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Why Some Christians Commit Adultery: Causes and Cures
Powerful, unseen forces drive some Christians into adultery, fornication, incest and other sexual sins. When it happens everyone wonders how and why. This book reveals practical guidelines and understanding for everyone involved - help and hope for the believer who wants to stand in the face of overwhelming sexual compulsions, forgiveness and knowledge for one who has been hurt by leaders who have fallen, and principles of counseling for those who wish to help someone who is struggling in this area. This book offers genuine help to honest people seeking sexual wholeness.
205 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Loren Sandford
48 books33 followersJohn Sandford and and his wife Paula are co-founders of Elijah House, Inc., an international ministry established in 1975 in response to the Lord's calling in Malachi 4:5-6 and Matthew 17:11
They have traveled extensively, teaching the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness, highlighting the transforming power of Jesus' death and resurrection. They are considered pioneers in the prophetic and inner healing movements. Their vision has been to reveal that which keeps believers bound in repetitive sin; by, as John says, "evangelizing the unbelieving areas of the believer's heart."
John and Paula have sown a deeper understanding of the Word into the Body of Christ, especially regarding the four spiritual laws, illuminating the biblical truth that these laws are just as certain as the law of gravity in how they affect our lives. Their work in the Kingdom has brought transformation of individuals and reconciliation of relationships to countless thousands, from individuals and families to denominations and people groups,and most ultimately, reconciliation with The Father.
John graduated from seminary with an M. Div. in Religion and Personality. He pastored churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Idaho for 21 years before founding Elijah House. Paula was active in these churches in music and Christian education, and also taught English and Spanish in public high school for several years. She joined her husband in the team ministry of Elijah House from its beginning and was ordained in 1995.
John and his wife Paula experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1958, which has enriched their ministry ever since. They have been married since 1951, have 6 children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
They have traveled extensively, teaching the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness, highlighting the transforming power of Jesus' death and resurrection. They are considered pioneers in the prophetic and inner healing movements. Their vision has been to reveal that which keeps believers bound in repetitive sin; by, as John says, "evangelizing the unbelieving areas of the believer's heart."
John and Paula have sown a deeper understanding of the Word into the Body of Christ, especially regarding the four spiritual laws, illuminating the biblical truth that these laws are just as certain as the law of gravity in how they affect our lives. Their work in the Kingdom has brought transformation of individuals and reconciliation of relationships to countless thousands, from individuals and families to denominations and people groups,and most ultimately, reconciliation with The Father.
John graduated from seminary with an M. Div. in Religion and Personality. He pastored churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Idaho for 21 years before founding Elijah House. Paula was active in these churches in music and Christian education, and also taught English and Spanish in public high school for several years. She joined her husband in the team ministry of Elijah House from its beginning and was ordained in 1995.
John and his wife Paula experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1958, which has enriched their ministry ever since. They have been married since 1951, have 6 children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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April 16, 2021
Though there are solid insights about transference and adultery in this book that may bring healing, the earliest editions of this book (1989) are also deeply homophobic and harmful. The authors believe that the gay rights movement is being caused and manipulated by Satan, and then (in an appendix) recommend (now-discredited) groups based on the Alcoholics Anonymous model.
I’m also concerned that many of the things the Sandfords take as immutable laws are culturally relative social constructions. By raising these sorts of concerns, I place myself outside of the Sandfords’ intended audience, and—on their interpretation—set myself on course for “the lake of fire.”
I read this book as part of rhetorical analysis I’m conducting for my PhD dissertation.
I’m also concerned that many of the things the Sandfords take as immutable laws are culturally relative social constructions. By raising these sorts of concerns, I place myself outside of the Sandfords’ intended audience, and—on their interpretation—set myself on course for “the lake of fire.”
I read this book as part of rhetorical analysis I’m conducting for my PhD dissertation.
August 21, 2024
A POPULAR COUNSELOR DEALS WITH A PAINFUL TOPIC
John Loren Sandford and his wife Paula founded Elijah House, Inc. (a counseling and training ministry) in 1973; before this, John had pastored churches for 21 years. They have written many other books, such as 'The Transformation of the Inner Man,' 'Healing the Wounded Spirit,' 'Deliverance and Inner Healing,' etc.
John wrote in the Foreword to this 1989 book, "In the first chapters of this book, we intend to reveal personal factors which induce normally wholesome, moral Christians to fall into sexual sins. None of us has received perfect parenting, and each has reacted negatively even to the best-intended parenting... But most of us aren't so deeply fragmented as to be driven by compulsions. We manage to subject our impulses to the correction of God's Word... Therefore, this book is written to help normally well-behaved, seemingly whole Christians who nevertheless can fall prey to conditions and pressures which can build until what have been controllable urges become compulsive and unmanageable habits... Our main purpose is to provide informed bases for compassion and healing, and keys of knowledge for protection from falling." (Pg. ix-x)
He asserts, "Spiritual adultery is a distinctly Christian trap. Emotional or heart adultery can happen to anyone... But spiritual adultery ... is always (at first) unintentional... Whenever spiritual adultery is persisted in, it leads inevitably to full physical adultery!" (Pg. 8)
He admits, "If spiritual adultery is so common and prevalent, how can any pastor or counselor serve the Lord without getting into it? The answer is that it is nearly impossible! I am NOT saying that any servant of the Lord should decide to let spiritual adultery into his life! But there's a vast difference between Christian and secular counseling. Secular counselors are trained to be detached... Christian counseling and ministry, on the other hand, is INVOLVED. Our loving Lord ministers through us as we meet others. We are at risk. The Lord puts His trust in our ability to become involved in righteous ways that heal." (Pg. 30)
He concludes, "I suggest that our overemphasis on personal salvation... isn't working very well. A focus on self-fulfillment leads to sin, not to holiness... When our motivation for coming to or serving Jesus is self-fulfillment, and He apparently fails to deliver the kind of happiness we sought, we are sorely tempted to try some other way, even to the point of seeking fulfillment in sin... Why do Christians commit adultery?... At some point they become individuals seeking individual, personal fulfillment without thought for others... The quest for self-fulfillment and an overemphasis on personal salvation cannot produce or sustain holiness." (Pg. 200-201)
This book, written by a seasoned counselor, will be of great interest to anyone trying to answer this troubling question for themselves.
John Loren Sandford and his wife Paula founded Elijah House, Inc. (a counseling and training ministry) in 1973; before this, John had pastored churches for 21 years. They have written many other books, such as 'The Transformation of the Inner Man,' 'Healing the Wounded Spirit,' 'Deliverance and Inner Healing,' etc.
John wrote in the Foreword to this 1989 book, "In the first chapters of this book, we intend to reveal personal factors which induce normally wholesome, moral Christians to fall into sexual sins. None of us has received perfect parenting, and each has reacted negatively even to the best-intended parenting... But most of us aren't so deeply fragmented as to be driven by compulsions. We manage to subject our impulses to the correction of God's Word... Therefore, this book is written to help normally well-behaved, seemingly whole Christians who nevertheless can fall prey to conditions and pressures which can build until what have been controllable urges become compulsive and unmanageable habits... Our main purpose is to provide informed bases for compassion and healing, and keys of knowledge for protection from falling." (Pg. ix-x)
He asserts, "Spiritual adultery is a distinctly Christian trap. Emotional or heart adultery can happen to anyone... But spiritual adultery ... is always (at first) unintentional... Whenever spiritual adultery is persisted in, it leads inevitably to full physical adultery!" (Pg. 8)
He admits, "If spiritual adultery is so common and prevalent, how can any pastor or counselor serve the Lord without getting into it? The answer is that it is nearly impossible! I am NOT saying that any servant of the Lord should decide to let spiritual adultery into his life! But there's a vast difference between Christian and secular counseling. Secular counselors are trained to be detached... Christian counseling and ministry, on the other hand, is INVOLVED. Our loving Lord ministers through us as we meet others. We are at risk. The Lord puts His trust in our ability to become involved in righteous ways that heal." (Pg. 30)
He concludes, "I suggest that our overemphasis on personal salvation... isn't working very well. A focus on self-fulfillment leads to sin, not to holiness... When our motivation for coming to or serving Jesus is self-fulfillment, and He apparently fails to deliver the kind of happiness we sought, we are sorely tempted to try some other way, even to the point of seeking fulfillment in sin... Why do Christians commit adultery?... At some point they become individuals seeking individual, personal fulfillment without thought for others... The quest for self-fulfillment and an overemphasis on personal salvation cannot produce or sustain holiness." (Pg. 200-201)
This book, written by a seasoned counselor, will be of great interest to anyone trying to answer this troubling question for themselves.
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