Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Greg Albrecht is Executive Director of Plain Truth Ministries, host of Plain Truth radio and editor-in-chief of The Plain Truth magazine. PTM is dedicated to explaining unbiblical teachings that masquerade as authentic Christianity. Greg has been a guest on many popular Christian radio and television programs.

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BETWEEN RELIGIOUS ROCKS AND LIFE'S HARD PLACES

Nelson Books

Contents

Acknowledgments..............................................................................xiiiIntroduction.................................................................................xvCHRISTIANITY.................................................................................1Is Christianity a religion?Those mean, nasty, hateful ChristiansAre Catholics Christians?When your adult children test your ChristianityIs becoming a better person the goal of Christianity?FORGIVENESS..................................................................................8Will God forgive my adultery?Forgiving racismMust we divulge all our sins to our spouse?Tolerating sinHow can I show love without condoning specific behavior?BURIAL OR CREMATION..........................................................................16Does the Bible condemn cremation?CHURCH.......................................................................................17When big churches become big businessIs church really necessary?Searching for a church"Buy the truth and sell it not"What does it mean to worship God?Help! My daughter is becoming a fundamentalist!Do my husband and I need to attend the same church?Is it okay to change churches?The micromanaging pastorFinding a spiritual address where you belongNo shirt, no shoes, no servicesRethinking churchFAITH........................................................................................41Will God bless me for making a financial vow?Will my doubts cause me to lose my faith?What is faith?What is "blind faith"?PROTESTS AND PLACARDS........................................................................46Should Christians boycott and protest?HEAVEN.......................................................................................48Going directly to heaven?Just how big is heaven?HELL.........................................................................................50If you don't accept Christ, will you go to hell?MARRIAGE.....................................................................................53Will God recognize my marriage without a license and ceremony?Does God allow divorce?Why was polygamy allowed in the Old Testament?Can a Catholic and a Southern Baptist find happiness together?Will God send me a spouse?PRAYER.......................................................................................60Is the "Sinner's Prayer" required for salvation?What is the point of prayer?MOVIES, BEER, AND ROCK 'N' ROLL..............................................................63Can Christians party?GRACE........................................................................................67Law or grace-a debateDoes God's grace mean we can get away with anything?How does a pastor preach to "perfect" people?Once saved, always saved?Are the Ten Commandments still relevant?After you're saved, do you need to be obedient?Doesn't the Bible say we will be rewarded for our works?WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?................................................................86God is doing nothing to protect innocent children!Does God care?EVANGELISM...................................................................................92Are Christians commanded to "win souls for Christ"?Must Christians "witness"?Is there one right way to "witness"?What happens to the unsaved when they die?GOD..........................................................................................101How can God "sit" on the right side of Himself?Why did Jesus have to suffer?How does the death of Jesus pay for our sins?Does the Trinity matter?Are God's choices limited by His knowledge of the future?TATTOOS......................................................................................107Do tattoos honor God?THE MORALITY OF WAR..........................................................................110Should Christians support war?SALVATION....................................................................................112Exactly when does a Christian become saved?Eternal suffering for the unsaved?Must I "work out" my own salvation?DO WE REALLY HAVE CHOICES?...................................................................119How free is our free will?Falling out of God's willHow does God lead us?PROSPERITY, WORD-FAITH, AND DELIVERANCE......................................................125What is the "Word-Faith" and "Prosperity Gospel" all about?My church believes in deliverance ministriesCULTS........................................................................................131Driving Miss MormonHaunted by cult guiltCHRISTIAN JARGON.............................................................................138Do I need to learn and use "Christian-ese"?BAPTISM......................................................................................141Infant baptism-not good enough?What if I die before I'm baptized?Isn't accepting Christ enough? Why be baptized?Baptism-is once enough?WEIRD RELIGIOUS STUFF IN THE NAME OF GOD.....................................................147What's this gold dust thing all about?More spiritually mature than you areTHE UNPARDONABLE SIN.........................................................................151I am not sure Jesus has forgiven me.HOMOSEXUALITY................................................................................154Homosexuality-when Christians sin againAlienated from other ChristiansIs homosexuality a sin or a sickness?HEALING......................................................................................159Praying for healingLEGALISM.....................................................................................162Just what do you mean by "legalism"?Breaking free from legalismA stepdaughter living in sinWho's in charge here?Authoritarianism-the real problem?BIBLE........................................................................................169Has the New Testament been paganized?Can a two-thousand-year-old book apply to a twenty-first-century Indian?Is there any significance to numbers used in the Bible?STAYING AWAY FROM "THE WORLD"................................................................174Should Christians avoid non-Christians?Shunning sinnersCan household items bring a curse?MENTAL ILLNESS...............................................................................179Are the mentally ill demon possessed?REINCARNATION................................................................................181Is reincarnation really such a wacky idea?TITHING AND GIVING...........................................................................183Is tithing a requirement for Christians?Didn't Jesus require tithing?Will God bless us in return for giving?END TIMES....................................................................................190What is the meaning of 666?Will everyone see Jesus when He returns?What will happen to Christians during the tribulation?What about the Rapture?Conclusion...................................................................................197

Chapter One

Q I've heard you use the word religion in a negative way. How do you define religion? What is the difference between Christian and Christian religion? Some application forms ask, "What is your religion?" What's a good answer?

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