Religion is the enemy of Relationship

What?  Can I say that?  Is this hypocrisy?  I am certain there are those who will read the title of this post and launch into a rage!  At least those who love religion more than they love relationship with the one who they claim is the father of religion – Yahweh.  I know of few of them.  Are you ready for this?  Yahweh is not the father of religion, He is the father of relationship.  It is in Him that we live and move and have our being, not in the legalism religion has created and bound the helpless to.  When did religion raise up men and woman who made Yahweh’s name great instead of their own?  When did religion take a stand and not compromise when the crowds were dwindling to nothing?  When did religion hold anyone accountable for their actions and become a voice of truth instead of a voice of compromise?  When did religion do something for someone else without looking for a little glory of it’s own?  Although I am thankful for what religion intends to do, I am very grieved over what religion refuses to do.  Religion will not lead people to sonship.  Religion will not stand up when the crowds are offended and begin fading away.  Religion will not stay the course when there is an easier road on the left or right.

Religion is the enemy of relationship because where religion fails in that it does not accept that people become joined by the Spirit of God, relationship succeeds by establishing bonds that cannot be broken by offense, distance, life, or death.  Religion is the enemy of relationship because where religion preaches laws to protect itself, relationship requires no laws and grows deeper through liberty in Christ.  Religion provides books and tradition, relationship provides a voice and a future.  Religion calls out those who judge while justifying it’s own spirit of judgement.  Relationship judges what is of this earth so the eternal judge, Christ, can judge what is of the heavens.  Yes, religion is the enemy of relationship.  Find your place in a ministry where there is a father who hears and speaks, and you will find a house where relationship will lead you to life!  Don’t be duped by what religion calls love.

What’s New?

Seems with so many laws changing that legalize what was once considered immoral and degraded, as a society we have fallen into the Sodom and Gomorrah mode. It’s a shame that the government of the most powerful nation is the world is also the weakest when it comes to upholding and securing a high standard of life and morality. Are leaders really leaders when they acquiesce to public opinion? Do they really deserve the right to possess the authority to govern when the only governing being demonstrated is the approval of all things debase? To comprehend that school systems bulging with children are enacting policies to promote lifestyles that once disgusted the sane is beyond compare.

So, I ask, what’s new? The answer is nothing. As a society we are repeating what was done millennia’s before us. We are killing babies, approving sodomy, encouraging immorality, and participating in lewd and lascivious acts. To think these things once had laws forbidding them. This is not about religion, or high society. This is about plain old truth. How far have we come as intelligent beings? Not far at all. God help us!

Accusers and Askers

Do you hear that sound? Listen closely. I hear it nearly every day and so do you. It is all the people who give the least and ask for the most. They are the accusers and askers.

I teach the principle of seed, time and harvest which simply means, if a man sows seed in some way, i.e.. time, finances, encouraging words; in time, he will reap a harvest of that seed. Fortunately, most people get it! It is revelation to them and therefore, they become sowers of seed and soon after, receivers of the harvest. These are the ones who do not give up because the harvest didn’t come the next day. They are those who planted when it was raining (easy) and when it was dry and desolate (hard). They understand that seed will produce nothing if it is not placed into the ground. Watermelons do not grow out of pockets and bank accounts, they grow out of fields where the seed was sown. I am not speaking only of money, yet, that is a big one to speak of. I am also speaking of one’s time, talent, gifting and skill. Those with the revelation of seed, time and harvest understand and therefore are blessed. They are the ones others look at with jealousy, disdain, and contempt. They are the ones getting the promotions, raises and accolades while the others continue to complain and accuse. Do you hear that sound? Is it familiar to you? Maybe if you are not hearing it, it is because you are making it.

There was a season in my life when I was strongly considering going into politics. I lived in Tennessee at the time and heard and saw enough accusers and askers to consider a political career in order to bring change. I thought if I could at least be positioned in secular government, I perhaps could enact legislation to quiet the noise. I met the woman who would be my wife and she encouraged me to stand down from that direction. Wonderful wife! We’re happily married eighteen years now, and she still encourages me to stand down on many issues unless I can sneak one by her. Such as this. I have found, not because of ministry, mind you, but through my life, that those who are always asking for the most, always do the least. They accuse him who is doing of growing up with a silver spoon in his mouth, or being lucky, or connected to the right people, or whatever, while asking for handouts from that same doer. When a handout is given, the accuser and asker aren’t thankful, after all, it was the doers responsibility to provide for the lazy, unfaithful, ungrateful, unbelieving slug that he is. For example, I have sat with people in my office who have found every way to not pay tithe, even arguing it’s scriptural significance. Yet, when they have a need, they do not think twice to ask for help from those who do pay tithe. This is the reason why at The Rock, if one does not tithe and sow seed for a harvest, when that one is hungry and cold, there will be no food or blanket. There is a consequence for sin and disobedience. Hunger and cold. Unfortunately, the church has overlooked the consequences of disobedience in men and catered to their lawlessness causing a splurge of accusers and askers to proliferate throughout the church. Not at The Rock. There is grace for those who are learning, but severe consequence for those who are perpetually lawless. At some point all of us must recognize the accusers and askers and stop feeding their sin. In time, if they have an honest heart, they to will come to the revelation of seed, time and harvest.