Practical Christianity
On the New Thought side of Christianity, ministers often
refer to themselves as teachers of practical
Christianity. Why practical, you
may ask? What makes this religious belief different than the one you have
subscribed to?
In the late 1800’s, a group of proactive, movers and
shakers in the spiritual community got together to study the Christian Bible.
Mostly, they had come together because Spirit had moved each of them in a way
different than discussed in normal church services. Myrtle Fillmore, for
instance, one of the founders of Unity church, sought out healing from a God
she “expected” would do as the scriptures taught. She prayed about her personal
disease, tuberculosis, which she had contracted at the age of 8 with prayer and
consistent affirmations. When God healed her, she believed with all her heart.
From the abundance of her faith, she sought to teach others about a God bigger
than they had believed in the past.
The study group had members such as Ernest Holmes, Charles
Fillmore, and Mary Baker Eddy, all of whom initiated New Thought churches.
Centers of Spiritual Living, Unity, and Christian Science all, basically, have
the same root teachings, but each has its individual take on the scriptures.
For instance, Christian Science is considered to be a
religion most people recognize from its desire to refuse modern medicine to
heal the body. However, I quote this from the documents of faith for Christian
Science:
“Christian Scientists are free to follow the dictates of
their own conscience. If they desire to put themselves under medical care
instead of relying on Christian Science treatment, they are free to do so.
However, most students of Christian Science have found God to be the great
Physician and the only help they need.”
Most Christians believe that New Thought is a bit sideways
concerning one particular belief: the idea of salvation in Jesus’ name.
Yes, it is true, that New Thought does not have a salvation
theory, per se, as other Christian doctrines believe in the literal translation
from John 3:16, which says: “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
New Thought believes that a believer can’t just be saved once
by one solemn prayer. They believe that salvation from the Ego mind or evil or
hell, according to the Greek word for salvation, Sovo, means to save or make
whole. The verb is a continual action in the original Greek. So, by
believing in the teachings of Jesus, you continually are being saved from
opposing ideas that the world teaches.
But how John 3:16 connects to the idea of a hell and a
heaven, are up for a lot of discussion, when you research the original belief.
Even the words “hell” and “forever” have been dissected so many times that
Humpty Dumpty couldn’t put them back together again.
Basically, people with opposing beliefs say that hell just
means a place where one dumped her garbage. Most beliefs about fire and
damnation come from a book known as Dante’s
Inferno written in 1300, which isn’t biblically based at all. Then, the
word forever, in the original Greek, means from
ages to age, which is still considering time. And most agree that
spirituality is beyond time and space.
So, make up your own mind about what you believe, and hold on
to it tightly. Most people want to teach you a version of their truth. If you
don’t believe their truths, you are doomed for Dante’s hell, or worse yet,
their version of hell. Don’t trust manipulating people or ministers, who scare
you into believing their theories of God.
Don’t be lazy! Discover for yourself what the scriptures
mean. Almost any word from the Bible or other spiritual writing can be “googled”
and researched. Have fun discerning what you believe. And remember don’t let
anyone tell you what’s right for you. No one knows your body and no one knows
your mind or your history. You have to make those delicate spiritual choices
for yourself.
_______________________________
TOOLS FOR CHANGE:
Go to Storefront to buy any of the following or make a
donation to Finding Authentic You: www.shop.bosebastian.com
Introduction to Meditation
Smoke Cessation mp3
Weight Loss mp3
Hypnotic Lap Band surgery Mp3
Insomnia mp3
Eternal Om mp3
Meditation Music mp3
Guide to Meditation mp3
Healing the Body mp3
And my “Lessons from the Heart” book ready for your
download purchase.
Go to Home Page: www.BoSebastian.com
______________________________________________
New
Challenge: Go to Week 13
of the “Year to CLEAR
Challenge” at www.Bosebastian.com
______________________________________________
*
* *
Bo Sebastian is a Hypnotherapist and Life & Health
Coach, available for private sessions to QUIT SMOKING, Lose Weight, New
Lap-Band Hypnosis for Weight Loss, CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR LIFE! at
615-400-2334 or www.bosebastian.com.
Please feel free to comment and/or sign up to receive your blog sent to you
directly or stream with an RSS Feed.
I am trying to spread the word about my blog and I need
your help. Please let your friends know it exists, if it gives you hope and
blesses you each day. I would be
greatly pleased for you to share anything that you read by clicking the share
button in Facebook.com/bo.sebastian, or add it to your Twitter at
BoSebastian; or LinkedIN at Bosebastian5@gmail.com;
or find this blog home at www.FindingAuthenticYou.com. Any of my
books can be found on Amazon or Barnes and Nobel, just by typing my name in
the search header.
Also, look for MY LATEST BOOK: “Finding Authentic You, 7 Steps to
Effective Change” with a Year to CLEAR (C-larity, L-ove, E-nthusiasm A-nd
R-elationship-Ready) on my Website in the Webstore. Thanks!
|
No comments:
Post a Comment