Review of Craig Groeschel's Going All the Way
Advice for Parents and Teens about Christianity, Sex, and Marriage
Dec 21, 2008
Craig Groeschel has written the book he needed to read when he was a wild teenager, back when "I even dated some very nice, moral, Christian girls. They never converted me, but several of them ended up doing things they hadn't planned on." Although Going All The Way provides traditional arguments for waiting for sex until marriage, senior pastor of Lifechurch.tv conveys the message with a swagger, at times for himself, frequently for his wife, and always for God.
Who Should Read Going All The Way?
Although this book is not written specifically for teenagers, anyone who is considering a sexual relationship may benefit from the ideas presented in the book. Groeschel offers advice on:
- prioritizing God and people
- creating social situations that reduce temptation
- mastering the art of "waiting for marriage"
- setting standards for serious relationships
- creating a Christian marriage
- understanding one's role as a spouse
- building a family that honors God.
Certainly, the parents of teenagers will find valuable focus from the book, and sharing Going All the Way might make uncomfortable conversations about sex more endurable.
What Does Going All The Way Mean to a Christian?
For most people, "going all the way" means one thing. Pastor Craig, as Lifechurch members call him, reclaims the 60s slang for sex and makes it a challenge. The Christian definition of "going all the way" is going all the way to the alter without compromising one's values. It means waiting not only for sex, but for other meaningful intimacies as well, such as living together before marriage.
A Springboard for Conversations about Sex
Certainly, the parents of teenagers will find valuable focus from the book, and sharing Going All the Way might make uncomfortable conversations more endurable. Parents can show their sons and daughters how to orient their moral compasses, according to their family values. Groechel obviously advocates abstinence, but abstinence is a hard sell, and it might not be the position parents want to advocate. Some parents, especially those of teenagers entering the independence of college life, may prefer knowing that their teenagers are prepared for safe, healthy relationships that might include premaritial sex.
What Non-Christians Can Learn from Going All The Way
There is a lot of God in Going All The Way, and the book is written for people who are open to having a relationship with Jesus Christ before having a relationship with anyone else. Even non-believers will find this book entertaining and thought provoking, because it is a book about how people value their relationships with each other. "Going all the way" is a philosophy beyond sex; Groechel uses it to describe how people build their lives with one another. He says, in his direct style, "If you are dating someone who isn't right for you, put this book down and end the relationship."
Going All the Way flows well because of Groechel's confident, friendly style. He seems as comfortable with his mistakes as he is with his successes, and he is firm in his convictions. His voice is consistent and warm, even has he firmly fixes his positions. He praises his wife, Amy, throughout the book, describing how she is a woman of God and his admiration of her is evident, but he never presents her as a nun with a wedding ring; even in his acknowledgments, he notes that Amy is "a great kisser".
Going All The Way (1590529383) is written by American pastor Craig Groeschel. It has been available as a hardcover book since October 2007. It is published by Multnomah Books.
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