Good News for Anxious Christians, expanded ed.: 10 Practical Things You Don't Have to Do

by Phillip Cary

A talented teacher unpacks the riches of traditional Christian spirituality for Christians burdened by the guilt and anxiety of introspective, in-my-heart spiritual techniques. Phillip Cary explains that knowing God is a gradual, long-term process that comes through the gospel experienced in Christian community. The first edition has sold over 17,000 copies. The expanded edition includes a new afterword that offers further insights since the first edition was published over ten years ago.

Genres: Christian Living

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly amazing! Will go on the shelf with my favorite books! A must-read!

The subtitle helps to explain the idea of the book: 10 practical things you don't have to do. Cary's main thesis is that some aspects of our modern evangelical theology is inconsistent with what we believe about the gospel. More specifically, there are a variety of ways that we turn inward to our own hearts, emotions, works, etc. instead of turning outside of ourselves (extra nos) to the objective and sure truths of Christ. Looking inward makes us anxious. So, the good news of the gospel is that Christ stands outside of us to save us from our sins and remedy our anxieties. These practices and beliefs (see the table of contents) may seem like things we don't do, but Cary helps press home how we need to look outside of ourselves to Christ instead of succumbing to some of these errors and causing ourselves anxiety.

"The techniques all have the characteristic that they turn you away from external things like the word of God, Christ in the flesh, and the life of the church in order to seek God in your heart, your life, and your experience." (ix)

[Melissa Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other reviewers have noted that the title of this book isn't a great one. This isn't a book only for Christians who consider themselves anxious; it's helpful in general for provoking critical thinking and providing a different way to look at many of the givens of current, American [Western? evangelical] Christian culture while holding a persistently high view of Scripture and the value of Jesus Christ in the lived existence of believers. Parts of the book threw me and for much of the time, I hesitated to give it a star rating and thus give the appearance that I agree with most of what Phillip Cary writes. But the reading experience, one of constantly having ideas to chew on and process and consider, really won me over. Cary's cynicism about the church struck me as unfair and I couldn't relate everything he claims as common to churches and Christians I know, and I certainly do not affirm everything he conveys. But there's much good in the book that I look forward to returning to.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book of pastoral theology. It's suffused with both deep thinking (Cary is well-versed in both philosophy and theology, particularly of the Lutheran flavor) and sharp, sharp writing. Cary is fed up with what he terms "the new evangelical theology" and turns it inside out in the best way possible. You can tell he knows the people who have been inculcated with this shallow thinking, and he cares deeply about its harmful effects on people. I loved it.

Personally, I felt some liberation in reading this! As a pastor, his words about preaching, developing sermons, "practical" applications, and more were refreshing and encouraging. I will definitely be returning to specific chapters of this remarkably insightful book in the future.

[Jonah Twiddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book. Cary puts words to so many things that most Christians feel are off-kilter in modern evangelicalism but can't quite explain. He explains them. It's primarily philosophy and not theology, so I would recommend it as a great companion to another work that lays the Biblical foundations of these ideas a little more clearly. (Suggestion: Decision Making and the Will of God by Gary Friesen).

[Abilene Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's good news for ALL Christians.

Mr. Cary mentions classics like "Winnie the Pooh" and "Little House on the Prairie," and his book has that heart and wisdom. Having read it, I feel more sure-footed, wiser, and encouraged.

If you've had questions about hearing God or discerning God's will for your life, please read this.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars… This book is for those who have wondered what’s going on when the local church has become focused on entertainment, consumerism, and experience instead of Christ. Although the book wasn’t life-changing for me, it gave me a lot of things to think about. Several chapters were unnecessarily long-winded.

[Jolie Dittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

good but DNF. last few chapters are just repeated info

[Will Imfeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the 10 topics discussed in this book are all worth considering and meditating on, I was not particularly impressed by the content.
The book felt rather reactionary (particularly to the Keswick Movement) or like a response to a particular category of thinking; however that category was somewhat vague.
The author consistently used the term “New Evangelical Theology”, without clarity. It seemed like term was sometimes set up as a straw man.

It is entirely possibly that these observations are due to a lack of attentiveness in my reading however, I would encourage others who read it to consider content with care.

Although it was not my favorite book, I appreciated the author’s discussions about commonly misunderstood topics such as “God’s Will in our lives”, “The Holy Spirit versus our human intuitions”, and the concept of “joy in the christian life”. He confronted the fogginess that often accompanies these concepts which is often introduced by imprecise language and unbiblical misconceptions.