Done with Religion

Have you noticed how so many times we Christians will say something that is offensive, or we are just plain argumentative. Sometimes it is done in ignorance or due to our many personalities and the way we relate to others.

Obviously we aren’t a perfect people, although God sees us as perfect because of His Grace.

Unfortunately, we still have a mind that needs to be renewed day by day, and a body that needs to be brought under control of the Spirit day by day.

I know we will not all agree on all points, we all have different interpretations, thoughts and ideas on Biblical things. God has made us all with different personalities, different upbringings and backgrounds and He speaks to us individually as He sees fit.

The thing I try to remember and would like us all to remember, we are all God’s children, all of us who have accepted the Grace Jesus provided by His death and resurrection. We all won’t see eye to eye, we all won’t have the same experiences and we all grow in Grace at a different pace and in God’s timing.

Whether we are attending an institutional church or if we don’t attend church at all, if we read the KJV, NIV, NASB or any other version of the Bible, it is the same Spirit that dwells within us and we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to love one another, care for one another and support each other as God leads us. We should try to keep our personal thoughts and interpretations to ourselves and let the love of God flow out of us to help and encourage others.

That isn’t to say we need to accept everyone’s views. We need to follow what we feel the Spirit is saying to us individually, but we don’t have to try to make everyone else accept how God is working in us either.

We need to pray daily for God to work in each of us, lead us into His truth, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and give us strength over temptation. I used to ask for God to help me over this fault or that weakness until I realized my help was just getting in the way. God doesn’t need my help because my help is insufficient. I now pray for God to give me His strength in overcoming my weaknesses, and ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit each morning.

Ask for His strength in loving and accepting others, and how to show love to our brothers and sisters we come in contact with each day.

We don’t have to agree on everything. We do need to love others as Christ loves us. Start out tomorrow morning praying for a fresh touch from God with His power and His love. Let us allow God to work in us, change us and give us power to live Christ-like each day.