Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are from translations that are
part of the public domain.
Please note: Although the author may mention other
authors and online references, it should not be assumed that there is
complete alignment with the perspectives of those authors in all
aspects of doctrine.
Copyright © 2016 by Sandra J. Hooper
ISBN-13: 978-1540894243
ISBN-10: 154089424X
DEDICATION
To my husband Tom, my two daughters Tami Jean and
Danielle Marie, and my two sons Thomas Lloyd Jr., and
William James. If there's one thing I can pass on to them, it would be
this book, containing all that I've accumulated in knowledge and cherished
in my heart over the years. I hope it becomes just as dear to them,
fostering a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son,
Jesus the Messiah, through an appreciation of the fundamental truths
found in Scripture that facilitate this connection. My wish is for them
to share these insights with their own children and friends,
perpetuating the journey of faith and understanding.
Moreover, this is for anyone seeking truth amidst the many
confusing messages preached by religious leaders and TV evangelists
from organized religions
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, and foremost, God gets all the glory. The God and Father of
our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who reveals the Father to us that we
may get to know and understand Him; a Father who can inspire
others to share the gospel to those who are willing to listen, not
only with their ears but with their hearts as well.
For this reason, I would like to thank all those brothers and
sisters who have crossed my path whether directly or indirectly,
and have shared the gospel with me and open my eyes to the truth.
Especially people like Anthony Buzzard, Greg Deuble, Raymond C.
Faircloth, Dan Gill, Joel Hemphill, and many others, especially
Ramon Carroll, who challenged me to rethink the trinity position.
I also want to thank Priscilla Jervey who kept encouraging me to
write this book. Without her nagging me (and I say that
affectionately), this book would not exist where I can share all that I
have learned after leaving organized religion in search for truth that
I could grasp and understand without defying common sense.
INTRODUCTION
Why I wrote this book.
I'm
writing this book to connect with ordinary folks like you and me. It's
for those who don't have the same platform as the pulpit preachers and
TV personalities who often dictate our thoughts and beliefs. This book
is for the everyday person who may not have formal training in Greek or
Hebrew or fancy titles from colleges. Think of it as a friendly
conversation, as if you were sitting right next to me, in plain
language that we all understand.
I aim to convey the lessons I've gathered from listening to preachers
in churches and from Sunday school teachers, whom I initially believed
were imparting the truth. Additionally, I want to alert you to the
potential challenges you might encounter if you choose to question the
traditional teachings that have endured for centuries.
This book will be mainly about the trinity teaching and other
topics of interest that are so widely accepted without further
investigation as to whether they are true or not. (Acts 7:11)
As we occupy our seats in the church, both on Sundays and Wednesdays,
do we ever pause to question whether we are truly gaining a deep
understanding of Scripture? Have we ever contemplated the possibility
that we might be influenced by the teacher's personal biases and their
particular brand of theology? I'm not claiming to possess
all-encompassing knowledge, but I have acquired sufficient
understanding to establish the foundational principles of my faith,
untainted by the biases of others or those who assert authority over
one's ability to independently think and make decisions.
As you go through this book, you'll gradually realize that, much like
myself, you've been influenced by Platonism, Hellenism, and Greek
mythology instead of grasping Hebraic theology. If these terms are
unfamiliar to you, don't fret; their significance will become clear as
you continue reading.
Many Christians tend to overlook the responsibility of examining the
teachings they receive because we often assume that others are more
knowledgeable. We are swayed by those in positions of authority,
believing that we may not possess the intellect to understand the
scriptures on our own and should rely on clergy to interpret them for
us. Furthermore, if we dare to disagree, we are criticized for
challenging the authority of the clergy, and it's suggested that we are
going against God Himself, who supposedly appointed these individuals
as authorities. It's a daunting prospect. However, there's no need to
be afraid of human judgment and threats of punishment or exclusion if
we decide to exercise our God-given capacity to apply common sense and
reasoning while cherishing the truths we discover in the scriptures.
These scriptures were not meant solely for the clergy; they are
intended for ordinary people like you and me to help us develop a
deeper understanding of God's truths.
Proceed to Chapter 1
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