Jon Dybdahl’s book addresses a legitimate concern, namely the spiritual life of church members and their relationship to God. To be precise, how does one experience God? The author makes many good and helpful statements. In some places the book inspires readers, while in others it raises a number of questions.

Dybdahl argues against a top-heavy, rational Christianity and thus—with a certain justification—also against the one-sided emphasis on doctrine, ethics, and biblical theology. But, as a result, these areas of Christian living and thinking seem to be left behind. Missing, it seems, is a synthesis between cognitive theology and spirituality. For example, in his last chapter he writes, “While I would never deny that theology and ethics are important, they cannot stand above the role of the heart and the centrality of love” (132). This sounds as though subjectivity triumphs over the objective word. The impression appears to be given that when the “spiritual disciplines” are observed, everything is in order and the relationship to God is guaranteed. However, Adventists do not read the Bible and especially the New Testament in such a one-sided manner (see the discussion about milk and solid foods in Hebrews 5-6).

Throughout the book there is a tendency to affirm that spirituality is present in various Christian denominations and even gives a positive appraisal of spirituality in world religions, though the author does make a distinction when it comes to meditation. He says, “We must also be careful not to belittle or denigrate traditions or emphases different of our own. The body of Christ profits from all traditions, and we must celebrate them in others . . .” (116). That could be understood to mean that Adventists should accept mysticism and every possible spiritual approach without evaluating them. In other words, the book seems in places to be ecumenical and pluralistic. In addition, does not the Adventist understanding of the nature of man, which sees body, soul, and spirit as a whole entity and denies the natural immortality of the soul, also have consequences for spirituality? Should not this issue be discussed as well?

The treatment of the “spiritual disciplines” strongly reminds one of Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline that likewise contains both good and questionable material. This work is repeatedly quoted and may disturb some readers. There are a number of statements in Dybdahl’s book that could be misunderstood: the author recommends lectio divina (62), the use of spiritual leaders (“spiritual guides,” 136), the “Jesus prayer” according to the Russian Orthodox tradition, that can be used as a mantra (52),¹ the breathed prayer (52), prayer and meditation over art objects or visual media (53), visualizing, etc.² Warnings about excessive or questionable practices are practically non-existent. Furthermore, according to the author, growth in spiritual disciplines should be evaluated (135). The final chapters are more psychologically oriented. To be sure, the author attempts in places to work biblically but may still fall short of doing justice to the biblical text. Overall, it seems that the biblical material is marginalized. The diagram on page 109 lists under “Christian Theist” God, angels, the social sciences, karma, magic, and the natural sciences; the choice of vocabulary as well their descriptions on page 105 could raise problems for the audience.

What is really missing, even in the detailed bibliography that encourages readers to buy various books, are Adventist authors,³ a description of Adventist “spirituality” and Ellen G. White’s comments on this subject, for example, in Steps to Christ. Missing also is a discussion of how Sabbath keeping, Bible discussion in Sabbath School, prayer meetings, as well as the Adventist practices of baptism, footwashing, and the Lord’s Supper affect the spiritual life of church members. The call in Rev 14:7 to worship the creator God is not heard in this book. In other words, as a specific Adventist contribution to spirituality this book clearly falls short.

Although the topic is important, the overall impression is that this book needs major improvements in various places.