My "Religion" Has Rules

With the new century, everything being available to us at our fingertips, there is nothing easier to obtain than instant gratification. We don't need to live by rules and at times we try to find ways to re-interpret even our governmental laws. There is no strict right or wrong, there is no good or bad beyond what we have established to be true.

Some may strongly disagree with this claim. I ask, who is it that creates what is right or wrong? Good or bad? Is there a congregation of professionals who get together and agree upon this? Is it society and government that have the right to conclude what the spectrum of right and wrong is? Some will create a distinction between Natural rights and Legal rights, do the cannibalistic societies do the same? I think in America, we hit the nail on the head with our founding documents:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Yes, my Bible and Creator has rules, but my point is not to argue who the creator is or what our rights are as humans. I'm here to explain the difference between living by rules and loving those rules we live by.

I've been asked before by a close friend, "Why do you live by a book of rules?" (Being the Bible)

I was bewildered for a minute because the question confused me. I don't live by a book of rules, I thought. But I had to step back and evaluate where the question came from; a friend who didn't understand Christianity.

My response was this: I LOVE that we aren't supposed to kill each other. To me, that is not a rule, it is a suggestion that provides for a better life for all parties involved. When I read the Biblical commandments, I don't see hindering rules to live my life by. I see suggestions and forewarnings to avoid certain actions that destroy your life. We humans are stubborn; we often find it hard to believe that certain things destroy life. Our flesh enjoys drinking and getting drunk, until we're sick the next day, overweight next year, and losing our liver in 10 years.

We enjoy indulging in many other instant gratifications like sex, food, money but we never slow down to realize the consequences of those actions, either immediate or long term. Sex with multiple mates leads to STD's, unfathered children, and a tortured mind that feels like the next man or woman will provide the happiness that we seek. We know what eating fast food leads to. And money, although many things cost money, it never leads to happiness but only to power struggles, fights and greed. It is difficult to overcome our desires and it takes discipline. But what we have to remind ourselves is that although my immediate desire is to indulge, my long term desire is happiness.

In my answer to the question; Christianity is not about rules. It is about a God who knows what a fruitful life is. It is a God who created life, love and happiness and He knows the best way to achieve it. Although our flesh desires the temptations of this world, our spirit will always hunger for something more until we find that which truly fills it: God.

"I will put My teachings within them, and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people." Jeremiah 31:33

Laws written on the heart, are not laws at all, but rather actions lived out of understanding, discernment, and love. Our God loves us and He knows more than anyone, that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

In Light of the News

For the past 24 years there has never been a day I could look back upon and honestly say, "God, where were you?"

Through every tough decision, every incident that was out of my control, every misfortunate occurrence, I've always been led down a path that turned away from pain and along a cleanly paved road. Sure there has been pain, and struggle but the journey is not of pain; it's of growing and moving into new chapters of life. It is the shepherd who fights to save his sheep, and surely gets bit by the wolf, but in the end, the shepherd still has his sheep, and the sheep still have their shepherd.

At first, it was hard for me to see the kind of life I am supposed to lead. This life, especially in Las Vegas, enjoys offering 'make believe' happiness; the occasional strip club, the drinking and clubbing, late night partying and sleeping around. But the truth is, none of those ever lead to happiness.

I gave my life to Christ a long time ago, but it wasn't until the past two years that I really understood what it meant. My flesh and blood came into this world desiring the things the world has to offer; some of those listed above. But never have I been more fulfilled than in the past year where I put aside the seemingly uncontrollable desires of my flesh and let God control my life. On July 21st, 2010, our video game studio was let go due to lack of funding; around 18 friends and colleagues jobless in an instant. The strange thing is, I felt the same thing on July 20th that I felt on the 21st. Peace. I knew that no matter the circumstances, the Shepherd takes care of me. I'm still ambitious. I'm still motivated and calculated and I'm still able to love and give despite the circumstances.

I don't know where I'll be in two weeks, or next month but at the very least, I know I have friends that will lend their couch. I have family that will share their food and I have brothers and sisters in Christ that will do anything to help pave the road God is leading my down.

It has taken me this long to get a blog started, although I have many blogs written on paper for no one to see or read. I apologize for my selfishness in not helping the rest of you with what I've learned. I'm truly happy in spite of my circumstances and I'm more excited now than I've ever been to where that path will take me next.

Be truly excited for change in your life. If your circumstances are out of your control, know that God has other plans and His plans are MUCh greater than your own. Let Him lead, as His paths lead to righteousness, but our own paths lead to destruction.

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9