A Course In Miracles, Gideon's Bible

One morning after breakfast at the evacuee shelter in Jackson, outside, a half dozen men, all but one, in full business dress, starched shirts, jackets, ties, stood huddled around a two wheel hand cart stacked with seven cases of what turned out to be Gideon's bibles. The cases were all stamped "orange" and I was curious. The men were not outgoing, nor proselytizing. So, I went over to talk with them.

The cases contained miniature books of the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, in orange covers. I was handed one of the orange books, was told that the men were Gideon volunteers, and how many of the books they gave out last year. I didn't have to ask about the color of the books because one man began to explain that. Orange is usually given out at elementary schools, green at colleges, purple another group, camoflage to those in the military. White with gold trim on the edges is given out by "our wives, an auxiliary branch of the organization. The contents of the books is the same only the color of the covers differ. The man could not say why the organization used different colors for the covers.

Inside the book, there is a short preface1 and, in part, it says, "It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed" and "It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure." I suppose many who find their spiritual path feel the same way, but students of ACIM know that their path is not the only path. A Course In Miracles says that, I can highly recommend the Alan Watts podcasts2 to anyone seeking another path to this universal experience. It is the Course in another language. If you decide to listen, I suggest starting with the first one. There are only a handful of them so far and they are about fifteen minutes each. At one point, Alan Watts says that Buddihsm is Hinduism stripped down for the masses. A theologian once said that A Course In Miracles was Hinduism disguied as Christianity. Maybe Jesus was trying to teach us Hinduism. At least the Gideons don't mix Old Testament and New Testament. They only give out the New Testament in their books. Many Christians get the them mixed up and teach the Old Testament as if it was part of Christianity. Even liberal Howard Dean who, in 2004, said his favorite part of the New Testament was the Book of Job, which is in the Old Testament. My favorite part of the New Testament to quote in response to this kind of mix up is in Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews. All in all, it's quite repetitive, but lines from chapters nine and ten seem to sum it up:

9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I will post the entire epistle in another section of this web site and link to it here. From this, we see that sacrifices, which were the rule of the Old Testament, were acknowledged as being ineffective. This is the end of guilt, and the beginning of the New Testament.

1. 1. The complete preface in the Gideon bible: The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
2. 2. Other Voices, a list of our recommended podcasts including the Alan Watts podcast