Book Description
In our contemporary society, it is widely accepted in the search for self to seek the advice of a mentor. From upper-management consultants to the well-meaning friend, mentors are readily available. But as Houston writes, "We can choose the pursuit of self-knowledge for enhancing one's professional ambitions, or we can go beyond ourselves in ever-living faith as disciples of the Word."
This book is not a guide to mentoring. Rather, Houston thoroughly dismantles and exposes cracks in the philosophies used throughout the history of mentoring. Individualism, stoicism, and even psychotherapy all fall short of God's ultimate plan. The Mentored Life reveals that it isn't about making the individual better. Instead, through Christian discipleship, individuals must humbly seek Christ, who alone can lead us to whole personhood.
From the Inside Flap
The role of mentor holds a distinguished position in our modern culture. And the mentor has been influencing countless lives throughout all of history. As people encounter new circumstances, the natural tendency is to seek a skilled mentor for guidance. The purpose of The Mentored Life is to examine the traditions of mentoring that have been passively absorbed into our culture. Effective as they are, they still fall short of God's divine plan.
If, as Christians, we interpret mentoring to mean Christian discipleship, then we must move away from the formulas the world so easily abides by. The paradox is, then, that the mentored life is one in which we constantly look to Christ for guidance, answers, and fulfillment. It is our heavenly Father who infinitely knows us, Houston says, which contrasts with worldly expressions of self-knowledge. Rather than trying to discover our self and reach our potential, we must come alongside the mentor who will help us be all we can be by Christ. This book, essential for any Christian leader's library, will introduce you to a framework for discipleship and help you gain a greater understanding of God's desire to mentor us.
