Reviewed Book: Oates, Wayne Edward. Temptation: A Biblical and Psychological Approach. Louisville, Ky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991

Olson, Steven J.

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Temptation: A Biblical and Psychological Approach

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 21Issue 2 Aspects of Ecumenity Article 2811-1-1995Temptation: A Biblical and PsychologicalApproachSteven J. OlsonFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationOlson, Steven J. (1995) "Temptation: A Biblical and Psychological Approach," Consensus: Vol. 21 : Iss. 2 , Article 28.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol21/iss2/28Book Reviews 145Unfortunately, there are many who continue to reject our faith communitybecause the church has not properly communicated the gospel to them. We,the church, need to accept our lumps for these miscommunications in thepast. But, more importantly, we need to recognize what we are up againstand learn how to proclaim the gospel anew to a hurt, harassed and help-less generation. The popularity of The Celestine Prophecy is another wakeup call for the church to reach out and engage those fragmented lives inour midst. They are looking for connections to God and the larger humanstory. We have a real story to tell.Rolf K. NosterudEvangelical Lutheran Church In Canada,Winnipeg, ManitobaTemptation: A Biblical and Psychological ApproachWayne E. OatesLouisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991109 pp. $9.95Like a great Fire House Chili, this book is best appreciated only afterone has stewed over it for a while. Although the reading is not difficult, ittakes time to contemplate and assimilate the concepts Oates sets before usfor consideration.In writing this book Oates basically had three objectives. The firstwas “to demonstrate the function of temptation in the formation of charac-ter”. The second was “to develop a holistic perception of the biblical andpsychological perspectives of temptation” and the third was “to present anappreciation of the spirituality that is quietly present in the work of psycho-therapists in their perspectives of temptation”.Having worked in the field of psychotherapy before entering the or-dained ministry, I have a keen appreciation for the lack of communicationand understanding between psychotherapists and members of the clergy.One of the gifts Oates’ book presents us with is a conceptual foundationfor building a bridge of understanding between these disciplines. By pro-viding an insightful description of temptation from both theological andpsychological perspectives, Oates gives us a common ground upon whichwe can share our concerns and insights in terms we can both understandand appreciate. This, without a doubt, will be of great help to those who,in the course of their ministry, find themselves dealing with people in thesecular helping professions.As helpful as this might be though, I find Oates’ theological interpre-tation of temptation even more helpful for my day to day work as a parishpastor. In the grand tradition of Karl Menninger, Oates introduces his146 Consensuswork with these questions. “Whatever became of temptation? When wasthe last time you heard a sermon, read an article or book, or had a seriousconversation with a friend about temptation?”The rhetoric of these questions highlights a curious phenomenon withinour society. The consciousness of sin and its predecessor temptation hasin large part been replaced by legal and medical interpretations of humanbehaviour. While this, no doubt, is of great comfort to those of a secularbent, it raises some serious questions for those of us who are concerned withthe effect of sin upon our relationship with God.Sin by its very nature is that which alienates us from God. Therefore, atthe heart of every temptation is the enticement to live a self-centered ratherthan God-centered life. Oates points out that such temptations usually takeone of five forms, “the living enticement of our own undisciplined desires,the wide array of excuses we generate to justify our own behaviour, thespiritual testings that are common to all of us, the temptation to aim lowin settling for less than our better judgment suggests for our life, and theselective inattention of not watching where we are going and what we aredoing.” In addressing each of these forms of temptation he notes thatdeception, theologically and psychologically, particularly self deception isthe parent evil.Having said that though, I hasten to add that Oates’ view of tempta-tion is refreshing in that he values the role temptation plays in spiritualformation. He does not view temptation as a sin in and of itself but rathersees it as the “crucible of human character formation”.This perspective allows us to deal openly with temptation, knowingthat it is common to all people and seeing it as an internal forum whichallows us to live out our lives consciously in the presence of God.The development of this perspective and Oates’ practical application ofit make this a book worth reading. Like that good chili, one’s appreciationof it grows over time.Steven J. OlsonSt. Matthew Lutheran Church,Cornwall, Ontario

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