Michael Horton - Recovering Our Sanity

I like this book a lot. Mike Horton and I are friends. And friendship is what we need a lot more of right now. In this critical moment gripped by fear, we desperately need this message. When we lose a good fear of God, all kinds of bad fears rush in. But when we see other people from Gods perspective, theyre gifts and not threats. This book has come at just the right time.

John M. Perkins, author, Let Justice Roll Down and One Blood

We are living in a day when the media relentlessly exploits our fears, while social media puts us in an echo chamber of strongly held opinions, working together to create division and confusion. In Recovering Our Sanity, Michael Horton provides a biblical and historical foundation for developing (and perhaps changing) our thinking about the most polarizing issues of our day. We need more than someones hot take in 280 characters. We need reasoned argument grounded in Scripture and gospel hope centered on Christ, which is exactly what this book provides.

Nancy Guthrie, author and Bible teacher

Yet again, Michael Horton has written a book that Christians across the nationand around the worldneed to pick up and read today. Clinging to God in fear and faith is the antidote to the fears we have of everything and everyone else right now. If sanity is going to be recovered, it needs to start in the church. Hortons message is not only timely and criticalits also a great comfort.

Ben Sasse, U. S. senator (NE) and author of Them:
Why We Hate Each Otherand How to Heal

With his usual yet uncommon balance of biblical, theological, and historical wisdom, Horton offers not only a penetrating analysis of our current fear-driven cultural moment, but also provides a way forward that is both transcendent and timely. He reminds us that we are made by God and for God, and only in that recognition and reality can we drive out fear and find true rest and peace. Do you need help and encouragement navigating the stormy seas of life? Then take up and read this important book.

Julius J. Kim, president, The Gospel Coalition

Were all afraid of something: sickness, death, or loss (of loved ones, a job, our rights, or our status). Additionally, as Christians, we fear persecution, oppressive government, and corrupt culture. The media, politicians, and even pastors and ministry leaders use those fears to increase clicks on their websites and social media; drive up book sales, conference attendance, and fundraising; and spur us to the polls on election day. The result is not just a divided nation, but a divided church. In Recovering Our Sanity, Michael Horton wants to put an end to this division by helping us overcome irrational (insane) fears. Instead, he argues, the fear of God drives out the fear of everything else. So, whether youre a church leader or a church member, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Gather a group for discussion. Give away a copy for free. Its time to stop the insanity that divides us and embrace the sanity that comes from the fear of the Lord.

Juan R. Sanchez, senior pastor, High Pointe
Baptist Church, Austin, Texas

ZONDERVAN REFLECTIVE

Recovering Our Sanity

Copyright 2022 by Michael S. Horton

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Zondervan titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@Zondervan.com.

ePub Edition January 2022: ISBN 978-0-310-12794-9

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover Design: Micah Kandros Design

Cover Photo: Shutterstock

Interior Design: Sara Colley

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 / LSC / 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

To Leslie Wilson for her clever mind, big heart, and
example of loving and serving everyone around her.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

and he does according to his will among

the host of heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth;

and none can stay his hand

or say to him, What have you done?

Daniel 4:3435