We are created to conform to HIM

One great thing about my job is that when people aren't flying to Le Bourget, White Plains, or Jeddah, I have all the time to myself to do whatever I want. I learned to use this time wisely, whether it be to read one of the books on my shelf that I haven't read yet or to do those IQ puzzles that causes the brain to be on the brink of exploding. Today, I decided to go buy "Blue Like Jazz", since I figured it wouldn't be a very active night. Sure enough, only 4 flights tonight... so I began to thumb through the first couple of chapters...
I already like this book a lot. Why? Well, for starters, this passage jumped out at me as I started the second chapter.

"I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time... the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious...if the devil can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging god."

So true.. infact, when I begin to write books, I thought about writing on this very issue. I had to underline it and write "BINGO!" next to it.

This is the biggest reservation I have in regards to the many denominations of Christianity. Church of Christ, Baptist, Methodist... even Catholics, as a whole they basically all teach habit. Religiousness, defined in my mind, is when man begins to take the criteria or guidelines set forth by the church as a traditional method in "worshipping" God. In other words, the seperate denominations tell us how to worship... we must conform... we will all praise God in the way that man sees "best fit". Hogwash my friends, hogwash.

I go to non-denominational churches for this very reason. I am free to worship without holding back because nobody is saying I need to act a certain way. If I want to jump around I can, if I want to raise my hands I will... and nobody will give me funny looks. Not only that, but more importantly, my heart is fully susceptable to the Holy Spirit. Religiousness takes away from the possible experiences we can have in the Spirit by placing limits on God.

Bottom Line: The devil uses religiousness/tradition in the church to keep our minds stuck in habit. Which prevents us from growing in the spirit and fulfilling our relationship with God, because we're too worried about whether our actions are befitting the mold that has been selfishly placed in front of us by narrow-minded Christians with an agenda.

I just ask all to think about how we can let go of man's teachings and grasp those of God.. and embrace the Holy Spirit with all your heart... without regard to human reactions.

So... 3 things:

1) Don't let habit mold your walk with God .
2) Don't place boundaries on Christ.
2) Let your heart seek out the true nature of our Creator, one free of human limits.

Have a great weekend, and BTHO OSU!