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Navigate Your Faith: A Christian's Field Guide to Not Getting Lost
What's the point of being a Christian anymore?
Many Christians today are feeling unfulfilled in their walk with God, and they have no idea it’s because of the little decisions they’re making each day that are leading them into lives of compromise.
In Navigate Your Faith Ron Pratt uses a fictional American family to expose how the enemy lures believers into prioritizing their own pleasure, entertainment, or career goals over their relationship with Christ. This erodes their passion for Jesus and causes them to become spiritually bored and have powerless Christian lives.
Rather than claiming that God will approve of Christians no matter what they do, as some modern ministers do, Navigate Your Faith challenges readers to take a hard look at their lives and see if they’re simply incorporating Jesus into their lifestyles or allowing Him to set them on a course of His choosing. With proven strategies to rebuild lost intimacy with God, this book will help Christians recognize the deceptive tactics of the enemy, break out of complacency, and make a greater impact on the world around them.
This book will help you recognize and avoid the deception of today's nominal Christian culture.
Many Christians today are feeling unfulfilled in their walk with God, and they have no idea it’s because of the little decisions they’re making each day that are leading them into lives of compromise.
In Navigate Your Faith Ron Pratt uses a fictional American family to expose how the enemy lures believers into prioritizing their own pleasure, entertainment, or career goals over their relationship with Christ. This erodes their passion for Jesus and causes them to become spiritually bored and have powerless Christian lives.
Rather than claiming that God will approve of Christians no matter what they do, as some modern ministers do, Navigate Your Faith challenges readers to take a hard look at their lives and see if they’re simply incorporating Jesus into their lifestyles or allowing Him to set them on a course of His choosing. With proven strategies to rebuild lost intimacy with God, this book will help Christians recognize the deceptive tactics of the enemy, break out of complacency, and make a greater impact on the world around them.
This book will help you recognize and avoid the deception of today's nominal Christian culture.
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2019
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 14, 2019
*A word on the rating* if half ratings were possible, I'd give it three-and-a-half stars instead of just three.
First sentence: They wanted the blessings of God in their lives without any personal sacrifice. We live under grace and how we live is up to us was their heart view. They believed their job was to enjoy the lifestyle they desired. Jesus' job was simply to stamp His approval on every expression of that lifestyle.
Premise/plot: Navigate Your Faith is a blend of fiction and nonfiction. On the one hand, it stars a fictional couple: Jason and Cindy. Each and every chapter advances their story. They face challenges--many of them. On the other hand, the author--a pastor, I believe--speaks directly to readers--often in a passionate, zealous, admonishing way--though not without encouragement.
Topics addressed include entertainment, the internet, social media, drinking alcohol, flirting, infidelity, abortion, bitterness, etc.
My thoughts: Is the intended audience of Navigate Your Faith a "carnal" Christian? Someone who professes Christianity but doesn't take ever take the faith seriously? Someone who lives on their own terms and dismisses the Bible as only for zealots? Is it for those "Christians" who have "accepted" Jesus as Savior but never as Lord? Perhaps. That was my first impression anyway. I think the book assumes that readers know the gospel story, and have to some degree professed their faith. The book never did go there--what is the gospel? who is Jesus? how can I be saved? what is repentance? what is justification? what is sanctification?
The focus of Navigate Your Faith seems to be solely on sanctification. How am I supposed to live? Pratt argues that how we live matters--greatly. Christians are not free to live however they want. They are to live under the authority of the Word of God and be led by the Holy Spirit. They are not to set their own standards of right and wrong. They are not to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to take seriously. They are to show their love for Christ by obeying Christ. Their minds are to be RENEWED; their lives are to be TRANSFORMED. Culture and society should not be forming the hearts and minds of Christians. Christians are called to live holy lives pleasing to the Lord.
The book seems to be building up to the critical moment when Christians like Jason and Cindy--and perhaps readers--ask Jesus to be LORD and surrender "the wheel" to him.
I liked the tell-the-truth-as-I-see-it-approach to this one. I did. I liked the passionate warnings. I don't disagree with the dangers Pratt warns his readers about. We are to live by our convictions and LISTEN to God as he speaks to us through the Word of God. We are not to quench the Spirit but be led by the Spirit. We are to live surrendered lives and be living sacrifices.
There were a few places here and there where his approach felt slightly off to me. For example, in speaking about abortion he lists four steps that are necessary for healing. They are: telling your story; forgiving the others involved in the situation; forgiving yourself; and trusting God with your future. Perhaps it's implied that there is a step zero: repenting/confessing your sin to God and receiving forgiveness. But it didn't feel implied in that chapter. It felt more like an elephant-in-the-room. God did get the fourth step. So he wasn't absent. This seems to be the part in the book where the focus starts to shift towards the importance of "making" Jesus or "accepting" Jesus as Lord of your life and stepping down off the throne of control. The remaining chapters continue this theme--let God be God and you stop trying.
I am not being critical of this specific book when I express my doubts to the school of thought that has "accepting" Jesus as Savior and "accepting" Jesus as Lord as two separate events. I don't like the phrase "accepting" Jesus either. But I particularly don't like it when used with the phrase "accepting Jesus as Lord." Because Jesus IS Lord whether we recognize HIM as such or not. Even if we never "accept" the Lord's sovereignty--He IS Lord. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He rules over the universe. It's more a manner of recognition and humility.
To "accept" Jesus as "Savior" but not as "Lord" is to say, "Thanks for my ticket to getting into heaven. I'll see you on the other side. Meanwhile this is MY LIFE so stay out of it." This monstrosity just should not be--this goes back to being a "carnal" Christian as opposed to a Spirit-filled one. But is there such a thing as a carnal Christian? I'm not prepared to argue that there is--or that there isn't. Only God knows the state of another's soul. God is God. I am NOT God.
I think there is always a matter of growth. We grow from very little knowledge--the tiniest spark of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus--and keep growing our whole lives through. I am not saying that one isn't a Christian until one knows everything and lives by that knowledge. But I think part of being a Christian is realizing that it is a growing process--not a stagnant one. We should be always, always, always seeking more, more, more. We need nourishment. We need the Word of God. We need the teaching of sound biblical preachers and teachers. We need the support and encouragement of Christian friends and a church family. We need to mentor and be mentored. We need to be a community.
First sentence: They wanted the blessings of God in their lives without any personal sacrifice. We live under grace and how we live is up to us was their heart view. They believed their job was to enjoy the lifestyle they desired. Jesus' job was simply to stamp His approval on every expression of that lifestyle.
Premise/plot: Navigate Your Faith is a blend of fiction and nonfiction. On the one hand, it stars a fictional couple: Jason and Cindy. Each and every chapter advances their story. They face challenges--many of them. On the other hand, the author--a pastor, I believe--speaks directly to readers--often in a passionate, zealous, admonishing way--though not without encouragement.
Topics addressed include entertainment, the internet, social media, drinking alcohol, flirting, infidelity, abortion, bitterness, etc.
My thoughts: Is the intended audience of Navigate Your Faith a "carnal" Christian? Someone who professes Christianity but doesn't take ever take the faith seriously? Someone who lives on their own terms and dismisses the Bible as only for zealots? Is it for those "Christians" who have "accepted" Jesus as Savior but never as Lord? Perhaps. That was my first impression anyway. I think the book assumes that readers know the gospel story, and have to some degree professed their faith. The book never did go there--what is the gospel? who is Jesus? how can I be saved? what is repentance? what is justification? what is sanctification?
The focus of Navigate Your Faith seems to be solely on sanctification. How am I supposed to live? Pratt argues that how we live matters--greatly. Christians are not free to live however they want. They are to live under the authority of the Word of God and be led by the Holy Spirit. They are not to set their own standards of right and wrong. They are not to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to take seriously. They are to show their love for Christ by obeying Christ. Their minds are to be RENEWED; their lives are to be TRANSFORMED. Culture and society should not be forming the hearts and minds of Christians. Christians are called to live holy lives pleasing to the Lord.
The book seems to be building up to the critical moment when Christians like Jason and Cindy--and perhaps readers--ask Jesus to be LORD and surrender "the wheel" to him.
I liked the tell-the-truth-as-I-see-it-approach to this one. I did. I liked the passionate warnings. I don't disagree with the dangers Pratt warns his readers about. We are to live by our convictions and LISTEN to God as he speaks to us through the Word of God. We are not to quench the Spirit but be led by the Spirit. We are to live surrendered lives and be living sacrifices.
There were a few places here and there where his approach felt slightly off to me. For example, in speaking about abortion he lists four steps that are necessary for healing. They are: telling your story; forgiving the others involved in the situation; forgiving yourself; and trusting God with your future. Perhaps it's implied that there is a step zero: repenting/confessing your sin to God and receiving forgiveness. But it didn't feel implied in that chapter. It felt more like an elephant-in-the-room. God did get the fourth step. So he wasn't absent. This seems to be the part in the book where the focus starts to shift towards the importance of "making" Jesus or "accepting" Jesus as Lord of your life and stepping down off the throne of control. The remaining chapters continue this theme--let God be God and you stop trying.
I am not being critical of this specific book when I express my doubts to the school of thought that has "accepting" Jesus as Savior and "accepting" Jesus as Lord as two separate events. I don't like the phrase "accepting" Jesus either. But I particularly don't like it when used with the phrase "accepting Jesus as Lord." Because Jesus IS Lord whether we recognize HIM as such or not. Even if we never "accept" the Lord's sovereignty--He IS Lord. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He rules over the universe. It's more a manner of recognition and humility.
To "accept" Jesus as "Savior" but not as "Lord" is to say, "Thanks for my ticket to getting into heaven. I'll see you on the other side. Meanwhile this is MY LIFE so stay out of it." This monstrosity just should not be--this goes back to being a "carnal" Christian as opposed to a Spirit-filled one. But is there such a thing as a carnal Christian? I'm not prepared to argue that there is--or that there isn't. Only God knows the state of another's soul. God is God. I am NOT God.
I think there is always a matter of growth. We grow from very little knowledge--the tiniest spark of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus--and keep growing our whole lives through. I am not saying that one isn't a Christian until one knows everything and lives by that knowledge. But I think part of being a Christian is realizing that it is a growing process--not a stagnant one. We should be always, always, always seeking more, more, more. We need nourishment. We need the Word of God. We need the teaching of sound biblical preachers and teachers. We need the support and encouragement of Christian friends and a church family. We need to mentor and be mentored. We need to be a community.
March 13, 2019
Navigate Your Faith: A Christian’s Field Guide To Not Getting Lost by Ron Pratt is a self- help book looking at the pitfalls of modern life.
With the dawn of the World Wide Web, there is much to ensnare people. All sorts can be accessed with the press of a button or the click of a mouse. We need to be discerning and have a moral code that lines up with Jesus. The world gives easy access to all sorts but just because it is available does not mean it is good for us. If there is an area where you have a weakness, the best thing to do is to avoid that. Have friends to whom you can be accountable, who love you enough to point out when you are falling into sin.
The voice of the enemy whispers ‘you deserve it’, ‘go on, one won’t hurt’. We need to detune his voice and plug into the voice of God, so that we will recognize His voice when He whispers to us.
Today’s world is very ‘me’ focused. “The spirit of entertainment promotes self-focus.” We are too often motivated by selfish desires and not the need to serve.
Church is competing against the world for attendance on Sundays. We need to set an example for our children and make church a priority. If we do not, we will be giving our children the message that church is not important and then when they hit those crucial teenage years, our young people will be lured away from God. We want our children to have a relationship with God and not just be caught up in religion. “Religion leaves you with fear of breaking the rules.” God is not a God of fear, God is a God of love. He desires a relationship with each one of us. “When serving God is only about rules, there is a lack of relationship.” We need to introduce our children to the living God who loves them.
This is a powerful book designed to help us to recognize the pitfalls of modern life and to give us ways to avoid them. There are anecdotes, stories and Biblical scriptures within its pages. This book is for everyone who desires a closer walk with God.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
With the dawn of the World Wide Web, there is much to ensnare people. All sorts can be accessed with the press of a button or the click of a mouse. We need to be discerning and have a moral code that lines up with Jesus. The world gives easy access to all sorts but just because it is available does not mean it is good for us. If there is an area where you have a weakness, the best thing to do is to avoid that. Have friends to whom you can be accountable, who love you enough to point out when you are falling into sin.
The voice of the enemy whispers ‘you deserve it’, ‘go on, one won’t hurt’. We need to detune his voice and plug into the voice of God, so that we will recognize His voice when He whispers to us.
Today’s world is very ‘me’ focused. “The spirit of entertainment promotes self-focus.” We are too often motivated by selfish desires and not the need to serve.
Church is competing against the world for attendance on Sundays. We need to set an example for our children and make church a priority. If we do not, we will be giving our children the message that church is not important and then when they hit those crucial teenage years, our young people will be lured away from God. We want our children to have a relationship with God and not just be caught up in religion. “Religion leaves you with fear of breaking the rules.” God is not a God of fear, God is a God of love. He desires a relationship with each one of us. “When serving God is only about rules, there is a lack of relationship.” We need to introduce our children to the living God who loves them.
This is a powerful book designed to help us to recognize the pitfalls of modern life and to give us ways to avoid them. There are anecdotes, stories and Biblical scriptures within its pages. This book is for everyone who desires a closer walk with God.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
March 16, 2019
This book packs a punch. Like prey being trapped by a spider, Pratt suggests Christians have been caught in a web of the devil's cunning lies. Many Christians have fallen prey to the spirit of cultural entertainment. Some would prefer to pursue human independence rather than the lordship of Christ. “Many Christians have relaxed their views and developed a tolerance for what was once called sin.” (64) People who profess to follow Jesus are actually following a godless culture.
Pratt is straightforward in his concern, calling out Christians who are more enamored with the things of this world than with Jesus. He writes about the media, movies, alcohol, flirting, sex, and much more.
I am impressed with how Pratt communicates his teaching. He has crafted a fictional story about a couple who ultimately face their own spiritual condition. Each chapter starts with a scene from the couple's story and then includes Pratt's teaching on the issue. That technique works well. It is as if we see his teaching come to life through the story.
I recommend this book to Christians who wonder why they are missing the abundant life Jesus promised. Pratt suggests it is because we have turned our hearts to fleshly desires rather than seeking God to fill the empty places in our hearts.
Every Christian would do well to read this book. It is a good reminder of how far we have wandered away from the Lordship of Christ and into the culture of our day.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Pratt is straightforward in his concern, calling out Christians who are more enamored with the things of this world than with Jesus. He writes about the media, movies, alcohol, flirting, sex, and much more.
I am impressed with how Pratt communicates his teaching. He has crafted a fictional story about a couple who ultimately face their own spiritual condition. Each chapter starts with a scene from the couple's story and then includes Pratt's teaching on the issue. That technique works well. It is as if we see his teaching come to life through the story.
I recommend this book to Christians who wonder why they are missing the abundant life Jesus promised. Pratt suggests it is because we have turned our hearts to fleshly desires rather than seeking God to fill the empty places in our hearts.
Every Christian would do well to read this book. It is a good reminder of how far we have wandered away from the Lordship of Christ and into the culture of our day.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 17, 2019
This book takes a look at a lot of things Christian tend to compromise or not even know they are compromising. I certainly am seeing things differently.
I don't have a drink very often, but I will. Now I find myself asking why I feel I need to have a drink? Truly, I am content with a cup of coffee and a sweet treat instead of an alcoholic beverage, but I tend to do it based on my environment, like when I am camping. And now I see the standard I have set for my children and how they view alcohol.
I liked the way Ron introduced these issues, through story form and then he takes time to talk about what is going on and giving Biblical references to back-up his claims.
Definitely thought-provoking, even if you don't agree with everything, it may make you stop and think.
A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.
I don't have a drink very often, but I will. Now I find myself asking why I feel I need to have a drink? Truly, I am content with a cup of coffee and a sweet treat instead of an alcoholic beverage, but I tend to do it based on my environment, like when I am camping. And now I see the standard I have set for my children and how they view alcohol.
I liked the way Ron introduced these issues, through story form and then he takes time to talk about what is going on and giving Biblical references to back-up his claims.
Definitely thought-provoking, even if you don't agree with everything, it may make you stop and think.
A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews