The “I want nothing to do with organized religion” argument is based on the rules and corruption of human-created religion. This argument is valid.
God Himself stands apart from organized religion. Religion is many things, and they all involve humans making life difficult for other humans by imposing man-made, empty ritual and excessive rules to infringe upon the free-will of others. Religion is designed to exert control over the masses. Religion is people working toward gaining the approval of God or trying to impress Him with their works and self-righteousness.
Christianity and religion are polar opposites. In religion, we do all the “work.” In Christianity, God has already done everything for us, and simply invites us to believe in His Son’s finished work on the cross, accomplished on our behalf.
Grace is another factor no “faith” or “religion” has. Grace is what God freely does for us, apart from anything we can do, say, or add. Christianity is a relationship with God and stands separate from religion. If you dislike religion, rest assured that God dislikes it way more than you do.
Another argument: “A ‘god’ who is loving wouldn’t send people to hell. I won’t follow any ‘god’ who would do that.” This is an invalid argument born of ignorance.
God is true to His character, and one of His characteristics is perfect justice. He cannot go against the attributes of His character, so He must condemn humankind to hell for our disobedience. He has no choice. Spiritual death is the result of our sin, and God must condemn that sinful state, that sinful nature of ours.
But, He also had a way to satisfy His own perfect justice, and that was by sending His Son to pay the price, to satisfy His justice perfectly. With that done, God provides an escape from an eternity in the lake of fire. (See? He is a loving God after all!) He created the emergency exit from condemnation. Walk through it. That’s all He asks.
“Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace”
The mind, indeed the very soul, demands order amid the chaos of the world. Every single mind and soul has a God-shaped void permanently imprinted upon them… and here’s where things get interesting: The mind and soul seek to fill this God-shaped void by any means necessary.
These facts are the reasons why many people are so miserable. Other than what God has freely provided, there is nothing else in or of this world that will fully satisfy you; only temporary happiness can be found in the empty things of this world.
Maybe it’s why you’re miserable, or certainly not as happy and content as you could be or should be. It’s the insatiable longing inside us that’s itching to be fulfilled that causes us to bounce from one thing to another, one person or relationship to another, one addiction to another, one religion to another, frantically searching for the happiness our mind and soul need to fill that God-shaped void within us.
Open your mind to the reality of God, and to the truth of His Word. A pure and honest love awaits you. When you decide to let go and believe, the unquenchable longing in your heart will, at last, be fulfilled.
Have people abandoned you? God will never leave you.
Have others let you down? God won’t. He is perfectly faithful.
Have people hurt you and betrayed you and broken their promises? God never will. He heals the deepest wounds. He guards and defends you and keeps every promise.
Are you friendless and alone? God can’t wait to be your loyal, forever companion. He will be by your side, always.
Do you want someone you can vent to any time, anywhere, and for any reason, all without them judging you, gossiping about you, or looking down on you? That’ll be God, too. He is loyal and faithful and true.
He will never tire of you, never tell you to go away, and never tell you you’re getting on His nerves. You are precious to Him.
He’ll never say that you’re not good enough, or that you’ll never amount to anything, or that you’re worthless. You’re worth everything to Him.
God loves you – He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you.
There’s more to life than the empty things of this world.
Life can be wonderful, regardless of circumstance, with God in your life and His truths in your mind – His Word hidden in your heart so that you might live the complete and satisfying life you desire.
It’s all up to you: Keep wallowing in the never-ending, never-satisfying, empty misery of the world, or believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then seek God and get to know Him (He is knowable).
He loves you. He wants a relationship with you, personally. He will be your constant companion. He is a loyal, steadfast friend.
A few things in closing
God offers restoration, even rescue, to any person who chooses God by faith in the cross-work of Christ – God offers mercy.
Reject religion.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Believe today and embark on a wonderful journey, a journey down your own personal pathway with the Lord through Fields of Grace.
Next in our series is Wake Up America.