9-7-15<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has told you, O people, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?\u201d<\/span> \u2013 Micah 6:8<\/p>\n When I was a college student, there were still such things as loyalty oaths. Students, teachers, applicants for many jobs in the government and the private sector, were required to answer and sign the following yes-or-no question: \u201cDo you favor the overthrow of the United States Government by violence, force, or subversion?\u201d As a young wise guy \u2013 now I am on old wise guy, not much wiser \u2013 one time I circled the word \u201csubversion,\u201d and added a note that I wished to avoid bloodshed.<\/p>\n Of course, it was not a multiple-choice question. I was no radical, and it was a reasonable question, especially in those times (maybe more so now, but that\u2019s for another message\u2026) and it was not right that my sense of humor eclipsed my common sense. <\/p>\n No less reasonable a question, and more serious, is the famous and favorite verse from Micah. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. Not a multiple-choice, and, overall, not a hard choice in life. Right? I am reminded, when I think on this verse, what always is right about God\u2019s will, and what often is wrong about organized religion.<\/p>\n What I hate about religion is that it turns the simplicity of God\u2019s message into a tangle of rules, conditions, qualifications, codes, and seeming contradictions. In fact, when theologians, clergymen, priests, and pastors get hold of churches and schools, of texts and flocks, oftentimes the contradictions are not apparent but real.<\/p>\n A quatrain (not from the Bible, but pertinent) I discovered and memorized in my youth says: \u201cAll the saints and sages who discussed\/ of the two worlds so learnedly are thrust\/ like foolish prophets forth; their words to scorn\/ are scattered; their mouths are stopped with dust.\u201d <\/p>\n Humans, who by our natures are lost and confused, and almost preternaturally, every one of us, yearning for truth and for peace and for Answers \u2013 we need simplicity. We fool ourselves that Complicated equals Profound. On such momentous matters as sin and death and afterlife, after all, doesn\u2019t it make sense that the way to the Truth be complex? \u2026 and that we need learned leaders \u2013 saints and sages \u2013 to show us the way? No: They invariably need to tell us the way, not show us the way. <\/p>\n And there we get back to organized religion. New rules get added to scripture, which the Bible says is unforgivable sin (and so is taking away anything in scripture). Remember that for more than a thousand years, believers were not allowed to read the Bible, or translate it to their native languages. People were taught that intercessors in Heaven were needed to petition, or thank, God. Way-stations between earth and Heaven that were never in the Bible were invented. Today, television preachers promise that \u201cseed money\u201d you send them will guarantee God\u2019s return blessings; and other rank heresies. Organized religion or organized rackets?<\/p>\n For those who are confident in having \u201cfound the way\u201d to God, no different with those who are lost and confused and wanting to find God \u2013 in other words, all of us! \u2013 everyone should realize that God is accessible. Knowing Him is easy. He is always as close as a shadow. Talking to Him is simple, not complicated; hearing from Him is clear, not a matter of superstitious mystery. <\/p>\n Oh! His commandments? Jesus\u2019s words? The Bible\u2019s directions? Yes, they exist\u2026 and thank God. He doesn\u2019t leave us helpless! But\u2026 He is not the Great Pretender, the Author of Confusion. His rules are few. They are for our guidance, and our happiness, our ultimate fellowship with Him. The Commandments are still wise and valid. The words of the Prophets, so many fulfilled, are lamps unto our feet. The teaching of Jesus? His words were surprisingly few, astonishingly full of wisdom, and directly for our salvation.<\/p>\n The essence of the Bible is found in so few words and passages that anyone might memorize them. The 10 Commandments (not the \u201c10 Suggestions\u201d) are rules we need. Micah\u2019s verse about doing justice and walking humbly. Jesus\u2019s summary of the Truth as \u201cLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength; and\u2026 Love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d To get to Heaven? \u2013 no classes, exams, ceremonies, or human blessings; only to Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord; and confess that God raised Him from the dead.<\/p>\n I am grateful for some human agencies in or out of organized religion. Much has been useful: the ancient creeds simply encapsulated the tenets of faith; Martin Luther recalled the Bible verse that by faith we are saved, not (complicated) works; Mother Teresa brilliantly told us that God does not care about our \u201csuccess,\u201d only our obedience. Clear teaching\u2026 genuine humility\u2026 patient praying\u2026 anointed teaching of God\u2019s word, not mankind\u2019s \u201cimprovements\u201d\u2026 service and sacrifice\u2026 quiet witnessing, even martyrdom\u2026 these<\/span> are the elements of Christianity that humans can receive and provide. The essence of the Gospel life, not the \u201cstuff.\u201d<\/p>\n It has been said, and truly, that religion is mankind reaching up to God, but Christianity is God reaching down to us.<\/p>\n Let us learn to distinguish between the artificial rules and the True Faith. One is confusingly complicated, one is refreshingly simple. One might be wrapped up in memories and sentiment, but the other opens doors to joy unspeakable. One can keep you from peace; the other delivers it. You can discern. If not\u2026 that is why God instituted the communication-channel of prayer; and why He sent the Holy Spirit. Such prayers, such questions, such seeking, never go unanswered by your Father in Heaven.<\/p>\n We are aware that many things in our lives are right or wrong, true or false. We know. Experience, if nothing else, teaches us many things. Are the important things in your life mere check-boxes in a multiple-choice quiz? <\/p>\n Is Faith in God?<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n The Gospel group Found Wandering sings its version of an old Stanley Brothers standard.<\/p>\n