I have a confession to make. I am a recovering obsessive, compulsive, sometimes hypocritical, sometimes judgmental, self-righteous, pharisaical, RELIGIOUS ADDICT.
I didn’t start out this way… My faith journey began approximately 35 years ago. When I started this journey it wasn’t about religion, it was about JESUS. Pure and simple. JESUS.
But somewhere along the journey, you gradually substitute stuff like rituals and rules for a dynamic relationship with Christ; or the predictability of forms and systems for the messiness of passion and sacrifice of devotion… Before you know it, the rituals, rules, forms and systems leave you completely exhausted and EMPTY.
Have you ever felt that way?
Here's the way Brennan Manning describes it in his classic, The Ragamuffin Gospel.
"The Christian community resembles a Wall Street exchange of works wherein the elite are honored and the ordinary ignored. Love is stifled, freedom shackled, and self-righteousness fastened. The institutional church has become a wounder of the healers rather than a healer of the wounded."
"Put bluntly, the American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works - but our lives refute our faith. By and large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived. Too many Christians are living in the house of fear and not in the house of love." ~ Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
In Ephesians 3:14-18, Paul prayed this prayer for a group of believers in the church at Ephesus.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…
The word “grasp” means to “seize” or to “take hold.” It basically means, "Hey guys... I want you to experience this truth personally, not just theoretically."
Paul understood that some times it’s easy for people to believe that God loves people in GENERAL. I mean, after all that’s just what God does… But it’s tough for a lot of people to buy into the thought that GOD LOVES THEM in PARTICULAR. Why? Because I know my baggage, my past, my failures, my garbage...
Paul says, "Guys, I want you to get hold of and seize the love of Christ personally. I want it to be more to you than a lot of head knowledge. I want it to be something you believe in to the core of who you are."
So, are you like me, a recovering, obsessive, compulsive religious addict?
There's hope.
FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS. SIMPLY JESUS.
Several years before his death in 1968, the renowned Swiss theologian, Karl Barth came to the United States to deliver a series of lectures. A lot of people believe that Barth was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century… At one of these lectures, after a real impressive talk, a student asked Dr. Barth this question, “Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that has ever passed through your mind?”
It's said that the aging professor paused for a long time as he obviously thought about his answer. Then he responded with great simplicity: “Jesus love me, This I know. For the Bible tells me so.”
You probably sang that little song when you were a kid. Why not begin to really believe the PROFOUND SIMPLICITY of this amazing truth in your heart? JESUS LOVES YOU. He will never love you any less than He loves you right now.
A recovering religious addict yourself?
Detox! FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS. HE IS ALREADY HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH YOU!
CURRENT WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY SERIES AND SCHEDULE
SIMPLY JESUS: Detox for Recovering Religious Addicts Like Me
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
TRUSSVILLE AREA
Will NOT Meet This Week, But Will Resume Next Wednesday, March 5
Same Channel. Same Location. Same Time.
THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
Every Thursday Evening · 6:30 PM
Childcare is provided THURSDAY ONLY by reservation.
Contact Janet at 979.3633
LOCATION: Home of Chris and Janet Goins
328 Stone Brook Circle · Hoover, AL · 35226
205.979.3633
DINNER IS SERVED!
Both the Wednesday and Thursday Evening Studies include DINNER. Don’t worry about rushing home to prepare a meal and then rushing back out for Bible Study. We’ve got you covered.
This week Paul and Claire Yother (hopefully it’s mostly Claire), along with Ahntuan Bui are providing dinner. Thanks guys! Come HUNGRY…
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