The four gospels are consistent with repetitive pattern; religion and Jesus do not mix.
This. Is. Their. Message. Of. Which. We. Are. Still. Learning.
The church, which is to be the body of Christ on earth today, has a fierce ongoing battle which must be faced. Yet, basic indifference has transpired. The light has gone out in much of the spiritual terrain for the Son of God has been placed by a religious ego of sorts known as "we do church right".
We are in desperate need for the Spirit of God to awaken us. Awaken us; not the unbelieving world, not the thieves and robbers and swindlers...but us! A growing picture is developing in far too many places which replicates the garden scene; Jesus praying while the disciples tip over in contented slumber.
Religion puts one to sleep in the midst of the very process of vital activity. The constant repeating of acts of worship gradually becomes that which is worshipped....not God....in all religions. Christ-ianity, on the other hand, is vibrant with anticipatory enthusiasm for the worshipper senses a reality of one's spirit connected to the reality of One's Spirit.
Imagination becomes fascinated as the heart engages in bringing God honor. One at this juncture has no taste for going through the church motions. The craving for the Higher cannot be satisfied by the habits of the Lower.
Religion is all about motions. We call a portion of it "acts of worship". The question for us is, "Are we genuinely, actually, actively worshipping God?" Indeed, this accomplishment is rewarding, renewing, and rebuilding. We must praise something (Someone) bigger than ourselves. Otherwise, we will continually be watching the one(s) better than us...and such a one(s) will eventually have a clay foot fall off.
It is a daily call, I believe, because it is a daily war to not let religion get in the way of Christ-ianity. I preached Bible too many years without preaching the Christ of the Bible. I had my slants, my perspectives, and my applauded/lauded stances; all the while, Jesus was not the centerpiece of ministry and labor. May we gain new momentum and then renewed momentum day by day.
Christ is to be the key in the term Christ-ianity. Religion and Jesus do not mix; but, oh how we still try to make the two fit into our preferred forms.
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