The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Spurgeon and depression

I recently came across American Zack Eswine's Spurgeon's Sorrows a book for those who suffer from depression. I don't suffer from depression thankfully but I feel like I do sometimes.
I thought the book might be more biographical but in fact what it is a pulling together of Spurgeon's many, many references to depression and how to cope with it. The book looks at trying to understand depression, learning how to support those who suffer and learning helps to cope daily. So much of it is fairly conventional but with this very fresh look at Spurgeon's take on it. It is a short book (143 pages) but helpful for any Christian with depression or who is trying to help such a person.
The decision to refer to Spurgeon as Charles was probably not the right decision but the general style is okay once you get used to it (and no typos -well done Christian Focus!). This is a book packed with wisdom that is really worth checking out. Eswine  himself says "the melancholy life thrives when it marathons instead of sprints, or when it sprints often, only to rest often." That on its own is a great seed thought.

2 comments:

Jason D. said...

You may then like this audio interview I did with the author: http://confessingbaptist.com/interview081/

Gary Brady said...

Thanks for that link. Good interview (including some light on the Charles question)Interesting tail piece too.