10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe
Apr/090
I'm honored to be part of a nationwide blog tour for a new book this week. The book is 10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe by Larry Osborne.
Larry is a teaching pastor at North Coast Church in Vista, California. As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed.
Here is the main question of the book: Are urban legends and Sunday School myths ruining your faith?
Many Christians believe these "urban legends" because it's what they've always believed. They have heard it from previous generations of believers. They've heard it taught in Sunday School. Maybe they've even heard it preached from the pulpit. So, naturally, they believe it.
One problem, though…these beliefs aren't supported by Scripture. They are myths…spiritual urban legends.
Larry rips through ten of these "urban legend" beliefs. You've probably heard a lot of these beliefs. Maybe you've even bought into some of them.
1. Faith can fix anything.
2. Forgiving means forgetting.
3. A godly home guarantees godly kids.
4. God has a blueprint for my life.
5. Christians shouldn't judge.
6. Everything happens for a reason.
7. Let your conscience be your guide.
8. God brings good luck.
9. A valley means a wrong turn.
10. Dead people go to a better place.
In each chapter, Larry shines the light of Scripture on each of these beliefs. And in every case, they just don't stand up. (For the sake of clarity, the dead people Larry refers to in belief #10 are people who are outside of Christ. That one raised my eyebrows until I read the chapter…which is probably exactly what Larry intended to do.)
I know that this probably rocked somebody's world. Maybe you have firmly held onto one (or more) of these beliefs. Maybe almost everyone you know believes it, too.
To lift a quote from the book…"Just because 'everyone believes it' doesn't make it true."
I really loved Larry's authenticity in this book. He shares very openly about personal struggles, such as his wife's battle with cancer. His honesty was refreshing.
But the best part of the book was its clarity. Larry doesn't use complicated religious jargon. No big theological terms or complicated doctrines to unravel. Even if you are a brand new Christian (or not a Christian at all), this book is totally within your reach. Larry isn't out to confuse us. His goal is to help us understand God's Word more clearly and apply it more freely in our lives.
Pick up Ten Dumb Things. It might be the smartest thing you do all day.
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