Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity
    Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity
    Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity
    Ebook159 pages2 hours

    Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity

    By L.L. Martin

    4.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Thou shalt not be negative.

    A vast movement of positive thinking took the twentieth century by storm and engulfed every area of our livesincluding our churches. Put simply, positive thinking became a part of what it means to be an American.

    But should it be part of what it means to be a Christian?

    L.L. Martin exposes the eye-opening history of this movement, documenting its roots in occult, mystical, and Eastern religious ideas. Though Christianity came under its power, the two philosophies stand in stark conflict. As a result, Christ was dethroned and the self was made sovereign, rewiring our minds and weakening our faith.

    This practical book, immersed in Scripture, seeks to reestablish you in a God-centered life.

    • Deepen your spiritual walk by embracing honesty.

    • Discover the neglected paradoxes of Christian living.

    • Learn to live in the grace by which you were saved.

    Positively Powerless will help you detect the false gospel of positivity and reconnect to your true source of power: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    *** Includes questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWestBow Press
    Release dateDec 30, 2015
    ISBN9781512722963
    Positively Powerless: How a Forgotten Movement Undermined Christianity
    Author

    L.L. Martin

    L.L. Martin has an MA in biblical studies and enjoys adult Bible-teaching ministry. The Martin family resides in Greenville, South Carolina, where their heart for hospitality has led them to host numerous international students.

    Related to Positively Powerless

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      How Should We Respond To Celebrities Coming To Christ?

      Dec 30, 2019

      If you’ve been following the news lately, you will have noticed a significant wave of celebrities who are turning to Christ. In what is referred to as a massive spiritual movement, the sinful city of Hollywood is turning more and more stars away from

      5 min read

    • Article

      THE WAR FOR OUR YOUTH Why creation still matters

      Dec 30, 2019

      We’re being told by public education systems, universities, media, some parents, and unfortunately many church leaders, that parts of the Bible are not relevant anymore and that we need to reinvent God’s word. So, with this situation, in order to und

      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Jul 30, 2021

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      7 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Apr 13, 2020

      I would like to congratulate Desiree Mansfield on her wonderful and insightful article in JOY’s Feb/Mar issue, “Are We Cursed Because Of Our Government’s Decision On Israel?” This is an article nearer the truth than most people will realise and sadly

      8 min read

    • Article

      Faith, Not Explanations

      Apr 10, 2020

      Faith, Not Explanations
      1 min read

    • Article

      Faith, Not Explanations

      Apr 10, 2020

      Faith, Not Explanations
      1 min read

    • Article

      7 Quirky ‘Doctrines’ DEBUNKED

      Oct 28, 2022

      Jesus said that the truth sets us free. But the opposite is also true: Lies put us in bondage—even if the lies are spoken from a pulpit by a sincere minister or a Christian celebrity. In my international travels, I’ve sat in countless meetings and he

      3 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The Editor

      Dec 30, 2019

      Letters To The Editor
      6 min read

    • Article

      Fake News, Fake Gospels!

      Dec 31, 2021

      Fake News, Fake Gospels!
      5 min read

    • Article

      Time For The Church To Embark On A Navel-gazing Exercise

      Mar 31, 2024

      FOR any political structure that fails in the absence of moral direction, it would seem natural for it to turn to organised religion for leadership. Unfortunately, the direction of most modern institutional religion is decidedly secular. The institu

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Bible Is Not Open To Personal Interpretation

      Sep 23, 2022

      What a beautiful scripture above – this is a solid motivation to meditate on God’s Word. Yet, believe it or not, there are some Christians who deem this Scripture to be an ‘arrogant’ or ‘self-righteous’ declaration. I am so grateful that I’ve had str

      1 min read

    • Article

      ‘Socially Acceptable’ Sins

      Apr 22, 2022

      In the church today, there are many sins that are seen as ‘socially acceptable’. Are we changing the Bible to fit our culture, or are we changing our culture to fit the Bible? While the sin of worry, for example, may not seem as severe as murder, it

      6 min read

    • Article

      Joy: God’s Gift to Every Born-Again Believer

      Aug 26, 2022

      Our Western society throws many challenges at us, but these are nothing like what the persecuted Church experiences, or even ordinary citizens in closed and communist nations. There are so many brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling with l

      2 min read

    • Article

      Theology: Why Do We Need It?

      Nov 27, 2020

      Theology: Why Do We Need It?
      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Positively Powerless

    4.5/5

    3 ratings1 review

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      A thought provoking book about the New Thought movement that has influenced thinking in the contemporary church. Maybe someone has told you not to be so negative or gloomy or to make sure you speak good words or think good thoughts over someone's life. The truth is that our thoughts and words don't have any kind of mystical power. The teaching is false. This book explains why.

      There are good sections on holiness and sin as well.

      If a person is finding the Christian life primarily one of ease, it should be a warning sign that something is wrong. Are you truly living as a Christian in this world? If you have little or no sin that you struggle with, this suggests some introspection is in order. Has the secular culture desensitized you to the pointwhere you are indifferent to sin? Perhaps, like the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3, you are self-deceived and need Jesus to reveal the truth about yourself. There is always hope.

      The author highlights the growing tendency for our worship and church experience to focus on ourselves and what we can get out of it, instead of on God.

      As evangelicals, we believe that God can be known intimately, so we urge believers towards a ‘personal relationship with Jesus.’ But from what I’ve witnessed, it can become so personal it ends up being about the wrong person— me.

      She documents the focus on self in everything we do; self promotion, self esteem, self-confidence. But as Christian's should this really be our focus? Jesus tells us to 'deny ourselves.' The author also destroys the common argument that we should "Love our neighbour as we love OURSELVES" by explaining what the text really means.

      Keller states that “the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”

      Our identity should be anchored in Christ and not in what we can do for Christ. Self-esteem that is primarily linked to what we can do can also lead us into prideful independence or arrogance about our capabilities.

      I especially liked the chapter about superficiality in fellowship and what is true fellowship. What we describe as fellowship is often just a social event. Fellowship is spiritual sharing and should be about God primarily. Our gatherings are often unauthentic and are not environments where people can disclose sin or receive help from their brothers and sisters.

      The honesty was refreshing. Sometimes she got tired of fake, superficial, or obligatory praise from others

      Our gatherings do not typically reflect an atmosphere of honest confession, prayer, humility, and dependence on God— places where a Christian struggling with sins or doubts can share them and seek support. Instead, the problem hides, grows in secret, and suddenly erupts.

      As Dietrich Bonhoeffer states in Life Together: The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!

      A useful read identifying common problems in churches and Christians alike. Maybe a little pious in places but still challenging. I recommend this book!





    Book preview

    Positively Powerless - L.L. Martin

    pQabook_preview_excerpt.html[rF~9l͖HɲUHAZi+fo@ BlO~#e{I2hx",]ʟ/̄_vކnf09yty|4l?vi^>^^ֵU.ڕKsLe&TfhV!\ʙ1҄>cV;c۝im¬{m|0vЇ?l0-t06-B_ʯ=L }cZ۵&&vfap\\;bUou6 ceaq*{ Z,j!Z 1IX cp+HP3~ μ-ݧ˳7t~ߥ90/>{9nq-[mrK4?G^?Bnv~ 굇{1t"u(ϪD;~vPUVfBia GҮ.[)\;N4?_CgŴbaq7ʃ!/%Y\pލkpKNt|Jk^ %|Fʼncg4V(s}]!̘k?`GKY%_e=m v:~cnX{K0\@.pػx8'i;[|zߚ ߌ n;"vTu~"M$h`Ni;G"/t>t~'{I+ ~s=O=O_5 rmh% x"LL"pi׹r%gՋKfl*+B My⤠wqKIA͋kKI#.=J;op˪wxqYHhLX%]i~o8%Yevۍyə=d\XStd-vHߍK\ܗ?0Yf!TnSz@~ ~gKv$>!ck0klVC5n,wmeg$UvHWHY$r=<9[rEnϺDTNk_0t91)|J8i!ʖ)`Z[IH긟P0NSp4d#lG[T`#Di5GgWUYb7ajy C!.FK~ I CA}xwt Ye$Rƶc}J!}0 װ@MW|i]vDx!ce+ PHڊJ $g%^+pЈO<pҠP_֒V2 t*{%yB6H~-KuEʨ({w!%.&yUz:H@E8utJ.AM-$ӽJ:8?AȳSunhDڣav= @ZEe 2qb3Rr3 5 Ʋӷ)kB!"%`Ɂ gD4ح/]Jev) b uHT6$ZI8DӞJ#IHMI)5eDS+<5P$ P<%92 >' r:x]^crET@ܗA{@ &M|5n%).ȩ3Fصjl .Wl9vܽ }T ~hqO9mɟ5E^gugğ0kL>agdݘj' FŸ4QaX$:yō+QA `*f I܉~\Y A}QVn3ZΉi Htx4B@q|l$EY|8% ~YhX,BP.DJ`֮Z zgi%ET\+:][8jTއ E cˮV -ji +d:Tq10 ?6Z%N>R1NXp!jKϷh3%g=_X!6wAkj@  `)֥I[tfV:wOG_.YD5rC8\QLя B"q#-CD8n]kd% -8g'>e w2@U%R2II !Y>>0!;̗ r%֞ rj^V%|"N12!=S[D^f^ IpJ IF@@G h#G18iA/P`gZxV=G/A0HQ{xIU|;F p-]eyTs ~f6>Pd())CwztnO.zR`%dG AiNZHՇܗ7)c'$jeZ#Ccԑ&!dbL(^cQF&2vuWHYU6^H杠6xf*y\|Ye t"X>&΍Onr;Iu55hWbl_H,SGMTD OͥX*z̕TY7d 9\ʹҝAlxk͸u+Wۥ;&; @8W쪨{U(ԎC6eDFvɟ-6̽6I"JG͒ﺖDs׷ڦVye:.M8Uq ~DK%{ov] }e Hk*LH#6e:= lW-ZNiH՗ AP.xM}tYTS2Y@R 1| %t" JEټbşHTޘxgUwtOo {]w yL[E5~@3:(\ퟗ~vpC)%3H'Cf1xdT$}c|[55manr//l(Pk=KyVI  8ڲ]/͓ݭz<6 u7??xdq qt\A =D}aM͜=Q5rs2:F(t5+Z!b&'qF!!Jg~ٲ׽ihЇv_rH /hGmjUv@L@jUX:M)|6Un?; o!u_LN4S̏a$L]ߌ,YZi1:Ԛ՗C;|͈#<Ae[a=_M4Gqf'h(26|MQο-n~l_12
    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1