Christless Christianity [Chapter 5]

Father, thank you for this morning. Thank you for this time. We've had. Lord we thank you for the many blessings that you've granted us in Christ Jesus. We thank you for the opportunity we have today.

Gratitude, Grace, and Obedience in Christ

To honor you to thank you to live in light of the gracious gift of Jesus Christ. Father to seek to Obey your law as as best we might but knowing that. Your grace is sufficient. Father help us to live our lives today even as we discuss for the next hour and a half father.

How we ought to think about things. How we fall so woefully short, but Lord we want to Honor the Lord Jesus Christ with our lives even as the men we're talking about with regard to our wives. For those who aren't married for future wives.

Father, we just pray that you'd grant us grace in Jesus name. Amen. Well, so we didn't we didn't actually finish our quiz last time. Um, so we'll start with 24 on that one. Um, I probably do. True or false the law tells those who believe what to do.

It's true. The law not only drives us to Christ. It tells gospel created faith what to do. So it tells believers what to do. God's. God's law tells us what God approves. What his heart delights in. He does not ask us to be spontaneous creative or self-willed.

But to do the things that he regards as Righteous holy true and good. Can you imagine? God saying be spontaneous creative self-willed. Number 25 true or false abraham's willingness to Sacrifice isaac was an example of true faith.

It's false um. Yeah, I don't really like the word example. I mean for example, you know. For example, see what I did there I I sat on an ordination board one time and somebody said, you know, how would you?

Somebody asked the candidate. How would you? Preach the narrative of caleb. And he went on to describe how caleb was a good man who didn't sin, you know. And I just sat there going but I didn't say anything.

I let somebody else blast him and you know, then I was like, yeah, see I knew that too, but I'm too gracious to do that thing because you know. What's the fault with dare to be a daniel preaching. Or dare to be a caleb.

Can you live like caleb? There you go. There's the sermon name. Can you live like caleb? There's no getting yeah, it's just be good. He's not. He's not the pinnacle. Oh Gordon says abraham was in many ways a moral failure.

I mean as soon as you start. Yeah. But he had this brief shining moment. Okay. Uh sleeping with a servant when god had promised the heir through his wife sarah lying to A king by telling him that sarah was his sister in order to get Himself out of a bind and so forth even his willingness to sacrifice isaac was not an example for us.

But an occasion for god to foreshadow christ. As the ram caught in the thicket so that isaac and the rest of us could go free. I hear that. I don't know. How doesn't hebrews 11? I'm, not saying he had no faith i'm saying, you know, are we going to you know, even even here.

I mean if we cataloged Abraham as he does kind of abraham's many failures prior to this moment. You know, what would we conclude? Um that he had a brief shining moment that you know everything before that was moral failure and You know, maybe or maybe he got saved on the way up the mountain.

I mean, you know, we could we could posit a lot of things but I think it it's enough to say that um if we have moments of Faithfulness, is it 100? Faith, okay. Well, I I okay, let's get to the root of faith.

What is faith? Okay, and where does that faith come from? So is the point abraham or is the point god, you know, I mean in other words, i'm just like Let's just think for a minute. Well here i'll put an I I think it's more this you tell me if i'm wrong I think abraham and isaac is more a portrait Of god's patience towards a sinful servant.

I what? I I well, I just think if you want to dredge abraham up as and this moment as a a moment of Shining faith, then you're going to wind up preaching moralism. Okay. Okay. But again abraham hebrews 11.

You know, let's look at it, you know, and is this. Are are we going to conclude that each of these men? Women. You know are are. You know the the highlight the point of hebrews 11 is the faithfulness of these people.

Okay. Now I think we're getting somewhere. Well, why didn't why didn't he believe that before I mean even read. Let's go to hebrews 11. And let me see if I can read the verse number. Yeah, it'll be verse number eight.

By faith abraham obeyed when he was called out to go to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going, okay, so he believed there and. And and then and then failed utterly, you know over and over and over and over and over and over again.

By faith he went to live in the land of promise as in a foreign land living in tents with isaac and jacob Heirs with him of the same promise for he was looking forward to a city that has foundations. Whose designer and builder is god.

By faith sarah herself received power to conceive even when she was past the age. Since she considered him faithful who had promised but famously sarah. Laughed. I mean, there are so many as you go through this chapter, there's so many asterisks you want to throw on things so.

Didn't he or did he just assume that people knew the rest of the story and he's like, well, you know what they they were faithful. Who's he talking to? Who knew. The old testament so they would be very familiar with these stories.

Because because the highlight, you know as you read through it the highlight is what? If you read through the genesis narrative, what do you what do you think? You think oh man abraham faithful. What does genesis say.

I'm not talking about what horton wrote now if you read. Right, so if you read the in other words old testament saints the hebrews that paul or whomever is preaching to. If they if they reflect back on genesis if they reflect back on abraham, what are they thinking.

Are they thinking dude was faithful. Yes. But but I but I think you know what you said in the second part is more important it was Reckoned or counted to him as righteousness. His you know his righteousness.

Not so great so and so I I think when the Author of hebrews is preaching that he's he's more highlighting the fact that you know what? We tend to think failure failure failure failure. Which is true. But let's focus on the moments when they were good.

I mean, you can't look at samson's life and go. And he's in here and I don't disagree with that. But so then go back to 25 abraham's willingness to sacrifice isaac was an example of true faith. I still I still say it's false.

Sanctification, Faith, and the Example of Abraham

So Because i'm not gonna Number 26 true or false one thing is clear in hebrews 11. Sanctification is synergistic. Okay. I'm going to say false. He says even the so-called hall of heroes in Hebrews 11 is misnamed the writer consistently mentions that they overcame by faith in christ.

Not by their works. In fact god overcame their sins to further his redemptive purposes. Working through their folly as well as their faithfulness. The whole point is to demonstrate that god's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.

And god's weakness is greater than human strength furthermore. The examples selected in that chapter are precisely like david in each case saint and sinner simultaneously and I believe frankly that sanctification is monergistic.

And you say well, how could that be don't we do this and doesn't it say this and okay, but I think If we say that salvation is monergistic. Nobody bats an eye. Well, why is that? There's a phrase that people use the only thing that we contribute to our salvation is The sin that makes it necessary.

So I would like to propose for your thought here for the moment the only thing That we contribute to our sanctification Is the sin that slows it down take that for what it's worth. It says No, he's not saying contribute your sin.

What's he saying? I mean does the bible ever encourage us to sin? No, yep, is this a trick question? And we do that sometimes. No, that'd be a case for not being dead. Okay. So I guess the question is do you obey?

By your own spiritual strength. Was it well? Yeah, who's who's at work? Who's it? Who's at work in you? You know, we already just mentioned Work out your salvation if you're in trembling. Which I think ultimately is going to lead us into the next chapter because i'm you know after.

Well after after reading about this, you know this last chapter here um it does seem to me that like one of the great causes of American evangelicalism being so so prone to wander Is because of our sense of individualism.

Individualism right and the idea that we don't want Creed's confessions. Even church stayed communal. Um, you know really ultimately kind of anti-american Americanism is about what it's about rugged individualism.

What's that? Individual yeah, and and so this idea of you know conforming to A body of existing belief that was written by a bunch of europeans, you know, da da da. Okay, which is false but um. You know, why shouldn't we be innovative?

Why shouldn't we solve things for ourselves? Why do we have to be tied to some? Historical documents. So, I I think it's that kind of idea but getting back to to this. Um, I I I mean, I think we could argue About you know monergism.

I mean even my uh, reformation study bible says that Sanctification is synergistic. I just I'm i'm not there so Let's look at uh 747. True or false guilt grace gratitude is a pattern often found in the psalms.

True it is no wonder that the heidelberg catechism moves through three sections guilt grace and gratitude. This is the first movement That we find in the psalms and in paul's letters. Those who are forgiven much love much familiar words look for 747 747.

I didn't even notice that before. There is nothing wrong with being deeply moved emotionally by truth. In fact, good news generates doxology. So if we are not affected by the doctrine or motivated by it to love our neighbors.

Then we have probably misunderstood something in other words Hearing the gospel and having emotion is good. Number 28 true or false many churches have sound practices even if their theology is off false.

The apostles would have considered it inconceivable that a that a church Might have its doctrine right but be uninterested in missions evangelism Prayer and works of service and charity to those in need or conversely that a church might be faithful In life apart from sound doctrine.

So Sound doctrine is kind of important according to horton. All right. Chapter five. When someone says quote, this is my belief. What are they implicitly demanding? That you honor and respect it and which by the way is the correct use of implicit.

Sorry ben's not here to defend himself. Um. You know when you infer something what is it to. What does it mean to infer something. Okay, it's to draw something out of something that's written or said right?

So I I can't infer. The person speaking can't infer anything. Just in case you're Ever wondering about that. Okay. So What's that? Yes. When we assert Quote, this is my belief says white we are invoking our right to have our own private conviction.

No matter how ridiculous not only tolerated politically, but respected by others. And you know when it comes to politics, I hear that all the time. I mean Yes but I mean it's also it. I was talking to a gentleman who professes to be a conservative the other day.

And he said that he wanted the town to get the seniors every senior in town a cell phone. And I said well who will pay for that? And his response was I don't care and i'm like. So in other words You're not a you know.

You're not a you're a liberal um. Send them the bill. Yeah, I don't care. Okay, here you go, buddy. So so this idea Says this i've invested a lot of emotional energy in this belief and in a way I've staked the credibility of my life on it.

So if you ridicule it you can expect a fight. And he says in this kind of culture Yahweh and baal My god and yours stroll arm and arm. As if to do so were the model of virtue itself, well, that's the idea right.

All beliefs are equally valid. Therefore yahweh and baal can stroll down the street arm and arm. Yes coexistence, baby. He did. Strangely our freedom to believe has achieved the condition that nicha. Which is how you say it?

Called. What's that? I did. Actually, I took german. I had somebody try to convince me in Seminary, he was my prof that it was it actually should be pronounced. Otherwise, and i'm just like okay. Well.

No, really? I'm quite certain anyway nietzsche called nihilism. But by a route he never a root he never imagined. While european nihilism just denied god american nihilism is something different. Our nihilism is our capacity to believe in everything and anything all at once.

It's all good. That's a that's a phrase i've heard all quite a bit in my life. It's all good. Say that in the army say that in the sheriff's department. I don't hear much at bbc. It's all good um. But but this is this is americanism, you know, because people like to I I might have mentioned her some time ago, but I remember talking to a woman.

And listening to her belief system and thinking. There were bits of mormonism in it. So I just asked her. I said, you know, what's where did you come up with this? And she goes well, you know, she had some relatives who were jewish and some relatives who were mormon.

So she just kind of took bits and pieces of this that and the other thing and put them together and i'm like. That's this right. And it she's like it works for me and i'm like How could it work for you?

How can you you know? What book can you use to come up with you know, and the answer is it's my own book, you know, I just kind of. Yeah, it's sheilaism. It works for me. Okay. Well It might work now.

It's not going to work in the future. I hope god is okay with what you've written, you know made up so number two true or false. De toqueville. Alexis de toqueville. Noted the american proclivity to quote judge the world.

True as far back as the early 18th century the french commentator alexis de toqueville. Observed the distinctly american craving to quote. Escape from imposed systems. This is it. It is seek by themselves and in themselves for the only reason for things looking to results.

Without getting entangled in the means toward them. So each man is narrowly shut up in himself. And from that basis makes the pretension to quote judge the world. Americans do not need books or any other external authorities in order to find the truth.

Having found it in themselves and again, you know american rugged individualism the idea that I mean. Why do I I think probably the united states has probably invented more religions than anybody else in the history of mankind.

We're we're really good at it or really bad at it depending on how you look at it. Number three true or false at its core I should have capitalized it. Sorry. The hymn in the garden is a solid reflection of american religion.

True. Do you? Have you ever been to a funeral where this where this hymn is sung. I uh, one of the reasons why we have the hymnals we have Is because I was so delighted it did not have in the garden. And i'm just like we have to change hymnals.

Why. Because it doesn't have in the garden and i'll never have to listen to that song again. You know, nobody's going to raise their hand on sunday evening and say I want to hear in the garden. This is why I don't pack on sunday nights and You want what you know.

Over my dead body, you know. Sniper all right. I mean listen to the inane lyrics. I come to the garden alone. While the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear falling on my ear. The son of god discloses and he Walks with me and he talks with me.

I mean the music alone is is nauseating because it turns into some kind of Carousel, you know, like we all should be up on ponies and he.

Stop just stop.

He walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me i'm his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever. I mean imagine it's just me and jesus just sharing joy just kind of riding the riding the roller or the Carousel together, you know.

Come on. He says. The focus of such piety is on a personal relationship with jesus that is individualistic inward and immediate. One comes alone and experiences a joy that none other has ever known. Then he says how can any external orthodoxy in other words?

I I mean I can almost hear the gray-haired old lady saying Don't you tell me what jesus is like based on your creeds and confessions? I've experienced jesus. Shut your mouth. And since there are no gray-haired ladies here to defend themselves I can say that well, of course, there's the famous story about uh,.

Let me think. Go ahead. See. I could see it. Oh, it was jack hayford four square pastor who said, you know, he was shaving and jesus showed up and Put his arm on his shoulder, you know, and. And I remember the way macarthur describes it because they used to be friends way back in the day.

And macarthur says you just kept shaving you know. Jesus shows up and just puts his arm around you, you know while you're shaving, you know, no nicks or cuts. It's just like a nice smooth best shave I ever had.

Okay. How can any external orthodoxy tell me i'm wrong my personal relationship with jesus is mine. I do not share it with the church creeds confessions pastors and teachers. Perhaps not even the bible.

Can shake my confidence in the unique experiences that I have alone with jesus. Why does he say not even? Perhaps not even the bible. There's nothing to restrain it. I I actually you know, this is years ago this is uh kim's kim, aven ross brother.

Some gray-haired lady was arguing with her with him about when he got saved. And she said, you know, don't you remember, you know, you made a profession of faith when you were. You know like nine years old or whatever and then he says.

Yeah, but then I went on and did drugs and you know, but uh, you know, this is my life for like 25 years. Yes, but you made that you know, it was like so it didn't matter what even. The person because she had a subjective belief.

And that trumped everything. Right and it's just like okay. So even what the scripture would say doesn't matter, you know, it doesn't he made a profession. He walked the aisle mentally, you know, and that's all it took.

Um. So yeah, I I mean experience just beats the bible for many american evangelicals. Okay number four. Why is enthusiasm the word an apt substitute for gnosticism. Yeah, something something similar to that.

I don't know if I have it down here. But yeah, that's. So I think that's probably right. So he says Excuse me if moralism represents a drift toward the pelagian. Or at least semi-pelagian heresy. Enthusiasm is an expression of the heresy known as gnosticism.

A second century movement that seriously threatened the ancient churches. Gnosticism tried to blend greek philosophy and christianity. I think what we see in most of evangelicalism today is, you know, neo neo-gnosticism.

The result was an eclectic spirituality that regarded the material world as the prison house. Of divine spirits and the creation of an evil god Yahweh. Their goal was to return to spiritual heavenly and divine unity.

Of which their inner self was a spark away from the realm of earthly time space and bodies. And then he says gnostics would have applauded many of joel osteen's emphases particularly the thesis of faith teachers that we have divine dna.

With little interest in. In questions of history or doctrine the gnostics sent off on a quest to ascend the ladder of mysticism. Or we could say it this way spirituality, right? They were all in agreement that the institutional church with its ordained ministry creeds preaching sacraments and discipline was alienating.

Like the body it was the prison house of the individual soul. How many times you know, I hate church. Church is so kind of stuffy. Um, i'm just more spiritual than that, okay. Yeah, okay now number five what is the glory story.

Because this this really struck me. And he says, uh, the most common overarching story we tell about ourselves. Is what we will call the glory story. We came from glory and are bound for glory. Of course in between we seem somehow to have gotten derailed.

Whether by design or accident we don't quite know. But that is only a temporary inconvenience to be fixed by proper religious effort. What we need is to get back on the glory road. This story is told in countless variations.

Usually the subject of the story is the soul. And I put the secondary question I put there is what does it remind you of. Because i'll tell you what it reminds me of. And this won't shock you mormonism.

Why? Because mormonism teaches that yes, you do have an origin but your origin is a Spiritual origin that you existed. Way, you know before the world did God had spirit children and we were there with jesus who was also a spirit child.

We were there with lucifer who was also a spirit child. And and we come to this earth to be tested. Right, so we're spirits. We receive a physical body for testing. Translation the physical body is a hindrance.

It's a negative. Because only in the physical, you know, are we can we properly be tested in and tried? And the ultimate thing of course is our souls. That's what's eternal. And so. That's where we want it.

We want to get back on track. We want to get back on the glory road. That's why. You know mormonism stresses individual perfection making yourself ultimately god. Do we? Right. Okay, but I mean. Yeah, the body goes to heaven.

Be well. Okay, is that right though? Well the glory story though. Suggests again, you know to borrow from mormonism. We started essentially in glory. And we're going back there. Is that true and the answer is no we didn't start in glory.

We started dead in our sins and trespasses. That's where we started right from the moment. We were formed in the womb now getting back to your question. You know when we say when we have things like this world is not my home i'm just passing through.

Is it the glory story? And I I don't think it is because I think it's true right once you've been saved. Once you've been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his of god's dear son the lord jesus christ then.

You know. It's true. This world is not our home. The trials and tribulations that come upon us are real. But they're not ultimate right. Well, well, yeah, and if you think about it, um, it it started making me think of saturday night live and.

You know getting back on track, you know the guy in the van down by the river, you know let's get back on track, you know and The whole deal there because we were good and we'll we will be good and right now we're struggling.

So let's just get back on track. Well, although they they would they would argue that we were holy and. You know, and we're heading towards holiness, too. It's just that that. Well, it is very low. I I don't disagree with that.

But I mean, you know, they have a low view of a lot of things including a low view of god so. Well, I I guess you could make that. I mean, it's a little different than the the ultimate, you know, gnostic Glory story, but it's not you know, it's a variation.

Until you get baptized. Because your glory story starts before you are born. Oh, and and you know one thing talking about that. The consciousness thing, you know, john said and i'm not critiquing john.

I'm just like let's just think about this for a minute. Is there a long time between death and the resurrection? What's that? Well, I but I I think it is important, you know, because I I I mean for example.

When I when I talk to people when i'm um. When when dave copper died? Okay Maureen says, you know, I miss dave. Well, obviously you do. Should we feel sorry for dave? Well, no because he's with christ.

Okay well, i'll tell you another reason why we shouldn't feel sorry for dave because he doesn't miss us and it's not just because He's in the presence of the lord. But he's also to be present with the lord means what?

I do. Well, let me let me put it another way. Do you think there's any specific reason why when we die? We don't instantaneously get resurrected, but it might be kind of creepy I mean, especially if they went to your grave and there were no bones in it, but To be absent from the body is to be present with the lord which means where the lord is time is non-existent.

Dead and christ will rise first. There's something that can happen when christ our physical bodies are going to be raised. But but what does it what does it mean? I mean, do we do we go out of existence?

You know, what? What does the scripture say when it mean? What mean when it says to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord? Your soul is there right and and and and so. And and and so, you know, here's the question.

If we're with the lord and if the lord is outside of time, do we have any kind of Cognitive capacity to understand the passage of time so so here so so here's the point the point is Dave doesn't miss us because he doesn't know we're not there and when we do show up it's going to be like.

Oh yeah, well because because there was no, you know, like in other words. Because in in one respect i'm already in heaven. And i'm already having fellowship. Okay, I mean just contemplate the the the meaninglessness in in some respects of time because we experience it here, but once we're gone then It's over um time shall be no more.

Yes, that is what i'm saying. Did it? Okay, so we'll exist in time. I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know about that. I mean, I think what is eternal life? It's not being like god, but it's being with god and if we're Subject to time.

I think we have a problem um, okay. That's just my opinion. Number seven. What is syncretism? Oh, did I skip six what makes the so-called gnostic gospels attractive to americans today. Exactly, right.

Although the so-called gnostic gospels were written much later than the canonical gospels of the new testament, which is important for you to know by the way um. Generally speaking considered to be in the second and later centuries.

They are often celebrated as the expression of an alternative christianity, which is false. That was more tolerant and open to paganism than the official church that tried to silence them which again is false.

They were just cults. In some of the gnostic texts there is a celebration of the goddess who is androgynous and engages in lesbian practices. Translation perfect for today. Number seven. What is syncretism?

Why are younger christians vulnerable to it? Yeah, the buffet of faiths well said you know a diverse faith culture we could say. Uh, he says as we participate in an increasingly diverse culture younger christians are especially vulnerable To syncretism that is blending christian and non-christian belief practices.

If they have been less immersed in the scriptures than in the culture's religious pluralism. So basically why are younger christians vulnerable to it. Because we don't teach them. And the world does teach them.

Gnostic Gospels, Syncretism, and the American Buffet of Faiths

Number eight in what ways is american religion like ancient gnosticism. He says in american religion as in ancient gnosticism. There is almost no sense of god's difference from us. I I think this is what?

This sounds a lot like American evangelicalism. In other words his majesty sovereignty self-existence. And holiness god is my buddy. My inmost experience or the power source for my living my best life now God is not strange which is to say holy.

And he's certainly not a judge. He does not evoke fear awe or a sense of terrifying and Disorienting beauty. In other words, you know, like isaiah's vision would mean nothing um. The whole ten commandments movie must be really bizarre to them.

Behold his mighty hand. No. Yeah, he's just. Yeah, what if god was one of us? Okay, number nine. What is the problem with a god who never really judges? He never forgives is correct. Yeah. Gnosticism exchanges the strange and often troubling god of israel for an idol that never really judges and therefore never really forgives.

If you're never really guilty then he doesn't really have to forgive you. Yeah, I mean these kind of themes just sort of run through this whole chapter here. Number 10 on what bait on What basis do americans judge religion?

But i've also heard From multiple sources that it's a good religion if it makes people. Okay. It's a good religion if it makes people moral of course. What is moral? True to oneself. Yep. I like that.

Um. And and I think that's the key, you know experience. How it makes me feel. Here's what horton says. He says this characteristically american approach to religion In which the direct relationship of the soul to god?

Generates an almost romantic encounter with the sacred. I mean when I read that I just thought jesus calling. Right. Why is jesus calling so? Popular. Why why have we sold so many copies of it here at bbc?

Okay. Are jesus calling calendar? Okay. Yeah. There is a calendar. I mean, yeah, there's all kinds of stuff. I mean they she she did everything but jesus calling the board game, which Can't really rule it out.

I mean, maybe she did. No, I would not. This characteristically american approach to religion in which the direct relationship of the soul to god Generates an almost romantic encounter with the sacred makes inner experience the measure of spiritual genuineness.

Instead of and talking about pastors. Instead of being concerned that our spiritual leaders faithfully interpret scripture and are sent by christ through the official ordination of his church. We are more concerned that they exude vulnerability.

Authenticity and the familiar spontaneity that tells us that they have a personal relationship with jesus. He says when push comes to shove many christians today justify their beliefs and practices on the basis of their own experience regardless of what the church teaches.

Or perhaps even what is taught in scripture again. The one assailable authority in the american religion is the self's inner experience. I you can't deny me what i've experienced what I felt. And again, I think that's it's perfectly reflected in mormonism.

It doesn't matter what you you know, what scriptures you bring to bear. When you're talking to them because they've had a burning of the bosom. They've had an experience that they can't deny they know something is true because They feel it.

That's why I think mormonism is probably the quintessential american religion. Number 11, how does bloom describe revivalism in america? I I did enjoy this one a lot actually. Revivalism in america tends to be the perpetual shock of the individual in other words wow mind-blowing.

And what blows their mind? God loves them. Yes what she and he and he have always known which is god loves her and him on an absolute absolutely personal And indeed intimate basis. I mean, it's it's just this whole me me me centrism.

Each of us is subject and object of the one quest which much Was which must be for the original self a spark or breath In us that we are convinced goes back before the creation. We are eternal. I mean, this is shirley maclean.

This is the whole you know I don't know limb thing. We are divine. We have that spark of divinity in us. We have eternally existed. The focus of faith and practice is not so much christ's objective Person and work for us.

Outside of us. It is a personal relationship that is defined chiefly in terms of inner experience. In other words, it's Subjective not objective. I wonder why they would show that I think. Well, I mean every I I mean that's good that you say that because you know here here's what's true about every false religion.

Is that there's a sliver of truth in it, right? I mean, it'd be like this. I I listened to this ad the other day. I've heard it a few times. Where the guy he's a car salesman. And you know a woman shows up on the lot.

How many of you guys have heard this? She shows up in a lot and she wants what she saw advertised and he goes. Oh. You know, we don't have that here. That's just kind of what we use to get you here. And he goes i'm going to send you i'm going to sell you something far more expensive and you know.

Something that you don't want and and and. You know and i'm like, okay now we're getting down to it, right? So here's my point. You know, would you expect satan to just show up and say hey, by the way I'm about to give you a false religious You know system and it's going to send you straight to hell.

You know where you're going to be tortured forever by the god who really exists. So, you know be prepared for that. Absolutely not. Instead it's going to be you know How good you are how much god loves you and about how you know, everything is going to be glorious for you, of course so, I mean that's Yes.

Yes. Broadway of destruction, right? Yeah truth. Truth in advertising doesn't exist when it comes to religion, right number 12. What do americans jettison? In their search for religious experience. I mean we could come up with quite a list I think.

Yeah common sense, you know. What's that. Well, yeah um Horton says what was missing in all this is. In all this quite private luminosity in other words this inner inner light sort of experience. Was simply most of historic christianity.

I hasten to add that i'm not celebrating. Oh, this is somebody else saying this. Um, who was it? There's no Bloom still okay. I hasten to add that I am celebrating. So he doesn't like christianity i'm celebrating not deploring when I Make that observation.