What is that religion that sanctions, even by its silence, all that is embraced in the ‘Peculiar Institution? ‘ If there can be any thing more diametrically opposed to the religion of Jesus, than the working of this soul-killing system-which is as truly sanctioned by the religion of America as are her ministers and churches-we wish to be shown where it can be found.Sojourner Truth
Though it seems unfathomable, there was a time when so-called followers of Jesus justified the kidnapping, ownership, forced labor, separation from families, torture, and killing of human beings who were in no way different from themselves beyond the color of their skin.
Religion, as we see in this horrifying example from recent history, can easily misappropriate the name of Jesus and hide behind it a system of belief and practice that bears no resemblance to the name it takes in vain.
Such misappropriation continues full force today, albeit in more nebulous forms with vague boundaries. More clear is the racism that still unfortunately exists. Less clear, on the other end of the spectrum is the general failure of religious institutions that bear the name of Jesus to adhere to this hallmark of his teachings: love your neighbor as yourself.
How does this happen? How does an individual, group, or institution that claims to follow Jesus succeed in living and promoting a lifestyle diametrically opposed to the religion of Jesus, as Sojourner Truth sought to understand?
The source of the problem appears to be two-fold. The first is the wanton lust of the ego. The ego wants what it wants and, left unchallenged by the soul, will write any name – even that of God – on its shield as it marches forward to slay anyone or anything in the path to fulfilling its desires. The second reason is equally insidious but less recognized. It is this. The systematic reduction of Love God and love neighbor to endless rules and regulations meant to deflect attention from the target of love and legitimize a particular form of false piety.
Today, we are going to tackle the tough problem of misappropriation as it pertains to religion and attempt to ferret out any that may exist in our own hearts so that we may return to what matters: divine love.
Source Scripture
Through the Roof: Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
Connect
Twitter: @AwestruckPod
Email: info@awestruckpodcast.com
Extras
For the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth – that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love. ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
The meaning of life. Some say it doesn’t exist and you simply make your own way. Some say it does exist but must be understood and approached through a rigid belief system. Some say it involves achieving and conquering. Others say the meaning of life is to eat, drink, and be merry.
But some, like Victor Frankl, a Jewish survivor of the horrors of the holocaust, believe the meaning of life can only be found in love.
Today’s episode echoes Frankl’s conclusion as we review the stories from sacred Scripture that encompass our last six episodes together. Scene as a whole, they reveal the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of the divine God of the Universe as he relentlessly pursues us. And then, we he finds us and we open ourselves to receive his divine love, he shows us how to let it flow through to everyone else.
This flow of divine love into us, through us, and out of us to others is, as we will see, the meaning of life.
The topics that we covered in the last six episodes include faith, pride, calling, holiness, selflessness, and free will. So, where did we see the love?
Let’s find out.
Source Scripture
Take a Second Look: John 4:46-54
Pride Comes Before a Fall: Luke 4:16-30
Adventure Awaits: Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11
Wholly Holy: Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37
And You Give Yourself Away: Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41
Pursuing Free Will: Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44
Connect
Twitter: @AwestruckPod
Email: info@awestruckpodcast.com
Extras
The need itself is not the call. Charles Hummel – The Tyranny of the Urgent.
We have all been there. Overwhelmed by the tyranny of the urgent. By the weight of what is pressing. We cannot do what we want to do because we must do what we have to do. It’s enough to make you question whether or not you have free will. After all, if you simply “go with the flow”, and the flow is a roaring river of whitewater rapids carrying you unwillingly downstream, then free will takes a back seat to determinism.
If we have free will, why do we so quickly and easily choose to surrender it? Can we ever escape these incessant rapids, make it to peaceful shores, and set our feet on terra firma?
We can. But free will is not, as we so often think, an isolated exertion of psychic forces to empower a series of selfish choices. No, free will originates in the soul and exists as an ongoing call to choose that which sets us free to divine being.
Free will is a function of the spirit, and as such can only be pursued in the spirit. And because it originates from the divine God of the Universe, we can only exercise free will when our spirit is in communion with His. It is his will, not ours, that sets us free.
Anything else is indentured servitude to the ego disguising itself as free will.
Today, we will take a closer look at how to rejuvenate the powers of free will in order to escape the tyranny of the urgent.
Consider this your free will call.
Source Scripture
Pursuing Free Will: Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44
Connect
Twitter: @AwestruckPod
Email: info@awestruckpodcast.com
Extras