When a colleague recommended this book to me, I did not have high hopes: I was afraid it would be another "conservative" diatribe full of "thou shalt nots," lacking depth both theologically and psychologically. How happily surprised I was when I read it!

Jack and Judith Balswick combine academic backgrounds in sociology and psychology with demonstrated knowledge and ability as Christian counselors. Rather than being a negative, prohibitive book, this is a positive, life- and love-affirming work, meant to guide individuals and families toward God's will for them -- not beat them into submission.

The book presents an abundance of academic and clinical research, but it is presented so skillfully and unobtrusively that the average lay reader will not be put off by it. Even difficult topics (such as masturbation, homosexuality, and divorce/remarriage) are presented in a sensitive manner, resisting the temptation to fall into an authoritarian tone, and encourage the reader to prayerful reflection. Quite [pleasantly] surprising!

I highly recommend this book; most especially, I recommend it to all clergy and lay counselors.

The Balswick provide an excellent basis for understanding the family from a Christain context. They deal with theological and psychological issues in a language that is easy to understand and informative to people with various levels of training. They deal with a broad range of topics in a sensative, yet intelligent manner. This book is a must for every church library!

The biblical model for family relationships proposed by the authors provides an easy to understand framework to explore family problems of today. The basic concepts of covenant love, forgiving grace, empowering service and intimate knowledge, which comprise this model, constitute a major advance in the formulation of a theology of family relationships.

Judith and Jack Balswick have given us the gift of their combined years of academic and clinical practice, as well as their experience teaching, with regard to one of the most difficult subjects Christians face: human sexuality.

What makes the subject difficult is not the objective anatomy and physiology; it's the two-thousand years of cultural conditioning and unease with sexuality in general that make most Christians uncomfortable. The authors strive to integrate current medical, psychological, and sociological research with Christian teachings and ethics, and I think they succeed. Research summaries and findings are timely and broad in scope, and the authors provide an excellent, extensive bibloigraphy.

The authors address every "hot topic" sensitively, but head-on. From premarital sex to homosexuality to sexual abuse, they offer rational and scientifically-valid propositions, and then examine these in the light of how the very basic Christian teachings and values will affect the reader's perceptions and actions. They don't tell the reader, "You should believe and act like this" -- rather, they offer a continuum of possible responses, and offer the reader guidance in following his own conscience and faith.

It is not (as I had feared with another of the authors' books) simply a faux-conservative diatribe, full of "thou shalt not"s, but a theologically-sound, pastorally-sensitive resource for clergy and laity, families and clinicians.

Highly recommended for all Christian readers.