Head, Heart and Hands: Bringing Together Christian Thought, Passion and Action

by Dennis P. Hollinger

As Christians, we are to love God with all of our being--heart, mind, soul and strength. But many of us tend to overemphasize one aspect or another, and as a result, our faith becomes imbalanced. Some of us have an intellectual faith but lack compassion or spiritual discipline. Others of us have a vibrant, heartfelt relationship with God but lack commitment to truth or doctrine. And many of us overlook translating our faith into service and ministry. In this book ethicist Dennis P. Hollinger presents a holistic, integrative vision for reuniting Christian thought, passion and action. He shows how individuals, churches and movements throughout history have focused on either the head, or the heart or the hands--often to the exclusion of other expressions. But by linking our intellect, emotions and actions, Hollinger points us toward a whole faith for the whole person, where each dimension feeds, nurtures and sustains the others.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality, Discipleship, Nonfiction, Christianity

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2005

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an appeal for the integrated Christian life. Hollinger contends that we often separate head (intellect), heart (passions, spiritual attentiveness) and hands (practical action). Individuals, churches and theological traditions tend to lean toward one of these. Hollinger explores both what each contribute to mature Christian discipleship and what results when one is in excess or deficient in our lives.

I found most helpful the latter chapters where he looks at what the three look like together in our lives and how each enriches the other. He also looks at how the disciplines of education, social pyschology, and philosophy have likewise contended for these elements in becoming whole persons. I especially found helpful the discussion of how what we do shapes what we believe and how biblically grounded practice deepens our grasp intellectually and experientially of our faith.

I would have appreciated more discussion of how streams of Christianity other than our own often help us recover what is missing in our own church and cultural situation.

[Jim Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A view of Christian sanctification as seen through the rubric of head (knowledge), heart (emotion), and hands (works). The book is a pastoral guide to believers to help them have a balanced life of growing in the faith. Hollinger argues that faiths dominated by the head, heart, OR hands have been the norm throughout Christendom. What is needed is a balance of the three, “a whole faith for the whole person.”

The book is organized around chapters that outline the elements and efficacy of each theme, with a follow-up chapter on the “distortions” of each theme. Hollinger analyzes the distortions from both a lack of the attribute or an excess of it. It is very accessible and useful as a guide for personal sanctification.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really want to live your life like Jesus, this is the book for you.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the basic thesis of this book, that I've been wrestling with so much in the past year that I was getting a bit bored by the end of the book. Hollinger argues for an integrated and holistic christian lifes and gives two chapters to each: head, heart, and hands. One chapter deals with the dimensions of that aspect of faith/conversion and one chapter deals with distortions. Including real examples, examples from the history of the church, and scripture (the biblical basis chapter gave me a headache as I plowed through the long list of verses & explanations), Hollinger makes his case in a VERY comprehensive way for a thoughtful integration of faith.

Hollinger argues, it is very Western thinking to believe that the mind (or head) is the foundational support from which devotion and passion (heart) and actions (hands) follow. Bad actions can distort theology, just as bad theology can lead to distorted actions.

This book is designed to be challenging to all and is not easy to dismiss. Some favor the heart over the head, and others the head and heart over the hands depending on personality, culture, and church background. I'd recommend this book for all.

As I tend to value hands and head over heart, the sections on distortion of the heart and description of the heart aspect in conversion were particularly convicting. This book has given me a basic paradigm to better understand my faith and will have to reread later when I'm prepared to absorb more. I get the feeling I missed a lot.

Since my reading volume increased, I've been having some trouble switching between my childrens literature hat and my IVP intellectual faith of the mind hat. So I had to think for a second before I rate this book. It is a solid 4.5, so I rounded up to 5.

[Brian Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basic idea of the book is very important. I don't think the author delves into the idea as far as he should, however; hence, the three stars.

The idea: one should have his or her mind, heart, and body fully integrated in one's faith and life. God designed us to use head, heart, and hands. If any of these three areas is neglected, it affects the other two.

The book would have been better if Hollinger had told "head-types" how better to develop the heart and hands. The same type of advice could have been given to "heart-types" and "hands-types."

Still, this idea should be kept in mind at all times, particularly for pastors who minister to different types of people.

[Todd Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christians we all have a part of our faith that we stress more that the others. Some are bent toward the practicle hands on caring part of the faith, some toward the deep knowledge needed to defend the faith, and some toward the heart felt inspriation of the faith. But the extremes of any of these can cause pain and trouble. Hollinger does a great job of explianing the issues and offereing solutions.

[Sean-david · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, unique in some ways in addressing the problems of an incomplete faith. I enjoyed it and was challenged by much in this text.