Sinful housework

[Aquila]

So at the judgment many religionists will be gearing up to see God judge them on how well they kept their little list of commandments. However, as each thought and action is reviewed, the eyes of God will be looking to see how each thought and/or action demonstrated that one loved Him by loving others. God will not be impressed with hairstyle, dress, ornamentation or the lack thereof. God will not note what church one attended. Nor will God be impressed with how "moral" one seemed to be. God will simply be looking for one thing... love. If a thought and/or action was grounded in a love for God and a love for others... one will be rewarded. If not... one will suffer shame and loss.

Sadly, for most religionists their little lists have become standards by which they judge others... not love others. In this there is a total reversal. What was intended to impress God through religious performance becomes the very thing that brings condemnation.

[Aquila]

I would also like to add... as it relates to the religionist and their little list of rules... they will be judged in accordance to the measure with which they judged others. You see... their list of rules has become the very yardstick by which God will judge them. Their degree of judgment against others who did not obey their little list becomes the degree of judgment through which God approaches how they obeyed/broke their own rules.

So... the more rules one establishes by which they measure themselves against others, the more requirements they have to have actually met and exceeded. The harsher they were on those who didn't embrace their little rules, the harsher God will be on their own inability to live by their own rules.

In a very real way... we set up the very context by which we will be judged. As for God... He is only desiring to see love. It is we who often want the rules and religion to feed our ego and sense of self worth. And so... God will honor our desire and give it too us, and judging us by our rules and religion in full measure.

[Aquila]

Think of it this way... one cannot stand before God and be condemned for being too loving or too forgiving. But one can be condemned for not having been loving and/or forgiving enough.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Think of it this way... one cannot stand before God and be condemned for being too loving or too forgiving. But one can be condemned for not having been loving and/or forgiving enough.

The same can be said for both holiness and righteousness.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Luke

The same can be said for both holiness and righteousness.

Depends on how one defines holiness and righteousness. Being loving, true to God, true to self, and being forgiving to a fault. To many... that is holiness. That is righteousness.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Depends on how one defines holiness and righteousness. Being loving, true to God, true to self, and being forgiving to a fault. To many... that is holiness. That is righteousness.

Not quite a biblical definition.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Luke

Not quite a biblical definition.

What is God with regards to His very substance? Love. Living love. And that is defined as being "holy". Love is holiness. And holiness is loving. Holiness has nothing to do with rules. It has to do with one's state of being. Are they loving or not? To love is to be holy. For to love is to be like God. No man can say he loves God and fail to love others. However, one can keep any list of standards and fail to love others.

[Aquila]

This is where religion and spirituality break ranks. Religion is often obsessed with traditions, forms, and fashions. However, spirituality is focused upon essence. The essence of true faith in God. What does it all mean? What does God truly desire? Religiously speaking, I'll get a different answer from every single pastor, church, or denomination (organization). However, spiritually speaking it's all boiled down to a single principle. Love. Yep. That simple. Ah... but is it really that simple? There are well over 500 different denominations and brands of Christianity, each with their little silly religious list of what will appease their "god". I say "god" because they believe God agrees with their conclusions. They have fashioned the living God into a "god" made in their own image. But God... the God who is love. The God of all creation who fills all things. He is something entirely different (the true meaning of being holy). It's so simple, yet 99% of Christians belong to one of these sects of Christian religion. So simple, yet each sect has missed it completely! lol

Think about it... why would God demand specific hairstyles? Why would God demand specific dress styles. Why would God demand that men not wear beards? Why would God demand that couples not wear wedding bands? All of these questions are no different than asking, "Why would God need a starship?" He's God. He simply desires that we be like Him. He is love. Therefore, God desires that we love. Ah... Love Him and demonstrate that love by loving others. So simple... but so hard to actually grasp without the leading of the Spirit.

[Aquila]

Also, I might need to explain a little more concering being conformed into the image of Jesus. Being conformed into the image of Christ is the standard. However, please don't equate this to being conformed into the image of the man Jesus Christ. He was Jewish and was born in Bethlehem. He kept all the Jewish rules, laws, and regulations as contained in the Law. We're not talking about that aspect of Him. Else we couldn't enjoy a nice ham sandwich. lol When we speak of being conformed into His image, we are refering to the image of the divine essence revealed in Him, God Almighty. The image of the risen and glorified Lord. As a result, we are not conformed into Messianic Christians who dress up and pretend to be Jewish to immulate the man Jesus. Instead... we seek to be living extentions of Christ's glorified identity, God Himself, in our own culture, time, and place.

So it's like this:

Religion: The keeping of rules and earthly standards in accordance to one's faith in the interpretation of an earthly man or institution. In this one is conformed into the image of their religion. When confronted with an issue, the religious ask, "What is the rule concerning this?"

Spirituality: Living in accordance to one's spiritual oneness with God Himself. Realizing and keeping the law of love (Loving God through loving others as one's self). In this one is conformed into the image and likeness of Christ. When confronted with an issue, the spiritual ask, "What action offers the greatest demonstration of God's love and person through us?"

[Luke]

Where does the Bible ever say that God's nature is love?