In my search for a
good women's Bible study program, I ran across the writings of Beth Moore. Get Out
of That Pit is the first book of hers that I've read.
The book ostensibly is about what to do when you realize
that you have sunk down into a mire of troubles with no foreseeable way
out. I've been both inside and outside
the "pit," and so I thought this would be a good introduction to Moore's
work. But in part because I have had
this experience, I can't recommend this book.
I'd also be hesitant to read any of Moore's other books.
Her writing style is difficult to follow. She wanders all over the place before she
makes her point. About a quarter of the
way in, she makes the statement, "[t]hat analogy may look like a random
comparison...." All I could think
was, Honey, this whole book has been a random comparison. Considering that many people reading this
book are themselves in dire straits, lengthy stories about IHOP or frogs seem
less than helpful and even inappropriate.
A person with the wandering mind that is sometimes caused by extreme
depression, for example, would find this book confusing.
Second, Moore twists Scripture to suit her needs. I understand there has been controversy over
this, but I do feel it's true. Very
early in the book, she discusses that many of us fall into a pit innocently,
not as the result of our own sin.
Certainly, that's true. But in
the next paragraph, she quotes a verse about being trapped in a pit. When I looked the verse up and read the whole
chapter, that verse is actually about being trapped in a pit because of sin. How harmful is that to someone who is looking
for reassurance that sometimes we really are innocent victims? And this was only the first time I noticed
that she sometimes chooses verses that contradict what she's trying to
say. She contradicts herself at times,
as well.
Is she well-meaning? Yes. But there are much better resources to help people
in despair.
Two out of Five Stars
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