“It appears that rather than turning to Scripture or the synthetic work of theologians,” Thoennes writes, “the Eldredges want to begin with woman to understand the complexities of God’s nature.” This is particularly in view in the authors’ statement, “After years of hearing the heart-cry of women, I am convinced beyond a doubt of this: God wants to be loved.”īut the authors have reversed the truth about God, Thoennes says. The authors aim to remedy what they view as an incorrect doctrine of God by asserting the incorrectness of a view of God that sees him “as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired,” Thoennes points out. Thoennes points out that one of the book’s central tenets resides in its statement on page 28 that postulates, “This may be the most important thing we ever learn about God-that he yearns for relationship with us. She also ministers to women at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, Calif., where her husband Erik, a CBMW council member, serves as pastor. Thoennes serves as assistant professor in the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University. However, according to a review written for The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) by Donna Thoennes, Ph.D., the book presents pictures of God and woman that are out of step with Scripture. In fact, Captivating upholds the biblical necessity of distinguishing between gender, acknowledging the goodness in the truth that “God made them male and female.” It also presents a biblical view of the unique creation that is woman-no hint of blurring the gender lines here. It rightly emphasizes the fact that God is not only transcendent and wholly other, but is accessible and knowable. 1 position atop the list of best-selling books compiled by the Christian Booksellers Association. The book- Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul (Thomas Nelson, 2005), a female counterpart to John Eldredge’s bestseller Wild at Heart-is currently sitting firmly in the No. However, according to Donna Thoennes, Ph.D., the book presents pictures of God and woman that are out of step with Scripture.Īt first glance, the popular new book co-authored by husband and wife team John and Stasi Eldredge appears to have much to commend it.

At first glance, the popular new book co-authored by John and Stasi Eldredge appears to have much to commend it.

John stasi eldredge