Review of Empty Promises…

Pete Wilson is pastor at Cross Point Church, author of Plan B (which I highly recommend), and blogger at WithoutWax.tv. His second book, Empty Promises, just released. Today I would like to give a quick review of the book and my thoughts on the topics.

Empty Promises is a great, practical book. It is relevant to everyone. We all have bought into the lies of this world about power, our desires, and even things that are inherently good. Pete gives a fresh, modern definition of the word idolatry: “When I look to something that does not have God’s power to give me what only God has the peer and authority to give.”

This book helps the reader give a self-assessment in many of the common areas where we tend to create idols and lets the reader know that they are not the only ones who struggle with creating idols. Pete offers many personal examples and examples from people close to him that help drive his points home. It’s also refreshing to read that a successful pastor of a large church isn’t perfect and isn’t ashamed to admit that he is human.

Some of the big idols that Pete covers in this book are: achievement, approval, power, money, and beauty to name a few. And if we are honest with ourselves, we all struggle with a few of those. At the end of it all, Pete points us back to the cross.

I would highly recommend this book. The truth is, we can’t begin to grow and cleanse ourselves if we aren’t aware of the areas in which we struggle. This book will help you come to grips with the idols that are in your life and then help you remedy them. This book isn’t meant to provide the deepest theological thoughts on my matters of our hearts. It’s meant to be a practical guide that levels the playing field by bringing to light that fact that we all struggle with idols, we all need grace…we all need God. But again, it all points back to Christ. If God becomes our focus, everything else fades away. Finding out what promises God has made to us is the best way to overcome the empty promises of this world.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.