Is ours a faith based on a rumor? Or are we experiencing God firsthand? Much of today's religious hype is founded on tradition or that of our forefathers... so in not wanting to bring shame on the family name we follow... and follow. But are we being honest in our "worship" ...or is it truly as the observants have said "faith is a fantasy" ...to serve those who have trouble sleeping at night.
Other observable "truths" are there for the onlooker, who contemplate this "WAY" we call salvation, it is the actions of those possessing this wonder full "life" and how they pass it on. Take for instance the "giving" done in Jesus' Name. Much of it is the gifts of the worn-out or ready to be thrown out...
"gifts" in Jesus' Name... not those things that are valuable or precious. Rarely would one find someone going out to buy something new to give the poor... or keeping the old vehicle and giving away the new... face it, we are more important than the homeless, we deserve better... after all we are the "diligent ones" that have saved, and not squandered our possessions....
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40
...NOT only is our faith second hand... but our "offerings" appear to be as well! SO we find ourselves at times in a deficit... and we in a panic search out those pro's of faith to get us back on track... those "holy handlers" to revive us, and sooth our aching souls. As the author of the book
Secondhand Jesus Glenn Packiam states, we start looking for shortcuts to God. Feeling somewhat relieved or inspired by another's experience...
when what we are needing is our own personal experience and faith in Christ that cannot be substituted.
THE "freethinker" has only to follow the masses before him, following a similar free thought of finding their "own way" to God... on the surface it would appear to be logical, yet one should look more carefully at the results of such quests. IF one were to "find" their own path... wouldn't one consider the destiny before the outset? OR wouldn't one consider if "their path" was already traveled and worn by others... thus an objective look into the results of such a journey be worthwhile? Even the Bible states clearly that we must observe first the lives of those "leaders" before considering a similar destiny, the Apostle Paul wrote...
"For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
1 Corinthians 4:15
...careful then, who you imitate or follow with on your journey to God. Best to be a firsthand follower of the Almighty, than a secondhand believer. ONE thing is certain, if you get your information and your experience directly from God, regardless of the outcome... at least it will be honest.
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near"
Isaiah 55:6
The book Secondhand Jesus, intro by author Glenn Packiam...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhXBKhTgy...
UPDATE - 13 months ago
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
1 John 2:15-17
UPDATE - 2 months ago