Love and War

“It can be done.

And it is worth it.”

So begins the new book on marriage, Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge.  Love and War lets us all in on the not-so-well-kept-secret that marriage is unbelievably hard, but gives the reader hope, that through the power of Jesus Christ, a joyful, fulfilling marriage is possible.

As the wife of a pastor who as been in the ministry nearly 15 years, I’ve seen my share of broken and hurting marriages, and read many books about marriage, and I have to admit that Love and War is probably the best book on marriage I have ever read.  Many books about marriage offer tips and techniques that don’t really get to the heart of the issues in a hurting marriage.  But, the Eldredges cut to the chase.  There’s no mincing words here, but there is Truth, with a capital “T”, and where there is Truth, there is hope.

John and Stasi remind the reader that our marriages have an Enemy. Our marriages are part of a spiritual battle, because God created marriage to be a picture of Christ and His church here on earth.  They also debunk the popular myth that we can change our spouse.  True hope is found when we let God change us.  And they share the greatest gift we can give to one another is our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for a “fun” marriage book with 3-steps to happiness and compatibility quizzes, this is not the book for you.  John and Stasi Eldredge call our marriages to something much higher and nobler in Love and War.  The work will be difficult, but as they say several times in this book, “It is worth it.”

One personal caveat: John Eldredge is known for his stand on spiritual warfare and this comes out quite strongly in the middle of the book, and the prayers at the end of the book.  While I believe there is an Enemy who “prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” I don’t see demons behind every bush and every troublesome thing that happens the same way the Eldredges do. There was one passage that particularly troubled me where he advised readers to beware when going home to visit dysfunctional families, because their “warfare could jump” onto you. Nowhere in Scripture have I EVER seen evidence of jumping warfare.  So, read the book, but read it with this in mind.

All in all, Love and War is a powerful, desperately needed dose of Truth regarding our marriages in these troubled times.  If Christian marriages really can become a picture of Christ and His church here on earth, just imagine the impact we could have in this world!

“It can be done!

And it IS worth it!”

For more information about Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.