Don't let the textbook appearance of Broken Promises fool you (plain cover, copious footnotes, and appendixes). This book provides a highly readable treatment of adultery in Christian marriage. The author's anecdotes, illustrations, and organization make the solid information on this subject move along.
Virkler shows convincingly that there is more to healing affairs than confronting them as a sin problem— though that certainly is in order! He does an excellent job of tracing the deceitfulness of sin that can lure even the most devout Christian into adultery. Because some Christians deliberately repress their feelings as unspiritual, they actually may be more vulnerable than unbelievers who see it coming.
This book holds something for everyone. Those who counsel marriages rocked by infidelity find good counseling methodology and advice on difficult questions such as whether or not to re veal that adultery has been committed, whether or not unconditional love can win back a straying mate, and when tough love should be exercised. Virkler offers the faithful mate excellent advice about what and what not to do. He gives the church program ideas on affair prevention usable for couples and groups. He offers the unfaithful mate help (and suggested reading) in understanding why he or she could have done such a thing. Was the affair an attempt to supplement something missing in the marriage or was it an expression of anger—a way of punishing his or her mate? What is it about the personality of the adulterer that opened the door to unfaithfulness? This book makes an important addition to the pastoral library.
