“Crucify Him.” (Luke 23:21 NLT)
The religious fundamentalists wanted to crucify Jesus, because they saw him as a threat to their way of doing things. Things haven’t changed much in two thousand years. We are still sacrificing Jesus in order to propagate and maintain the corporate religious establishments of our time.
“If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle—we must be spiritually real.” (My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)
A religious lifestyle gives us an air of respectability and morality. It may even provide social and business opportunities. Spirituality is more intimate--thus, it is not conducive to public displays, corporate ceremonies, social hierarchies, or fundraising. While religiosity connects us to other like-minded people, real spirituality allows us to commune with God. Even though we have sacrificed Jesus on the altars of religious establishments, He will continue to rise up in the dark recesses of our heart.
“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” (Mark 16:6 NIV)
Today always makes me feel so sad and without a doubt reaches deep inside the core of who I am as a spiritual being for how horribly Jesus was treated and made to suffer for us. A man who walked the earth wanting nothing but peace for one another and for us to believe in God Almighty was crucified because of someone else's opinion.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about it not changing in 2,000 years. People are still dying horrible deaths in the name of religion.
I am not a religious person. I am a spiritual person who believes in Jesus and believes in His Father, God as sure as my name is Laura Shirley Brittain Stavro.