Book Review: The Lord of Spirits

 

What does on in the spiritual realm? Is there more, and if there is what does it look like, and how does it operate?

These questions are more pertinent than ever as despite a very post-Chrisitan culture in the West the concept of “being spiritual” is at an all time high. Of course the Christian story explains all of these other things going on without compromising one iota of doctrine.

Sadly much of what is found in the Protestant world when it comes to the “spiritual place” (angels, demons, nephilim, powers & principalities etc…) is often either fanciful, not well grounded, immature and sometimes just silly to be frank.

That is where this book, The Lord of Spirits enters from stage right to provide a very accessible primer into understanding the Christian perspective of the spiritual world. While it does come from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it is filled to the brim with a comprehensive understanding of spiritual matters from Scripture, the early church fathers and tradition.

From reading this book I have walked away with what I feel is a more grounded and realistic understanding of how the spiritual world interacts with the physical world, and through that how the Gospel is front and center in combating the forces of darkness that want nothing more than to destroy humanity (image bearers of God).

Steven Damick in the entirety of this volume defines just about everything that would need defined, and helps give shape and form to the often lacking spiritual frameworks that can be found often in evangelicalism. Of course there are things that I don’t agree with (as it like is with just about any book). But the fundamental truths of what Scripture presents are laid out in The Lord of Spirits bolstered by the history and tradition of the Church through the ages.

For anyone who wants to jump from ankle to knee deep or higher on this topic, this is a book to add to your collection.