Topic
Can We Handle the Truth?, organized as readable chapters.
Can We Handle the Truth?
The book below was written by me, the website owner. I provide this book in PDF format for free, and the chapters are also available individually below.
If you would like to order it on Amazon, click here.
Most of us, whether Christian or non-Christian, have been programmed to accept the consensus that since we have not been educated on theological issues, we therefore lack the professional expertise and accreditation of those whom we depend upon for scriptural and doctrinal understanding through numerous interpretations. Such leaves the common person at somewhat of a disadvantage, but should not necessarily be so. The underlying truth lies in the fact that churches, via their myriad of doctrines, staunchly resist being challenged. Unfortunately, this is the hallmark of those who own the “platform,” so to speak.
In this book, you will discover that the majority of teachings held today by mainstream Christianity actually oppose biblical truth. This book will take you on an enlightened journey covering several major topics of interest and hopefully will seize your attention and encourage you to investigate the Scriptures for yourself. May this book challenge you to further examine the topics I present to you.
The first to put forth his case seems right, until someone else steps forward and cross-examines him. (Prov. 18:17)
Sandra J. Hooper
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
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.
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.
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.
W hat Have We Learned? Chapter 1 For the past 1700 years, Christians have inherited a belief concerning the trinity dogma. You might have often seen the “Shield of the Trinity” diagram. It goes something like this: The.
Elohim-What Does It All Mean? Chapter 2 Those who hold to the trinity will say that we can start to see this doctrine in the very first chapter of Genesis. In Genesis 1:26 it states: And God said, Let us make man in our.
Echad-Does This Mean God Is A Compound Unity? Chapter 3 The following verse is known as the “Shema” or “Sh’ma” as recited by the Jewish people daily: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD (Deut. 6:4) Trinitarians.
Expect Persecution CHAPTER 4 I grew up in the Roman Catholic faith and early in life I joined the convent to be a nun. I no longer belong to the Catholic Church. I left the Catholic faith in my mid-20s. As one who grew.
Jesus Ha s a Genesis Chapter 5 Did Jesus have a genesis? Yes, he did. Genesis means “The coming into being of something; the origin.” Its synonym is “beginning.” In Matthew 1:18 it speaks of Jesus’ birth . Though Jesus.
Literal Pre-existence? Chapter 6 Most churches argue for the literal pre-existence of Jesus. Pre-existence is defined as: “existence in a former state or previous to something else.” However, where it concerns Christ.
Incarnation Chapter 7 The doctrine of the Incarnation is one of the major cornerstones of the Christian faith although this term is never used in scripture. The common understanding of the incarnation of Christ is the.
Has Anyone Ever Seen God? Chapter 8 Many have been taught that God was literally seen on earth, and they quote passages to promote the trinity and/or deity of Jesus. These passages are quoted to prove this belief, but.
Words That Don't Mean A Thing Chapter 9 Now, I am going to throw two theological words out there that you might hear. They are: “Theophany and Christophany.” Here are its definitions: Theophany (THEE-ah-feh-nee): A.
Other Various Trinitaria "Poof Texts" Chapter 10 Some Problems If Jesus Is The Angel Of The LORD Extracting scriptures from their context to try to prove the trinitarian doctrine actually displays the loss of reasoning.
Who Is The Holy Spirit? Chapter 11 The Holy Spirit Is Not A Person Ah, now we come to the shy member of the trinity. According to trinitarian belief, the holy spirit is the third person of the trinity. But as we will.
What a Difference a Word Makes Chapter 12 How many Lords Are There? If you do not have a Bible Study software, I would like to suggest a free one you can download from the internet. It is called “E-Sword.” It is not.
The Holy Spirit Did Not Teach You This Chapter 13 I often hear people tell me, “This is what the Holy Spirit showed me and confirmed to me about the trinity while studying the scriptures.” I do not apologize for saying.
Sound Doctrine Chapter 14 Scripture shows us that sound doctrine is crucially important, as stated in Titus 2:1, we must speak what is consistent with sound teaching. Jude also insisted that believers defend sound.
Original Sin: The Stumbling Block To True Repentance Chapter 15 We will now turn to another major doctrine in conflict with scriptures. It is the doctrine of Original Sin held by mainstream Christianity. It is the.
Supposed Proof Texts of Original Sin Chapter 16 The doctrine of Original Sin boils down to this: I have a sinful nature by birth. I have "inherited" this sinful nature from Adam. This sinful nature is going to make me.
Our Flesh In Itself is Not Sinful Chapter 17 While still on the topic of original sin, its advocates say, “Our bodies are made of sin and cause us to sin.” However, remember that sin is a violation of God’s law (1 Jn.
Jesus' Imputed Righteousness? Chapter 18 Before I discuss Romans 5:12, I thought it would be helpful if we first went over the teaching of “Jesus’ imputed righteousness.” I must tell you that there is no such teaching.
Spiritual or Physical Death? Chapter 19 Does Romans 5:12 speak of spiritual death or physical death? I have been taught that Romans 5 has to do with physical death. However, upon further examination, I would have to.
It Not A Sin To Stop Sinning Chapter 20 It Is Not A Sin To Stop Sinning There are so many tangled in the web of deceit weaved in mainstream Christianity today. Another problem is the matter of forgiveness. Many.
The Flaws Of Substitution Theories Chapter 21 The Penal Substitution Theory The “Penal Substitution” is a theological term based on the premise that Christ took our place because of man lacking the ability to produce.
The Death of Christ Chapter 22 If we read the New Testament, the apostles do not intently focus on the death of Christ as if it had more importance than anything else. A narrow focus on the death of Jesus has little.
Have You Resisted Unto Blood, Striving Against Sin? Chapter 23 Those who would defend sin often use Hebrews chapter 12 to prove that if you are under chastisement for your sins, then this confirms you are a child of.
God In Control Of Everything And Everything Happens For A Reason? Chapter 24 Now we shall cover another topic. We commonly hear that if something tragic happens or things are not going just right, that it all “happens.
But For The Grace of God Go I Chapter 25 How many times have we heard, “There but for the grace of God go I?” Often we hear that phrase when it has to do with escaping some horrible accident, escaping death, various.
The Christian Hope is Not Going to Heaven Chapter 26 There are many books and programs about people who say they have gone to heaven and back. Would it shock you to learn that when a person dies they do not go to.
The Myth of An Immortal Soul Chapter 27 Does man have an immortal soul? No. The idea that we are innately immortal is a belief held by the majority of Christian-professing denominations. In fact, it is a universal.
Are The Dead Really Dead? Chapter 28 The idea that we never really die is the first lie told by Satan. We could say that Satan is the first to introduce immortality whereas, with God, mortality is conditional. Satan led.
God Does Not Torment Chapter 29 Despite the doctrinal variances within mainstream Christianity, there is one point of consensus: they all believe that those who, through their ungodly actions, reject God will be.
The Concept of Hell Chapter 30 Is our concept of hell a place where people are burning, and consciously tormented in blazing flames of fire for all eternity based on scripture or tradition? Is there a conscious torment.
What is The Gospel Chapter 31 Many professing Christians cannot fully tell you what the gospel is. It seems the only answer they can give is to quote 1 Cor. 15:1-4: Now I make known to you brethren, the gospel which I.
K ingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven Chapter 32 If anyone has come across the teachings that say the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are not the same, is a person who has been influenced by John Nelson Darby (as.
Just remember, as my friend Priscilla says, “Everyone can have the truth until they are challenged.” This is what I have done with everything I have been taught by pastors and Sunday school teachers. As scripture.