Do you ever feel that what you read in some Christian books is not really God's truth at all, but is merely the opinion of the writer, dressed up in the clothing of truth? Such books are merely imposters and are like the fig tree Jesus cursed-they look promising on the outside, but when you get up close, you find that they, like the fig tree, are barren, written for the glory of the writer and his or her ideas, not for the truth of God and his glory.
Unfortunately, many sermons and teachings fall into the same category. One such teaching is that we have to work very hard to please God, because he is just about fed up with us because of all our shortcomings. This is a teaching that is just plain wrong, according to Darin Hufford, and in his book, "The God's Honest Truth," he sets out to correct it.
"The God's Honest Truth" is a great book. Its premise is that knowing God is based on love, because God is love and he loved us first (and continues to love us). Too many conceptions of God, Hufford points out, are based on faulty images of our human fathers that we transfer to our divine father. Thus, we see God as demanding, abusive, absent, or passive-aggressive, because that is how we (sadly) see our human fathers.
But God is not like that; rather, God is love, and to frame his teaching, Hufford uses the pure and true description of love from 1 Corinthians 13 to guide his discussion about God and our relationship with him.
As an example of what this book is really about, Hufford cites the problem of "loving" God more than we love our spouse or our children. God does not compete for our attention, and if we set up our relationship with him in such a way that we must choose between time with God or time with our family, we act as though God is insecure. Instead, Hufford writes, "The only way to love God more than your spouse is to love God through your spouse. Your husband or wife would be the direct recipient of that love" (p. 169).
Hufford's book is filled with similar true-to-life examples and the corrective truth the Bible offers. The most important thing we can realize and understand is that God loves us purely. By studying what love truly is (in 1 Cor. 13, for example), we can sincerely and simply love God more and more.
Jeremy M. Hoover is a book reviewer and Christian minister. You can request a review by emailing him at jeremyhoover@gmail.com. He also sells a set of 11 ebooks on prayer, which you can find jeremyhoover@gmail.com.
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..Have you ever heard something that really "resonated" with you?... Read More
Last Friday night, I met a Christian at a prayer... Read More
The time we spend on earth is very short when... Read More
While study and pursuit of the Kundalini is considered part... Read More
It's not exactly a news flash that we live in... Read More
Recently, I received a frantic midnight call from one of... Read More
Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More
We come into this world alone, we experience physical life... Read More
Who among us really understands the chakras? For all that... Read More
We are all here on this plane, thinking to ourselves... Read More
Yes, we are living in a world where we are... Read More
Have you ever wondered which Angel governs your sign? And... Read More
It is tough being here on this plane. You have... Read More
You're probably sabotaging your successful Christian life right now if... Read More
Paul is led up a 512 ft. hill, Mars Hill,... Read More
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Of course we may never know the real... Read More
Some may ask what is the true will of God... Read More
1. How can anyone receive direct communication from Divine Source,... Read More
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. --ROMANS... Read More
Lonely Song"a box of paints - lament for my da"It... Read More
Once you become saved and born again, the Bible tells... Read More
The gate of every year is the begining of that... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
Let us face reality squarely in the face by acknowledging... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
Would you like an exciting and wonder-full resolution for the... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell recently starred in the movie... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Paul's encouragement to the Philippians is also our encouragement. Consider... Read More
I am not saying this because I am in need,... Read More
Why do bad things happen to good people? Surely this... Read More
I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
Be filled with the Spirit.? always giving thanks to God... Read More
There is a natural tendency to asociate spirituality with religion,... Read More
I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mind... Read More
As a child growing up, whenever I was worried about... Read More
The spiritually dead church. Now, I am not talking about... Read More
Good morning Roy, good morning JosethWhat about me, were do... Read More
Many of our great religions hold that numbers contain hidden... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
The possibility of almost 400 Old Testament prophesies coming to... Read More
I still remember the scene vividly. I was getting out... Read More
Spirit - All Around Us, All of Us, Every One... Read More
There is light at the end of the tunnel, but... Read More
1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More
Each time our children graduate from one stage to another... Read More
In his book, Stress Without Distress, Dr. Selye suggests that... Read More
Your guardian angel is your link to the divine. The... Read More
Spirituality |