Religion for Dummies.

                            

Satanism may seem like an answer for those who feel they can't live up to God's expectations.

"I'm no angel."

But is negativity an answer?

Guilt, shame, poison, sabotage, lies, hate, and hell are not really helpful.

Torture, torment, and pain are considered fun.

If they tell you to lie the chances are they are lying to you in the first place.

There is no Satan in reality.

So Satanism is really only religion for dummies.


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Light.

May the Light

of God

shine upon you.

And banish

the darkness

that surrounds you.


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The Dark Night.

                            

We are living in the dark night.

The world is evil and corrupt.

We have no power.

And God is dead.

But unbeknown to us this is the result of a deliberate campaign to rid the world of goodness and spread evil everywhere.

Satanists in the rock music and entertainment industries set out to destroy the Church and promote Satanism in its place.

Their work is dark, sinister, and blasphemous.

And they have largely succeeded.

Although people don't know that what they are doing is Satanism.

It is backwards and upside-down.

So throw away your C.D.s, turn off the T.V., and unplug your earphones.

We have been deceived.


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Church Leaders.

"The shepherds also have no understanding.
they have all turned to their own way,
to their own gain, one and all."  Isaiah 56:11 (NRSV)

We may wonder why those in positions of authority in the Church teach things which seem so contradictory of Jesus and our intuitive understanding of God.

But in ancient Israel the prophets were often critical of the shepherds - i.e. the religious leaders of Israel.

They were called blind and deaf and Jesus called them hypocrites.

So we should not be surprised when the Church appears to be wrong.
It has been wrong before.

So why doesn't God tell them?

The answer is that He does.

He sends prophets and messengers to tell them.

But as Jesus said, "'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather my children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!'"  Luke 13:34 (NRSV)

This is the meaning of Jesus' saying: "'And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."'"  Luke 13:35 (NRSV) 


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Clouds of Heaven.

What are

The Clouds of Heaven

But

Clouds of Love.


Photo Credit: Jay Cagle.
(The image has been slightly modified)

Sunday Christians.

                            

Why do people sit in church every Sunday and nod piously during the sermon, even espouse hospitality during prayers, but you never see them during the week?

Church people only associate with others during official Church functions.  They never invite you into their homes let alone provide a meal.

We are constantly reminded that Jesus attended and spoke about meals, using this as a metaphor for God's hospitality.

Hospitality is one of the principles of Messy Church but not one of them has ever invited me into their homes for a meal.

So they sit there and the sermon goes in one ear and out the other, or over their heads completely.

No wonder the Church is dying.


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Jar.

The Egyptian hieroglyph of a jar - ab - means the heart.


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