My latest book attempts to survey and analyze “let go and let God” theology:
Andrew David Naselli. No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2017. xi + 123 pp.
- 18-page sample PDF. The PDF begins with 15 generous endorsements. (I’m also grateful to John MacArthur for writing the Afterword.)
- Available from Amazon and Westminster Bookstore
- Available for Kindle and Logos Bible Software
(The book’s “Acknowledgments” page should mention three Faithlife employees: Elliot Ritzema for shepherding the book through the editorial process, Bryan Hintz for designing the clever cover, and my friend Mark Ward for writing the title’s black letters by hand.)
Background
Higher life theology (or “let go and let God” theology or Keswick theology) divides the Christian life into two stages and encourages those in the first stage to advance to the second:
Higher life theology is harmful. I know from experience. That’s why I wrote my first PhD dissertation on it (2006). I revised that dissertation as an academic book in 2010: Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology. (That book is available only in Logos Bible Software format—not in print.)
My new book is a miniature version of my more detailed and academic work. I have stripped out most of the academic jargon and repackaged it to make it more inviting for thoughtful lay people.
I’m happy with the book’s title, but I originally proposed a much longer one!
Let It Go:
Why “Let Go and Let God” Is a Bad Idea;
or Why Higher Life Theology’s Quick Fix to Your Struggle with Sin Will Not Result in
a Higher Life, Deeper Life, Victorious Life, More Abundant Life, or Anything Other Than a Misguided, Frustrated, Disillusioned, and/or Destroyed Life
Contents
Who Should Read This Book?
- This book is for you if you have a form of higher life theology in your background. You may embrace higher life theology enthusiastically; you may embrace it unknowingly; you may know there’s something not right about it but can’t clearly explain why; or you may reject it and would like to analyze it more penetratingly.
- This book is also for you if you don’t have a form of higher life theology in your background. Higher life theology is so widespread that you will be able to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ better if you understand what it is and why it’s dangerous.
A silver lining of theological controversy is that it can help you refine how you understand what the Bible teaches. In this case, analyzing higher life theology will help you better understand the Christian life.
More about the Book
- Fred Zaspel interview for Books at a Glance (8/29/2017)
- Travis Montgomery interview (9/12/2017)
- Paul Shirley review for The Expositors Blog (10/17/2017)
- Paul Shirley review for The Master’s Seminary Journal 28:2 (Fall 2017)
- Justin Dillehay review for The Gospel Coalition (12/1/2017)
- Justin Harris review for 9Marks (9/17/2018)
- I surveyed the book for Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California—which John MacArthur serves as pastor (7/10/2022).
