To Resist or to Surrender?

by Paul Tournier

No one has the right to equate Christianity with weakness or to imagine that the Bible teaches us always to surrender. The biblical message proclaims the sovereign greatness of God which transcends all lesser principles or standards which we might wish to draw from it. Man's great temptation is to want to know by himself what is good and what is evil. He wants to know whether he should withstand or not, but without needing any counsel from God. What is good in the Bible is not this thing or that. It is not a matter of resisting or giving in. It is doing what God wants and when he wants it is total dependence upon his person, not upon a moral code.

Genres: Theology, Christian

63 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1977

About the author

Paul Tournier was a Swiss physician and author who had acquired a worldwide audience for his work in pastoral counselling. His ideas had a significant impact on the spiritual and psychosocial aspects of routine patient care, and he had been called the twentieth century's most famous Christian physician.

Reviews

[John Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes we read works from another time in order to see more clearly our own. Here is a sample.
"Each of us, to be sure, believes he is only defending sacred principles such as truth, fairness, and reason. It is only in others that we discern self-interest, passion, and sophism leading them on. This is why discussion so rarely can convince anyone. In all my life I can remember only one argument which really changed my mind. Political men know this, for they count far more on the power of suggestion in a few well-hammered slogans than in any rational argumentation.
Yet everyone continues unceasingly to argue, to put forth his logical reasonings which by-pass those of others to no avail. What joy people get when they discover some line of argument which appears irrefutable. They arouse the applause of their partisans who see in them already a decisive victory. But they are always disappointed and angered by the opponent's reaction, because a knock-out argument stimulates his ability to parry and awakens in him an abundance of arguments for the contrary." (p. 18)

[Ben Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic short book that deals with an incredibly common problem--how are we to respond in any given situation? How much should we push forward and how much should we give in? Parents of course face this all the time. I loved it and learned a lot from it--quick read!

[Luke Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little psychological approach to (lack of) universality in ethics. He has a kind of clarity that comes from real experience with the issues he contends with, which grants his distinctions between firstly intellectual dilemma, secondly divine dilemma, and thirdly relational/psychological freedom some poignancy. Didn’t expect to like divine command theory in ethics, but this was good.

[Jelle Koersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether to resist or to surrender - no counsellor, therapist, doctor or priest can definitively prescribe for you. But in the holding on and letting go, you will be changed. Changed further into being and becoming who you are. A profound read.

[Lori Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful look at being human. I loved this small book and I took my time reading it. this is one that I'll read again.

[Drew Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful. A 20th century psychologist’s assessment of conflict and spirituality, emphasizing the subtle ways in which we seek to influence and dominate others, and the way in which the Christian message reorients our priorities in conflict, and offers new ways forward. Highly recommend.

[Martha Highfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tournier always challenges me to grow.