I’ve thought about avoiding any posts on this, but WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers is doing something too interesting to ignore. Bruce Wilkinson, who made a huge splash with the book The Prayer of Jabez (and only ripples with follow-up books), has a new book which appears to focus on themes similar to “Jabez.” You Were Born for This talks about everyday miracles and the idea that you and I “can be a ‘Delivery Guy’ from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose and spiritual growth” if we “are willing to learn the ‘protocol of heaven.'”
Yeah, I don’t like the look of that either, but Mr. Wilkinson is going to be online tomorrow evening at 7:00 Eastern in a live Q&A to discuss themes in the book. Questions will be taken through the chat room.
Oh, man, and I thought “The Prayer of Jabez” sucked. This looks worse, if that’s possible.
I didn’t have as negative a reaction to it as you did, Richard, though I drew cold to it after a while. I didn’t read the book either. I only heard Wilkinson speak on it a couple times. I have a copy of “Beyond Jabez,” which is one of his follow-up books. I have failed to review it in a timely manner, but I’m discouraged to see what appears to be Wilkinson’s return to ideas of storming the walls for Christ.
But here’s another part to it. I want to live a vibrant life for God’s glory. I want to believe the truth and do what the Lord wants me to do. I don’t want my perception hindered, like our quote of the day notes: “Sometimes what most hinders our perception of what God is doing is our own expectation of what God should do or would do” (IVP Commentary on Luke). So Wilkinson’s recommendation to pray that the Lord would expand our responsibilities and influence in His strength appeals to me.
I have been too much afraid, and I know I have nothing to fear.
Phil,
Thanks for writing this. I think my problem with books which talk about learning the ‘protocol of heaven’ (whatever THAT may mean) strikes me as bordering on gnosticism or the stuff you hear on Oprah or Joel Osteen on how to learn the “secret” of the higher life. It detracts from the suficiency we already have in Christ. Lord knows I too have my fears–as you say you do–and I fail Him daily in what I do or don’t do. I guess I don’t need more law–“do this, don’t do this,” since I’ve already figured out I’m a screw-up. What I need to hear about is a Christ who loves me in spite of myself so I can respond in gratitude. I don’t think Wilkinson or Osteen or Rick Warren deliver on this.
It’s been a few years, but the most egregious error I recall from Jabez was Wilkinson’s instruction to use the prayer as a sort of mantra to manipulate God. Repeating a rote prayer ten times a day with the expectation that good things will happen is not the way God works.
Very good responses. Grace is lost and misunderstood in many Christian discussions, and Greybeard, I’m shocked that I did not recognize that truth in the beginning. I know what prayer is, and what you’ve said is dead right.
Perhaps I took the prayer of Jabez much like other prayers in Scripture which I don’t mind repeating because I mean them personally and they are rich with meaning beyond what I could extemporize.