Freedom & Responsibility - or - The Easy Way Out
Why are people attracted to the comfort of cults?
In a cult there are strong leaders that will tell you what to believe and how to act.
It is the opposite of freedom and responsibility.
Many people follow the easy broad path as driven sheep.
Sheep led by demanding teachers at school, by bureaucratic bosses at work, by political party or government officials that demand adherence to their philosophies, and above all - by spiritual leaders that demand compliance with their teachings.
If you are stuck in any of these situations - learn to think and act for yourself.
If the oppression is too great to overcome - move.
Find a place where self determination is rewarded.
Private or home schooling - your own business - a different party or country - a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can always move back again if that is your decision.
Church is not a building. Church is not a local group calling themselves Christian. Church is not even an international movement that uses the word church in their name.
The Church is the corporeal unity of those that have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
There is no force or coercion used by God - he offers you the free choice of relationship. Man on the other hand loves to create special rules, regulations, and inducements to draw you into their religion.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. - John 8:36
Christ can set you free from this world's systems.
Your relationship has been defined by God with certain characteristics - you are given the choice of entering into and leaving it at will. God has paid the adoption price to adopt you into his family - the question is - are you willing to join?
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. - Psalm 34:8
If you were raised in a church and are now disenchanted, it is probably man that disappointed you, not God. You may have even disappointed yourself, not fitting in with man's rules.
Consider God's offered relationship instead. Join Jesus Christ as part of his Church - not a man created church.
You do not need me, or another man, a book, or an (fallen?) angel to tell you how to act and what to believe.
In fact the Bible is simple enough it will take a dedicated person to mislead you.
Instead talk to God (prayer) ask him to have the Holy Spirit help you to understand his love letters (the Bible).
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. - John I: 10-13
The choice is yours.
A suggestion - subject to your choice of course - start with one of the New Testament gospels - Matthew or John - they tell you about Jesus the Christ.
Next read the book of Acts - it will show you the Church and how believers should act. Find a local church that acts like that - it will not be perfect - it is inhabited by people as subject to error as we are. They do need to try and follow God rather than bow to the traditions of men.
In all areas of your life the choice is yours - be a sheep following other sheep or discover, decide, and act for yourself. You may decide it is better to follow the good shepherd.
There is more work in discovery, it may get uncomfortable, but the truth must be sought by you and for you.
Others may guide - it is always your choice.
Please join us now in prayer:
Father God,
Thank you for loving us.
We ask you now for your help, send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we study your words.
We want to know you God.
We come before you to seek understanding of ourselves, by understanding you better.
Lead us
Direct us
Help us to find you
In Jesus Christ's holy name we thank you that we can talk with you now ---
-
In a cult there are strong leaders that will tell you what to believe and how to act.
It is the opposite of freedom and responsibility.
Many people follow the easy broad path as driven sheep.
Sheep led by demanding teachers at school, by bureaucratic bosses at work, by political party or government officials that demand adherence to their philosophies, and above all - by spiritual leaders that demand compliance with their teachings.
If you are stuck in any of these situations - learn to think and act for yourself.
If the oppression is too great to overcome - move.
Find a place where self determination is rewarded.
Private or home schooling - your own business - a different party or country - a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can always move back again if that is your decision.
Church is not a building. Church is not a local group calling themselves Christian. Church is not even an international movement that uses the word church in their name.
The Church is the corporeal unity of those that have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
There is no force or coercion used by God - he offers you the free choice of relationship. Man on the other hand loves to create special rules, regulations, and inducements to draw you into their religion.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. - John 8:36
Christ can set you free from this world's systems.
- yes we are sinners
- yes we need to repent
- yes we will still make mistakes
- God will not throw us out for mistakes, he will help us to escape and eventually to triumph over our sins
- our relationship is based on God's freely given sacrifice - not our hard work
Your relationship has been defined by God with certain characteristics - you are given the choice of entering into and leaving it at will. God has paid the adoption price to adopt you into his family - the question is - are you willing to join?
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. - Psalm 34:8
If you were raised in a church and are now disenchanted, it is probably man that disappointed you, not God. You may have even disappointed yourself, not fitting in with man's rules.
Consider God's offered relationship instead. Join Jesus Christ as part of his Church - not a man created church.
You do not need me, or another man, a book, or an (fallen?) angel to tell you how to act and what to believe.
In fact the Bible is simple enough it will take a dedicated person to mislead you.
Instead talk to God (prayer) ask him to have the Holy Spirit help you to understand his love letters (the Bible).
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. - John I: 10-13
The choice is yours.
A suggestion - subject to your choice of course - start with one of the New Testament gospels - Matthew or John - they tell you about Jesus the Christ.
Next read the book of Acts - it will show you the Church and how believers should act. Find a local church that acts like that - it will not be perfect - it is inhabited by people as subject to error as we are. They do need to try and follow God rather than bow to the traditions of men.
In all areas of your life the choice is yours - be a sheep following other sheep or discover, decide, and act for yourself. You may decide it is better to follow the good shepherd.
There is more work in discovery, it may get uncomfortable, but the truth must be sought by you and for you.
Others may guide - it is always your choice.
Please join us now in prayer:
Father God,
Thank you for loving us.
We ask you now for your help, send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we study your words.
We want to know you God.
We come before you to seek understanding of ourselves, by understanding you better.
Lead us
Direct us
Help us to find you
In Jesus Christ's holy name we thank you that we can talk with you now ---
-
posted by BFuniv | 9:23 AM
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