Thursday, January 12, 2012

where is grace.......

I hate religion.  I really can't think of anything I hate more than it, and let me tell you why.  It is my belief that Jesus did not mean for His followers to develop into what we see today.  I am not saying that going to church, or the corporate body of believers is wrong, because clearly the Bible is clear about being together in faith.  I am talking about all the things that were added to the faith.  I imagine they came along because of someone else's struggle with those things.  One example there of, is the subject of alcohol.  No where in the Bible does it say that alcohol is forbidden.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Jesus in His first miracle turned water into wine.  Now, many say that the "wine" was just grape juice, and while there is no Biblical evidence that this is the case, I will say that I completely agree.  The wine that Jesus turned from water was grape juice, it had be put in a huge vat and allowed to ferment, and then it be came wine.  It is taught in many churches that alcohol is just a terrible thing and should be avoided at all costs.  Well, I think that teaching comes right out of the speakers flesh  due to past hurts and traumas.  I imagine the speaker to have struggled with alcohol and is trying to protect his people from going down the same path.  The problem with such things is, that it creates a lie.  Alcohol has never hurt a single soul.  Yes the effects of too much are bad, but the Bible does point out to not get intoxicated.  And yes there are alcoholics, but in my opinion its not the drink that's the problem, it's the past hurts.  When we don't deal with our emotions and problems we find  a way to medicate them.  My pastor spoke about this, this past weekend, and I couldn't help but think about it all week.

To understand "religion" you have to understand what I am talking about.  Religion is man-made, it's not biblical, or sound doctrine.  It's adding to, or interpreting the scriptures through your flesh and setting up what I like to call road blocks.  It happens like this, there are a lot of teens having premarital sex.  So, then you make everyone dress overly modest, and keep boys and girls separate.  Making girls chant, modest is hottest.  Girls have to wear dresses that are 4.5 inches past the knee.  They are not allowed to swim together.  And so on, and on.  That's effectively setting up a road block.  You are addressing the fruit of the issue and not the root of the issue.  How about approaching that by empowering them with messages that build character, accountability, and trust.  How about setting up a mentoring program that focuses on self worth.  How about teaching them the realities of what decisions made too early can do to you.  Anyways, you get my point.

Also, we use religion as our exclusionary clause.  If you don't look or act like me then you're just not part of the clique.  This "righteous" arrogance is the worst.  We have all been saved with the same amount of grace.  And that's the worst part about religion... it keeps grace from being part of the equation.  Grace is a free gift.  It's not something that should be discussed and decided upon... it should just be given.

Anyways, I saw these videos and I think they touch on the topic very well.  I am that water bottle.... we all are.