| When the first apostles followed Jesus they had little | | | | security, however we choose to define security: |
| understanding of the Savior, yet their faith was such | | | | whether it is to seek and save or retreat due to |
| that they gave up jobs, homes, and families to follow | | | | fear. |
| the Lord. (Present-day Christian organized religion | | | | Those taking a higher road may revert to a lower |
| reflects little of the simplicity and dedication of these | | | | road and vice-versa. If the world does not provide |
| early disciples). Later, when the apostles' faith | | | | the answers, then people may go the route of |
| matured, they ably confronted the sophisticated | | | | religion because of their need to identify with |
| arguments and accusations leveled at them. Even | | | | something other than a life of chaos and |
| then, they kept their message simple and to the | | | | uncertainties. This recourse will cause many to |
| point. The power of God reigned mightily in their lives! | | | | become compulsive in their religious pursuits. I am |
| While we admire the disciples of the early church, we | | | | referring, here, to one's need for a "higher power" to |
| often disregard their righteous commitment. We | | | | control impulsive thoughts and habits. One can go |
| honor them for fleeing worldly trappings such as | | | | many directions in the search for inner peace. For |
| materialism and vice then turn around and pursue | | | | some, the natural elements fulfill the requirement. For |
| such things ourselves, often with reckless abandon. In | | | | others, ritualistic acts involving abstinence of one |
| addition, we deny the power of God at work in the | | | | form or another fulfill the need. Still others need |
| first century church. The power to cast out demons | | | | temples, images, and standardized systems of |
| that caused physical disease and mental illness is | | | | doctrine to keep them in line. Of course, there is the |
| redefined: It now depends solely on the curative | | | | religious eclectic that identifies with all of the above |
| powers of medicine and psychology. In addition, the | | | | and more. Whatever the direction, the idea is to |
| power to raise up preachers no longer belongs to the | | | | accomplish for the seeker the ability to identify one's |
| Holy Spirit but to seminaries where ministry is viewed | | | | purpose and position in life. |
| as a profession and not as a calling from God. | | | | Belief in God, however, will always fail when defined |
| Least of all are we a people prepared to die for our | | | | by such terms and practices. God's character simply |
| faith. I am not saying that we pursue martyrdom, | | | | doesn't correspond to secular thought. Religion, |
| but I am saying that we rely too heavily on our | | | | defined in worldly terms, always seeks purity but |
| constitutional rights to protect us from persecution. | | | | never finds it. Simply put, purity cannot be found in |
| Thank God we currently experience religious | | | | an impure world. Religious systems and icons cannot |
| freedom, but let us also be spiritually prepared for | | | | make a person whole. Religious movements would |
| the day when evil men take that freedom away. We | | | | like adherents to believe that worldliness is overcome |
| have compromised our kingdom status as aliens and | | | | through a process of mind over matter...spirit over |
| strangers in a foreign land for peace and comfort in | | | | the natural...bringing order to the disorderly and |
| the midst of our enemies. As another present-day | | | | predictability to the unpredictable - a mindset of total |
| apostle has astutely observed, "We have long sought | | | | control. When has true inner peace ever been |
| our solace and well being in the goodwill of | | | | achieved through such means? The effect of secular |
| unrighteous men." | | | | religious movements on disciples does not obtain |
| Goodwill is not established in the promises of men | | | | genuine inner peace. |
| but is the essence of truth revealed in the promises | | | | These acts of organized religion have never rescued |
| of God. Peter recognized this when he stated that | | | | us from the world. The wise, however, have found |
| baptism in Christ is the answer to a good conscience | | | | that true religion rescues us from ourselves. It is not |
| (1 Peter 3:21), the truth is in all of us...the voice of the | | | | mind over matter, Gnosticism, but the Spirit of truth |
| conscience. All we need do is listen to it. Take note, | | | | within us coming to fruition. We cannot make the |
| though, how we listen determines whether we end | | | | world go away but we can seek a higher |
| up worldly or godly. | | | | understanding of who we are in the midst of the |
| WORLDLINESS IN RELIGION | | | | world. For the one that seeks truth in one's |
| What direction does society encourage? Many | | | | Creator-God, the challenge is to recognize how we |
| persons will take the high road to intellectual and | | | | as believers and sons of God are distinguished from |
| financial endeavors; perhaps leading some of them to | | | | the world we live in. It is not a matter of what we |
| believe that they have accomplished something | | | | do to attain this understanding but of how well we |
| better for themselves and others. Many will take the | | | | listen and perceive that which is already here to |
| low road into a life of gangs, crime, substance abuse | | | | know. Even Creation speaks to the glory of God |
| and addiction, perhaps leading some of them to | | | | (Psalms 19:1-6; Romans 1:20). Not that we should |
| believe that they can do nothing to benefit | | | | worship nature; rather, that we understand our |
| themselves or others. Most will end up somewhere in | | | | natural surroundings as it directs us to the One that |
| between, not too high and not too low. No matter | | | | nature itself worships. |
| what road we take controlling our destiny means | | | | |