November 08
Shucking Religion
… I perceive in all things you are very religious….
Acts 17:22 (NKJV)
I have traveled to my share of dry and thirsty places. I remember driving on an elevated highway through Saudi Arabia one clear night. All around, strings of green neon lights on neighborhood mosques strained to rise above the crowded streets. At least a hundred of these lighted minarets pierced the black desert sky. It was obvious: these were religious people.
Often, I found myself in downtown Riyadh when prayer time would start or end. Hundreds of men would crowd through dark wooden doors or, at the end of prayer, come flooding out onto the dusty streets—in a hurry to get back to business or family. Again, it was obvious: these were very religious people.
Here in the States, I sometimes get a similar sense when I drive around town. At times, the numbers and sizes of churches amaze me. Many weekends, I will see people come pouring out of a church building anxious to get home to the game or a nice dinner. We, too, are a religious people … and so were the Athenians.
When Paul looked around Athens, he understood their problem: they had religion, but they didn’t have God. I think that’s true of a lot of folks today. Whether we live in Athens, America or the Middle East, we all face a common issue: will we follow the crowd or will we follow God?
Paul spoke to the pagans at the Areopagus and only a handful believed. Only a few turned to follow the one true God while the rest debated, ridiculed, and continued doing what they had always done. They thought they were doing their own thing, but really, they went the way of the crowd—away from truly knowing God.
What will we do when God’s message comes to us? Debate, ridicule, and go the way of the crowd? Or will we listen, consider God’s call and believe? Will we follow God to a better way—to a relationship … or will we cling to our man-made idols and ideas?
Religion—seeking to appease God—is nothing more than a dance in the desert. What God craves is relationship. In seeking relationship, we enter the oasis of God’s heart.
Father God, open our eyes to your truth. Help us to hear Your call and dismiss the religious sirens of this world. Amen.
To learn how to begin a relationship with God visit— http://www.eastmontchurch.com/Salvation/Default.aspx .
Shucking Religion
… I perceive in all things you are very religious….
Acts 17:22 (NKJV)
I have traveled to my share of dry and thirsty places. I remember driving on an elevated highway through Saudi Arabia one clear night. All around, strings of green neon lights on neighborhood mosques strained to rise above the crowded streets. At least a hundred of these lighted minarets pierced the black desert sky. It was obvious: these were religious people.
Often, I found myself in downtown Riyadh when prayer time would start or end. Hundreds of men would crowd through dark wooden doors or, at the end of prayer, come flooding out onto the dusty streets—in a hurry to get back to business or family. Again, it was obvious: these were very religious people.
Here in the States, I sometimes get a similar sense when I drive around town. At times, the numbers and sizes of churches amaze me. Many weekends, I will see people come pouring out of a church building anxious to get home to the game or a nice dinner. We, too, are a religious people … and so were the Athenians.
When Paul looked around Athens, he understood their problem: they had religion, but they didn’t have God. I think that’s true of a lot of folks today. Whether we live in Athens, America or the Middle East, we all face a common issue: will we follow the crowd or will we follow God?
Paul spoke to the pagans at the Areopagus and only a handful believed. Only a few turned to follow the one true God while the rest debated, ridiculed, and continued doing what they had always done. They thought they were doing their own thing, but really, they went the way of the crowd—away from truly knowing God.
What will we do when God’s message comes to us? Debate, ridicule, and go the way of the crowd? Or will we listen, consider God’s call and believe? Will we follow God to a better way—to a relationship … or will we cling to our man-made idols and ideas?
Religion—seeking to appease God—is nothing more than a dance in the desert. What God craves is relationship. In seeking relationship, we enter the oasis of God’s heart.
Father God, open our eyes to your truth. Help us to hear Your call and dismiss the religious sirens of this world. Amen.
To learn how to begin a relationship with God visit— http://www.eastmontchurch.com/Salvation/Default.aspx .
posted by Craig Soderquist at 9:37 PM
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