Religion is not Jesus

[Dreamer]

Religious people assume the worst. They look down their nose at you when they think you are doing wrong, which is most of the time. Often they don't look at you at all, because you are so despicable. You don't meet up to religion's requirements. And you never will.

Religious people judge like no other. They are cold-hearted & judgmental because they don't feel God's love deep down inside and they don't want anyone else to either.

You can't measure up, grow up, or accomodate yourself to religion's style. Their style is "in", in religion's book, and their book of misuse, is the bible. When they read it, they see all that others are doing wrong and they make what they are doing as right by stretching the Truth into religion.

Religion is not Jesus. Religion is man's attempt to be good enough, and Holy, on religions's own good behavior, wise sayings, and beating people over the head with only certain bible verses that suit their needs to admonish others.

Religion can scald in less than one second, with a cold glare, a whispered response to a pew neighbor, and especially a remark like, "Oh, I've been through that before and now I never ever struggle with that or anything else any longer." (In other words, "I've arrived.")

Religion stretches the truth into the shape of the user's body, like a slim-fitting sweater. Whatever fits their life, they digest from the word and tell themselves how good they look in that sweater. Sometimes religious people like to gather together and tell each other how good they all look in their sweaters. They mistake their action for edification & encouragement, when in fact they are flattering and bragging.

You might get a nod of approval one day from a religious person, but don't count on it, and don't mark it down as you meeting God's approval, but only meeting that person's short, temporary approval.

Religious people are somber. They hate it when you get excited during worship. They can't imagine themselves doing that, because getting excited about religion just makes a person more religious. Getting excited about Jesus makes a person undone. Love has no merit or favor or reason, and there's no figuring it out! That's exciting. Jesus died so that we might live. That's exciting. We can walk in RELATIONSHIP with the Lord! That's magnificent and heart-shattering! It's worth throwing your arms up and looking up into the heavens & shouting unto God in praise of Him!

If religion had a personal savior and had died for me, maybe I would worship him. But since religion never did die for me or do one other thing for me except torment me, I will not even look its way.

I only ask my God to send the religious to their own "special" church and leave our real churches (of Hope) alone. But Jesus said He would not take out all the weeds for the sake of the whole body.

Life your life, but do it as unto the Lord. You will not answer to the pharisees in that day you go to your Maker. You will answer to God Himself. The religious will have to do the same.

Let His heart be your heart. Let His love permeate you and cause you to be his hands and feet. Don't just talk about helping the poor. Really help the poor and then don't brag about it. Really love people, especially when something bad happens to them. It is permissible to ask someone "Are you okay?" even if the church service is about to start. Religion cares only about the church service and not about the people attending it.

Love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul...and you will not be perfect, but you will be in His perfect care and wonderful RELATIONSHIP with Him. You will walk right OVER religion and mash it as dust under your feet. That's where religion belongs. Under your feet. Religion is the devil's making and the devil's workshop for his undoing of the Body of Christ.

It is the only spirit that is freely allowed to roam the aisles of the church.

Let's get real and get religion out of there so that more love and compassion can be in all our churches. Religion hurts, scolds, manipulates, assumes, and rejects the outcasts. Love holds all others in high esteem, accepts, and says, "Come on in."

 

[Dreamer]

Religion counts how many times you are in the house of God each week. Christ says, "Count the cost and then follow Me." So do not forsake the gathering of the fellowship, but also do not be Ocd about it to the point of being religious. Do not think that you are a better Christian than those who are not at church every time the door is open. You don't really know what they are up to. It might be good or thoroughly necessary. Keep your mind on your own walk with Christ and off of others walk, unless you are positive that the Holy Spirit has directed you to say something to a person. Unlike Jesus, we cannot perceive peoples thoughts, intents, and whereabouts. And yet even Jesus did not speak out everything that He did see. He was careful with His words, measuring them with love, truth, wisdom, and knowledge. Who are we to try and control someone else and manipulate guilt into people. Do not judge lest you be judged. It's happening all the time in churches and God does not like it.

Judgment starts in the house of God, his Word says. So each one judge yourselves between you and your Lord what is good and let Him be the judge of you and of others. " He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Luke 18:9-14 - Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week: I give tithes of all that I possess." And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, Be merciful to me, a sinner!"

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."