Christianity for ‘Know-Nots’: What You Should Know

By Leslie R. Toliver

Words are powerful. Words hold weight. Words can educate you, or confuse you. They can bring joy or pain; faith or fear. Words unlock the mysteries of life. Did you know that your words have creative power? Did you know that what you dont know about Christianity can hurt you? As a Christian, you owe it to God, and to yourself, to know as much as you can about your relationship with Him. Gods Word directs us to be able to explain why we believe what we believe. Christianity for Know-Nots will help you. This book is designed to help believers and non-believers to understand the meanings of words used in the Holy Bible, and among Christian believers. If this were a course, it would be called Christianity 101. How much do you know about Christianity?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479780372

Leslie R. Toliver

Leslie Toliver is one of the many gifts God has given to the body of Christ. She is a woman of prayer, and a teacher who inspires others to live victoriously through the Word of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Elder Toliver believes that she is called to equip Christians with the knowledge of who they are in Christ Jesus. She enjoys using the talents and gifts God has given her to assist others in developing their spiritual muscles. Elder Leslie ministers side by side with her best friend and husband of twenty-four years, Pastor Larry L. Toliver.

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Copyright © 2013 by Leslie R. Toliver.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 02/22/2013

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Contents

Preface

Chapter One What Is Christianity?

Chapter Two Who Is God?

Chapter Three What Is Redemption?

Chapter Four Who Is Our Redeemer?

Chapter Five What Is The Church?

Chapter Six Does God Do It All?

Chapter Seven More Rites And Requirements

Chapter Eight What Are Gifts?

Chapter Nine What Are Spiritual Gifts?

Chapter Ten Women & Ears

Chapter Eleven Love & Fruit

Chapter Twelve The Supernatural Realm, Prayer, And Warfare

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to:

Lt. Col. (Retired) David A. Taylor, I—The epitome of a father

Isabelle ‘Ms. Is’ A. Taylor—You complete our family

Leola A. Taylor (my Mom)

Larry L. Toliver—My man of God, my love, my friend

Christiana S. M. Toliver—Our gift from God

David A. Taylor, II—Your walk attracted me to Jesus

Deborah A. Walker—My sister and my best friend

Dr. Willie G. Nutt—An excellent teacher of God’s Word

I also dedicate this book to Junko, Robert, Jode,

and the rest of my family.

PREFACE

I HAVE BEEN A Christian for 28 years. Throughout these years, I have heard and read countless words that I would never have used, had it not been for my Christian experience. I must say that reading the Word of God, the Holy Bible, has not only prospered my soul, but it has done the same for my vocabulary.

The English language has always interested me. I am a communicator at heart. I enjoy the sound of well-spoken English. I don’t mean the art of speaking big words that most people don’t use; let alone, understand. I mean using common words correctly, to communicate a thought without leaving much room for misunderstanding. I believe I received this trait from both of my parents. The two of them are college graduates who made a point to raise their three children to speak well, and write well. My mother had a passion for good grammar. She would correct us when she heard us pronouncing words erroneously. The dictionary was no stranger in our home. My parents made us sound out difficult words, and recite what we had written, as we did our homework. They took time to help us understand the lessons in front of us. Mom would often cringe when she heard people massacre the English language out of sheer ignorance. This was not a pleasant sound in her ears. It wasn’t acceptable in our home. Maybe that is why one of my favorite subjects in school was English. Perhaps it is another reason I’m compelled to write this book.

My primary reason for writing this book is that I was led to write it. What does that mean? It means that for no apparent reason, I got this idea to write a book. Have I ever written a book before? No. Had I been thinking about writing this book? No. I just happened to be studying some scriptures for a prayer meeting when I began recalling recent conversations I had with friends. During one of the conversations we were talking about perceptions of Christianity, and how ignorance of the Word of God can hinder and even discourage one from going any further in the faith. During another one of the conversations, someone mentioned the series of books entitled _______ For Dummies. They stated that there should be a manual like that to help folks understand words used in church. At that time, we laughed about it, and moved on to another topic.

I sat there trying to continue my study on the scriptures, but I couldn’t keep my focus. My mind drifted back to those discussions. It continued to drift. The thought came to me about the title, Christianity For Dummies. Notice that I said it came to me. That was not my thought. I was concentrating on the scriptures for my meeting. Then I heard, Don’t call them Dummies; that’s rude. Christians are not dumb. Call them ‘Know-Nots’, because they don’t know. As I was writing the title down on a post-it note, I suddenly got excited about writing this book! I was then reminded of scriptures that contained the phrase "know ye not?" I believe that happened to confirm what I had heard, but I wanted to be sure, so I studied the use of this phrase in God’s Word. I was being led by the Holy Spirit to do something outside of what I had planned to do. Being led by the Holy Spirit is something every Christian should experience on a regular basis. It is one of the many privileges of being a Christian. Allowing God to lead us produces things in our lives that we can’t even imagine! It is an amazing adventure full of fun, and pleasant surprises!

In my study, I found that ‘know ye not?’ is used to ask someone if they understand; if they have a personal knowledge of the truth that is being presented to them. It asks if they have a personal acquaintance with the matter at hand; with emphasis on the ‘personal’ attribute. The ‘know ye not?’ questions are found in the New Testament. These questions are asked only of the followers of Christ. If I were to say the term in today’s vernacular, I would say, ‘don’t you know?’, or ‘didn’t you know?’ with an underlying inference that you should know. Father God wants us to have a personal knowledge of His Word. These truths are available for anyone who seeks them. He expects His children, (those who call themselves Christians) to understand and be acquainted with Him, with His Son, and with His Holy Spirit. I Peter 3:15 (MSG) says,

"Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re

living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy."

All Christians should make an effort to understand why they have made the choice to be a Christian. All Christians should also know what is made available for them to live a Christian life. This is the importance of studying the Word of God.

You might be new to the faith, or you may have been a Christian for over 80 years. Regardless of where you find yourself in life, this book can be of great value to you. Although the title insinuates that this is a book for Christians, non-Christians will find it beneficial for realizing what true Christianity is all about. My goal is to present the meanings of words and phrases that are often used, misused, and even misunderstood in the Christian arena. As we enter into this journey, be prepared to go where you’ve never gone before. Open your mind to the fact that there will be some words that you thought you knew, but didn’t have the full understanding of. They will be shown to have other meanings that you probably never imagined.

Also, be open to repentance. Don’t put the book down yet! Repentance is not a dirty word! It is the first step into your Christian Life. It will open you up to the blessings that have been waiting for you! Repentance is necessary for advancement in the kingdom of God. It is proof that the Holy Spirit is working in you, leading you into all truth. The definition of repentance is: 1. a changing of mind of a purpose someone has formed, or of something they have done 2. the action, or process of repenting, especially for misdeeds or moral shortcomings. You will find your attitude, thoughts and actions constantly changing, as God’s Word transforms your life for the better. Really!

Apostle Paul occasionally used the term, ". . . I would not have you ignorant", when writing to inform the Christian churches of the tenets of the faith. He wanted them to understand what they stood for. He desired for them to receive all of the benefits of living the life they professed! I desire the same for those today, who profess Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. In Hosea 4:6, the prophet Hosea proclaimed that God’s people are destroyed because of ignorance. What you don’t know can hurt you. Take your time reading through this book. You will emerge with a greater knowledge of words, a clearer insight on Christianity, and possibly a relationship of your own, with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Enjoy the book.

CHAPTER ONE

What is Christianity?

MY INITIAL IMPRESSIONS of Christianity were not that great. I was not brought up in church. Every now and then, my family would make a rare Sunday morning visit to either a church on the Air Force base where my dad was stationed, or one near the base. I knew this was a special time, because we put on our nicest clothes. Mom would comb my hair and my sister’s hair with extra effort when we went to church. I even got to take my braids out on occasion, and wear curls! This was big stuff! Unfortunately, this was what I liked the most about going to church. It was downhill from there. My first impressions were that Christianity wasn’t for kids. It was for grown up folks; usually older people who couldn’t do anything exciting and fun. It was easy for them to be good. They were the ones who had already lived their lives, had their fun, and were waiting to leave the planet. Next stop: Heaven! I concluded that church was just too boring and quiet… It was, however, a great place for a nap!

But then, there was ‘Sister Xander’, a.k.a.: Sister Alice Alexander. She was my maternal grandmother. If anyone had a relationship with Jesus, she did! She wasn’t well educated by the world’s standards, but she knew how to spell the name Jesus! I remember my mother reading us cards and letters from Grand Mama, during our younger years. She was always thanking Jesus for us, and telling us to pray. His name was all over those letters. I remember trying to read one when I was a teenager, and I could hardly make out any of the words, except for ‘Jesus loves you’, ‘pray for me’, ‘praying for you’, and ‘love you all’. I now see what she was saying.

Whenever we would visit my parents’ hometown in Florida, we would go to Grand Mama Alice’s church. She was a ‘Holy Roller’. That is a term used for the Pentecostals, or ‘Holiness’ folk. They embrace the Pentecostal experience that was written about in the second chapter of the book of Acts. Their church building was a run-down little shack, with barely standing benches. They didn’t let that stop them from worshipping their God! At Grand Mama’s church, everybody sang loud, and long. They danced, and they spoke in these strange languages. They seemed so excited! I even saw people beating these instruments with their hands, making rhythmic sounds that sounded pretty good! I must admit that all the commotion scared me at first, but it held my attention. After that initial visit, I would always look forward to going to church with Grand Mama!

I never forgot about those visits, although my heart became hardened toward God during my teen years, and my early adult years. Growing up during those years wasn’t as much fun as I hoped. My senior year in high school was full of disappointments. Then came junior college. That was no thrill, either. I felt like I had no direction for years. Looking back, I can see that I was growing more and more disillusioned with life. My brother would often tell me that I ‘lived in Disneyland’. He said that I didn’t see things the way they were—only the way they should be. I thought he was just being pessimistic, but I later realized that he was trying to help me deal with real life. At 19, my best friend died suddenly. Three years later, my mom died. She was the glue that held our family together. She wasn’t perfect, but she was my mom! She used to say, "I’m not your friend, I’m your mother." She was both. I don’t think she understood how much she was needed, and loved. With her death, our home turned into a house of pain. Could things have gotten any worse? Yes. My world was turned upside down, and there was nothing I could do about it.

What infuriated me the most is what ‘the Christians’ said to me when she died. They said the same thing when my girlfriend passed away three years earlier. They told me that my mother and my girlfriend were "flowers in the ‘Garden of Life’, and God plucked them, and took them to be with Him." They also said that, "God loved them more than we did, and He needed them in Heaven." For what?!? Why them??? Didn’t God have enough people in Heaven already? That didn’t make a lick of sense to me then, and it doesn’t make a lick of sense to me now. This further solidified my position against God. This is the loving god they worship? What kind of god was this? I didn’t want to serve a god who would do such cruel things for his own pleasure. The funny thing is that before the tragedies hit, I thought about giving my life to God when I got much older; right before I died. By then I would have done everything I wanted to do. After that, I had no intention of becoming a Christian, and I wanted nothing to do with those ‘Christian hypocrites’ who went to church!

It has been over thirty years since I lost my best friend, and my mom. I still miss them. I always will. I understand that what I was told by well-meaning Christians during some of my darkest hours, were meant to be words of consolation. Instead, those words produced much inner-turmoil and anger. I believe that if these people had really studied the Word of God, they would not have misrepresented their Heavenly Father like that. Hearing the Word of God, and reading the Holy Bible has led me to understand who God is, and how He is. God didn’t pluck my loved ones. John 10:10 (AMP) explained to me in Jesus’ own words who did:

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have and enjoy life,

and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

I also found out who the thief is. We’ll explore the truth about him later on in this book.

More than 25 years later, I have a beautiful relationship with my Heavenly Father. It is called salvation. The definition of salvation is: 1. deliverance from the power and effects of sin 2. liberation from ignorance or illusion 3. preservation from destruction or failure 4. deliverance from danger or difficulty. A. W. Pink gives us a great description of salvation: ". . . saved from the penalty, power, presence, and most importantly, the pleasure of sin". It’s a beautiful thing! I cringe at the thought of where my life would be had I not been told the truth. Because of false information from people who claimed to know Him, I had held God responsible for something He had not done! I wonder how many people are out there warring with God about something similar. What you don’t know can hurt you, and it can hurt others!

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines Christianity as: 1. the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies 2. conformity to the Christian religion and 3. the practice of Christianity. The same dictionary defines a Christian as one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ; a disciple of Christ. This definition points to the fact that in order to be a Christian, one must have heard or read the teachings of Christ, agreed with them, and practiced them. A disciple is one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.

If this is so, why are so many people claiming to be Christians, with no knowledge of what is in the Holy Bible? Why do so many profess to be Christians, and live their lives contrary to the Word of God? They don’t live according to the Word of God because they don’t know the Word of God. They are ‘Know-Nots.’ They lack understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) says:

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

and with all thy getting get understanding."

Wisdom is the ability to apply what you understand. My purpose for writing Christianity for Know-Nots is to equip Christians with a better understanding of God’s Word. Christian, your job is to apply the understanding to your life. I want to help you go from being a Know-Not, to one who knows.

Last year, I purchased a new iPhone. I had to have a briefing from the sales person just to learn how to turn it on! They supplied me with a user’s guide for further training. There was also a number to call for customer assistance. I had seen and held smartphones of family and friends before I made my purchase. I thought I knew enough about the phone to enjoy using it. I was so wrong! I had to take the time to read the manual to find out about my expensive, prized possession. I wanted to be educated to the point of knowing what I needed to do to get maximum use of my phone. Not only did I have to read the manual, I had to test what I had read, to make sure I had gained the necessary understanding. I had to do what I was instructed to do, either by my user guide, or by a customer service representative. I had to follow the instructions as directed, in order for my phone to work. I have used my phone every day since I purchased it. Although I am still amazed at what I don’t know about my phone, I’m very comfortable using it. I even know how to add more applications to the phone. Why is this? Because I have some experience using my phone, but most of all, because I know that there is a place I can go to get help with it!

So it is with Christian life. When you submit your life to Christ, the person introducing you to Him should take time to explain to you about the process of salvation. You must then begin to read the Holy Bible, which contains God’s Word. The Bible is a Christian’s manual for life. Every new believer should be equipped with at least one. Purchase a Bible that is written in the language you speak, so you can begin to understand what you are reading. You may want to begin with a New International Version (NIV) Bible. I strongly recommend the Amplified Bible and Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible for anyone really serious about studying the Word of God.

You may be confused at first. Be patient. You have entered into a new relationship, and all things have become new! Compare this experience to moving into a new home. At first, you are unfamiliar with everything in it. You may even feel clumsy and awkward moving around in your new home. You may forget where things are placed. This is normal. But, as you continue to live in your new home, you become aware of its contents, and where everything is placed. As you spend more time in your home, you come to the point where you are ‘at home’. You start to miss it when you’re not there. That’s the way it will be with the Word of God. Just as Job did in Job 23:12, you will begin to treasure the Word of God even more than your necessary food!

Your mind may try to rationalize everything based on what you know, or on past experiences. Don’t let your mind get in the way! Remember that this is a ‘heart thing’, and not a ‘head thing’. This is the beginning of your faith adventure! Ask questions! Ask questions of those who already have a close relationship with Christ. The answers they give you should be confirmed by the Word. There will be many questions. Personally, the questions helped me to study the Word even more. Because this is new to you, there will be so much that won’t make sense to you. This is normal. Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking!

There are many tools to help you study the Bible. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is a must for the serious Bible student. A concordance will help you find scriptures by looking up the words in the scriptures that you are trying to find. The Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew Language, while the New Testament is translated from the Greek. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is equipped with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries that are number keyed to the words in the concordance. This means that the words in the concordance are numbered in a system that will help you to find the exact definition of each word in either dictionary.

The next kind of tool you should have in your library is a dictionary. Actually, I recommend that you purchase a secular dictionary, such as Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, along with a Bible Dictionary. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words is great. It comes with a topical index to help you look up words quickly.

There are plenty of books and commentaries to help you get an understanding of the Bible. Commentaries are used to explain and interpret the Bible. While these tools contain good information, they also contain the opinions of the writers and editors. I am not against the use of either of these. I read books and commentaries. However, I caution you to make sure that what you are reading lines up with God’s Word. Not one book, or commentary, should be used to take the place of the Holy Scriptures! Revelation 22:19-20 (AMP) explains it much better than I can:

And if anyone cancels or takes away from the statements of the book of this prophecy [these predictions relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions or warnings pertaining to them], God will cancel and take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity and hallowedness), which are described and promised in this book. He Who gives this warning and affirms and testifies to these things says Yes (it is true). [Surely] I am coming quickly (swiftly, speedily). Amen (so let it be)! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!

I realize that some people think that the body of Christ is stuck in ancient times. Times have changed, but the Word of God never changes. While some members may be resistant to change, a lot of us have progressed with the times. Personally, I am grateful for the invention of the Internet, and the use of my smartphone. Both of these tools have been quite beneficial in the writing of this book. I love the fact that I can go online, and find so much information on the various topics that I study in the Word. This saves me so much time. I use my smart phone daily to look up biblical information. It is so convenient to have this information at my fingertips!

I have at least twelve applications on my phone that I use regularly. There is no reason for any one hungering and thirsting for the Word of God to say that they can’t find it. It is available.

You will need to consult your spiritual customer service representative for a better understanding of what you read. The name of this representative is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who will lead you and guide you into all truth, according to John 16:13. The Word of God says in Romans 8:16, that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our human spirits that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside of every new believer, along with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. They are known as the Triune God, because all three of them are God. They are always in agreement. Another name for the Holy Spirit is the Holy Ghost, but there is nothing spooky about Him at all. Although quite powerful, He is very gentle. He is also known as ‘The Comforter". He is a teacher, too! Notice that I refer to him as ‘He’, instead of ‘it’. Never refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘it’! He is part of the Godhead (remember: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is the power bearer of the Godhead. He is a distinct personality. He has feelings. He has a will. A person’s will is used to express determination, desire, choice, consent, willingness,