religion
The
question is what religion (s) are we practicing today? To try to get
a handle on this topic, let us provide a definition of our web page topic;
religion.
Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
Let us briefly
mention that most people have zeal for anything that promotes their
financial, romantic - sexual, or physical well being, but generally does
not have anything to do with God at all. That certainly perfectly
describes all of my activities, before the spiritual awakening. And
in retrospect, those activities can clearly be seen as the
"religion" that was practiced on a daily basis. That is
what was believed, and it was acted on. Those activities were my
God. They controlled me.
Also in
retrospect, it can clearly be seen that lesser god's in my life were my
religion, my politics, my legal council, my doctors, my insurance
policies, my accountants, my deeds to real estate, ad infinitum.
This world teaches us humans, in the developed western world to depend on
career - money, so that we can achieve all of the above, so that we are
successful, and independent. In that condition, with all of those
things taken care of, by ourselves, who in the world would possibly need
God? I surely didn't. But when every thing went by the
wayside, when the s--- hit the fan, and there was no spic and span around,
what was once a confident successful human being became a miserably emaciated
pathetic and pitiful creature, that had successfully failed at every aspect of life, as
he considered it, at that time.
Practical experience
shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as
intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities
fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other
alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their
confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill. (bigbook
page 89) scribe's note: it does not say, if other
activities fail, but WHEN,
Now let
us reveal what some scriptures state.
Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.
Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life.
Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions.
These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don’t tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich.
Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth.
After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die.
So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
(1 Timothy 6:1-10)
Dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.
And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.
(James 1:19-27)
Ugh!
There is that terrible word again, PURE. Remember that only the pure
at heart can see God, face to face? And beyond that, faith is the
only thing that can possibly make anyone acceptable to God.
Let us
now quote the first paragraph, in the Gettysburg Address:
Four score and seven
years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created
equal.
Now
for our noahhite perfect truth. We were born, not created. This
world developed us, based on what conditions we grew up in. Later,
this world, and it's ways, developed us further into what the world
wanted. It has gone only one way, since Adam and Eve were removed
from the Garden of Eden. The wrong way, considering what our creator
desires for us. And to have a creator in our lives, that can create
the vision that God has of us, we must receive the Spiritual Awakening,
provided, freely, in the global anonymous fellowship programs. The
best to you all.
"Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."
(Matthew 12:30)
