Religion vs Relationship
Are you tired of the need to put on a plastic Christianese face to be acceptible to other church folks? Do you truly believe that they are super spiritual and have no faults of their own? I've been there and done that. I choose to participate in real relationship with both the Lord Jesus and my brothers and sisters. The body of Christ should be a safe place where you can share both your stuggles and your victorys without judgment and condemnation. The word says that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Why do we try to dig some up both for ourselves and for others. Jesus was all about loving a person right where they were. He was decidely real with everyone He met and had relationship with. How come we, as His followers, find it so difficult to be real with each other. I already know the answer -- because we have been burned, because we have been lied to, because we have been manipulated and controlled by a generation who learned from a generation who learned from yet another generation that this is how we keep order within the church. But the question I ask is "Who's order?" If it is man's doctinal order then it is sin. Ever since the fall of Adam man has been trying to control man. Do you wonder what is wrong with the world? It is our stealing energy from each other through manipulation and control of others instead of plugging into the infinite energy source that is available by submitting to the only one worthy to be in the lead, God. Why must we follow the world's lead instead of them following ours? How many have heard it said that you must be totally obedient to a man in authority to gain authority? This is true in one aspect but the questions I must ask is "Who gave him that authority and what has he done with this authority?" "Is he an energy thief?" Just because somebody is called a pastor doesn't make him one. You can tell by the condition of the sheep. Just because a person is called a prophet doesn't mean he is one. Check the Spirit. Just because a person is called an apostle doesn't necessarily make him one. Does he bring unity and order? Just because a man is called a teacher doesn't make him one either. Check the the written word and check the living word. Just because a man is called an evangelist doesn't make it so either. Does he love those God loves or is he simply after money and numbers? The Spirit of God is in you -- use it! Don't just sit in the pew and die! There is only one source of truth and He IS truth. Don't let your Mama's religion be good enough for you! Go to the source of life and live in His freedom!
If I dance in church does that make you uncomfortable? If I fall on my face in worship does it make you uncomfortable? If I shout with all my might to the living God does it make you uncomfortable? If so, does this mean you must control me because that is necessary to bring order to your religious structure? If you are looking at me you can't be looking at heaven and I feel nothing but pity for you. If I am worshipping there is only one I want to see and that is not anyone but Jesus Christ. I wish that you had the freedom to experience the Kingdom the way I do when I worship God without reservation. To be a true worshipper you must count the cost. It is real easy. Do I want to please God or man? I once thought I could do both but I know better now. I have found people with the same heart and it is a safe place to love on Jesus but if it were to change tomorrow I would not bind myself up again. For it is for freedom that Christ set us free. We call ourself a free country but have we not for the most part bound ourselves up in one way or another. We call ourselves free in Christ but have we also for the most part bound ourselves up with religion, political correctness, dignity, and man made order?
I yearn to see the church loosed from its bondages -- the bondages placed there by itself, and return simply and humbly to intimacy with our Savior, our Lord, our King, our Friend, our Lover, our Betrothed, and our God. I can't wait until we come to the unity of the faith simply to lavish our love on Jesus in whole-hearted fully surrendered worship.
Worship changes things. Worship changes hearts. Worship changes minds. Worship changes the environment. Worship has the ability to change the world if we let it. Worship must be without reservation and with complete abandonment. The focus MUST come off of man and on to the only one worthy of all worship. No other worship is true. No other worship effects change of any kind. No other worship is worship at all and is utterly pointless and worthless.
True worship is the reason we were created and to true worship we must return.
If I dance in church does that make you uncomfortable? If I fall on my face in worship does it make you uncomfortable? If I shout with all my might to the living God does it make you uncomfortable? If so, does this mean you must control me because that is necessary to bring order to your religious structure? If you are looking at me you can't be looking at heaven and I feel nothing but pity for you. If I am worshipping there is only one I want to see and that is not anyone but Jesus Christ. I wish that you had the freedom to experience the Kingdom the way I do when I worship God without reservation. To be a true worshipper you must count the cost. It is real easy. Do I want to please God or man? I once thought I could do both but I know better now. I have found people with the same heart and it is a safe place to love on Jesus but if it were to change tomorrow I would not bind myself up again. For it is for freedom that Christ set us free. We call ourself a free country but have we not for the most part bound ourselves up in one way or another. We call ourselves free in Christ but have we also for the most part bound ourselves up with religion, political correctness, dignity, and man made order?
I yearn to see the church loosed from its bondages -- the bondages placed there by itself, and return simply and humbly to intimacy with our Savior, our Lord, our King, our Friend, our Lover, our Betrothed, and our God. I can't wait until we come to the unity of the faith simply to lavish our love on Jesus in whole-hearted fully surrendered worship.
Worship changes things. Worship changes hearts. Worship changes minds. Worship changes the environment. Worship has the ability to change the world if we let it. Worship must be without reservation and with complete abandonment. The focus MUST come off of man and on to the only one worthy of all worship. No other worship is true. No other worship effects change of any kind. No other worship is worship at all and is utterly pointless and worthless.
True worship is the reason we were created and to true worship we must return.
ADD A COMMENT
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Comment by Debbie Hasty on March 18, 2009 at 1:02pm -
In our bible study group we have heard from God that we need to be repairers of Gods word because of religion. Latin root word for religion is bondage, following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true church. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross because this Bible is not socially acceptable to society, if it were then Christ would have died in vain. God is not about mans religion, nor does he recognize religion. God is about a personal relationship with you and His son Jesus Christ. John 1:1-5; Romans 10:9, 10; John 3:3.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
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Comment by Cloudy on March 18, 2009 at 8:14am -
Doesn't matter what man thinks and says, where it really matters and counts is the Lords! Amen ;0)
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Comment by ♪ ♫ ♬ ♡ Hope ♡ ♬ ♫ ♪ on March 17, 2009 at 9:29pm -
I LOVE THIS!!!!
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Comment by ♪ ♫ ♬ ♡ Hope ♡ ♬ ♫ ♪ on March 17, 2009 at 9:20pm
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Thanks. I have learned I need to rely closely upon Him and Him alone as the fiery darts of the enemy even come at us from within the church walls.
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