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The Practical Guide to Real Christianity: What Church Leaders and Secular Professionals Don't Want You to Know!!!

by Stephen M. Theriault

252 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0330; ISBN 1-55212-928-4; US$26.00, C$29.95, EUR21.50, £15.00

The Practical Guide to Real Christianity will bring the reader to an understanding of the core principles of Christianity as applied to the modern world's problems. This will lead to a reduction in fear, guilt and shame, and the anger and dishonesty which they spawn. The author asserts that the reason Christianity has been so misunderstood is that those who propound its theological principles were driven not by the Holy Spirit and love, but egotism and avarice. This is corrected by The Practical Guide to Real Christianity in a strong, yet loving application of Scriptures and other modern sources of inspiration to the issues which concern all people. Includes a dedication and afterword on the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book The Practical Guide to Real Christianity is a long-needed explanation of the mission and role of a Christian in today's world. Using the Holy Spirit's guidance in looking at our troubled planet, this book is at once refreshing and controversial. Critical at times, always positive, but daring to bring together spiritual Christian viewpoints on such diverse issues as abortion, capital punishment and environmental conservation, the 33 chapters attempt to cover virtually all of the subjects which confront modern Christians. Touching on philosophy and theology as diverse as the "New Age" movement, eastern mysticism, Christian mysticism and the occult, this book attempts to portray God as all-knowing and as totally loving, a friend to all who seek the truth but a wrathful avenger to those who cling to the lies of unrighteousness. God here is not confined to churches and rituals, but is present and omnipotent in all sectors of our world and our lives, including our sexuality and relationships, as well as our political and ethical decisions. The aim of the book is to help bring truth to those seeking answers to the age-old questions of the meaning of life and to help them dispose of the fear, guilt and shame which have characterized the two millenia since Christ first explained the New Covenant. The key to the book and to Christian thought is embodied in Luke chapter 6 verses 27 through 42. Love your enemies, turn the other cheek. Love is the focus of this book. It makes new lives. The Practical Guide to Real Christianity is above-all a practical book, as it brings the truth of Christ to those seeking spiritual growth through an understanding of the application of Scriptures to our current world problems. This book is aimed especially at women of the True Church, who for so long have been neglected by orthodox religion. Healing the rift between feminism and Christianity is the major purpose behind The Practical Guide to Real Christianity.

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About the Author Steve Theriault announced that he is running as a write-in candidate (unaffiliated) for the office of State Senator in Connecticut's 9th Senatorial District which includes Newington, Wethersfield, Cromwell, Rocky Hill and Middletown. Steve has extensive education and experience in a variety of disciplines all of which will enable him to undertake the considerable responsibility of legislating for this diverse district. Steve's philosophy is akin to the great Teddy Roosevelt and his short-lived Bull Moose Party. Steve characterizes himself a "Conservative-Progressive" who takes the good from each side of the political spectrum and eschews the bad. According to the candidate, "This is not politics as usual. I'm really not a politician, just a regular guy looking to make a difference." More information on Steve's platform, including complete biography and resume are available at www.steveforstatesenate9.com. Steve's career includes managing a non-profit river conservation organization, legal aid law practice (Steve is no longer practicing law), banking and investment account management, including licensure, business consulting/coaching, relationship & trauma counseling, Christian counseling, and mental health/addiction program management. Steve also has recently organized over one hundred social and recreational events for singles. The candidate will utilize his enormous cache of skills, experience and resources as a legislator to work on such difficult issues as government ethical reform ("cleaning up government corruption and waste"), legislative ethical reform ("no influence-peddling"), effective and efficient legislative and executive administration, environmental protection and resource conservation, legal and financial sector reforms, welfare/entitlement reforms, educational system review and extensive reforms, and much more.

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Excerpts

Preface

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

    Christianity has had a long and rocky history. It is a sad fact that the traditional values and timeless advice contained in the Holy Bible and in particular the New Testament have left some with a bitter aftertaste. But the problem is not with the Bible itself, but with those human leaders who have misinterpreted and misused the Word for thousands of years. This book is a result of one inspired person who dared to ask the right questions and look to the Holy Spirit for real answers. As we travel together through the Word of God, we will focus primarily on the New Testament. I also make use of A Course in Miracles which I strongly believe is a genuine and trustworthy source of spiritual inspiration and practical wisdom.

    A special note to women, especially feminists, who have been critical of the "male establishment." This book is meant as an olive branch. Your opinions of male depravity, dishonesty and unworthiness are not far different from the conclusions I've reached with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. "And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me." (John 8:16) As for my role as author of this book, I make no claims other than one of inspiration by the Holy Spirit. I like to say to those who question me: "I am who I am." All the reader need know is that I am honest and true to God the Father and that I write to bring love, peace and joy. If I seem to judge, it is not from my male ego, but by the Spirit of God. I realize that false teachers have led many astray and that trust is not an easy thing to come by for women who have been abused and lied to by men, especially by church leaders. As you read, experience for yourself the difference in my writing and in the simple, spiritual method I employ. The Spirit is my guide, God's Word my handbook and the written word is my medium. Decide for yourself.

    Throughout the book, I've made liberal use of parables, allegories and moral stories, often using modern entertainment as the medium. Patterned after the Gospels of Jesus, the use of these devices is essential to help the reader understand new and unfamiliar concepts. Using a familiar setting, such as an episode of Star Trek, gives a story an updated and modern feel and makes it easier to understand and accept the deep meaning which lies within. The wisdom of God is so perfect that unless we have a simple way of understanding Him, such as through parables, we otherwise could not grasp the concepts and lessons He seeks to teach us. We know things in a finite way, and our power is very limited. To realize the power and wisdom of God is to realize our own weakness and ignorance. Once we come to the truth of that realization, we can then begin to develop the strength and wisdom which are inherent in a sincere personal relationship with our Savior.

    Although I've used Scripture passages liberally, I've only scratched the surface and made some important connections with the topics contained herein. There are many more passages which are relevant and useful on each of the topics discussed and I encourage the reader to explore the Bible (and A Course in Miracles) with a concordance. For Bible explorers, a topical resource such as Ken Anderson's Where to Find It In the Bible is a great help. Other books such as Choosing Happiness and The Road Less Traveled are wonderful sources of inspiration. See the Selected Reading List for a listing of some of the other resources available to you. I've purposely left some things unsaid to encourage further exploration. Because finding the truth for ourselves is the most wonderful spiritual journey we can take.

    If you still wonder whether Christianity is the one true spiritual path, I will offer you this advice. I do not claim to be an expert in world religions. However, I believe that Christianity is the one true means of spiritual growth and salvation because it is the one spiritual path that has explicitly at its core the concept of love, as expressed by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. The greatest commandments of Jesus were to love God, our neighbors and our enemies. Although there have been many abuses of Christianity over the years, the reason for those abuses is an utter failure to love, and an arrogant disobedience to the perfect commandments of Jesus Christ. As you will see as you read on, there are "goats" who teach falsely and there are the "sheep" who learn and know the truth of Jesus Christ. My goal is to let all the sheep (lambs) know they are loved and to reprove and expose the lies of the goats (beasts). In this spiritual journey, you will come to know how God thinks and to begin to think like our Father and Creator. To do this you must cast off your old ideas of what religion is all about and turn to God and let His Spirit work in your life. The more you practice the truth of the love of Jesus Christ, the more it becomes a part of your nature. Accepting the truth for most of us is to do a 180 degree turnabout, a true rebirth. As Jesus spoke 2,000 years ago: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)

    For those of you from conservative denominations preaching primarily the Old Testament, remember that Jesus came to give us a New Covenant, a totally new way of approaching our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. This book is for you, those who feel lost and shut out by the harsh teachings of so-called Christian churches. I feel that in my heart the Holy Spirit is directing me to address these issues to right the wrong which has been done to the Church by false leaders over the centuries. I mean these comments in the spirit of Christian love for we are "able ministers of the new testament; not of the (Old Testament) letter, but of the (New Testament) spirit: for the letter (the Old Testament) killeth, but the spirit (the New Testament) giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6, emphasis and parentheses added)

    Ken Wilber, in his seminal book, A Sociable God, suggests that a total transformation of religious and spiritual thought must occur and that in that transformation, "the old and new have to be different enough to constitute an actual transformation, but similar enough to encourage people to jump, as it were." * The Practical Guide to Real Christianity is the beginning of that transformation, which ultimately leads to the return of Christ. This book attempts to bridge that chasm between mysticism and Christianity by finally reinterpreting the mysteries of the Book of Revelation in light of modern culture and religious knowledge. The "bequeathing of legitimacy" (Wilber's words) has begun. I challenge the reader to put aside past misconceptions about Christianity and the Bible and learn the truth. This is New Christianity. This is Real Christianity.

*Ken Wilber. A Sociable God. New York: New Press/McGraw Hill, 1983, p. 99.

Introduction

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)

    Welcome to the second most important book you've ever read. This book is not an attempt to digest and analyze the entire Bible, nor is it meant to replace other self-help and Christian books available. It is an attempt to impart to you practical guidelines to understand the times in which we live. These guidelines have come to me through my study of Scriptures, primarily the New Testament, guided by the Holy Spirit and aided by a very logical mind capable of understanding the sometimes paradoxical demands and gifts of Christianity, tempered by basic psychological principles.

    Don't expect everything in here to make perfect sense the first time you encounter it. Sometimes a light will go off and everything will come together while other times you will be left with a sense of confusion and a nagging feeling that there is something missing. With faith, your understanding of the Truth will gel and you will be left with a peaceful feeling of completion. But don't put too much pressure on yourself, for God is patient and learning takes time.

    At times I will be highly critical of our current society, culture and institutions. Although I prefer to be positive and optimistic, I am first and foremost dedicated to the uncovering and explanation of the truth and that, sadly, requires some tough assessments. I would ask that the reader resist expanding on the judgments made herein, or in taking vengeance which belongs to the Lord. Jesus commanded us not to judge or condemn, but rather to give to others, forgive each other and be merciful. However, I have a responsibility in writing this book to tell the truth in order to bring about changes in our world. Before change can happen we must first expose and address the problems, which Part I of the book accomplishes. Paul told us in Ephesians 5:11, that we should "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." This book is an attempt to rebuke and reprove evil works, not to condemn or judge but to bring about love, peace and joy to those who realize they are on the wrong path and choose to change directions. Remember, that whatever you have done in your life, you can be forgiven. The only unforgivable sin is "blaspheming the Holy Spirit." (Mark 3:29) That means attributing God's good works and miracles to Satan. If you've done that you most likely wouldn't even think of reading this book.

    In my life and my ministry, I have counseled many different kinds of people, from psychotic sexual abuse survivors, pastors, members of cults, gays and lesbians, devout Catholics, devout Protestants, conservative Baptists, liberal Lutherans, Jews and Muslims, traditional folks and "new agers" and I've been counseled by psychologists, new age social workers, and Catholic and Protestant pastors. I've taken basic psychology courses and I've read extensively books in psychology, self-help, recovery and addiction, codependency and general inspiration. I found that many of the books and materials out there are very helpful and quite consistent with Scriptures, but we should be beware of easy fixes in the false doctrines of those who would deny the deity of Christ. Many new age "theosophies" are dangerous and self-destructive because they can lead to confusion and narcissism. They not only deny Jesus is the Son of God, but they substitute a man-made system of thought in place of God-inspired Scriptures. Beware of any book, besides the Holy Bible, which claims to have transcribed the words of God, with the notable exception of A Course in Miracles, which I believe is a valid and inspired complement to the New Testament.

    Other than the Bible, the three best books I've seen which address the key issues of spiritual growth and inner peace are A Course in Miracles, Choosing Happiness by Veronica Ray, and The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. See the Selected Reading List for a complete description of recommended titles. I do not recommend piling up huge amounts of reading material and sitting down and trying to digest all of it as quickly as possible. It's taken years for you to develop your beliefs and habits and it takes time to absorb, understand and put to use all the new ideas you will come in contact with. I recommend setting a daily reading schedule which includes at least one chapter of the New Testament, a daily devotional book, and a small portion of a practical self-help or Christian guide. You can only take in so much information at a sitting and you need time to sit and reflect and meditate. You want to absorb and understand what you are reading. There is no prize for having the widest reading list, in fact, it would be an egotistical exercise to undertake more than you can comfortably digest and use. I often limit myself to New Testament readings and a daily devotional. Remember that it's not how much you know, it's what you know and how well you apply it to your life. I strongly believe, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that the entire Holy Bible, from Genesis through Revelation is the inspired Word of God and is infallible. I am not ignorant of science and evolutionary arguments. However, I would ask that you suspend your ingrained disbelief and realize that God had the Holy Spirit inspire the Bible as a handbook to be used for his children to learn how best to live happy, spiritual; and peaceful lives and ultimately to let us know that good triumphs over evil. But to get there we must learn from God what the difference is between good and evil. When you understand this crucial difference, your discernment will lead to the realization that evil is in reality an illusion.

    One of the things you will encounter as you begin to look at Scriptures is that you must look at each passage both in a literal and in a symbolic, or allegorical way. That is to say there is a lesson in applying the parables, stories and directives of the Bible directly and literally, but there is always a higher purpose to symbolically represent some abstract, moral or Heavenly principle. One must be very open to suggestion to understand parables and allegories and other forms of symbolism found in the Bible. If you look at Scriptures purely literally, you will find yourself stuck with seemingly inconsistent or incomprehensible passages. You must open your heart to the Holy Spirit and look with love at the meaning and symbolism of Jesus in order to come to a deeper understanding of the principles of love and forgiveness.

    I take no credit for this work, but attribute its healing ability to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which is available to all of us when we allow our faith to rule our lives instead of fear, guilt and shame. When we have faith, we have hope, and when we have hope we have love, Godly love, more than we could ever imagine possible.

    Remember that certain concepts such as peace have a different meaning for God in His wisdom and holiness than they have for man, who thinks from "the flesh.". "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27, emphasis added) And Jesus explained it further: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." (Matthew 10:34,35, emphasis added) Therefore, you may find some of the ideas and concepts herein upsetting, or difficult, or confusing and they may make you feel uncomfortable, at least at first. This is only because you are looking at the world from an entirely new perspective. It's a truth that in order to change one's world view, one must endure some trials and tribulations. Humbly accept your lack of wisdom and allow God's Holy Word to inspire you and to show you a new way of looking at the universe. Expect that others may not understand and may even scorn you. As Jesus said: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18) Once you are through the difficult times, the peace, joy and love will be an apt reward for your efforts.

If you are able to read only one chapter, read Chapter 29, The Psychology of Love, it alone can change your life.

Steve Theriault, December 2000

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Catalogue Information

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