Religion's Irony.
The underlying irony of religion is
that spiritual things are rooted in self and feeds the sin of pride.
People can invest all their time in religious performance activities
and be convinced they are godly. This spiritual deception is at work
right from the pew-warmer to the superintendent charmer. Establishing
titles to identify and set people in a spiritual elite class
distinction is catering to the self importance of self. Religious
activities such as being a special singer, being on the worship team,
being the leader of some man-invented ministry, being the pastor,
being a part of the hierarchy structure, if not submitted to God is
breeding ground for SELF to feel important and to want the spot
light. The snare of religion is that people get caught in the control
of a Jezebel spirit where self is operating under the guise of
spirituality.
We would do well to heed the words of
Jesus... “What good is it for man to gain the whole world, and yet
lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25). The acquisition of
titles, prestige or power in the religious world based on
self-efforts through talents, education or our abilities hinder the
work of God in the Community of Humanity. With regards to following
Jesus He prefaced the question with a clarion call, “If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily
and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Being full of yourself and selfish
desires is not the blueprint to follow Jesus. Self and Jesus does not
mix. Self doesn't want to follow Jesus to crucifixion.
Deliverance from self is freedom from
the tyranny of religion and its self-edifying dominance over God's
people. When we satisfy on our wants and desires by feeding on the
mishmash of religious hogwash we eventually dull our spiritual senses
and accept religion's way as God's way.
When we are set free from the
domination of religious control we see more clearly what true
spirituality is and view our life from God's perspective rather than
religion's distorted perspective. Only then will we see the folly of
religion and settle for nothing less than God's best for our
lives...to be free in Jesus Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment