My Testimony Against Religion

Let me get right to the point before my title gets me in trouble!

I asked Jesus into my heart when I was five years old while laying in my bed one night. I grew up in a Christian home and went to a Christian school until high school.  I was a good girl and always tried to do the right thing. I grew up trying to pray, read my Bible, and follow all the rules.  I truly had the right heart as a child behind all of my actions.

It was probably around 5th -6th grade when I started questioning the things that were being taught. It wasn’t God’s word, His truths, or Christianity I was questioning. It was all of the rules and regulations that the school I attended taught and some of the teachings from my church that I was questioning. I wasn’t mature enough in my faith to know that a lot of their regulations weren’t Biblical. Looking back, in my opinion, they were just a bunch of nonsense religious rules.

In 5th grade we had a Bible study on cartoons like Tom and Jerry and how those were bad. We were made to where dresses or skirts everyday. In 7th grade I had to go to the principles office multiple times due to my skirt not coming to my knees. If the school heard about us going to a movie or concert we would be in trouble. They never taught us the why of anything. There was no mention of modesty or pure thoughts. Just a finger shaking at us. These are just few examples in a big picture of legalism and religion that I started to rebel against.

As I got older into my preteen and then my high school years, adults were unable to keep things hidden as well. There were teachers having affairs, as well as people in authority acting inappropriately but still making you feel as though you weren’t worthy. We walked on pins and needles all the time. The ones who didn’t got kicked out of school.

When I hit high school I figured they were all a bunch of hypocrites.  I really didn’t want to go to church, pray, or read my Bible. I still believed and loved God with all my heart, but couldn’t live up to the pressure. Sadly, I did my share of drugs and alcohol. I was still one of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. I honestly believe that it is only because God had His hand on me and was still working on me and able to use me.

When my Dad walked out on our family my faith in people crumbled. Everyone was only out for themselves and wanted to point out why the person beside them was wrong.

When I married my  sweet heart at 18 God slowly started working on this rebellion that had developed in my heart. The past 5- 6 years have been a radical growth with God for me. He has taught me so much about what being a follower of Christ is really all about. I hope all the rest I will share can be an encouragement as to what it really means to accept Jesus as Lord of your life.

I see it over and over. People don’t want to go to church or hear anything Christians have to say because they call us hypocrites. I don’t blame you one bit. It’s true we have become just that.  You have Christians yelling about gay marriage all the while they are committing adultery. Religion and opinions have snuck into the place where GOD should be. I am here to say that this God we serve is a loving, forgiving, and merciful God. He is not up there sitting out hoops for us to jump through in order to make Him happy. When we try to please the Lord and make Him love us more we have missed the point entirely. There is NOTHING we can do to make Him love us  more. He died the most terrible death imaginable for us before we ever even knew Him.

So here is the truth about me and this mighty loving God I serve. I missed three Sundays in a row…so what, He still loves me. I haven’t read my  Bible in a week…so what, He still loves me. I said the word shit instead of shoot…so what, He still loves me. I am throwing the obligations I feel out the window and focus on the only thing that matters JESUS! Let Him lead and guide you to peace.

If you are a Christian reading this then lets stop talking so much and start living it out. These non Christians stopped listening a long time ago but they are always watching. Walk humbly when you mess up, because you will. And put that finger away when they mess up. Give patience, love, and forgiveness. That’s what Jesus did.

If you are not a Christian and are reading this. Don’t put your faith in us. We will let you down every time. Look to Jesus for your answers and your peace. He has been there waiting for you even if you were drunker than a skunk last night, He is there. Take His hand and let Him show you what He is really about. You will not be disappointed.

As of today I am happier than I’ve ever been and it’s only because of Gods strength in me. He gives me strength to stand up and speak when I need to and strength to lower my head, be quiet, and ask for forgiveness. I follow Christ no one else. He is my standard of living. For the rest of my life I only want to speak of goodness.

My convictions and rules for my family now are straight from the word of God and what I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to do.

Questions? Comments?  Subscribe and join me on this walk against religion and lets get back to what it is really about… Jesus!

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