Some time back I had someone tell me about this famous person that they heard about and some of their accomplishments... after some time I just said that the one whom they were speaking about was someone I knew. With somewhat of a impressed look on their face I proceeded to describe how we had met and the relationship that we had.... so much for knowing about someone, compared to knowing that same someone.
THIS is the very difference of Religion vs Relationship.
Those who claim that they know personally the God of the Universe, come off as those who may have had their "tobacco" packages mixed up... yet they insist that it is true. By what means can we assess their experience or "delusion?" I had a friend say to me... "What ever helps you sleep at night" ...in essence saying that what I had was a crutch or some guilt pacifier in the religion that I was "mixed up in" and that it was my "truth" ...as others have theirs.
I have tried many things in my life, from the spectrum of drugs to other ways to self medicate... or irradiate those very things that were destroying me. Escapism is a fair way to describe what I was involved in... now for those who knew me best, this experience was just another escape. The one thing that was different though, was my inability to "Keep up" this religion... and soon I would abandon this dead ritualistic form, that conveniently occupied my space for a time. They were simply right.
As much as I wanted to believe that this Jesus experience was real and life-changing...
I eventually tossed it aside like a worn out pair of shoes... it was a sad day.
I had many "real" experiences in my life... real abuse and real pain! Real rejection and real betrayal... how would this be any different? I remember getting mad at myself for believing in God, I thought what a joke... "Who the hell cares anyway?"
...so why should I? Walking up to the nearest Bar I thought I am going back to what I do best... being vicious and careless! What better way to get back at it than to shoot-up with some "courage" ...nothing is going to get in my way ever again!
As I reached the Bar and opened the door... a smell of that particular "watering hole" permeated the air and I paused just long enough to get a whiff. There was no doubt in my mind that I was changed, though I didn't want God, I knew I could not deny that my life was not the same.... I may not have wanted God... I sure didn't want this. What was confusing was I could not go back or forward... I was paused, not like I was in decision, because I knew that I wasn't. I was paused in a state of recognition that what I had become, was strong enough to proceed back into the life I once lived, but this time it would be with my eyes open... knowing full-well what I was doing... you could say I was finally free. Free to choose... not having the "inevitable" choose for me, rather I could do what ever I wanted... the interesting thing was I didn't want the old life anymore.
Many testimonies I have heard of those, who like me have walked away from what they thought was a religion... only to find that they were in the middle of a relationship... with God Himself. See you can toss a set of beliefs aside, but if you are in a relationship... it is a bit more difficult to do. This too can be tossed... but what I found was, the more that I walked away, the more I was pursued... by someone... Jesus Christ.
I found that religion is a set of beliefs, and is more about WHAT you know or need to know. However Christianity is more about WHO you know.
THIS is somewhat hard for the "thinking" person to understand... assuming that those who claim to have a relationship with a dead "savior" are deluded; yet when considering their lives, one could not be further from the truth... this Savior is very much alive! You see that all proof points to the facts that I was finally "in my right mind' ...finally stable and in command of my senses. My life before Christ was in disarray and chaotic, and then transformed by an encounter... with my very Creator. IT makes perfect sense...
being first created, to then be recreated by Christ for purpose.