Love

Love doesn’t manipulate.

Fear

Religion has deep roots in fear, primarily the fear that we are unloved and that we need to do something about it. This is a lie religion is extremely adept at exploiting, do this and God will love you and then so will we; Oh, you should do this too and then this while thinking this. It reminds me of the scene in The Jerk when Navin is leaving and doesn’t need anything, but…

We all need love as much as we need air and water. It’s a God given necessity put in us so we will seek Him; He’s the only one that can fill our hearts. Religion takes advantage of this need by promising to fulfill it if we will conform to the process established by whatever system we find ourselves in. This can’t work, it may for a season but eventually we come to the realization that there must be more and that’s when too often the answer we’re given is we need more religion. Then on the carousel we go, what option do we have? If we jump off, it is certain we won’t be loved, we’ve seen it. The fear of rejection keeps us right where religion wants us.

We’ll do anything for love, it’s sad that includes settling for a counterfeit of the amazing unique love Jesus came to show us.

Reservations

If you have reservations about hearing from God as a result of other’s overuse of “God told me” or for any other reason for that matter, please don’t dismiss the possibility because of someone’s attempts at manipulation. God has been misquoted since the Garden of Eden. There will always be people that use Him and His Word to get their own way. Don’t let them discourage you from seeking to hear His voice. There’s nothing better. His love for you would not be complete if there wasn’t two-way interaction. So don’t quit, He has much to tell you.