No Man’s Concubine

By Robin Caldwell

Author: Beverly D. Allen

Friends and I often discuss the relationships we’ve given up to follow Christ. At the very top of the list would be the men who wanted the benefits of marriage without the commitment. Such arrangements slowly tear away at a woman’s dignity. The decision faced is to remain in shame or leave with the soul in tact.

Beverly D. Allen, author of No Man’s Concubine: Tell the Concubine She was Meant to be a Queen (Xulon Press) declares that God never created women to be surrogate wives and articulates that point in No Man’s Concubine.

Allen speaks with a voice of experience having spent years as the concubine of a man who provided financially and fathered her son. Unfortunately, the relationship left her pondering her worth and value as a woman. Godly counsel enabled her to relinquish the lifestyle she led and her hurting heart over to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Allen freely shares that wisdom coupled with sound biblical instruction with women in similar situations.

In chapter one, Allen explicates the definition of concubine and its application to women who settle for secondary wife status. She also offers an expository through the Bible that essentially characterizes the concubine as a woman who is demeaned and demoralized.

Beverly Allen has researched her topic well. She obviously learned a lot about herself and God’s view of virtue. No Man’s Concubine leaves few stones unturned and Allen appears to have an answer for almost everything regarding women and illicit relationships.

No Man’s Concubine is well-intentioned and written from a pure place in Allen’s heart. However, sometimes the book reads like information overload, which is its most memorable flaw. No Man’s Concubine would serve Allen’s message much better if the editing of the content were more concise and ordered.

Flawed or not, Allen speaks from a sweet place that only wants the best for daughters of the King. Allen wants God’s women to accept their royal inheritance and to walk in their assigned roles as queens. And she wants women to walk away from exploitative relationships that tear away at the very core of their souls.

No Man’s Concubine contains the meat appropriate for women’s ministry and bible studies directed to single, divorced and widowed women. There are enough raw materials to help women make informed lifestyle choices.

Visit www.christiandatingrelationships.com for more information on the author, her book and ministry.