We’ve all been there, wanting to fit in and willing to do anything to do so.
Religion is no different. It is about keeping the rules, following the leaders’ (so-called) wisdom, and keeping your (honest) thoughts to yourself.
Religion is a devil-inspired trap to lure unsuspecting people into bondage under the guise of being an obedient follower. Let me explain.
It is built into humanity’s DNA to have a relationship with the creator. From the beginning of recorded time, God (or a god) has been at the center of human existence. In the biblical account of the Garden of Eden, God does not force the man (the male part of humanity) to meet with him. It is a mutual relationship, both enjoying each other’s company. That desire has not (and will not) changed because it is encoded into humanity’s genome.
“Across cultures, religions, and time, people have constantly been searching, seeking, and longing for something more. This desire compels us to seek its source – often through religion, prayer, nature, art, yoga meditation, and sometimes through drugs, alcohol, food, shopping, or exercise. But this type of desire cannot be satisfied in the way that we satisfy the desire for a piece of chocolate or a cup of coffee. It does not go away. It is deepened rather than satisfied.” The Quest for God: Rethinking Desire University of Roehampton Sept. 19/July ‘21
Humanities adversary, the devil, uses this encoding to his advantage.
It is no secret that the devil uses humanity (in an attempt) to get back at God for kicking him out of heaven. The Old Testament story of Job is devoted to such an attempt. Knowing that humanity is wired in such a way, he creates a system of rules, regulations, and restrictions, painting a cross over it (some crosses have the crucified Christ on them) and calling it religion.
When you think about it from a marketing standpoint, it is genius. Not knowing any different, lost (but searching), humanity identifies the cross with Christ and gravitates in that direction. The subtle work of the devil laces his plan with just enough Christian flavor to not raise suspicion while weaving strict obedience to rule-following into the program.
One of three things happens.
1—During a time of crisis, the adherent reaches out to the form of God known, only to be disappointed. Feeling rejected and betrayed, they walk away—score one for the devil.
2—In a genuine effort to get close to God, the adherent is overwhelmed with the rules, regulations, and restrictions and walks away—score another one for the devil.
3—The adherent realizes the power of controlling people, sees the potential gain of adhering to the system, and goes all in—score a huge one for the devil.
Jesus has harsh words for those who do such a thing.
“What sorrow awaits you, teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell[fn] you yourselves are!” Matthew 12:23 NLT
A close personal relationship
A close personal relationship with the godhead is not about rule-keeping, regulation-following, or restriction-denying way of life.
To be sure, there are disciplines in place and sacrifices to make, but a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is not some willy-nilly spiritual free-for-all.
The Apostle Paul addresses the Galatian Christ-followers this way.
“Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” Apostle Paul to the Galatian Christ-followers.
1—A living relationship (what I call a close personal relationship) does not come by rule-keeping.
2—Having a rule-keeping peer-pleasing religion repudiates God’s grace.
3—One of them must be abandoned
A powerful word with a somber call to action.
Join me in the journey; it will be life-altering.