No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful, Andrew David Naselli.

Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2017, 123.  

Summary: A careful and somewhat academic summary, history, and critique of higher life theology, exegesis, and method by Andrew David Naselli. Naselli grew up in independent fundamental Baptist circles and has a PhD from both Bob Jones and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Higher life theology teaches that there are merely saved Christians (carnal/regular) and Spirit-filled Christians. The Spirit filled Christian experiences the higher life or second blessing of surrender to God through crisis and participating in the process allowing dynamic service.

Naselli also encourages readers to embrace a Reformed understanding of progressive sanctification or of the pursuit of holiness.

Exemplar Quotes:

The fundamental reason higher life theology is harmful is that it creates two categories of Christians (49).

[Higher life is] A FORM OF PERFECTIONISM. (77)

[Higher life is] A FORM OF QUIETISM. (81)

[Higher life is] A FORM OF PELAGIANISM [and] Portrays the Christian’s Free Will as Autonomously Starting and Stopping Sanctification. (84)

[Higher life] Does Not Interpret and Apply the Bible Accurately. (86)

[Higher life] Assures Spurious “Christians” They Are Saved. (88)

[Higher life] Fosters Dependency on Experiences at Special Holiness Meetings. (91)

[Higher life] Frustrates and Disillusions the Have-Nots. (92)

Benefits/Detriments: Higher life theology tends to almost destroy sensitive practitioners when followed in detail. Quick Fix is based on Naselli’s dissertation and is a passion project. The greatest weakness is the number of charts and the length of the footnotes.

Recommended for pastors, seminarians, and folks who are confused about why “letting go and letting God” isn’t working for them.