As Easter approaches, a popular morning TV program has been doing a series on the topic, ‘Can you be Spiritual without being Religious?’.
Now I don’t agree with every opinion given, but that the topic is being discussed is a good thing, bringing to light that there is a difference between being spiritual and being religious.
Obviously these days when you use the word spiritual, you can get into all kinds of strange thoughts and ideas. When I say spiritual, I am talking about a daily life following Christ and allowing His love to flow through us.
My wife and I are no longer religious, but we are more aware of the spiritual, day-to-day life with God.
We realize that God is not a being up in heaven, coming down to visit us only when the conditions are right, or we are in a certain building, or we have been extremely ‘good’ over the past week.
No, God is spirit, and He is with us constantly. More than that, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and God dwells within us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.
I am not sure why it is we have always thought of God as a being who is way up there somewhere. The bible makes clear that we are one with God, and that God dwells within us.
We seem to think that the Kingdom of God is a place we go one of these days when this life on earth is over. I think this also is a big misconception. God says His Kingdom is within us. That means right now, not some future date.
If we could only get these truths in our head and in our spirit, I think we could live a life that would really make a difference. People would see such a change, a life of love, caring, power and compassion. Unfortunately, we have been taught by religion that this just isn’t the case. We rely on trying to work hard, follow the rules and just survive until we get to heaven. So we go on, living life without the power of the Kingdom of God, arguing amongst ourselves over doctrine and belief, and letting people see we really don’t have anything to offer them that is meaningful and different.
It is time we come to understand that God and His Kingdom are within us. He is not up there in heaven waiting on some future day when we go to join Him. God lives in us and is with us constantly.
Jesus was the perfect example of God living in man. We can be Jesus to the world today. We can show love, compassion, and acceptance to the world around us each day. We are not God, but we are one with God. The Spirit is within us and he will teach us and guide us daily. Listen for the voice of the Spirit in every situation. Realize God is within you and allow His love to touch those around you every day.
Thank you Mike. So true, and this is where I have been personally for a few years now, coming out of hardbound religion (which is the devils very well contrived counterfeit by the way) into a genuine spiritual life, lived moment by moment (what I believe Jesus meant when He called us to come to him). Now one thing I have found, and many will disagree with this, is that we must start to see the bible as a spiritual book, not as a text book for moral living or pleasing a law-obsessed God. I have and am making may missteps in my walk now, to be honest, as I learn to step into this new spiritual reality as a child learning to live for the first time.
Also I am finding that religious people do not generally know where you are coming from, and you make them uncomfortable. Whereas as you may have real, matter of fact testimonies of things you are entering into, they have mere bible verses, echoes of teachers they follow, script and rote. Ultimately I find they will leave you, as they left the Lord. They are threatened, their little religious house of cards is exposed. If all God wanted was a race of well behaved, good little moral sheep (what religious endeavors to achieve) He could have very easily created that by divine fiat. What He wants however are real spiritual sons who are one with Him in ways we can only begin to appreciate.
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What you said Wayne is so true. I, along with you, am learning many things that the religious system taught are wrong. Looking to the Spirit for truth rather than to man is bringing so much truth and different ways of seeing things. Thanks for your comment.
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A lot of truth in this!
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Thanks Chuck. I appreciate your comment.
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