A Gospel Tip from The Gospel Coach: CAUTION!! Don’t Walk On the Thin Ice of BC Thinking

Posted By admin on September 3, 2010

Experience the Power of the Gospel of the FINISHED work of Christ!

We have a lot of modern day Pharisees in the church. LOTS of them! They try to tune us into God through a BC mindset. Jesus never got angry at sinners, but he did at the Pharisees and religious leaders. He called them hypocrites, ‘white washed tombs,’ etc. But he got angry at the Pharisees — the most religious people of his day! Let’s look more closely at WHY this was true of Jesus.

(1) ANCIENT PHARISEES WATERED DOWN GOD’S LAW

Pharisees were guilty of watering down the law, and mixing it with grace. God showed grace and mercy in the Old Testament, on many different occasions — but NOT through the law. The law was ABSOLUTE! It was not to be messed with. Paul says the purpose of the law was to declare everyone guilty before God (Rom 3:19). “There are none righteous, no not one.”

The Pharisees had messed with the law. They had watered it down so that the most committed people (themselves) could live by it. Again, they had wrongly mixed LAW and GRACE.!

Jesus says came to fulfill the law. He came to show us what the law really said, and he preached it in all its glory. Thus Paul says Jesus was a minister of the law — to reveal the truth of God (Rom 15:8). Circumcision means law; truth means the gospel of grace. It’s like he wore a WHITE hat when preaching the gospel (which was mostly in his parables), — and a BLACK hat when he was preaching the law.

When Jesus preached the law, people ran and hid, like Adam did in the Garden after he ate from the forbidden tree. “If your hand sins, cut it off!” — “If your eye looks at something bad, pluck it out!” — “If you look at a woman with lust, it’s the same as committing adultery with her!” — “If your righteousness doesn’t exceed that of the Pharisees (the most religious people) you’re not getting into heaven!” — “Be perfect as God is perfect!” Statements like these don’t make us feel like falling at his feet and worshipping him as Savior!!!

(2) MODERN PHARISEES WATER DOWN GOD’S GRACE

Most Christians are just outright legalists, living by laws, rules, precepts, principles, etc. They live in AD, but in a BC mentality. They are modern day Jews in their thinking. They are modern day Pharisees. They know the law much more than they have any conception of the gospel of Christ’s finished work. My goal as THE GOSPEL COACH is to help change this reality.

Those that are not outright legalists MIX the Old Covenant with the New Covenant — which both Jesus and Paul say NOT to do.

Ancient Pharisees mixed grace with the law; us more modern religious folks mix law with grace. Both are equally guilty before God. If Jesus were here today, he’d be as angry at many of us as he wsa with the ancient Pharisees. He would nickname us ‘white washed tombs.’

I repeat this often. Paul says that repeating things is ‘safe’ — or good for us (Phil 3:1). The Jews had a DUTY to live by the Old Covenant law; our DUTY is to live by the New Covenant gospel of grace.

Legalism, as defined by Webster, is a strict adherence to law, or to any form or system of rules, methods, procedures, or standards. We are legalists if we DON’T live the Kingdom reality of the gospel.

We live in the Kingdom of Self more than the Kingdom of God. We are like the ancient Pharisee: “Lord, I don’t these things . . . Lord, I do these things…” He lived in pride of self. The Publican wouldn’t even look to heaven when he said, “Lord, be merciful to me . . .” He lived in humility and need for God and his Kingdom.

DO WE REALLY INITIATE THE THINGS OF GOD’S KINGDOM?

In Romans 11 being counselors of God. How do we counsel him? We do it all the time in our prayers. We counsel God as to what he should do in every situation. Paul also says something else we do is to try to give to God, so that he is obligated to respond to us by answering our prayers. The greatest bondage in this life is to think that you can obligate God by what you do and say! Yet, this is preached often!

We depend much more on our earthly performance than we do on the finished performance of Christ for us. We wrongly gain meaning from what we DO — how we perform — not from who we ARE in him. We think it depends on our sowing, praying, giving, confessing, reading, church attendance, etc., etc. We think like ancient Pharisees.

We have a BC mindset! We live backwards, living by earthly principles and precepts to try to achieve heaven’s rewards. It’s nothing but spiritual bondage.

OR DO WE ONLY RECEIVE FROM GOD, NOT INITIATE?

Paul calls us ‘sons of obedience’ if we believe and live the gospel of Christ. Romans 10:16 says we should ‘obey the gospel.’ We obey when we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, not our obedience (II Cor 10:5). We seek to know nothing except Christ crucified for us (I Cor 2:2). We know that he took our sin on himself, and put his righteousness on us (II Cor 5:21).

As I say a lot, God has given us ALL things of his Kingdom. Paul asks, “What do you have that you have not received?” (I Cor 4:7). Our response is to fall on our knees and tell God thank you. Paul says, “In everything give thanks” (I Thes 5:18). At its core, worship is simply having a constant attitude of gratitude toward God.

DON’T LIVE LIFE UNDER A MODERN DAY CURSE

Paul said to the Galatians: “Who bewitched you?” — “You began in the spirit, but you’ve regressed to a life in the flesh, doing works by the law.” This describes living in AD in a BC mentality. It’s the daily life of most Christians — modern day Pharisees. FLESH can’t ever possibly be pleasing to God (Rom 8:6-8), only FAITH can (Heb 11:6).

The Jews were under a curse in the Old Testament because they didn’t keep the law separated from everything else, and didn’t keep all of it (see Deut 6:25, Jam 2:10). But we are also under a curse in the New Testament if we don’t keep the gospel separated from everything else (Rom 1:1), — and if we don’t live by it exclusively (Gal 3:10). Again, our DUTY is to live the New Testament gospel!

GOSPEL TIPS are meant to show you how we experience power in life if we live in the gospel, which Paul calls the power of God (Rom 1:16). This is the constant message of the New Testament, but we can’t see it if we wrongly continue to mix it with the Old.

We cannot experience abundant life in Christ living in BC thoughts and attitudes — anymore than we can access the internet using an old typewriter.

About the Author

ROGER HIMES, THE GOSPEL COACH Minister, Counselor, Lawyer, Life Coach. http://www.TheGospelCoach.com By gospel coaching, you can live life at least 50% in less than a year — because of God’s enabling power in the finished work of the cross! Email: RogerHimes@TheGospelCoach.com Subscribe to GOSPEL TIPS BY THE GOSPEL COACH. Send email to: SubscribeGospelTips@TheGospelCoach.com. Recent GOSPEL TIPS are available on the website.

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A Gospel Tip from The Gospel Coach: CAUTION!! Don’t Walk On the Thin Ice of BC Thinking

Posted By admin on September 3, 2010

Experience the Power of the Gospel of the FINISHED work of Christ!

We have a lot of modern day Pharisees in the church. LOTS of them! They try to tune us into God through a BC mindset. Jesus never got angry at sinners, but he did at the Pharisees and religious leaders. He called them hypocrites, ‘white washed tombs,’ etc. But he got angry at the Pharisees — the most religious people of his day! Let’s look more closely at WHY this was true of Jesus.

(1) ANCIENT PHARISEES WATERED DOWN GOD’S LAW

Pharisees were guilty of watering down the law, and mixing it with grace. God showed grace and mercy in the Old Testament, on many different occasions — but NOT through the law. The law was ABSOLUTE! It was not to be messed with. Paul says the purpose of the law was to declare everyone guilty before God (Rom 3:19). “There are none righteous, no not one.”

The Pharisees had messed with the law. They had watered it down so that the most committed people (themselves) could live by it. Again, they had wrongly mixed LAW and GRACE.!

Jesus says came to fulfill the law. He came to show us what the law really said, and he preached it in all its glory. Thus Paul says Jesus was a minister of the law — to reveal the truth of God (Rom 15:8). Circumcision means law; truth means the gospel of grace. It’s like he wore a WHITE hat when preaching the gospel (which was mostly in his parables), — and a BLACK hat when he was preaching the law.

When Jesus preached the law, people ran and hid, like Adam did in the Garden after he ate from the forbidden tree. “If your hand sins, cut it off!” — “If your eye looks at something bad, pluck it out!” — “If you look at a woman with lust, it’s the same as committing adultery with her!” — “If your righteousness doesn’t exceed that of the Pharisees (the most religious people) you’re not getting into heaven!” — “Be perfect as God is perfect!” Statements like these don’t make us feel like falling at his feet and worshipping him as Savior!!!

(2) MODERN PHARISEES WATER DOWN GOD’S GRACE

Most Christians are just outright legalists, living by laws, rules, precepts, principles, etc. They live in AD, but in a BC mentality. They are modern day Jews in their thinking. They are modern day Pharisees. They know the law much more than they have any conception of the gospel of Christ’s finished work. My goal as THE GOSPEL COACH is to help change this reality.

Those that are not outright legalists MIX the Old Covenant with the New Covenant — which both Jesus and Paul say NOT to do.

Ancient Pharisees mixed grace with the law; us more modern religious folks mix law with grace. Both are equally guilty before God. If Jesus were here today, he’d be as angry at many of us as he wsa with the ancient Pharisees. He would nickname us ‘white washed tombs.’

I repeat this often. Paul says that repeating things is ‘safe’ — or good for us (Phil 3:1). The Jews had a DUTY to live by the Old Covenant law; our DUTY is to live by the New Covenant gospel of grace.

Legalism, as defined by Webster, is a strict adherence to law, or to any form or system of rules, methods, procedures, or standards. We are legalists if we DON’T live the Kingdom reality of the gospel.

We live in the Kingdom of Self more than the Kingdom of God. We are like the ancient Pharisee: “Lord, I don’t these things . . . Lord, I do these things…” He lived in pride of self. The Publican wouldn’t even look to heaven when he said, “Lord, be merciful to me . . .” He lived in humility and need for God and his Kingdom.

DO WE REALLY INITIATE THE THINGS OF GOD’S KINGDOM?

In Romans 11 being counselors of God. How do we counsel him? We do it all the time in our prayers. We counsel God as to what he should do in every situation. Paul also says something else we do is to try to give to God, so that he is obligated to respond to us by answering our prayers. The greatest bondage in this life is to think that you can obligate God by what you do and say! Yet, this is preached often!

We depend much more on our earthly performance than we do on the finished performance of Christ for us. We wrongly gain meaning from what we DO — how we perform — not from who we ARE in him. We think it depends on our sowing, praying, giving, confessing, reading, church attendance, etc., etc. We think like ancient Pharisees.

We have a BC mindset! We live backwards, living by earthly principles and precepts to try to achieve heaven’s rewards. It’s nothing but spiritual bondage.

OR DO WE ONLY RECEIVE FROM GOD, NOT INITIATE?

Paul calls us ‘sons of obedience’ if we believe and live the gospel of Christ. Romans 10:16 says we should ‘obey the gospel.’ We obey when we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, not our obedience (II Cor 10:5). We seek to know nothing except Christ crucified for us (I Cor 2:2). We know that he took our sin on himself, and put his righteousness on us (II Cor 5:21).

As I say a lot, God has given us ALL things of his Kingdom. Paul asks, “What do you have that you have not received?” (I Cor 4:7). Our response is to fall on our knees and tell God thank you. Paul says, “In everything give thanks” (I Thes 5:18). At its core, worship is simply having a constant attitude of gratitude toward God.

DON’T LIVE LIFE UNDER A MODERN DAY CURSE

Paul said to the Galatians: “Who bewitched you?” — “You began in the spirit, but you’ve regressed to a life in the flesh, doing works by the law.” This describes living in AD in a BC mentality. It’s the daily life of most Christians — modern day Pharisees. FLESH can’t ever possibly be pleasing to God (Rom 8:6-8), only FAITH can (Heb 11:6).

The Jews were under a curse in the Old Testament because they didn’t keep the law separated from everything else, and didn’t keep all of it (see Deut 6:25, Jam 2:10). But we are also under a curse in the New Testament if we don’t keep the gospel separated from everything else (Rom 1:1), — and if we don’t live by it exclusively (Gal 3:10). Again, our DUTY is to live the New Testament gospel!

GOSPEL TIPS are meant to show you how we experience power in life if we live in the gospel, which Paul calls the power of God (Rom 1:16). This is the constant message of the New Testament, but we can’t see it if we wrongly continue to mix it with the Old.

We cannot experience abundant life in Christ living in BC thoughts and attitudes — anymore than we can access the internet using an old typewriter.

About the Author

ROGER HIMES, THE GOSPEL COACH Minister, Counselor, Lawyer, Life Coach. http://www.TheGospelCoach.com By gospel coaching, you can live life at least 50% in less than a year — because of God’s enabling power in the finished work of the cross! Email: RogerHimes@TheGospelCoach.com Subscribe to GOSPEL TIPS BY THE GOSPEL COACH. Send email to: SubscribeGospelTips@TheGospelCoach.com. Recent GOSPEL TIPS are available on the website.

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Scientologys War With Psychiatry

Posted By admin on September 3, 2010

Scientology’s War With Psychiatry

I’ve always tried to keep an open mind when I stumble upon any articles about Scientology. I’ve heard and read the jokes, the ridicules, and the biting criticisms about the religion. TV shows like South Park, The Colbert Report, and many others have poked fun at the Church of Scientology and continue to do so despite the amazing amount of lawsuits that have been filed by the organization. I try to keep an open mind, yes; but what bothers me is the long-standing crusade the Church has embarked on in its goal to eradicate psychiatry completely.

Why would the Church of Scientology wish to destroy an institution that has been an integral part in making lives better for a long time already? And what makes their members think that they have the right of the matter when it comes to our mental health?

Perhaps it’s better if we go straight to the heart of the matter. When did this disillusionment with psychiatry originate and on what grounds?

First, let’s discuss shortly the history of Scientology in order for us to establish the critical parameters needed to make an informed decision.

The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by fantasy writer Ron L Hubbard who also created Dianetics 3 years prior. Dianetics is a scientific model dealing with mental health. Ron L Hubbard wrote more books about Dianetics and even went around the world to give lectures. As Ron L Hubbard pondered further on his scientific model, making meticulous paradigms shifts in the process, Dianetics eventually evolved into Scientology.

It is also baffling how a scientific model can suddenly turn into a religion. Sure, Scientology has made it clear that their methods are aimed to help people live a happier life. But to discredit psychiatry in almost all its aspects regardless of its positive results to the general mental health of the population is downright boorish. What Scientology could have done is offer an alternative mode of therapy for maladjusted individuals, or at least have its efficiency in treating mental problems tested by trained scientists.

It has already been established in the field of mental science that maladaptive behavior in its many forms is the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Scientologists have refuted this fact time and time again, notwithstanding the objective results that have already been collated by the scientific and medical community.

Granted, any organization has every right to refute the findings of the scientific community, but that right should be nullified if there are no tangible facts to back it up. Any attempts to falsify facts that are backed up by research lay to waste all the work done by our hardworking scientists. This practice is dangerous since blind followers won’t be inclined to seek help from quarters that can truly alleviate their psychological problems.

It’s frustrating that the Church of Scientology, despite its controversies, is still considered a religion in the United States. We’re still fortunate that psychiatry has stood its ground and has refused to be toppled by Scientology’s underhanded machinations.

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Shinto and the State, 1868-1988

Posted By admin on September 3, 2010

Product Description
Helen Hardacre, a leading scholar of religious life in modern Japan, examines the Japanese state’s involvement in and manipulation of shinto from the Meiji Restoration to the present. Nowhere else in modern history do we find so pronounced an example of government sponsorship of a religion as in Japan’s support of shinto. How did that sponsorship come about and how was it maintained? How was it dismantled after World War II? What attempts are being made today to rec… More >>

Shinto and the State, 1868-1988

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Shinto and the State, 1868-1988

Posted By admin on September 3, 2010

Product Description
Helen Hardacre, a leading scholar of religious life in modern Japan, examines the Japanese state’s involvement in and manipulation of shinto from the Meiji Restoration to the present. Nowhere else in modern history do we find so pronounced an example of government sponsorship of a religion as in Japan’s support of shinto. How did that sponsorship come about and how was it maintained? How was it dismantled after World War II? What attempts are being made today to rec… More >>

Shinto and the State, 1868-1988

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