Religion is in itself, a bunch of hooey. One person believes their pet philosophy and practices it in a certain way. They are all out there, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Rastafarians and a half a million more. They all claim to follow someone,or something, while they incorporate the teachings, practices, sayings, or theologies into their daily lives; or not. It seems that no one can prove anything, therefore; there is this debate that never ends. No wonder most people find at least one aspect of religion boring.
There is a new religion that is is taking hold in Austria. It is the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster whose members are call Pastafarians. HERE is more on the founder sporting a colander in head in a driver's license photo shown above. If your God can't do anything, might as well join them and get your spaghetti colander while you are at it.
When I was in college I took a class in Comparative Religion, it was awful! It simply made religion seem like choosing one off the shelf at the Dollar Store. Most people (globally) think that the Christian church is shear foolishness. And that is what religion is for me, foolish. I know, I write these words and I am just another one that has chosen to follow my own way of thinking... hmmm....
If we claim to know God, there should be a difference in our religion. Don't you think?
Let me make this really clear. If we have faith in a living God, then we need to show a marked difference between "them" with the dead or nonexistent god, and "us." Here is how I see it.
-1 Healing: I am inspired by the testimonies that came from the Expecting Miracles event at one of the churches I attend. They made testimony videos of people that came with physical ailments and were healed in the name of Jesus! The is part of the inheritance we have in Christ. It is not magic, it comes through faith and prayer.
-2 Miracles: Elijah called down fire on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18) and it was AWESOME! Since man first acknowledged God, he has been preforming miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he still does. I have witnessed quite a few in my lifetime: Anonymous checks in the mail that met a certain need to the penny, multiplying invitations to a church meeting in Norway, and a number of others which I have written about on Fire & Grace.
-3 Revelation: The sheep know His voice! If you are one of God's sheep, then you should be hearing his voice! Wake up, God wants to speak to you if you'll take the time to learn how to listen with your spirit. (I know you've probably had a hundred sermons on hearing God's voice) It may come in prayer, or though a prophetic word, or an illuminated Bible verse, but you need to hear God. Sure, sermons are great, but if that is all you are getting, it might be time to do something different.
-4 Authority over the Demonic: In America we pretty much don't believe in the Devil or demon possession, but that doesn't make it nonexistent. Once we engage the spiritual realms and leave the realm of intellect and debate, we will engage evil spirits. Jesus said we had authority over them. Did you know that?
-5 Reckless Abandon: Are you serious about your Christianity? Are you willing to bet your life on it? We think the terrorists are extreme because they are willing to die for their cause. Well, guess what, you and I are in an army that requires that same sort of commitment. We are not suicidal, but we value the path of Jesus more than our own lives.
-5 1/2 Sacrificial Love... love is not feeding the poor, caring for the sick, or preaching a sermon. It is doing what we see the Father doing!
Comments
While the concept of religion may be largely abstract...God most certainly is not, and even secular history records the once physical presence of Jesus in the flesh.
There will most certainly come a day when the colander on the head bit isn't quite so funny...