Thirsting for God: In a Land of Shallow Wells

To those raised as Protestants and especially those who are Evangelical Protestants, this book will open your eyes to why one would convert to Orthodox Christianity. The author talks about his spiritual journey through the Protestant religious movement and how he step along the way he never could find that true spiritual connection with God. Gallatin in a very easy to read yet well written style tackles why there are so many Protestants who are disenchanted with their religious lives. No amount of praise music, no megachurch, nothing in what has become an endless journey could satisfy that longing and true thrist in his soul to be a peace with God. When reading his journey, I could see those in my own family and myself looking but never connecting with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This book greatly helped me in my search and decision to convert to Orthodox Christianity. I cannot recommend this book enough to those who are disenchanced with their Christian religious life. Today, much of Western Christianity both in Europe and the United States is floundering, trying to rewrite what cannot be rewritten. Gallatin's work helps one to clearly see that we must return to the true faith which has stood the test of time.

The question in Agrippa's (Acts 26:28) lips seems fitting now for mine. As a long-time and committed Reformed Protestant, I must say I have never been so challenged by such a work as this. I am amazed by how quickly Mr. Gallatin went through all my objections one by one and led me to seek out more about the Orthodox church. It is a well done and well written apologetic that left me hungry for more like it.

Although I've read a handful of books more than once, "Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells" is the first book that finished and started right over again!I am a former Evangelical who had raised many questions about the Protestant church, but continued to hang on for lack of an alternative. It wasn't until I heard about the Eastern Orthodox Church at a lecture given by Frank Schaeffer in 1997, that I began investigating this pearl of great price.Gallatin's book appeals to me in that he asked many of the same questions I did, but with his philosophical background, he approached them in greater depth. One friend of mine says that he attacks the rationalism of Protestantism using a rationalistic argument. This may be true, but some of us coming out of this background need to have head questions answered before we can commit our heart. (Once you become Orthodox, you realize this is all backwards.)In the final chapter of this book, Gallatin writes, "I pray that Protestant readers have been challenged to come to grips with the inescapable inconsistencies of their theological heritage. I hope many of their misconceptions regarding the ancient Orthodox Faith have been dispelled. Most of all, I hope I have helped them to see Christianity in the light of its historical truth and its sacramental spirit."He continues in the next paragraph with, "When it comes to Orthodox readers, my prayer is that this book has nurtured within them a deeper appreciation of their faith. Perhaps they have come to understand it better. Most of all, I hope that they will be able to use the perspectives presented here to help them as they share the truth of their faith in a predominantly Protestant society."I would agree that he's on target on both counts. I'd recommend this title to both Protestant inquirers and Orthodox "evangelists."

As a recent convert to Orthodox Christianity from Protestantism, I'm always looking for things pertaining to the Orthodox Church as it is in America, and without the overtones of being "Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc." This book does that. The first part of the book is that of the author's personal journey to Orthodoxy. After decades of trying to find the "True Way" among various Protestant denominations, he still felt that something was *missing* in the Protestant view of the Church and of the world. He also goes on to elaborate just what it was that seemed to be missing or contradictory in Protestant doctrine, both specifically, and in general.The second part of the book is almost a handbook as to what the Orthodox church may look like to those coming from a Protestant viewpoint. Things such as veneration of icons, formal prayers, and church tradition are discussed here in a way for those who probably have had very little experience with these things.I, myself, am tickled to read about others' journeys to (and within) Orthodoxy, particularly in America. I just sent this book in a package to my mom. I don't know if she will read it, but if she does, I hope that she will at least come away knowing that me becoming Orthodox has everything to do with the church, and very little to do with me being fascinated with Russia or whatnot.

Thirsting for God is an excellent book for those who have come to see the problems in evangelical Christianity but cannot quite figure out what to do about it. The author spent many years searching, starting out as a 7th day Adventist, next a Fundamentalist, then a Charismatic (being a Pastor) and finally coming into Orthodoxy. The interesting parts of this book for me focused on the downfall of the Fundamentalist and the Charismatic doctrines, and their inability to explain why those who believe have huge questions that do not get answered such as "why is there no genuine transformation in my life" and "when is the Holy Spirit going to bear witness with my spirit that I am a child of God"? Gallatin has an interesting point of view, having been a pastor; he plainly describes the lack of insight he had. As a result, he gave the typical responses such as "pray about it", "read your bible" even describes the powerlessness he had to help those who sought his council.The work is not scholarly; rather, it is a lay testimony. Read as such, it is very good.