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    MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians
    MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians
    MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians

    By A. Christian Mann

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    About this ebook

    If you are a new Christian, don’t buy this book. If you are a long term Christian but aren’t a long term Bible student, this probably isn’t the book for you to start your in-depth Bible study either.

    The target readers for this book are seasoned Bible students who are seeking to refine and perfect their understanding of scripture. Students who are willing to examine and reexamine the beliefs and practices that they may have absorbed without question. This book is for people who have built the spiritual strength and stability to put their beliefs on trial and study God’s Word where ever it may lead. People who want to remove any hint of Pharisee-likeness from their personal spiritual walk.

    “Modern Pharisees?” is not a book of answers; it is a book of questions. A. Christian Mann discusses some basic and timely topics, presenting oft ignored scriptural references to challenge the status quo on these issues and compel students to dig deep, search the scriptures, and refine their understanding of God’s Word for themselves, looking only to God for direction.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherA. Christian Mann
    Release dateJul 29, 2015
    ISBN9781310486937
    MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians
    Author

    A. Christian Mann

    A. Christian Mann is a life long bible student who has tried to live a scriptural life in spite of the self inflicted as well as unavoidable mistakes, trials and tribulations common in modern American life. His study guide is intended for christians who are strong in their faith to dig deep into the Word, wrestle with some tough questions as we apply biblical teachings to daily life and make sure that we have not become Pharisees ourselves.

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      Book preview

      MODERN PHARISEES? Tough Questions for Serious Christians - A. Christian Mann

      Modern Pharisees?

      Tough questions for serious Christians

      By A. Christian Mann

      Copyright 2015 A. Christian Mann

      Published by A. Christian Mann at Smashwords

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      If you need multiple copies for a class room study please visit the author for bulk pricing at: A. Christian Mann at Smashwords

      Table of Contents

      Dedication and Thanks

      Forward

      Purpose

      Statement of Faith

      My Epiphany

      Slaying My First Dragon

      The Lord’s Supper

      Christian Marriage

      Honesty, Temper and Violence

      Original Intent

      Divorce

      Roman Potpourri

      Creation Science vs. Evolution

      Slavery

      Polygamy, Morals and What God Didn’t Say

      The Last Question

      Answers

      Connect with A. Christian Mann

      Dedication and Thanks

      This book is dedicated to the Glory of God Everlasting.

      But we are told that a workman is worthy of his reward, (Matthew 10:10), and to render to everyone their due. (Romans 13:7). I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge and thank the people who help make this book possible; my editors Rhondieann and my mother the English teacher. And also thanks to my wife and her friend Allison for the cover art. Without their talents, patience, insight, prospective, tact, charm and plain old hard work this opus could not have come to publication.

      May such praise and blessings as are mine to bestow be theirs and may God add to them according to His Grace.

      A. Christian Mann

      Back to ToC

      Forward

      If a man has any sense at all when he starts writing a book about God, the Bible, how people live their lives and how that affects their eternal lives, he takes a moment to reflect and pray. Having decided that writing is something he is compelled to do, the next question becomes: How to sign it?

      At first glance that question would seem easy to answer. I am normally very impatient with people who make public statement but don’t have the courage to sign their names to their opinions. I don’t like ‘anonymous sources’ for alleged news stories. I have publically condemned a certain hate group for being too ashamed of their actions to show their faces while committing their atrocities.

      No one was more surprised than I when through prayers it became clear that I needed to use a pseudonym for this book. The reason is simplicity itself.

      THIS IS NOT A BOOK OF ANSWERS; THIS IS A BOOK OF QUESTIONS.

      The purpose of this book is not to share my opinions. Its purpose is to challenge you and lead you to take up a journey of Bible study to discover the Truth of God for yourself. Not to introduce doubt to your faith IN God, but push you to refine and distill your knowledge OF God, with any and all human chaff removed, including me and my opinions!

      Sometimes the questions posed are intentionally provocative. That doesn’t mean I necessarily believe and support the provocative side of the question! It means I realize the question exists and since Peter commands us to be ready always to give an account (1 Peter 3:15) I play devil’s advocate and bring it forward for your consideration. Whether your study refutes or adopts the provocative side of the question is left between you and God.

      Therefore gentle reader, if the words of this book aid you in your spiritual walk give all glory and praise to God and his son Jesus, who is the Christ, for I am naught but a poor pilgrim following His Path and Light.

      If you find this book to be hogwash and me to be a clanging gong or a tinkling cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1) please accept my apology for wasting your time.

      In either case good reader; please pray for me, for I am just...

      A. Christian Mann

      Back to ToC

      Purpose

      If you came to this tome expecting me to provide you with answers get set for disappointment. A good sermon will make the congregation glad, sad or mad. A great sermon will make the listener all three. Glad enough, sad enough or mad enough to grow.

      Dearest reader, please prepare to leave your comfort zone.

      I am going to intentionally challenge some of your closely held beliefs. It will be uncomfortable but it is necessary to make sure that you believe what you believe because you have studied it, not because you adopted what someone else told you.

      Paul tells us in Hebrews 5:12-14 (KJV):

      12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

      This book is not milk, it is meat.

      And it isn’t even a prime cut of meat. Don’t expect to enjoy a meal of finely finished and aged prime rib or fillet mignon that you can cut with a fork and savor on your tongue. This book is stringy grass-feed cuts with the odd bit of gristle (and nutrition?) in every bite. It is going to take a sharp knife, strong teeth and lots of chewing to get these meals down.

      My purpose in writing this book is not to provide answers, it is to provoke and elicit questions. I hope you will study out those questions and take them to God in your prayer and Bible study time. I hope to make you mad enough to study the questions, sad enough do decide to realign your beliefs with God’s truth if and when you may find errors, and glad enough to live according to what you KNOW is God’s desire for you. The goal is for the reader to seek and find God’s answers without the meddling of an entirely fallible middle man like me.

      A. Christian Mann

      Back to ToC

      Statement of Faith

      I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten son of the One True Living God. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and as God-in-the-flesh, walked among men. He spent about three years ministering to the nation of Israel, was condemned and crucified for MY sins. Jesus arose on the third day triumphant over death. He lives and is the One True Way and that in His name and His name alone is forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

      I believe that the Bible is God’s Holy Word. I believe that it does not contain all there is to know about God (John 21:25), but it does contain all I need to know to find the Truth of God. I believe that it is and remains accurate enough to be trustworthy in the 21st century.

      While I could cite all the scientific data that points to the super human accuracy of the texts, I will leave that to others. The point was settled for me more philosophically. If I accept the existence of Deity, I accept that such Deity is more powerful than man. Therefore, should that Deity decide I needed to know Its will in written form, It is more than capable of protecting Its writings from the intentional or accidental corruption of men. To assume that the truth of God’s Word can be hidden or corrupted by men is simple human hubris. (1 Corinthians 1:25).

      I hold the Holy Bible as the only rule of faith and doctrine. I endeavor to always make note of who is speaking, to whom they are speaking, and the context of the conversation. I endeavor to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent. I do my best to align my personal, professional and spiritual

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