the Christian man on this topic that consumes so many men in modern society. This book definitely has two thumbs up in my opinion!

[Chris Zamora]

This book is fantastic! Oh how I wish I could of had something like this growing up! The book brought me to tears with stories of redemption and love, healed hurts and shameful memories through the reality of the cross and Christ's death and resurrection, and ultimately brought transformation into my own life. Where for so long books on methodology has prevailed in Christian circles of men seeking freedom from sexual bondage, Welton brings a refreshing breath of Heavenly wind to men by reminding them of their redeemed identities. I urge every man who wants freedom to read this book and reclaim the protector identity he has always wanted to have, and was always meant to have.

[Joe Peters]

I just finished reading this book and I highly recommend this to all men. If you are tired of striving and trying to be the man God has called/created you to be and are ready to rest in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. Then wait no longer pick up this book and I pray that you to will discover your true identity in Christ.

Life changing to understand what Christ has accomplished for us at the cross!

[Courtney McQueen]

The focus of this book is men with sexual addiction. I am a woman without sexual addition and found it amazing helpful. This book is great for anyone with any addiction from being stuck in a negative self perspective, food addiction, laziness, drugs or anything. I think its a book for anyone who feels stuck.

[Alex]

This is a powerful, uplifting book and I recommend it to everyone. There are some good answers here to the human condition from which we all suffer at some point. Emblazoned with supportive Scripture, Jonathan Welton lifts us up from our dark despairing of our fears and failures.

[Cherry]

okay sounds interesting for men who are suffering with there sexual problems with there females how to be pure.

[Yvonne]

Purity....a lifestyle, not just a "wait until we get married". Purity of mind, purity of heart, intent and actions. Great book!

[Ryan]

Deals a lot with the identity of the person struggling, who the enemy is, and how we're to honor women. Lots of good stuff in here. Just not one of my favorites on the subject.

[Erwin Van deutekom]

Beautiful, just all the new insights this gave me for my own life.. Just beautiful.

[Chris Schaeffer]

Awesome words of wisdom and encouragement. Inspired! Great book. I would recommend it to anyone, man or woman.

[David]

The best book I have read dealing with purity and honoring based on our identity. I highly recommend it for all men who know Jesus !

[Martin Tooe]

It helped me become a better man and see things from fresh prospective

[Emily Mills]

Awesome book. Finally, someone who approaches this topic from a perspective that doesn't shame or offer cheap tricks that don't work long-term. Loved everything about this book.