A & B Challenge Feb No. 6 - Religion
Anyone who knows me knows that I am deeply spiritual, but not religious. The difference is that one is really based on the Fear of God and the other is based on The Love of God. These are two completely different views of God, but it really changes so much in your life if you run off of fear vs. love.
I was born again when I was very young and grew up in a very, very conservative home. When I went to college and then got married I didn’t really need God… until my world crashed and burned all within about 2 months. Once I found God it was right back to where I was… which was not all bad. The books in the picture are devotions I did every day. I went to church Sunday, Saturday and Wednesday playing in the worship band and doing a lot of sound work. But even that was not good enough to the eyes of the elders… The path I was on was the one my father told me I should be on- not the one I forged for myself.
The path that I am on now, I have mentioned in bits and pieces before… my parents do not understand. They are convinced because I don’t go to church 1-3 times a week I am going to hell. Or because I have an ear ring I have rejected my faith. My faith isn’t based on whether or not I have a piece of metal in my frickin’ ear, nor whether I am in a building with people who believe in God. THAT does not make one a Christian. I have experienced people far more like Christ outside of the church than inside, so explain that.
The religious upbringing was good for a lot of things don’t get me wrong. But a lot of things that came into my life did so in the name of God… and God didn’t have anything to do with them. “Hey Chris, let me tell you all the things that are wrong with you in the name of God. But it’s okay, just say these words and only then God will love you and save you. But if you slip up, you better feel horrible about it…” and the list goes on.
I know who I am and I know what I believe. I have a deep relationship with God and that’s my business- not my parents or their friends’ business. Religion helped me, spirituality saved me.
A & B Challenge Feb No. 6 - Religion
Anyone who knows me knows that I am deeply spiritual, but not religious. The difference is that one is really based on the Fear of God and the other is based on The Love of God. These are two completely different views of God, but it really changes so much in your life if you run off of fear vs. love.
I was born again when I was very young and grew up in a very, very conservative home. When I went to college and then got married I didn’t really need God… until my world crashed and burned all within about 2 months. Once I found God it was right back to where I was… which was not all bad. The books in the picture are devotions I did every day. I went to church Sunday, Saturday and Wednesday playing in the worship band and doing a lot of sound work. But even that was not good enough to the eyes of the elders… The path I was on was the one my father told me I should be on- not the one I forged for myself.
The path that I am on now, I have mentioned in bits and pieces before… my parents do not understand. They are convinced because I don’t go to church 1-3 times a week I am going to hell. Or because I have an ear ring I have rejected my faith. My faith isn’t based on whether or not I have a piece of metal in my frickin’ ear, nor whether I am in a building with people who believe in God. THAT does not make one a Christian. I have experienced people far more like Christ outside of the church than inside, so explain that.
The religious upbringing was good for a lot of things don’t get me wrong. But a lot of things that came into my life did so in the name of God… and God didn’t have anything to do with them. “Hey Chris, let me tell you all the things that are wrong with you in the name of God. But it’s okay, just say these words and only then God will love you and save you. But if you slip up, you better feel horrible about it…” and the list goes on.
I know who I am and I know what I believe. I have a deep relationship with God and that’s my business- not my parents or their friends’ business. Religion helped me, spirituality saved me.