Gift-Wrapped by God

Gift-Wrapped by God

Secret Answers to the Question "Why Wait?"

by Linda Dillow, Lorraine Pintus
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
1st Edition, ©2002, ISBN: 9781578565856
Hardcover, 240 pages
Current Retail Price: $16.99
Not in stock

As one can infer from its cringeworthy title, Gift-Wrapped by God must be read with a discerning mind. "Purity" culture at its worst can view women as objects that must stay fresh and pure for men if they are to properly fulfill their purpose. This book strays into that territory, claiming that women's bodies are gifts that God gift-wrapped for their husbands.

To be fair, the metaphors can get confusing as they claim that sex is a gift, and women are also gifts, though in at least one passage men and women's bodies are gifts that they give to each other. Sex is a gift, but people can't be turned into objects. The book also seems to fall into the whole "being chaste in body makes you holy in spirit" fallacy. Sexual purity is a component of obedience to God, but no one is truly pure apart from the saving blood of Christ.

There is some helpful stuff in this book but you'll have to pick your way carefully around some potentially damaging messages that equate a woman's worth with her body and the state of her body with the state of her soul.

Review by Lauren Shearer
Lauren Shearer writes words for fun and profit. She also makes films, but everyone knows you can't make a profit doing that. Her other hobby is consistently volunteering way too much of her time. You can read more of her reviews here.
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