A reader recently posted a reply to one of my articles, and it got me to thinking. We are taught from an early age in the christian religion that God is up there in heaven somewhere, looking down on us who live here on earth.
I can remember hearing so many times the pastor saying during a special service, God is going to show up and the spirit will fall, and we will have a special time of fellowship together.
So why is it we are told that God is up there and we are down here and he may show up now and then when the conditions are right? It just didn’t make sense.
After some time of thinking about this, it just didn’t feel right to think that God is going to show up only at certain buildings where people meet at set times, with set programs. God sent his Spirit to live within us all the time.
Jesus prayed in John 17 that we are to be one as he and the father are one. The Spirit lives within us, which to me says God lives within us. We are merged together with Him. We are one with God as Jesus is one with God.
When two people marry, God says they become one. So it is with God and us. When we put our faith in him and accept his free gift of grace, we become one. We are no longer separate individuals, we are one with God. We aren’t God, but we are merged together as one. We are the temple, or house of God.
I wanted a better way of saying what I felt, so I started saying I was a Christ follower. But as it was pointed out to me, this still suggested a separation between God and us.
We have to get the religious thinking out of us and begin living the truth, that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is within us. There is no separation, no waiting on God to come down. We don’t have to follow and keep up with Christ. He is within us.
We don’t have to wait until Sunday to go to a building for God to show up, that isn’t his house. We are the body of Christ, each of us are equally important parts. We are his dwelling place, each and every day.
Done with Religion 
Thank you John for the comment. I appreciate you reading my article. It is sad that it is common for us to be taught that God is up there somewhere, apart from us. I enjoyed the song also. I see where it goes along with the article. Thanks for posting and for linking the song.
LikeLike
I meant to add a link to a song from Josh White, thought you might enjoy it. The whole album is good, this song just relates to this post is a small way. Tell me what you think.
LikeLike
It is not funny, but this is probably the best kept secret in Christianity today. There are many no doubt, but this one tops the list. The enemy and our own sinful nature and our willingness to let someone else be our “leader” (instead of Christ alone) have been able to ( at least for now ) to place the proverbial “scale over the eyes” of so many. Thanks for highlighting this, continue please. Christ in us, the hope of glory. John Morris.
LikeLike
I have been reading 1 John in the Message (the intro to the John’s is outstanding. Thanks, Eugene Peterson!) Throughout the entirety of the chapters there were snippets of lines that struck me more powerfully than others. So I made up a card using them and hung it on my cupboard:
“Christ is embedded deep within me. He teaches me truth about myself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. I am bold and free before God. I live deeply and surely in him as he lives in me. I am God-begotten and God-protected.”
I have repeated it to myself often these last few days. A powerful truth of how close he actually is…….’embedded deep within” us. Wow!
LikeLike