I finished Friendship with God yesterday.
A few thoughts: an interesting read. "God" said quite a bit of thought provoking things. I am going to go through it one more time. I have found by reading a book that is thought provoking at least twice through (back to back) the information gels together better and a clearer understanding of the author's intent is attained.
That said, perhaps I can address (in part) the issue of whether or not Walsch's book is actually God speaking to him, through him, as Walsch claims and "believes." (I do not know the man, so I have no idea about what he truly believes or not.)
For now, this is what I will say.
Walsch is either:
1. Telling the truth - God really did speak to him and have him write these books.
2. Lying - God never spoke to him, these are just his writings and thoughts only, there was no divine involvement.
3. Crazy - Walsch believes God is talking to him, but it's really the voice in his head that he interprets as God.
4. Mistaken - It isn't God that's talking to him, but Satan posing as God.
Maybe there's more, but those are the four I can come up with now.
I can, with certainty, address number 3.
No. Walsch isn't "crazy" or mentally ill - at least not in respects to the books. Folks with mental illness that "hear" God's voice (or other voices for that matter) don't do so in such an organized manner. I could get into further description here, but you'll have to take my word for it. The thought process (that is evident in the book) is not a reflection of mental illness. Without divulging too much - yes, I do have experience working with people with mental illnesses. While I am not a doctor, I am very familiar with the behaviors of folks with mental illness. Especially on a day-to-day basis and daily living.
So, that leaves us with: God is talking to Walsch, Satan is talked to Walsch, or Walsch is lying.
I will reserve my own judgement until I am finished reading the book the second time through.
As always, thoughts are welcome...
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, November 2, 2009
Way of the Master: book review...
Way of the Master – book review
Quickly, if you don’t know Way of the Master (Now known as Wretched Radio) it’s the deal that Kirk Cameron made famous by signing onto it – though the brainchild behind it is Ray Comfort. (He kind of lucked out with the name, didn’t he?)
Truly, I thought that I would be…angry and upset at what they were “preaching” but I wasn’t.
Oh, I didn’t agree with everything in the book, I did agree with more than I thought I would.
For one, they too are a concerned about the “health and wealth” preaching that has been going on…at the time this book was published (my copy) was the beginning of Osteen and others rise…though they are never mentioned by name.
They too, believe that to truly understand Christ’s death on the cross, we must understand the Law…I agree there – but from there we separate, as they are part of the “you suck” camp.
By “You suck” I mean that they teach that we are all filthy, rotten, wretched people…in essence “we suck.” Even more, they believe THAT is how God sees us as well.
So, they teach the Law, in how suck we are and then the Grace given to us.
I used to disagree with their methodology, but then as the Better Half pointed out, perhaps some people need to hear THAT message…so, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense…some people need to hear that THEY SUCK…that is what is going to resonate with them.
I have other issues with them, but that might be for another time…one thing that did stick out to me, and I notice this about A LOT of books, was the lack of reference to Satan.
Yeah, I know, one feels weird even saying the name…I do, I like “the enemy” better. Satan sounds soooo…childish.
Oh, they talked about Satan trying to “sabotage” some of their efforts to preach, but not once did they talk about Satan and his trying to sabotage us into sinning (just like he did in the garden.) Sadly, that message escapes the pulpit too.
Anyway, not completely a tough book to read…certainly a thinker. I wouldn’t pay full price for it.
Quickly, if you don’t know Way of the Master (Now known as Wretched Radio) it’s the deal that Kirk Cameron made famous by signing onto it – though the brainchild behind it is Ray Comfort. (He kind of lucked out with the name, didn’t he?)
Truly, I thought that I would be…angry and upset at what they were “preaching” but I wasn’t.
Oh, I didn’t agree with everything in the book, I did agree with more than I thought I would.
For one, they too are a concerned about the “health and wealth” preaching that has been going on…at the time this book was published (my copy) was the beginning of Osteen and others rise…though they are never mentioned by name.
They too, believe that to truly understand Christ’s death on the cross, we must understand the Law…I agree there – but from there we separate, as they are part of the “you suck” camp.
By “You suck” I mean that they teach that we are all filthy, rotten, wretched people…in essence “we suck.” Even more, they believe THAT is how God sees us as well.
So, they teach the Law, in how suck we are and then the Grace given to us.
I used to disagree with their methodology, but then as the Better Half pointed out, perhaps some people need to hear THAT message…so, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense…some people need to hear that THEY SUCK…that is what is going to resonate with them.
I have other issues with them, but that might be for another time…one thing that did stick out to me, and I notice this about A LOT of books, was the lack of reference to Satan.
Yeah, I know, one feels weird even saying the name…I do, I like “the enemy” better. Satan sounds soooo…childish.
Oh, they talked about Satan trying to “sabotage” some of their efforts to preach, but not once did they talk about Satan and his trying to sabotage us into sinning (just like he did in the garden.) Sadly, that message escapes the pulpit too.
Anyway, not completely a tough book to read…certainly a thinker. I wouldn’t pay full price for it.
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