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12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (Like Me)

12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (Like Me)

List Price: $12.99
Your Price: $9.74
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A challenging book
Review: The essence of this book boils down to being humble, merciful, thankful, and dependent upon the righteousness of Christ. Once one embraces these principles, one is well on the way to becoming a recovering Pharisee.

My main issue with the contents of this book is its attitude towards living a victorious Christian life. The author SEEMS to teach the common bumper-sticker theology of "The only difference between me and an unbeliever is I am forgiven." He seems to resign his audience to the fact that we must always continue to sin. He states very bluntly on p. 95 "although not sinning is not possible, we choose to perpetuate the false belief that it is, rather than face the truth." Frankly, this just flies in the face of Romans 8, especially Romans 8:12 that says "we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh." We as believers do not have to continue on living in sin. We are not at all obligated to fulfill the desires of the flesh.

We have been given victory through the power of the resurrected Christ to live according to the desires of the Spirit instead of the flesh. Does such a state make us any less in need of the grace and mercy of God? The author seems to think so. Quite the contrary, had we just sinned only once in our entire life, and we all have, then we would still be dependent upon the grace and mercy of God to live our lives should we ever repent and "go and sin no more". We don't have to continue on sinning so that we can continue to receive mercy. A believer who is living in victory over sin is just as dependent upon the grace of God as is the Christian who is struggling with some sins.

Anyway, I'm not attempting to preach a sermon, this is just a book review. Despite what I believe to be the major fault of this book, I believe that there is still much to be gleaned from the pages of this book. The pages of this book has caused me to appreciate even more the mercy of God that has been shown to me, and the willingness to demonstrate this mercy to others.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: There's a little (or a lot of )Pharisee in all of us
Review: The single greatest pleasure of a Pharisee is to judge other people. A Pharisee devises rules that make himself look better than others, while others are unaware of what the rules are, and wouldn't care if they did know. The Pharisee makes righteousness attainable by good works that only a select few are able to accomplish. Pharisees forget that Jesus blew that whole concept out of the water by making observation of the Law totally unattainable, thereby opening the door for all by grace, a concept the Pharisee thinks is unfair.

If you struggle with Pharasaism, which puts you among the great Christian majority, don't miss this book. It's like looking into a mirror (at least it was for me), and it uses a somewhat tongue-in-cheek 12-step model for recovery from this spiritually deadly disease. When we realize that we truly are sinners, both pre- and post-conversion, and that the only way we can make it is by the grace and mercy of God, we will be quicker to show grace and mercy to others, and we will come a lot closer to rid ourselves of the judgementalism that keeps us looking down on those we deem spiritually inferior to ourselves. Another great book, like several I have read lately, that is hard to find at your local Christian bookstore unless you are looking for it. In fact, with the lack of the hype that is enjoyed by such bland offerings as the "Left Behind" series, you might not know this book even exists. Well, if you are reading this review, now you do. So order a copy today!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Twelve Steps for the Rocovering Pharisee is for You if...
Review: This book is for you if... you can't stand christians, or you are a christian, or you have found yourself to be in a legalistic church or a "christian" cult, or you're feeling tired or weary or guilty in your walk with God.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Eye Opener
Review: This book is truly an eye opener to all who want to be delivered from pharisism. John Fischer has given true insight about the grace of God. I am divorced and was really down about my situation and even in going to the church for help I was faced with very judgemental people who saw divorce as an unpardonable sin. God has used this book as a tool for me to know that I am still loved by God regardless to my divorce. We judge others and in that we see a little pharisee in ourselves. To God be the glory for Jesus, whom is able to deliver us from being judges so that we can recieve the grace He so desires to give.


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