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Sexual Sanity

Sexual Sanity For Men Re-Creating Your Mind In A Crazy Culture

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Learn to Make Sexually Sane Choices

Written for Christian men struggling with any form of sexual brokenness, this resource helps men understand that sexual sin starts in their minds and hearts and shows them how knowing Christ breaks their chains, builds spiritual brotherhood, and helps them take practical steps to re-create their minds in a God-focused direction. The accompanying Leader's Guide is available in an eBook format.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

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About the author

David White

5 books2 followers
There is more than one person in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for David ^ 9 White, seminary teacher.

David White, MDiv, is the men's ministry coordinator for Harvest USA. He disciples men, teaches seminary courses on ministering to the sexually broken, and speaks on sexual issues.

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Lucas Dorminy.
33 reviews17 followers
August 5, 2020
This is a fantastic resource for men who are struggling with sexual sin or just flat out losing the battle. I was very skeptical the first time I read it and had a hard time getting through it, but it helped me immensely years ago. I revisited it recently to see if it was still a good resource and I think it holds up.

It is structured like a daily devotional. The point of this is not to lavish you with platitudes but to re-program your mind to think on things above rather than below. It covers 14 weeks and each day with something new to consider on the topic of sexuality - from broken masculinity to idolatry to fruitfulness to church community to Christ's kingship. I'd recommend it for teens and young men.

Disclaimer: This book was written at the height of "brokenness" language. There are quite a few uses of this type of vagueness within the book, but I don't think it is too distracting or takes away the harshness and severity of the sins discussed. If anything, it can be rather conversational and inviting.

Check it out if you are low on resources related to sexual sin in the lives of men.
Profile Image for Austin Harris.
34 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2022
Great day by day 14 week devotional style book to walk through with others or by yourself!
Profile Image for Will Turner.
257 reviews
March 10, 2018
As a father of two teen sons I am deeply thankful for David White’s Sexual Sanity for Men. I have read it a few years ago, but recently worked through it again with my boys.

It is biblical theology done right. It is biblical theology made practical. It is the application of God’s Word to life, specifically to our struggle as men with our sexuality and lust.

One of the beauties of his book is how it is laid out. You are meant to work through it over fourteen weeks reading one short chapter a day, five days a week. And these chapters are short, on average 2-3 pages. But they are meaty. The questions, for me, were hit or miss. I honestly tended to skip over them and just go over the material directly in the chapters.

Another great strength of this book is its focus on spiritual warfare. Our struggle over our sexuality is spiritual warfare. We are engaged in a fierce battle. But as White correctly understands there is a deeper issue at work behind our lust. Our sexual sin is often just a surface level idol with some other deeper idol hiding underneath. White seeks to go deeper, to dig those idols out and to replace them with the beauty, glory, and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a lot of good theology here even apart from the focus on sexual sin. It helps in dealing with all facets of sin.

Unfortunately, I thought Sexual Sanity grew a bit redundant toward the end. As much as I appreciate this book I felt like it could be cut down or revised a bit. There were a few times where White says, “As I’ve said before” or “as we’ve already seen…” There’s nothing wrong with repeating key concepts. In fact, its essential, but when it happened toward the end it felt like the book wasn’t progressing forward enough. It felt like momentum was stilted.

Another criticism of Sexual Sanity for Men is that it lacks on addressing some of the more practical concerns men may have in dealing with their sexual sin. White really doesn’t want to offer one-size fits all advice. I get that, but at the same time, some practical suggestions would be helpful. When do you tell your wife? Do you tell your fiancé if you are engaged? Is masturbation always wrong? How should we lock down our computers, phones, and other electronic devices? Etc. There are countless questions involved. I hope that one day a second edition will come out with an appendix of questions and answers. That would go a long way toward making this book complete.

Regardless, of the above two criticisms Sexual Sanity for Men remains an incredible book. It should be on the shelf of every pastor, every counselor, and every Christian man. It should be read, meditated upon, regurgitated, and then re-read again. And to be clear, it’s not a book that should be read in isolation. While it certainly doesn’t hurt, this is a book that should be read together. I hope one day my sons will go through Sexual Sanity for Men with their sons.
Profile Image for Michael Philliber.
Author 5 books71 followers
July 13, 2019
Harvest USA seeks to bring the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ to individuals and families affected by sexual struggles. One way is by providing resources that address biblical sexuality to individuals and churches. Toward that end I was delighted to find their workbook, "Sexual Sanity for Men: Re-Creating Your Mind in a Crazy Culture" crafted by David White, Director of Discipleship at Harvest USA. It is written with busy men living crazy-busy lives in mind.

"Sexual Sanity for Men" is a 288 page manual ideal for individual devotional work, as well as a small group resource. It covers five days of material each week, that lasts a total of 14 weeks. Each day is a short biblical study that is wedded to three or four reflection questions with loads of space to write down answers and prayers. White takes fellow-travelers from life in the wasteland and exile, to meet the conquering king, over to the band of brothers, and then up the trail of transformed living. For men who want to continue to play the game and lie to themselves and others that "Hey, I've got this," they will find the book embarrassingly candid, asking questions about behaviors most men want to hide. For others who are finally done with the game and desperate for Jesus to break them free, they will find hope and honest help.

I appreciate White's frank assessments at the beginning, "All sexuality is broken, on some level" and so, "no matter how diligent you are, please realize at the outset that you will never be free from the battle in this life" (2-3). It may appear to some that this conclusion is hopeless, but the reality is that the author's awareness is far more helpful than the triumphalism that expects immediate holiness and absolute release. Rightly, our Lord brings us true freedom through his death, resurrection and ascension, but until he returns that "freedom is not total deliverance from temptation, which is what we wish for. Freedom is the increasing ability to chose holiness out of love for Christ despite the relentless temptation" (3). This volume is for any man, and especially for any man ready to grow more sane in a sexually insane world. I highly recommend the book.

My thanks to New Growth press for the free copy of the book used for this review. I asked, they happily handed my a copy without any expectations, other than my analysis. All of my evaluations are my own, freely made and freely given.
Profile Image for Melvin Benson V.
27 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable. As the book is intended to be engaged in a group setting, I highly recommend picking this up with a couple of Christian brothers, whether struggling with sexual sin or recovering and go through this. David White targets more than the surface level action of engaging in sexual sins but digs deep into the root issues that plague our souls.

Why do we engage in such shameful acts? Why do we give so much of our time, energy, and money to such a lifeless pursuit? Sometimes, there's something in our heart we're trying to fill no matter what, and rather than find out where that hole came from (trauma, abuse, neglect) we're too busy numbing the pain with alternative means. Sexual Sanity for Men: Re-Creating Your Mind in a Crazy Culture decides to dig at that very issue, and rather than tell you to stop engaging in such heinous acts it begs the question, "Why do you keep doing this?" (Of course, it also tells you to stop!)

I can't really explain the experience this book has had on me apart from life-giving. As it orients my gaze from the pain I endured as a child toward the all-encompassing compassion of Christ, I can tell you without a doubt that this book is the most effective, efficient, and powerful book I've read in the fight against sexual sin. It distills passages from Scripture you would have never expected and targets your pride, pain, guilt, shame, and sin in profound and efficient ways.

Get this book. Read it. Discuss it. And humble yourself to the reality that you're not alright. Trust me, it's soooooo refreshing to trust the Lord and the Lord alone!
Profile Image for Craig Hurst.
209 reviews21 followers
March 13, 2013
God created mankind as sexual beings – both man and women. It is through our sexuality that we are able to fulfill part of the creation mandate to “be fruitful and multiply.” If we look at human sexuality within our world today we quickly realize that our sexuality is broken and marred. It is not as it should be. Sin has marred our sexuality and we carry it wherever we go. As sexual beings we rightly long for sex but we also realize that something is wrong, very wrong. In short, because of sin we are sexually insane.

There is no adult, teenager, and these days, almost no child, who has not been effected in a negative way in regards to their sexuality. From sexual abuse, unsolicited exposure to porn, to prostitution and porn addiction, every person’s sexuality has been affected by sin. We are all in some way touched by sexual sin and we are all in need of healing. One cannot get past the first book of the Bible without seeing the sexual sins of Gods people. Even king Solomon, in all his wisdom, was no match for sexual sins.

New Growth Press has recently published two resources for helping people deal with their sexual brokenness. Sexual Sanity of Men: Re-Creating Your Mind In A Crazy Culture by David White and Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing From Sexual & Relational Brokenness Ed. by Ellen Dykas are two workbook/devotional style books to help walk people through their sexual issues and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to bear on their lives.

As White points out, “Sexual sin is an equal opportunity pathogen of the soul.” (SSM, p. 2) While the focus on sexual sins is more often focused on men, women struggle with it as well. Dykas writes, “Women are sexual beings just as much as men are. However, they often experience an even ‘louder silence’ regarding their sexual sin and temptation.” (SSW, p. 1) Both men and women need the gospel applied to their sexuality.

These books are written more so as workbooks. Both books follow a daily pattern with a few pages of content followed by reflection questions. SSM is broken into 4 sections over fourteen weeks with devotionals for five days each week. SSW has twenty weeks of material. While a person can go through the books alone, they are really designed to be worked through in small groups. SSW is especially designed for this as each weeks session is formatted like a Bible study lesson guide.

These books pull no punches in terms of their brutal honesty about the damaging effects of sexual sins, done to us and by us, on our sexuality. In the beginning of SSM White opens up with a jarring description of how sexual sin can destroy us,

"Sexual sin brings desolation. It promises excitement and pleasure, but delivers discontent and insatiable craving, often bringing ruin to God’s blessings: family, friendships, vocation, and health. It leads to an insane life." (p. 8)

As both books point out, sexual sins, like all sin, offer to the seeker things that it cannot deliver. There are many reasons why men and women run to sexual sins to fulfill but in the end find that they are right back where they started – wanting. But we would be remiss to think that these are just books telling us about the broken state our sexuality is in. No, these books walk the reader through the reality of their sexual insanity right into the sanity the gospel brings. SSW describes for us the hope the gospel brings to our broken sexuality,

"The Christian life is compared to a marathon – it is a race finished by someone who keeps a steady pace toward the finish line. Our journey of growth as women desiring to be like Jesus in our relationships and sexuality is a lot like running a marathon. We must persevere and beware of temptations to quit or get sidetracked. We will be encouraged as we run alongside others heading toward the same finish line. We will be enabled to endure as we set our hope in Christ, fixing our desires upon him. He is with us in the journey, and he will welcome us home when the race is done!" (p. 161)

Slowly and steadily the gospel will do its work in our lives in all areas including our sexuality.

Sexual Sanity for Men and Sexual Sanity for Women are just the kind of books the church needs to offer to God’s people. Though not to be replaced with professional counseling for those who may need it, these books present God’s good news of the gospel to the bad news of our sexual brokenness.

There is no one who these books are not for. These books are useful for anyone from the most sexually promiscuous to the prudish among God’s people. There is hope and there is healing for our sexual brokenness and these books show us the way.

NOTE: I received these books for free from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the words and thoughts expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Dave Jenkins.
Author 2 books35 followers
April 14, 2014
Sexual sin is a rampant problem in the Body of Christ and in our world today and by the looks of it—the issue of sexual sin is not going anywhere, but rather increasing. Sexual sin like all sin causes brokenness and loneliness. There was a time in my own Christian life where I struggled with pornography. The only way out of a life of porn consumption I've learned is to recognize that pornography is idolatry and that true satisfaction comes only in Jesus Christ. Jesus offered a broken woman at the well in John 4, the Living Water of Himself and that is exactly what Jesus offers to people who broken by sin today in order to make them whole in Him.

In his helpful new book Sexual Sanity For Men Re-Creating Your Mind In A Crazy Culture David White writes to help men recognize that sexual sin begins in their minds and hearts. By taking this approach the author helps Christian men understand that Christ breaks their chains, builds spiritual brotherhood, and then concludes his book with practical steps for men to re-create their minds in a God-focused direction.

The best part of this book is the fact the author deliberately walks the reader through the bad news of sin in order to show the greatness and majesty of God in saving and reconciling sinners to Himself. The author doesn't mince words but rather lays all his cards on the table telling men that “our sexual insanity is idolatry” (3).

One of my favorite parts of this book is the following: “At first glance, it may appear that the individual on the monitor, the dancer, etc., is the focus of our idolatry. But think about it: What goes on in your fantasies? You’re creating a world where everyone exists to serve, adore and please you! That is the great offense of sexual sin. In a very tangible way, we set ourselves up as little gods and pretend others are ours to rule. In our minds we fashion the universe, throwing God out of the picture, placing ourselves at the center, and populating it with God’s creatures to worship us” (31).

One of the most misunderstood and dangerous aspects of pornography is the fact that men (and women) have not only a false sense of intimacy but also a broken view of sexuality. Pornography is ultimately a sin of our fantasies and of our minds. Porn deludes us into a faulty understanding of the grace of God by viewing women as objects for our enjoyment rather than as God-given blessings who are our joint-heirs with Christ.

This book can help those seriously addicted to pornography or those needing healing from pornography by giving them a greater understanding of the Gospel. If you are seriously addicted to pornography, you need to not isolate yourself but begin attending and getting involved in a Gospel-loving, Bible preaching Church that will help you grow in the grace of God.

Sexual Sanity is a very good and helpful contribution on vital topic that will help bring sanity and Gospel-focus to help men who are struggling with sexual sin. This Gospel-drenched book will help men to come out of hiding, to embrace that there is nothing that could be revealed about them that hasn't already been covered by the blood of Jesus, and to believe that God has given them every grace they need to fight sexual sin. I recommend you read this book to learn not only how the Gospel brings you to freedom, but reconciles you to God in order to go out and bring the hope of God through the Gospel to a sexual broken and confused world with the Gospel.

Title: Sexual Sanity

Author: David White

Publisher: New Growth Press (2012)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the New Growth Press book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Profile Image for Jamie.
44 reviews
September 3, 2013
This is the best book on sexual sin I have ever read. If any man has ever struggled with sexual sin past or present; studying this resource with other men will both exposé their sin and find hope in Jesus Christ.
Profile Image for John Carroll.
Author 2 books5 followers
December 20, 2013
Would make a fine manual for a mens group. This is a gospel centered approach so it gives real hope.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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