God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. Really? This is one of the Christian cliches Shane Pruitt exposes in his upcoming book 9 Common Lies Christians Believe. In his book, Pruitt encourages readers to move beyond religious platitudes, and helps us to get real with Scripture and live honestly before God.

Pruitt sat down to answer some questions about the inspiration behind 9 Common Lies Christian Believe as well as some of the themes he discusses in the book’s pages. Here’s what he had to say…

9 Common Lies Christians Believe releases on February 19 – it is available for preorder here. 

Q: Can you briefly share your family’s personal journey through some challenging circumstances that served as inspiration for writing 9 Common Lies Christians Believe?

A: My wife, Kasi, and I have five children – two are biological and three are adopted. Our oldest adopted son, Titus, is adopted from Uganda. While we were in Uganda, we knew he had some medical issues, but did not realize how severe they were. When we flew back to the States, we literally left the airport and were immediately checked into a children’s hospital. After being there for a couple of days, the neurologist came into our room, turned the TV off, and sat right in front of us. He began to share that our son had cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, and may have been physically abused through shaking.

For a year, both Kasi and I struggled on the inside, but never addressed it. She internalized it, and I stayed busy. On the one-year anniversary of Titus coming home, we both broke at the same time – emotionally and spiritually. During this time, well-meaning people would tell us, “Remember, God won’t give you more than you can handle.” We had also convinced ourselves that we had to be okay. After all, we were not only Christians but also Christian leaders. We’re supposed to put on a happy face no matter what and toss around a bunch of one-liners that sound spiritual, right?

No, that’s not right. Not at all. Kasi and I decided to stop playing the game. We committed to move past the religious jargon and turn our focus back to the intended truth of the Word of God. Once we dug deeper than what cultural Christianity has to offer, we began to get real with the Scriptures again. Thankfully, this caused us to be honest about our struggles and become authentically unafraid to speak about our failures and letdowns. Then and only then did we begin to walk in freedom, the sweet freedom that brings the beautiful comfort and transformational power to walk through any storm and face any mountain. Once, we were in this healthy place, I begin to think about and make a list of all the one-liners that we tend to believe that are actually lies holding us back in our journey with Jesus.

Q: You point out how “follow your heart” has been a very popular catch phrase in our society. What’s wrong with following your heart, anyway?

A: The Bible has a lot to say about the heart, and most of what it says carries a negative connotation. For example, the prophet Jeremiah wrote this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The greatest Bible teacher of all, Jesus, also pointed out the fallen condition of our hearts: “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23). Basically, the most vile and disgusting acts a human being can be involved with begin in the heart.

Thin about it – if a person was described with these characteristics, would you sign up to follow him? Think about this scenario:

I say to you, “I have a person I would like to introduce to you. In fact, I believe this person could be a great mentor for you. He should be your leader and your guide, and you should do whatever he tells you to do. Follow him. Trust him. Always asks, ‘What is he telling me to do?'” He is deceitful above all things and is desperately sick. He also produces evil thoughts, has a tendency toward sexual immorality, likes to steal and kill, commits adultery, covets, and is wicked, envious, slanderous, and prideful. To top it all off, he is also foolish!” That wouldn’t be wise at all to follow someone like that, so why follow our heart that is described the same way?

Q: You also say the word “heart” is used in one of its various forms over 300 times in Scripture. Can you break down for us what the word heart usually refers to in the Bible?

A: The word heart in Hebrew is lebab or leb and in Greek is kardia. Collectively, these words are used over 300 times throughout the Bible, making it the most commonly used term in Scripture in reference to human functionality. Interestingly, the Greek word kardia is where we get the English word cardiologist, which we know to be a heart doctor. The word carries with it the meaning and belief that the heart is the hub of our emotions, our desire producer, and the center of our being. Plain and simple, the heart represents the locus of our feelings, desires, and emotions.

So if we break down the cliche “Follow your heart”, it would go something like this: Follow, which implies that something/someone is going to lead me. Your heart, so according to this statement, what’s going to lead me is my heart. What I am saying is, “My feelings, desires, and emotions are going to be my guide.” I think we can all agree that is incredibly dangerous, because our feelings and emotions change all the time.

Q: You also address the popular mantra in our society to “believe in yourself.” Why does this get us into trouble? Isn’t the self-esteem movement a positive thing?

A: Don’t get me wrong. The self-esteem movement has the right motivation behind it, but not the right message. Of course, we all want to feel good about ourselves. None of us want to live with low self-esteem, nor do we want our children to dislike themselves. However, the evidence is overwhelming: increased self-esteem hasn’t helped. Our children grow up to see how empty participation trophies are. Prisons are still full. Drug abuse, violence, and suicides are never in short supply. In fact, most people agree that things are simply getting worse.

This kind of advice resonates with our human nature because at the end of the day, we all love taking matters into our own hands. We’d rather trust in ourselves because it makes us feel in control. Deep down, however, in the true essence of who we are, in our soul and spirit, w know it’s a lie. The truth is, the older you get, the more you begin to realize that one of your greatest enemies is yourself. No one has misled you more than you’ve misled yourself. No one has lied to you more than you’ve lied to yourself. No one has hurt, distracted, or hindered you more than you have. In fact, the more you believe in yourself, the deeper the pit you find yourself in. Have you ever noticed that the harder you try, the more you mess up?

If you attempt to live life believing in yourself, you will be trapped by discouragement, fear, anxiety, and worry. The pressure of trying to be in control of all situations will set you up for failure, because being in control is a job above your pay-grade. You were not made to believe in yourself, because you were not made to be in control. You were made to believe in Someone else. you were made to trust Someone else to be in control. That is ultimately what faith is – trusting in the One who sits on the throne as king.

Q: You provide some helpful tips for building healthy relationships on more than feelings. Can you share one or two of your tips for how couples can argue well?

A: Arguing well is about learning, not winning. When you listen to the needs, worries, and frustrations of the other person and learn how to serve each other better, then you have victory in an argument. There are times when you can debate and still lose in the long run. Too often we sacrifice the health of our relationship to get in the last word. Relationships are about learning, not winning. When a disagreement takes place with healthy and mature communication, then sacrificial changes are made to show each other beautiful, unconditional love. That is true winning.

A good argument involves both people talking and both people listening. It doesn’t involve one person doing all the talking while the other person does all the listening. That is called a lecture. Arguing well is one person talking while the other listens without interrupting. Then it becomes a time for the talker to become the listener who avoids interrupting. Also, a good talker communicates with kindness, self-control, and humility. A good listener truly concentrates on what the other person is saying and isn’t distracted by thinking about his comeback. He doesn’t make it an opportunity to bring up her shortcomings from the past.

9 Common Lies Christians Believe releases on February 19 – it is available for preorder here. 

The post Q&A with Shane Pruitt, Author of 9 Common Lies Christians Believe appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Now, believe us, it was very hard to limit ourselves to just ten books, so if you are looking for a full list of the great books we have coming soon, click here. 

Whether you want a book to inspire, a book to help you grow in your faith, or a book to help break bad habits – these are the books we think you should look out for in 2019…

The Bright Life by Jen Wise

Releases January 8, 2019

To the woman who feels her all is never enough, The Bright Life is your invitation to a new start. You were created to be healthy, strong, vibrant, and to rest in the unforced rhythms of grace Jesus so lovingly makes available to us all. Come along and learn how to avoid habits that seem smart but are deceptively self-sabotaging, pick up habits of wholeness that actually stick, and try surprising ways to practice kindness toward yourself and generosity toward loved ones. The Bright Life extends a daily invitation with striking insights, tips to reclaim your energy, and a three-part practice of looking inward, upward, and outward as you step into a brighter way. This 40-day reset weaves story and Scripture together to cultivate a peaceful place where, through the attentive love of Jesus, you can experience the unforced rhythms of grace.

Brave Love by Lisa Leonard

Releases January 29, 2019

Women today feel pressure to be the best wife, mom, and professional possible – often at the expense of their own identity. In Brave Love, the founder of the multi-million dollar company Lisa Leonard Designs inspires women to find themselves again amidst the noise and competing demands of real life. Brave Love is about what it means to be human, how it feels to be broken and afraid, and what happens when we dare to love deeply. Join Lisa on a journey where you will discover you are worthy and lovable just as you are. You don’t have to try harder or be better. You don’t have to prove yourself and you don’t have to make others okay. In this freedom you will find more peace and more joy. Most importantly, you will learn that as you stop trying to be everything to everyone, you will love others better.

Taste & See by Margaret Feinberg

Releases January 22, 2019

This groundbreaking book by Margaret Feinberg provides a culinary exploration of Scripture. You’ll descend 400 feet below ground into the frosty white caverns of a salt mine, fish on the Sea of Galilee, bake fresh matzo at Yale University, ferry to a remote island in Croatia to harvest olives, spend time with a Texas butcher known as “the meat apostle,” and wander a California farm with one of the world’s premier fig farmers. With each visit, Margaret asks, “How do you read these Scriptures, not as theologians, but in light of what you do every day?” Their answers will forever change the way you read the Bible – and approach every meal. Taste and See is a delicious read that includes dozens of recipes for those who, like Margaret, believe some of life’s richest moments are spent savoring a meal with those you love.

How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns

Releases February 19, 2019

Peter Enns, the controversial evangelical Bible scholar, popular blogger, podcast host, and author of The Bible Tells Me So and The Sin of Certainty explains that the Bible is not an instruction manual or rule book – but a powerful learning tool that nurtures our spiritual growth by refusing to provide us with easy answers but instead forces us to acquire wisdom. How the Bible Actually Works makes clear that there is no one right way to read the Bible. Moving us beyond the damaging idea that “being right” is the most important measure of faith, Enns’s freeing approach to Bible study helps us to instead focus on pursuing enlightenment and building our relationship with God—which is exactly what the Bible was designed to do.

Keep Showing Up by Karen Ehman

Releases February 26, 2019

It is true that opposites attract–for a while. But often as the years go by in our marriages, opposites may also begin to attack. The habits and characteristics we once found endearing about our significant other are the exact things that drive us crazy years later! Whether you and your spouse disagree about finances, parenting, or how to load the dishwasher, your differences don’t need to divide you. They can actually bring you closer together–and closer to God. In Keep Showing Up, Ehman will show you how to play to each other’s strengths, find magic in the mundane and so much more. She also offers helpful ides to implement in your marriage, such as powerful statements to speak to your spouse, and date night suggestions. Discover how your “incompatibility” can become the strength of your marital team!

9 Common Lies Christians Believe by Shane Pruitt

Releases February 19, 2019

God won’t give you more than you can handle. Really? Do you cringe whenever you hear someone speak a cliche like that? If so, this is the book for you! Pastor and speaker Shane Pruitt guides readers in identifying the Christian cliches we’ve all heard that are actually unbiblical lies keeping believers stuck in spiritual immaturity. In 9 Common Lies Christians Believe, Pruitt counters these cliches with the truths about God as presented in the Bible.The truths that bring encouragement and freedom to all of our lives. This is a book that will help you to get real about Scripture and live honestly before God and others so that you can experience the peace that passes understanding.

Don’t Give Up by Kyle Idleman

Releases March 5, 2019

The parent with the wayward child. The couple whose marriage is in jeopardy. The man who is out of work. The woman stuck in crushing debt. People hanging by a thread, losing faith and short on strength. What do they all need to hear? Don’t give up. Our lives are minefields of challenges that take their toll on our courage, our conviction, and even our faith. But God whispers to the weary, Don’t give up. Drawing from inspiring biblical stories and first-person testimonies of perseverance, bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman encourages readers to cast their concerns on God, trust in his love and timing, pray for patience and strength, and seek out support in the family of God. Don’t Give Up is a book for the believer that needs a little courage to keep on going through tough times.

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Releases March 12, 2019

Rachel Hollis has seen it too often: women not living into their full potential. They feel a tugging on their hearts for something more, but they’re afraid of embarrassment, of falling short of perfection, of not being enough. In Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. In Girl, Stop Apologizing, she delivers a bracing challenge for women everywhere: stop apologizing for your desires, hopes, and ambitions – and go after them with passion and confidence. Learn to break the crippling habit of letting others define you. Instead, remember who you are – and become who you are meant to be!

Transformed by Remi Adeleke

Releases April 16, 2019

What are the odds? Statistics tell us that African American males who grow up in a single-parent household are nine times more likely to drop out of high school and twenty times more likely to end up in prison than any other demographic. But what would it take for one young man not only to rise above those statistics but also become a Navy SEAL, actor, entrepreneur, writer, and person of faith?In Transformed, Remi Adeleke delves into being raised by a single mother in the Bronx and doesn’t shy away from the illegal activities that threatened to derail his future. How could a person with this past end up where he is now? Having gone through times of intense struggle, pressure, and failure, Adeleke answers those questions in his inspiring story of overcoming the odds.

Fish Sandwiches by Troy Schmidt

Releases April 1, 2019

We all have this in common: We get hungry. Inevitably, we eventually notice something we lack, and we wonder how we’re going to get our needs met. And then sometimes we notice that someone else has already taken care of our needs. And then sometimes we notice that the One who is taking care of our needs is God. This warm and down-to-earth book invites you to sit in on one of the most miraculous moments of human history, when one Man took a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread and fed an entire village. In Fish Sandwiches, you’ll meet the Jesus who dares you to ask Him to give you each day your daily bread, who makes promises and keeps them, and who does immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine on a regular basis.

Are you a fiction lover? Keep an eye out for an upcoming post about the most anticipated Christian fiction books coming in 2019!

To see more Christian books set to be released in 2019, click here

The post Christian Books We’ll Be Reading in 2019 appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.