Overcoming the pain of Spiritual Abuse begins by first
understanding the difference between
Christianity and Religion.
Religion
Religion means "return on to bondage". It does not
matter whether you are Baptist, Methodist , full gospel, Mormon, Catholic or
Moslem . Religion of any kind is still religion, withers it is in the name of
God or Allah. Religions has many faces, but the same belief structure that
guides them, is not based on the reality
of a true relationship with God no matter how hard they try to justify their
actions and critical nature.
Religions tell a person that they must submit without
question to those that are in authority over the church. It does not matter
wither the person that they are submitting to causes more harm than good, as
long as they submit without question.
Religion views women as property, to be owned by a man.
Religion views all males as having ultimate authority over
females, even those that are not their wives.
Religion tells a woman that if she does not submit to her husband’s
authority over her, she deserves to be beat. It does not matter whither the man
is a monster and would beat her any way. As long as she submits even if it
means her life may be at risk.
Religion holds a woman personally responsible for her husband’s
infidelity. If she would make an endeavor to be sexy and loving, she husband
would not stray. On the other hand, religion also tells the women if he leaves
her she is expected to live the rest of her life alone or find herself condemned
by God for adultery.
Religions say there is one rule for men and one rule for
women. Men can do anything they want, a woman has to take what every he dishes
out and be happy about it.
Religion does not accept illness of any kind, unless you are
elderly and then it is expected. Confessing is seen as lack of faith in God
healing power. And illness that leaves you unable to attend church is seen as
laziness and lack of commitment to the church. Heavy people are viewed as being
filled with the spirit of glutton and lacking in carrying for their body and
hygiene. The poor have no place in religion for they are seen as a people that
God has rejected and a burden on the church, the rich are seen as being blessed
by God and an asset to the church.
Religion tells us that we most go to church or lose our
salvation. It also tells us if we go to church on Sunday, we are going to hell
in a hand basket. On the other hand, if we go to church on the Sabbath, we are
just as insured by religion to make the same trip to hell. In other words, if
we failed to enter the proper church on the proper day of the week we are bound
for hell.
There is not place in religion for a guy person, an
alcoholic, an drug addict, or bum that lives on the street, because they are
seen as someone evil As a result, they are treated as if they have a contagious
disease that might be catchy….
But then religion only looks and expects perfection in those
that attend their church. And only those that no how to outwardly cover up
their sinful natures and put on the deceptive mantle of perfection are accepted
with in their circle. I am not perfect, I have a sinful nature. I am also not
very good an actress to even begin to pretend that I am perfect in any way. As
a result, I never fit into any church denomination that I attended for over 40
years, no matter how hard I tired. But then, neither did Jesus Himself.
Christianity
Christianity is a relationship with God through, our Lord
Jesus Christ.
It is written in Acts 11:26: “And the disciples were first
called Christians in Antioch.”They were called Christians because of their
behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ. It was originally used by the
unsaved people of as a kind of contemptuous nickname used to make fun of the
Christians. It literally means, “Belonging to the party of Christ” or an
“adherent or follower of Christ.” Yet, other than in being used to describe
followers of Christ in Antioch, the word "Christian" is only the
Bible two other places (Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16). In 60+ other places in
the New Testament, followers are referred to as "saints"!
While the religious leaders of Jesus time, keeps the church
in bondage to rules and regulations they called church doctrines. Jesus
preached freedom! Freedom from rules that could not be kept no matter how hard
a person tried. Rules that cause more heart ache and pain, than they were
designed to do when God first gave the Ten Commandments to Moses along with a
set of rules for the Israelite s to live by . Rules that keep the Jewish people
under the thumb of the church leadership, while at the same time keeping the
gentiles out.
While the religious leaders of the Jewish faith preached
that they were the one true church of God and thus His only children. Jesus
taught the people outside of the church about Gods unconditional love and
acceptances. While the religious keep teaching about a God and His big stick.
Jesus keeps preaching about a God of forgiveness and mercy.
Today the church still has its sermons about God and His big
stick. And Jesus, through His great sacrifice on the Cross, is still preaching
about a God of Love, mercy, forgiveness to those that open their hearts to the
truth of the cross and are willing to open their hearts and mind to the truth
of His word.
Does our freedom mean that God does not hold us accountable
for our actions? Of course He does. But He is not concerned about the small
things like going to church on a regular bases, or whether you wear your hair
covered in church or not. Or whether you agree with what the pastors is
preaching from the pulpit. What He is concerned about is not the condition of
your own heart
True Christianity is not based on our religious convictions;
it is based on the condition of a person’s heart and on their personal
relationship with the Lord. If we are close to the Lord, and rely on Him to
teach us to love our neighbors as ourselves, then we will choose not to gossip,
criticize or condemn another person. In other words, we will follow His example
and be the light in the darkness that brings healing with it. We will not go
out of the way to condemn another person and their beliefs or lack of.