Inherently Flawed

Guess what? I'M BACK!!! Happily married and settled. Things got a little crazy there in the last few months, but now, I am ready to get back in that glorious game of politics, religion, and the continious commentary of life in general. Did you miss me? :)

So, let us begin.

For my own reasons, I have chosen to start the year off with a discussion on faith and religion. I know I discussed in some detail the difference as it pertained to American politics, but today, my focus is a little more personal.

People seem to think that faith and religion are the exact same thing. There is a huge difference. Let me explain.

Religion is an organized set of beliefs and laws, usually centered around a single belief system.

Faith is personal. It is what someone believes outside of religion, but can also correspond directly to that religion. Its a relationship.

Here is where it gets a little messed up. Religion, being that it is a construct of humanity, is inherently flawed. It is meant to satisfy an unfillable void. But, being that it is flawed, it is incapable of doing what it was designed to do.

Faith, however, is directly personal, and therefore only meant to takes place between a soul and God Himself. Its very different. The only thing able to fill that void I mentioned early is faith.

Now, lets have a conversation about Religion and Jesus and Faith.

When I say Religion and Christianity people tend to cringe. Here is why:

Christianity is a religion. And over and over again, unneccessary evils have come to pass in the name of Jesus and God. Wars are started, genocide happens. Its the same with any religion, be it Islam, Judaism or Hinduism. They all preach peace and good will to all men, but in the end, cause great pain and suffering.

That's because the system is broken. People mistake Religion for Faith. They mistake the outward appearance for the inward work of God.

This goes for everything. Religion causes people to put on a false facade of perfection, when all they while, inside they are screaming for more then religion can give them. They are unsatisfied, that void still unfilled.

Faith is deeply personal. It is real and completely honest. Faith is the thing that says "I have work that needs to be done in me." Not "I am completely done growing and perfect."

Faith is about God. It says "My walk is my own, and not dictated by the Church or by Religion." Not, "This is how I should act, so I will."

Faith is not a rule book. Its a way of life. Its completely open and honest about the work being done inside, no matter how unbecoming or unseemly the issue is.

God is not found in a church, or in a religion. People are. Before there was an organized religion, there was only faith. And this is why faith is more important. Because God is greater then a church building or a systematic set of beliefs. He operates outside of them. Religion seeks to put God "in a box" so that we can understand Him. And this is wrong.

Faith is about seeking God. Its about finding Him on our own, and filling that constant void that eats us all up inside. Because in the end, only God can.

Faith is about relationship. And we constantly seek that relationship with God. We seek something, so we go to the only place we think we can find it, when all along, we're just looking for God.

And really, how human is that?

Much love,

The Wondering Mind