Religion Kills

[MartyCPE]

God is not in a bad mood.

He not only loves you-He likes you. He is in a good mood because of you. Religious teaching tells many people that God tolerates born-again believers because He’s required to, because He wouldn’t be a good God if He didn’t have mercy on you. That is retarded. God gives you rest. Religion gives you work. Religion is only following a bunch of rules to make yourself right. Ask yourself whose standard you’re trying to attain. Are you soothing your own conscience?

Those of you who picture God up on a cloud, barely holding back from throwing a lightning bolt at you, ready to strike you down, read carefully. You’re wrong. Do you treat your children that way? Jesus asked the people of His day the same question, but they didn’t understand God’s goodness any better than some of us.(Matthew 7:9-11) Now for my logical-thinkers: Why would God throw down on you with His wrath when the Bible says Jesus took God’s wrath for you upon Himself? (Romans 5:9) Was Jesus’ sacrifice incomplete? Do you need to add something to it to finish what He couldn‘t? Paul asked the Galatians this too. Do you think you can finish by the flesh what was begun in the Spirit? (Galatians 3:3) Nope. Do you think God, who is perfect, needs you to do anything for Him? He already is complete, perfect. No, He wants you.

Consider this statement from Jesus out of the Message paraphrase: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you‘ll recover your life. I‘ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won‘t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you‘ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Look up Matthew 22:36-40. Jesus said that the two most important commandments were, One: Love God. Two: Love others. I can hear you now, yeah right, easy for you to say. Yeah, it is. I’ve lived both ways: loving myself and loving God, and it’s way easier to let God have the reins. If you want real rest, walk with God. Allow Him to love you, and love Him right back.

Read more... http://www.examiner.com/x-21695-Colorado-Springs-Christian-Perspect...

[MartyCPE]

Sean,

Thanks for the encouragement. You'd be surprised at how many people get upset at hearing good news...

You can check some out my other articles here. http://www.examiner.com/x-21695-Colorado-Springs-Christian-Perspect...

Thanks again,

Marty

[mike]

Amen. The thing is, the enemy wants you to think that God will throw that lightning bolt at you. Some "Religion" tries to teach that but they are missing the point. The " fear of God" is not the fear of punishment , but the fear of being without God. That would be Hell indeed!

God Bless

[MartyCPE]

Right on brother. Once my wife was having a conversation with a member of a liturgy-reliant fellowship. When my wife told her that we don't hold to a particular denomination's traditions, the woman became incredulous, asking my wife, "well then, what do you believe in then?" I know it sounds crazy, but we just believe in Jesus, nothing more or less.

Thank you for the response; I'm encouraged by others who follow the simple truth of Jesus Christ.

Marty

[Kristen Barr]

Mike I really like this reply. Often I get confused for example God is love, but he is a jealous God. Fear God but do it from free will with all your mind, heart and soul etc... At times the bible appears contraditory but its not. As a christian and one that has a way to go spiritually as you mature you realise God is love, he isn't like love, he doesn't even symbolise love HE IS LOVE. He is a jealous God, a jealous father. When questioning how one that is love can be a jealous God (since we learn in corinthians i think it is love is kind, not jealous etc...) my pastor explained its like loving your parter intimately and not wanting him to sleep with other women (that made sense). God loves us so much and doesn't want to share us with false idols. And the fear of God as explained by mike was well explained in my opinion. God Bless xo

[Kristen Barr]

This really struck a cord with my, Praise God. Thanks for posting. I was especially touched by the third paragraph. Thanks xoxo

[Winston James Blanke]

We all need to realize how important it is in our lives to be truly happy, place GOD ALMIGHTY GOD FIRST first in our daily actions. Mentally, phsyically and spiritually first in all matters of our daily lives.
I find one of the best ways to get in tune with the GOOD SPIRIT OF GOD is after starting the day with prayer and reading a daily devotion , is to go outdoors and study Father Nature and the natural creation God created, and be thankful, and don't take God's Natural Creation for granted. And thank Him for the beautiful wildlife He has created for us to enjoy. The simple free gifts are just waiting for you to step outside, even in your own backyard in the morning before work and learn what God has created, for a new spiritual understanding on how much He loves us. It's simple. Study the wildlife and pray for wisdom and understanding. And God will answer and you will gain wisdom no book has to offer.
Winston James Blanke 11-02-2009

[Servant of God]

Hello Everyone, I find this an interesting forum. I have a question for all of you though. What is Love? And what is the purpose of life? I believe that God created us to love Him. Why else would He have made us with free will? If we read through 1 Corinthians 13 carefully we see that love is not self seeking. Also we can only love from our heart, no one can make us to love another person, or God. God cant make us love Him, or that could not be the real emotion of love. I believe that that is the purpose of Life, God wants a people to love Him, The Parable Christ told us about the bride of Christ shoudl be taken seriously. Christ wants a people that truely love him, a people that he can trust in this life, so we can live forever with him in His KIngdom.
If this was not the purpose of life then christianity is a religion that does not make sense, why didnt God make Adam perfect, unable to sin? Why didnt God make it so we naturally believe in Him and we live forever? There has to be love, resect and accountabilty on our side. If not we can look foreward to our Lord saying depart from me you who practice lawlessness (sin) .
God is love, but he also is going to send a awful lot of people to hell, including those who claim to be christians, but are actually loveing God with a cupboard love, we should be encouraging each other to obey our Lord and serve him with our whole hearts, not saying to each other "we will not surely die" should'nt we?
God bless you all.

[Charles Burwell]

Servant of God

You have made an excellent point when you said " ...we should be encouraging each other to obey our Lord and to serve Him with our whole hearts. These are 2 things that Jesus specifically mentioned.
In John15:10 Jesus said "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I keep my Father's commandments and abide in His love."
John 15:12 -"This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you."
15:14- "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you."

I also love the invitation that Marty mentioned in the post . The one in Matthew 11:28-30. This was the scripture theme of a mission that I served at in DC for 2 years , so it has an extra special meaning to me.

God bless you all.