Standing up for God … ( 05 / 06 / 2012 )
Standing up for God … ( 05 / 06 / 2012 )
“ Going to church doesn ’ t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car .” ~ G . K . Chesterton
Recent surveys show that almost 75 % of the American population considers itself to be “ Christian ” in one form or another , with around 100 million of those folks attending a Christian church and listening to a Christian sermon from a Christian preacher on any given Sunday … Now , there ’ s nothing wrong with that , of course . Freedom of religion is one of the founding pillars of the United States , and there is indeed much Good to be found in the Christian faith . Each person ’ s religious choice is there ’ s alone to make , just as each person ’ s spiritual journey is there ’ s alone to walk .
That having been said , it might be helpful for Christians and non-Christians alike to realize that much of what is relayed in the average Christian church each Sunday has very little to do with the actual teachings of Jesus Christ found in the Bible … And it might be equally helpful for Christians and non-Christians alike to realize that Jesus himself really didn ’ t give a flying flip about what religion people chose — and that he most certainly didn ’ t want people to make a new religion out of himself . Rather , he quite clearly stated in the Bible that he wanted us to “ follow ” him — for us to courageously emulate the radical Way of Love that he so courageously lived . ( see Mark 10:18 , though there are hundreds of other verses also showing
this to be the case )
By all indications , Jesus was one of those rare men & women who had the courage to truly walk Love ’ s unconditional talk , dramatically showing us all not only that Loving our enemies , Forgiving our trespassers , and Caring for the poor are “ right things to do ” — but also that when we do actually exude the Courage necessary to put such pure Love in motion , it actually works … Of course , deep down , you already know this to be True . But heck , don ’ t take my word for it …
Go and see for your Self !
“ And this is my sole Commandment : Love one another in the same way I have Loved you .” ~ Jesus Christ ( John 15:12 )
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