Identifying Heart Transformation: Exploring Different Kinds of Human Change

by Nate Brooks

Some people think that only Christians can experience “real change” or “lasting change.” However, such observations don’t hold up in real life. Confusion about change often exists because our understanding of the nature of the heart is underdeveloped. Both unbelievers and believers can change their thoughts, desires, and choices, because doing so doesn’t require a change of heart. Only Christians, however, can experience change t at the deepest level of their humanity, as the Holy Spirit fundamentally changes them by renovating their hearts through the process of progressive sanctification. In this helpful book, Nate Brooks provides penetrating analysis and practical application.

Genres: Counselling

111 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2022

Reviews

[Omri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the most confused and confusing books I've read on sanctification. The high points include the section distinguishing the various terms describing the inner, immaterial self (23-27), Brooks's acknowledgment of the need for personal striving in sanctification (67), as well as his insistence that mere change does not indicate God-glorifying sanctification (49, 72).

Unfortunately, though, in my opinion, these commendable highlights are overshadowed by a lack of clarity in other areas, including:
(1) a flattening of all the functions of the inner man - Brooks asserts that there is no primary operation of the heart, thus seemingly implying that the emotions, will, and thoughts all have equal place in sanctification.

(2) yielding too much ground to the unbeliever's change being "good". In this, Brooks kind of gives away the farm. Brooks is quick to justify or label the unbelievers' helpful, humanitarian, earthly beneficial deeds as 'good' because he calls them civic righteousness. However, the Scriptures nowhere take this approach, precisely for the reason Brooks tries to guard human change from renewed heart orientation - God is the one who determines what is actually good! So, he makes much of the unbeliever's ability to truly change (though not God-pleasing change) and at the same time calls his unpleasing-to-God change something God never calls it (good). On this note, the very first endorsement of many inside the book, given by Ed Welch, is equal parts shocking and telling: "Can you be good but not connected to Jesus? Absolutely."

(3) an incomplete articulation of how change is accomplished. This book seems to be poking holes in lots of arguments against the author's liking, but Brooks never seems to really give the reader biblical patches in their place. So how is sanctification and God-honoring change accomplished? What makes the difference if I want to make sure I do get over those stubborn sins? I cannot find any substantial answer to this question in this volume.

(4) an unclear goal in the book's ultimate purpose. Brooks mentions a number of times that he's fighting to distinguish various kinds of human change, which is indicated by the book's subtitle. However, I'm still not quite sure what Brooks is really fighting for in "exploring" these different distinctions. He seems to have spent a lot of ink opposing something no one (Christian or unbeliever) to my knowledge believes anyway, i.e. that humans are mutable and only God is immutable. He specifically discusses the need to speak clearly and carefully on page 46 in this respect, but to accuse biblical counselors and others who say, "Only Christians can experience real change," as undermining the immutability of God seems silly if the intention is to communicate change that counts as commendable before God.
But this makes me wonder (which I did at various points through the book), what is it that you're really fighting for in what you're righting? By the time I was done reading, having held that very question in my mind, I'm still not sure I can definitively answer it without speculating to some degree. And this, I think, is a real problem and shows the ultimate damage of the book. It severely muddies the water, telling Christians unbelievers can change for good and can even practice righteousness in the world...just not the highest form of good or righteousness possible; it's merely civil and not vertical righteousness before God. So, is the reader supposed to strive for this kind of righteousness if he's counseling biblically? Does bringing earthly comfort and good and helping people change into better Christ-denying moral citizens an acceptable position for the Christian who counsels?
Considering the Fall 2024 SEBTS journal that was published pushing the new kind of nuanced Integrationism we're seeing in biblical counseling, I think I can safely assume that Brooks's confused articulations on sanctification were merely downstream thoughts of what he is teaching openly now as Redemptive Counseling.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I am left with many questions after reading this. I’d love for any of my friends to read it so we can talk about it!)

Brooks’s thesis is that there are two types of change: heart orientation and heart operations. Heart orientation change happens by the Lord at salvation and produces heart operations change. Heart operation change is our thoughts, desires, and actions. Heart operation change CAN occur without heart orientation change though. This means unbelievers can experience true and lasting change in their thoughts, desires, and actions without any real heart change.
Clearly, it can be hard to distinguish between the two changes. Brooks suggests that feelings, words, love for Scripture/God/church, confidence, and desiring change are not proof of heart orientation change. (They should be present with salvation, but can exist without salvation.) He instead suggests endurance and a whole/life integrity as proofs of heart orientation change. In the end, it felt like the conversation got cut short and I’m left with questions and wanting more. Definitely a thought-provoking read!

[James Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a pastor looking for a resource, I was able to read this book in a morning. Much of the book is a theological account of a person’s inner being (understanding the “heart” in “heart change”). This would make it a good resource to give away to people seeking to understand what Christian change looks like, and - importantly - how that change differs from any non-Christian addict putting away an addiction, for example.

While it will not teach someone how to change, necessarily, it will help readers identify and understand different kinds of change that a person can undergo. Aptly named!

[Joshua Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book that every pastor, evangelist, or any person involved in discipleship must read. Brooks is very clear in his description of true heart change and he provides clear ways to discern between behavior modification and conversion.

[Alan Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent, concise work on sanctification and heart change that will challenge and edify the reader.

[Maggie Ardizzoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very similar to other content I have read, but still a great little read!