The Final Freedom by Douglas Weiss has many good psychological observations toward the sexual dominating problems of the human species.  His observations come from years of study and counseling practices.  He does, however, only give lip service to the spiritual transforming power of God and then only as a “greater power,” but not what Scripture describes of what the Lord Jesus Christ can do in a humble and broken person dependent on the Holy Spirit.
I
 was asked to read this book to get my perspective on it.  There is a great deal of truth and objective observations of the problems of people who have rejected God and in the downward spiral (Rom. 1:21-32) and those who have accepted the gift of salvation, but are in the downward spiral (Eph. 4:17-19). He gives many humanistic approaches to gain human strength to defeat sexual immorality, but he falls far short of the life giving power that God outlines in Scripture.

I can’t help but acknowledge the horrendous consequences of sexual immorality, whether solo sex (M, pornography, imaginations) or with others (fornication, adultery, etc.).  Paul makes it very clear, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Cor. 6:18)  Sexual immorality distorts the thinking in tragic ways that may need great diligence to overcome by prayer and fasting and a total commitment to God’s provision for victory over life-dominating sin.  There are many biblical exercises under the power of the Holy Spirit that are needed.  The twelve steps that Weiss relies upon may have helped some people, but while it gives some credit to a greater power, it falls short of the beauty of God’s living and powerful Word in God’s grace and Holy Spirit’s  transformation.

I respect Weiss’ descriptions of sexual immorality and resultant observations.  He is digging far deeper into the problem than most pastors and counselors are willing to dig.  But he also relies upon humanistic solutions, patterns and exercises.  I don’t see him calling sin – sin.  Nor does he give a good gospel presentation.  I respect his words to “his religious friends,” and the problems with Christian leaders who have given superficial, inadequate and unmerciful advice.  I have great compassion for many people who have been hurt by those who portend to represent God, but because of their own lack of spiritual growth and mixed humanistic suggestions and solutions cause harm in the name of the Lord.  We Christian leaders ought to be held accountable for foolishness and giving unbiblical counsel.  I respect that Weiss will stick with a soul struggling with sexual domination over a Christian leader who gives an exhortation and pushes someone on their way.  In many ways, Weiss has likely helped many people.  My grave fear is that by mixing human solutions with Truth, there is a far reaching greater poison that inoculates people from God and makes them less dependent on His work of sanctification.  I do not recommend this book unless someone is on red alert for material of humanistic content.  There are some observations with several practical exercises that if based on Scripture may be helpful to some people. 

There are two corresponding workbooks.  The first is called “A Christian Guide for Sex Addiction Recovery.”  It contains many good suggestions for practical exercises.  However, it also mixes humanistic solutions that many unsuspecting people would not realize are anti-biblical.  The second is “Christian 12 Step Guide for Sex Addiction Recovery.”  This is an exercise workbook of how to adapt Sexual Immorality to the 12 Step program.  I believe there are many practical exercises that can be gained by only using the Bible that would be much more helpful.