The Green Letters: Principles of Spiritual Growth

by Miles J. Stanford

Book Overview

As the first book in a series of five on the Christian life, The Green Letters emphasizes both the doctrinal and experiential aspects of maturing in Christian living.

The book is grounded in Scripture and enlivened by quotations from noted authors. "Not I, but Christ" is its theme. The author makes this arresting statement regarding the dynamics of the Christian life: "God . . . doesn't intend to help us live the Christian life. Immaturity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310330017
• ISBN13: 9780310330011
• Release Date: July 1981
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Reply to Kirk Bozeman

A friend and I talked about Mr. Bozeman's comment via email. His reply to me was truly great and I thought I would share it here. Please note that his comment was not written to be read by anyone but me, so I apologize for his direct and somewhat confrontational language and format. AS Stanford had some very narrow, "old-school" Dispensational views not held by the mainstream of scholars today (at least the ones I've seen), (This is an absolutely accurate assessment of Miles' dispensational understanding. His is a classic, Lewis S. Chafer, C. H. Mackintosh, John N. Darby, Patrick Fairbairn dispensational approach to Biblical interpretation. That is not what the current staff of Dallas Seminary or its recent graduates are teaching and following. Theirs is usually called Progressive Dispensationalism.) and it shows in the way he understood Paul (especially) and the whole of Scripture in light of his writings, and is the undercurrent for this book. (Again, absolutely true; however, the book is a compilation of letters from his file on subjects that he repeatedly addressed in answer to inquiries from people world-wide who wrote to him for clarification and Biblical understanding.) (This is more evident in the "Complete" version, but not as evident in the "slim" version, which I feel is a bit deceptive to the reader, since the "slim" is more widely-read.) This statement is purely based on ignorance. The "slim" version is the first book that Miles wrote in this series under the title Principles of Spiritual Growth. It was a grand primer for a new Christian. Later, that was expanded to The Green Letters, a broader set of letters in answer to more questions than were addressed in Principles of Spiritual Growth. Yet another book was issued called The Red Letters. Those were all combined by the publishers into The Complete Green Letters. Miles originally had his small books printed in Hong Kong and distributed entirely out of his small home office. Whatever you do with this fact, (The only "fact" that he has mentioned is that Stanford does not embrace the Progressive Dispensational interpretation, but accepts and teaches the Darby, Mackintosh, Newell, Chafer interpretation) the practical outworking of this ideology ("This ideology" begs for definition. On the surface it appears to mean `that dispensational understanding of the Brethren who defined it' compared with the understanding that is now taught and adopted by more recent teachers and preachers. For practical purposes that would be staff additions at DTS after Chafer's death and others who hold to the ideology of Progressive Dispensationalism, Covenant/Reformed/Calvinistic/Historical Dispensationalism as compared to Doctrinal Dispensationalism as an interpretive system) for Stanford results in a very unbiblical view of sanctification (which may be defined by . . .?) that makes it difficult to reconcile (The writer should have added; "that makes it difficult for me to reconci

Really good and radical description of grace

I read this for the first time when I was only 18 - and it helped to shape my view of God's grace

Spiritual growth for the striving but tired Christian

This very biblical book is a life saver for those who've been a Christian for a number of years but have hit the wall. Striving to be conformed to the image of Christ, has had little impact yet, at the same time worn the saint out. This was me. Stanford's presentation of biblical principles and godly men's thoughts about God's word is a badly needed message in our performance orientated Christian culture. This little book helped set me free as well as others to whom I minister.

Outstanding for those serious about the Lord.

This is one of the top 3 Christian books I've ever read.Those familiar with Spurgeon and A.W. Tozer will understand this to be another deep treasure.

A Must Read Book for Every Christian!

This book explains the basic foundations of the Christian Faith. Every Christian should read and understand this material so that their position in Christ is understood.