Samson and the Pirate Monks - Book Review

Depressing - Yes. This book confronts the reader with the fact that he is most vulnerable, weak, lonesome, and pathetic when he thinks that he is the strongest. In our humanity, we think we are invincible when we are forging ahead - alone, silent, strong. In reality, that is when we are the most vulnerable.

If you aren't a sexual addict, I give you permission to skip the first fifty-seven pages. I found the first fifty-seven pages a bit "shock-and-awe" and disturbing to my inner core. In fact, I skipped most of the first third of the book because reading it put me in a foul mood. TMI - came to mind.

After establishing the brutal details of his depravity, Nate Larkin chronicles his slow climb out of the hole. For anyone who has experienced any type of sinful addiction, this part of the book hits home. Sin, sin, sin - repent, repent, repent. Try to do it yourself in secret - fail, fail, fail.

As the title suggests, Samson did it alone and failed, but David did it surrounded by friends and died a success. If I could put the message of this book into one bullet point, it would be: Stop isolating yourself and build many solid relationships into your everyday life.

I give Samson and the Pirate Monks credit for readability and content. I have reservations regarding the amount of vivid confession - it is definitely NOT for anyone susceptible to the suggestive. I appreciate the main message: Stop being the strong, silent loser who pretends to have it all together.

For those who struggle with any type of sinful behavior, I'll leave you with something my brother once told me: Build walls around yourself through obedience. Every time you obey God, you build one more brick into a wall between yourself and possible temptation.

For those addicted to sexual immorality or pornography, you benefit from something Neil Anderson wrote in A Way of Escape: Freedom from Sexual Strongholds. Organize your life so you avoid all situations of vulnerability. I.e. Don't allow yourself to drive to get milk at the little market where the porn is sold. Rather, force yourself to purchase your groceries at a large grocery store where you won't "accidentally" run into sexual temptation.

Neil and Nate both agree: Life needs to be lived in community and sin's best friend is isolation and self-reliance. Rely on God through honest fellowship within His church body.