Lovely Children.

Religion. Denominations. Blah. Blah. Blah.

I'm tired of hearing the same old thing about what denomination someone is, or how "religious" or "not so religious" someone is. When someone asks me the question, "You're Baptist, right?", like that's really the only thing that matters. It really just makes my teeth itch. And don't get me wrong, religion isn't necessarily a bad thing.. But it certainly does not define who I am.  Yes, Christianity is my religion, but I am not labeled as religious. I am labeled as a Child of God, because that is exactly who I am. God did not make religions. He did not make Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, etc. He didn't intend for there to be boundaries. He made us. We are human. He breathed His own life into us and called us His lovely children, His prized possession, His wonderful creation.

Is any of this making any sense to you? Here.. Let me break this down for you..

Religion is a series of man-made procedures that satisfies the heart into thinking that growth is taking place. A relationship with Jesus encourages growth as you learn more about him and strive to be like Him. Religion is an opportunity to stifle the Holy Spirit into nothing more than a dance or a palm raised in the air because that's what people do around you. A relationship with Jesus helps you to understand the Holy Spirit's power. The same power Jesus used to cast out demons, heal people, and defeat death. Amazingly that same relationship enables the power to reside in us. How many times have you been told that God is a mystery when you have questions about the weather, tragedies, and why the birds always seem to know when to fly south? Religion sees God as a mystery. A relationship with Jesus, according to 1 Corinthians 2:10; But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. In fact, religion will often beg you to accept things without question. There’s no reason to search for the truth because we have steps to follow and works to complete. A relationship with Jesus tell us that He is the way the truth and the life. Therefore by growing our relationship with Jesus our questions will be answered. Religion prefers ministers, pastors, elders, and the people mentioned in the Bible to teach/preach/spread the word. A relationship with Jesus teaches that all men are the same. We are all ministers and are capable of advancing His kingdom. Religion will leave you asking questions, wishing you could change things, and will leave you very unfulfilled. A relationship with Jesus with help you find ways to change things, solutions to problems, and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Religion states money makes people evil. A relationship with Jesus shows us that He wants us to live more abundantly and it’s how the money is used that makes all the difference. Religion explains that people like Moses, David, and Solomon were very special people and that we would find it hard to surpass, or even be like them. A relationship with Jesus helps to explain all of the people set aside in the Bible were anointed by the Holy Spirit. Believers have the Holy Spirit within them. There is nothing that can hold us back. Religion teaching provides information about God. A relationship with Jesus enables us to actually know God.

Any clearer? We are nothing short of flawless to Him. He is proud of what He sees in us. You are His child. His love. His passion. His creation. We are His and He desires a true relationship with us. Get to know Him!


Praise God from whom all blessings flow.