I find myself in a ‘facebook comment war’ almost every day trying to explain to people that the comment I left “You are loved and not forgotten, God is listening” is not me ‘shoving religion down their throat’. I’ve had to learn that not everyone is ready to receive Christ and that Matt. 7:6 “Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” Is all too true.
But- and this is a very large ‘but’- we are still called to witness for the Lord, and in doing so we will begin to feel His presence in our own lives more. Yet how can we preach ‘God’ to people who see Him as a “quick fix for those who don’t want to straighten up and face the real world”?
The answer, for me at least, is LOVE. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they are, needs love. You, me, the crack-head at the end of the hall, the lady/man in the office, the bum on the corner, the girl too afraid to come to church for fear of being looked down upon over her past…EVERYONE!! They are all seeking it in any way they can, clueless – or at least blinded by what they think they know – to the love GOD offers. Too many ‘preachers’ have shoved religion down their throats, to the point where they’ve learned to believe that this ‘religion’ (whatever it may be,) is how God is. And as a child they grew to associate their pain with the church, whether it be teasing, judgment, or something far worse, with who GOD is.
God is not religion, nor is religion God. God is love, and when we and those we witness to, realize that, and we accept and allow His Love, Guidance, Wisdom, and Mercy to rule in our lives, we don’t need Religion. There’re still rules to follow and standards to live by, but since we already love God so much, we’ll want to do them anyway.
That’s a Relationship – putting the wants and needs of another (God’s) before yours. His heart and plan is made for your benefit. He Loves you. All He wants in return is your love.
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