February 26, 2020 
Reviewed by:
G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.
Title:
The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies About God that Sound Like the Truth
Author:
Jared C. Wilson
Publisher:
Thomas Nelson
Publication Date:
January 14, 2020
Format:
Paperback
Length:
224 pages
OVERVIEW
What made Satan’s lie to Adam and Eve so powerful? Jared C. Wilson suggests the answer is that the lie offered what sounded good and seemed like it would plausibly give it. The most effective lies the devil tells are subtle, subtle perversions of truth. Wilson outlines eight lies that contemporary Christians struggle with:
- God just wants you to be happy
- You only live once
- You need to live your truth
- Your feelings are reality
- Your life is what you make of it
- You need to let go and let God
- The cross is not about wrath
- God helps those who help themselves
In each chapter, Wilson unpacks the problem with the lie and shows what God’s truth offers instead.
Wilson cleverly organizes his book so that the lies become more and more complex with each chapter. As a result, the rebuttals to each lie gets more complex with each chapter, but at a slow pace that keeps readers from seeming overwhelmed. What’s perhaps more impressive is that the author walks a fine line between two extremes that hurt most Christian books. Generally, Christian books either have deep content and are hard to read or have light content but lots of youth pastor-style humor. Wilson gives plenty of strong content but never gets too technical and uses humor throughout without making it so loud it overwhelms the book. The result is highly accessible yet convicting, entertaining yet life changing.
An excellent book on the subtle lies that trip Christians up.
ASSESSMENT
Rating (1 to 5 stars)
5 stars
Suggested Audience
Christians trying to live the healthiest spiritual life possible and avoid easy deceptions that make it harder to live the spiritual life.
Christian Impact
This book gives readers a vital perspective on how to avoid lies that will damage their spiritual growth.
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[…] previous book, a somewhat satirical book titled The Gospel According to Satan, dealt with ways that the Gospel message can be skewed and misused. That book did an excellent job […]