Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Read about it here.

I don’t normally do movie reviews mainly because I don’t go to very many.  I also realize I may be very late on this one.  But last night I went to see U2 3D with some friends from church.  I also took my almost 14 year old son.  I was a big fan of U2 in the early days but kind of lost my love for them in the mid 90’s.  Cole Phillips and I used to argue over their faith while we talked between classes at Southwestern Seminary.  Cole was right and I was wrong.

This movie was great. It was better than being at the concert itself.  Wearing the 3D glasses was goofy but the effects were amazing.  I felt like I was on stage with the band.  You could see water flying through the air and the fog too.  Bono is the best front man ever.  The Edge rocked on his 12+ guitars.  I just wish he would give me one of his hand me downs.  The only negative was the theater didn’t play the soundtrack loud enough.  Hannah Montana was showing in the same theater and we thought about going to see it too!

If you remotely like U2 you will enjoy this movie. I give U2 3D 4.9 hockey sticks out of 5.

Proverbs 6:16-18

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

 17………………………

 18b feet that are quick to rush into evil,

(NIV)

Now to refresh why we are talking about these sins is because there are accusations (some are justified) that Christians only focus on a few sins. The truth is we shouldn’t dwell on any sins but our focus should be on Jesus. But for argument’s sake I thought we could look at The Big 7 that the Lord hates!

The noun for feet is “regel” which can mean foot or leg. The phrase are “quick to” is the word, “mahar” which means to  hasten, to be hurried, be anxious, hasty, precipitate, or impetuous.  The KJV translates it “that be swift.” The verb for rush is “ruwts” which means to run, to run swiftly, dart, to bring or move quickly, hurry, to drive away from, cause to run away.  The KJV translates rush as “running.” Into evil is the Hebrew word, “ra`” which can be an adjective or noun meaning bad, evil, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, (giving pain, unhappiness, misery), displeasing, worse than, worst (comparison), sad, unhappy, or wicked (ethically).

I had a hard time trying to get the real meaning of this one.  The way I see it -it is talking about those who run to or easily do evil.   The prudent person thinks before they act.  But the one who is prone to sin is the one who doesn’t think about their actions.  They run swiftly towards evil.  I wonder how many times I have been guilty of this.  I’m not proud of it but I have rushed into evil.

That is why I love Andy Stanley’s book The Best Question Ever.  The best question is:

Is it the wise thing to do?

If we live according that question, I believe it will save us from rushing into doing something we will regret later.

What do you think?

Joe Louthan alerted me to Oprah’s new radio show on XM radio.  Let’s face it Oprah does some pretty incredible things.  She gives away cars, books and has a new Reality TV show that encourages contestants to give away money.  How could anyone be against that.

But here is the danger of Oprah.  She is such a good person that she is leading people astray with her religion.   Make no mistake about it this is a religious show.  Oprah talks about prayer here.  But  who is she praying to?  Oprah’s morals are surely not Biblical.  She is a New Age thinker that is leading people down a path of destruction.

Oprah is offering a year-long course on the New Age teachings of Marianne Williamson.  A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles “Workbook.”

Here are some quotes from the “Jesus” of A Course in Miracles:

• “There is no sin. . . ” 9

•  A “slain Christ has no meaning.”10

• “The journey to the cross should be the last ‘useless journey.”11

• “Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross.’”12

• “The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol… It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.”13

• “God is in everything I see.”14

• “The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.”15

• “The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power.”16

• “The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.”17

Now this is plain heresy.

Here is what the Bible says.

1. Romans 3:23 says: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
   
2. Romans 6:6 says: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with“
3. Luke 9:23 says; “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
4. John 14:6 says: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Ms. Williamson and Oprah are giving people false hope.  There is only one way to God and that is through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ’s name is not a symbol, it is the way to salvation.  Without the “CROSS” there would be no payment for our sins.

Oprah does some great things with her celebrity.  But she is more dangerous than blatant Satan worshipers because she comes across as such a good person.  The Gospel of Oprah will lead people down a path of destruction.

What do you think?

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

 17 ………………..

 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,

Now to refresh why we are talking about these sins is because there are accusations (some are justified) that Christians only focus on a few sins. The truth is we shouldn’t dwell on any sins but our focus should be on Jesus. But for argument’s sake I thought we could look at The Big 7 that the Lord hates!

Heart is the noun “leb” which means the inner man, mind, will, heart, or understanding. Devises is the verb “charash” which means to cut in, plough, engrave, devise or to plot evil. Wicked is the noun “‘aven” which means trouble, wickedness, or sorrow. Schemes is the noun “machashabah” which means thought device, plan, or purpose.

So this verse is referring to the sin of making evil plans that will purposely cause harm to another. In Genesis 6:5 it says:

The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

Under our own power we will always scheme to get our own way.  Look at children.  We don’t teach them to be selfish–they get it because of sinful nature in us.

However, the good news is for everyone who follows Jesus we exchange our old sinful life for Jesus living through us.  When Christ lives through us we don’t have to dwell on sins, just on the power we have through Him.

What do you think?