Living By the Truth, the Word of God

Let's be honest: Too many Christian books are nothing but fluff or teach a viewpoint that is borderline contradictory of what the Bible actually teaches. Christian publishing appears, to this reviewer at least, to be focused too much on marketing and profits, and not nearly enough on solid teaching for building up the church.

Into this mess, however, comes a breath of fresh air-"Living By the Truth" by Lillian C. Larry. Larry cuts through the clutter of so many Christian books and gives us straight talk, teaching right out of the Bible into our lives.

Over forty-two chapters, Larry touches on the necessity of studying the Bible to what to do when God is silent, from the truth about homosexuality to the importance of Bible school, and many serious topics in between. She even includes the text of scripture for such foundational books as 1 Thessalonians, 1 John, and Revelation.

Larry hits hard, and this book may not be for those accustomed to reading Christianity-lite. But never is she harsh or rude; she simply speaks what the Bible speaks, sharing her struggles and showing us how to overcome challenges and obstacles in our lives, all the while remaining faithful to God.

For example, in "Church Membership," Larry points out the somewhat ridiculous notion of requiring "membership" in a church context. She asks, rightly so, "Why can't I sit amongst the congregation as a sister of the body of Christ? Why do I have to be a member in order to fellowship?" In contrast to this view, she discusses Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 3:17-"?where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (NRSV). Thus, she argues, if we have Jesus with us, it doesn't matter whether we "place membership" or not; what matters is our truly fellowshipping together in the Spirit of Jesus.

Another chapter, "Bible School, Is It Really Necessary," is important also. Larry ponders the attitude that finds Bible study "boring," and laments the sad state of some seminaries, where one can take a class on the Bible and leave wondering if the teacher is even a believer him- or herself. Ideally, we should sit around the Word of God and let God address us. Too many Christians rely on teaching they pay money for (i.e., in a college degree) or on the teaching from their human pastors (i.e., Bishop X or Minister Y) when they should rely more on God himself.

In short, this book was very insightful and helpful, and very true to the Word of God. Read it and learn, and let the words lead you deeper into your relationship with God.

(Contact www.PublishAmerica.com to purchase this book.)

Jeremy M. Hoover is a book reviewer and Christian minister. You may request a review by emailing him at jeremyhoover@gmail.com. He also sells a set of 11 ebooks on prayer, which you can find here.

MORE RESOURCES:

Religion is Religulous - The News Record

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.newsrecord.org/sections/entertainment/1.817872cid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNFfIQjK_THs5zQ8SUzM2Tnoa7Yxgwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=M-1UC3l6k-MJimgurl=www.newsrecord.org/polopoly_fs/1.818351!image/4149367589.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_260/4149367589.jpg width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The News Record/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.newsrecord.org/sections/entertainment/1.817872cid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNFfIQjK_THs5zQ8SUzM2Tnoa7YxgwbReligion/b is Religulous/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe News Record,nbsp;OHnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1That’s the question that prompted my breligion/b teacher (yes, I went to a catholic school) to kick me out of class, sending me straight to the dean’s office b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.theledger.com/article/20081010/NEWS/810110305/1326%3FTitle%3DNow_Showing__Bill_Maher_Movie_Questioning_Organized_Religioncid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNHcMnOv_bRRGrKr801UVltOaUiorANow Showing: Bill Maher Movie Questioning Organized bReligion/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Ledger/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/oct/12/mahers-mockery-misses-the-point/cid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNG0HcJf4qXSNNMV2cBYYaqfXzw4nQMaher#39;s mockery misses the point/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDaily Camera/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-10-05-religulous-commandments_N.htm%3Fcsp%3D34cid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNFtRM-425aqX8mkr7QszIawO9PWaQCovet this: The new rules for #39;Religulous#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrUSA Today/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Oct/20081011Feat002.aspcid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNFG0G3XiKURWUPed-7DYtfDXm0J0QnobrColumbia Daily Tribune/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.sj-r.com/beliefs/x1776787605/-Religulous-a-laugh-out-loud-assault-on-organized-religioncid=1256032116ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGcloa2rx6SNhSbWtFNHhk8saQeXAnobrThe State Journal-Register/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256032116hl=ennobrall 47 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Initiative 1000: Not just matter of religion - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Using Biology, Not Religion, to Argue Against Same-Sex Marriage - New York Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2i-0fd=Rurl=http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story%3Fid%3D6003585%26page%3D1cid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNErcspN8llT85FtDSgBOb7kts0_cQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=wNQYvxNwZgoJimgurl=a.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_gay_marriage_080529_mn.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2ABC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/nyregion/12marriage.html%3Femcid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNE7IRm2xl-0SyKncVQG6iW1bsDnJgUsing Biology, Not bReligion/b, to Argue Against Same-Sex Marriage/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1But it has caused consternation among opponents of gay marriage, many of whom, like the Galloways, say their objections are not based on breligion/b or b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-1fd=Rurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DVW-IHPw5y74cid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNHjPid_vnhBQP9DeE2uHwJgptNxEAVideo: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/VW-IHPw5y74/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/VW-IHPw5y74type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-2fd=Rurl=http://www.thedailyaztec.com/state_of_mind/1.774530cid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNEOQetOv9_POst5tHQ2EkwcV_Uj6wFACETIOUS FEMINIST: Same-sex marriage is about civil rights/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDaily Aztec/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-3fd=Rurl=http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php%3Fmodule%3Darticles%26func%3Ddisplay%26aid%3D3680%26ptid%3D9cid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGiuivE_NIjcs-S9_8ocsIKG46CUQNo on Prop 8 Campaign Takes Off the Gloves: quot;They#39;re Using Lies to b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCalifornia Majority Report/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-4fd=Rurl=http://www.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx%3FID%3D31726cid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGQboIcPMdrk05s3QjVM--ZEPinGQnobrConnecticut Law Tribune/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-5fd=Rurl=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/10/11/news/politics/z4a6b6d99ff980b5d882574d200797151.txtcid=1256135198ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGwnxIfRXbRimutuYJdRNDVaFX8xAnobrNorth County Times/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1256135198hl=ennobrall 1,786 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Religion playing lesser role in US elections than in past - AFP

Sarah Palin in row over #39;cash for religion#39; - Mirror.co.uk

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4902470.ececid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNE2i9qm-ED1ogmD271XLYYl9IESKAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=d5mzQTqAUGAJimgurl=www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00408/JohnMcCain360_408768a.jpg width=41 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Times Online/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/13/sarah-palin-in-row-over-cash-for-religion-115875-20798644/cid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNHV8I2lNX-WpqIEmtV_LB5bo_kgCQSarah Palin in row over #39;cash for breligion/b#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMirror.co.uk,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Stephen White 13/10/2008 American vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been accused of taking taxpayers#39; cash to push her religious views. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-1fd=Rurl=http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd402.htmcid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNH6x0QaF7X4UTgYybDjkaVavOaGsAPRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: ONE GIANT FRAUD/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNewsWithViews.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-2fd=Rurl=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gyW-PzMiRAaoTN6q7wLLL0Itmemwcid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGUtaIZJWI5cwjECzY7KQYiPm02ngMcCain set for final Obama clash/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Press Association/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-3fd=Rurl=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republican-leaders-break-ranks--with-mccain-959301.htmlcid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNExwDCzZ49CvYDNIP217nQQAtWyOwRepublican leaders break ranks with McCain/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrIndependent/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-4fd=Rurl=http://www.northfloridanewsdaily.com/News/2008/1013/opinion/150.htmlcid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNHXiuZEIFTFD_5GSkmpZlMq05HzNgnobrNorth Florida NewsDaily/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-5fd=Rurl=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/382606_students10.htmlcid=1257224130ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNE3HexEpbW4eW-b6_kGtRB35un7PgnobrSeattle Post Intelligencer/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257224130hl=ennobrall 1,558 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Sex, religion and Afrikaner politics - Independent Online

The Abuse Of Religion - Atlantic Online

#39;Disney of religion#39; packs #39;em in - Ottawa Citizen

Religion Almanac: Sukkot - Sun-Sentinel.com

Politics, war and religion - how Hollywood learned to do serious - guardian.co.uk

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/oct/12/usa-religioncid=1255919446ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNGYBQxXGP30mpo1_gYEp3sH99bm6APolitics, war and breligion/b - how Hollywood learned to do serious/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fguardian.co.uk,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Religulous, a satirical documentary from political talk show host Bill Maher about breligion/b and religious fanaticism, is also on release. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-1fd=Rurl=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/pearlman/1214383,bush101208.articlecid=1255919446ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNFVUprcdRW7V1Xy_x8e_9YR6u0GygOliver Stone on #39;W.#39;: Director insists, #39;I don#39;t take sides#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrChicago Sun-Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-2fd=Rurl=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2008/10/executive_action.htmlcid=1255919446ei=RSrzSOSILar6yASXxpB-usg=AFQjCNH6exNIdQqq57DmXE8VDovQR5YyLQExecutive action/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255919446hl=ennobrall 127 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Religion - Google News

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