The Seven Deadly Virtues: Temptations in Our Pursuit of Goodness

by Louis Gaston

Overview

Faith. Love. Family. Power. Success. Goodness. Generosity. Could these virtues ever become stumbling blocks to your Christian walk? Todd Outcalt explores the fine line between virtues and vices, uncovering ways our flawed priorities can masquerade as healthy religious goals and showing us how to reorient ourselves toward truly virtuous living.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830881000
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

The Other Jesus, Common Ground, and Before You Say "I Do," and has written for many magazines including The Christian Century, Preaching, YouthWorker, and Ministry Matters.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Keeping Your Faith Without Destroying the Faith of Others
2. From Loving Our Way to God's Way
3. From Focusing on Our Family to God's Family First
4. The Power of One or the Power of the One
5. The Lure of Success or the Allure of Grace
6. When Good Isn't Good Enough, God Is Still Good
7. Generous to a Fault or Overflowing with Gratitude
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
For Reflection or Discussion

Editorial Reviews

"Could it be that virtues we've admired, like goodness and generosity, aren't what God is actually seeking from us? Todd Outcalt, with clarity and wisdom, shows us a more excellent way."

James C. Howell

"Leave it to Todd Outcalt and his gift of discernment to help us see the shadow side of virtue. The Seven Deadly Virtues is for everyone who wants to live beyond platitudes, values the road less taken, and isn't likely to confuse the shine of brass for the luster of gold. A primer for mature people of faith and all those who aspire to be."

Philip Gulley

"The default response to problems, global or personal, is to bring out an agreed-upon list of sins and link our failure with these sins. What if, instead of our sins, our best practices got us to this undesirable place? In The Seven Deadly Virtues, Todd Outcalt questions some of our most strongly held virtues. Our commonly held list of virtues may be delivering unintended consequences, be logically flawed, or even be unbiblical."

Pegataur

"Is it possible some of the virtues we seek as followers of Jesus are actually hindering our relationship with him and our witness to the world? In The Seven Deadly Virtues, Todd Outcalt answers with a resounding yes! This book is a must-read for all of us comfortable Christians who need to be made a little less so."

Edges

"Todd immediately turns the reader upside down. Don't expect old clichés and language of faith. This is about, in his words, 'living out faith instead of sharing a set of beliefs'—yes, a warning about virtues! It is compelling in style, rich in personal examples, informative in research, and creates desire to become more like Jesus in the twenty-first century."

Jo Anne Lyon