Ramblings of a Former Slave to Religion Vol. 3

Ramblings of a Former Slave to Religion Vol. 3

by Maegan Verrett on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 8:22am

The god of Religion

The more I write, the more disgusted I become with Religion. It amazes me, really. Religion parades itself around, masking itself as God Almighty. but it is a mere god, a fallacy, a counterfeit, and imposter. What does it look like to NOT be religious? It's different for everyone. For some of us, it's having fellowship with other believers in our homes. For some of us, it is going to traditional church but being responsible for our own knowledge and relationship with Yahweh. For some, it is having a relationship with God out in nature. For some it is living day by day in relationship with Yahweh without any specific regime. 

You know, I stand in awe as I look at the different people out there who choose relationship over religion. I've been reading Christian fiction a lot lately and I have fallen in love with the characters, wishing they were real people I could search out. They have the concept of relationship, not religion. The most recent book I was reading, Across the Years by Tracie Peterson, had a cowboy who lived the Christian life devoid of religion. He did not attend church weekly. He simply lived out a Christian life, focusing on relationship with Yahweh. He prayed constantly for Yahweh to guide and help him. He read his Bible in order to see God's plan for him. He didn't do it because it was required of him. He didn't pay tithes. He didn't feel obligated to follow the mandates of the church. He simply lived his life in a way that was pleasing to Yahweh. 

For the past few years, I have become increasingly more aware of the Amish folks. I have to say, I think they have an understanding that us "Englishers" don't. Has anyone ever noticed how blessed these people are? They don't have near the problems we do. Why do you suppose that is? My thoughts on the matter is this: They aren't trying to please man. They live their lives in such a way that they are careful to make sure they are pleasing Yahweh. They are not caught up in the trappings of this world. They live in relationship with one another in accordance with their relationship with Yahweh. I've gotta admit, I'm envious of them. The reason they are so blessed is because their hearts are pure. Their only aspiration in this world is to please Yahweh. I wish I had been raised Amish. There's no way I could possibly convert now. I'm too spoiled to the amenities of modern day civilization. And let's just be honest, I'm too lazy. I don't handle heat well and I also don't handle manual labor well either. But that's exactly my point. We are so spoiled to our living that we couldn't give it up to live that kind of life. We have our 9-5 jobs, which turn into 7am-10pm jobs so that we can avoid the struggles of life. We don't want to deal with our spouse's hurt feelings. We don't want to deal with the outstanding bills piling up on the counter. We don't want to deal with things, so we delve into our cooshy jobs and focus on things we can control. But in stark contrast, we have the Amish. They wake up and have a large family breakfast. They begin their daily chores and go about their daily business. But in the forefront of their mind is this, "everything you do, do it for the glory of God." They work and go about their business, but they are always available to their neighbor to lend a helping hand. If someone in their community suffers, the rest of the community is there to comfort and console and help in any way possible. One of the most astounding things (to me anyway) is their ability to forgive. They don't harbor malice in their hearts for one another. They don't dwell on their hurts. They forgive and grow stronger in their relationships, not only with one another, but with Yahweh as well. They make time for their families. And although they are leery of us "Englishers" they welcome us as visitors with open arms. They even allow some of us to live among them. They show kindness and love to everyone they meet. But they also guard their hearts. They don't allow anything that will destroy what they've built to come in. To me, they are the best examples of what Christians should be. 

We are told in the Bible that we don't belong in this world. This world is not our home. We are to be different. We are to live lives that say to the world, "I am a believer in Yahweh, the most High God, and I'm not ashamed." But we do as the world does. Uh oh, I'm starting to sound religious... not really, but to many who are fed up with religion and use it as an excuse to live a worldly life, that's exactly how it sounds. We have got to find a balance. Religion focuses on putting on a show and showing others how "holy" we are. Religion attempts to control those around us. But if we lived the Christian life, devoid of religion, this is what it would look like. We would focus on keeping ourselves in check, not trying to control those around us with mandates of legalism. We would love people and ask God to show us their heart, beyond their outward appearance (the facade they put on to keep from getting hurt; or their religiosity). We would live our lives in such a way that pleases Yahweh. We wouldn't try to make a show of our holiness, but let it speak for itself. That's the kind of life I want to live. I want to not be bound by the things of this world. I want to not be bound by Religion. I want the Truth to set me free. So what is the Truth? It is the incorruptible, infallible, untainted Word of God. The TRUTH will set us free... from what? No one has ever bothered to ask that question! From Religion! If we allow the Truth to change us... if we accept the whole Truth of God's words (not just the parts that appeal to us), then we will be free to live the lives we were destined to live. No more legalism. No more fallacy. No more adulterated, perverted forms of Religion. No more worldly living with the excuse of how disgusted we are with Religion. Let me be perfectly direct here. If you are fed up with Religion masquerading itself as God, take a stand. Stop blaming Yahweh and acknowledge the fact that we have a very real false god that is deceiving the elect. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Don't just sit and whine about it, as I've done for the past 10 years. Don't use it as an excuse to not live the life God destined for you. Be the difference! Be the one who takes a stand against Religion and says, "As for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh, not religion, and not this world." BE THE DIFFERENCE! There's still hope for others. If we will show them what a life devoid of Religion looks like, they will be hungry for the abundant life. Here's to a life without chains! I'm excited! Who's with me?!