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
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Extras
