Loud Thinking: Tamed Religion

Everybody has a religion. Everybody has a god that they serve, whether it is shaped like a person or a thing. Our biggest ambitions are clothed with desires that are only expressions of worship to the gods we serve. 

Institutionalized religion is not the problem. The problem is that we are so structured in our beliefs in such way that our religion is hidden from our conscience because we preach to ourselves the same sermon of what is not good over and over again. So we rise up in our desires, seeking to satisfy a god that is consuming us by making us believe that we are free, but really we are enslaved to it. With or without banners, this religion makes itself the abstract identity to which we cling. There is nothing new that we bring to the table. There is nothing new under the sun. Our perception of our new way of life has been always the old way to chain our hearts and souls to that which is fragile.

Yes, religion is complex. And, most religions are submitted to the human desires to be accomplished, fulfilled, satisfied, and secure. However, there is a religion that is not tamed by human desires, but is conditioned and exclusive in itself. There is a religion where freedom is found by enslaving yourself to an Eternal Master. This Master is One that calls you co-heir, calls you son, invites you to His table to eat with Him. 

Christianity is a religion. It’s not a religions of do’s and don’ts. We don’t live in light of restrictions, but in light of our new hearts, where His law is written. Our God doesn’t let us walk in light of our flesh, for He seeks the best for us. He enables us to avoid the ways of destruction, for He always works all things together for our good. In his economy, there is no boast of our own, for everything has been accomplished by Him; therefore, He is our true security, sufficiency and satisfaction.

There is only two kinds of religions we can choose from: the religion of our own desires where we are enslaved to our supposed freedom, or surrounding ourselves with Christ in His work at the Cross. In this latter religion we can find true freedom by submitting to God’s will.

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, ......,”

Romans 1:1a NASB