The Pix Pixy

Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion from
Spirituality?

Religion is “absolute truth of life” of the physical manifested
world. It is Religion and not Spirituality which forms the basis
of the present society we live in. In the present the needs for
following a Religion being at its minimum… it is easy to
follow any Religion. Anyone… even a layman can follow any
Religion but not Spirituality?

What vastly differentiates Religion and Spirituality?
Religion… if it forms the core of the physical manifested
world… it is the Spirituality (the truth of our Soul within)
which upholds the values in the society. Without Spirituality
the physical manifested world cannot sustain for long but in the
absence of religion… the society can survive on its own.

It is Spirituality (the truth of our real self… our Soul
within) which forms the core of the cosmic world. The physical
manifested world is a reality in terms of the senses (which
guide every human being on its earthly journey). In the cosmic
world… our physical manifested world does not hold good for
there is nothing solid in the Cosmos. Everything in the Cosmos
is made up of the basic building block of the Cosmos which
comprise of atoms and molecules alone.

Religion is meant for passing of the physical manifested life in
a meaningful manner. Unable to understand the nature of God…
humanity has built for itself various religious centers all over
the globe. These religious centers are they a mosque, temple or
a church… provide a succor to the ever ailing society. They
quench the thirst of an average human being… one who does not
have time or the resources to contemplate directly on God the
Almighty.

Indulgence in Spirituality is not meant for the average human
being. To be able to fathom the depths of the Scriptures of the
various religions of the world (the core truths of
Spirituality)… one needs to dive deep into the pearls of
wisdom contained in the various sacred Scriptures of the world.
Spirituality is totally oblivious of a religion. In the field of
Spirituality one need not go to a mosque, temple or a church in
search of God. It is contemplation and only contemplation which
shall lead one to God the Almighty.

Spirituality (contrary to religion) is all about the spirit
existing within every human being neigh every living being (Jiva
as we call it in Hinduism). It is truth of every life prevailing
on Mother Earth. It is the real self of us which exists within
every living being since the birth of that body in the form of
an individual soul. Spirituality and Religion are the two
fundamentals of life which every living being is required to
follow simultaneously.

One can live without Religion but not without Spirituality for
Spirituality forms the core of very existence of every living
being. It is the spirit within every human being that we exist
as a physical form on Mother Earth. We may or may not indulge in
understanding Spirituality or a Religion but inherently every
living being pursues the path of Spirituality in every
manifestation. Spirituality is that fundamental of life which
cannot be ignored by one.

To be able to understand the basics of the Spirituality (not
religion) one needs to understand the underlying meaning of the
various sacred Scriptures existing on Mother Earth. Whatever our
religious masters teach us on the physical plane may not be a
truthful representation of whatever is contained in the sacred
Scriptures. Many commentaries may exist related to a particular
sacred Scripture but all may not be correct or rightly represent
the facts contained therein.

To be able to interpret the sacred Scriptures correctly one
needs to understand the inner meaning of the core teachings
contained therein. Spirituality in other words can only be best
understood from a realized master. Only those who have reached
the level of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet
Mohammed can deliver the humanity of its ills.

On the contrary going to a temple, mosque or a church can
provide temporary succor to the ailing humanity but it is only
Spirituality which can provide a permanent relief. Religion
provides relief in day-to-day life but Spirituality liberates
one forever from the cycle of birth and death. Religion is
primarily a following of an enlightened master… it is only the
correct interpretation of his teachings that one can follow
spirituality to its logical end.

Buddhism Religion relates to the teachings of Gautama Buddha.
The Islamic Religion is based on the teachings of Prophet
Mohammed. Jainism (which can not be rightly called as a Religion
but a way of life) is based on the collective teachings of the
various Tirthankars (enlightened souls). Similarly Christianity
is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Following the teachings of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus
Christ or Prophet Mohammed… One can definitely reach the
higher portals of Religion but to become one like Mahavira,
Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed one needs to
understand the core teachings of the realized masters themselves
in a totally unadulterated form.

In a nutshell, if we desire to understand the fundamentals of
life itself and reach the end of the cosmic journey… we need
to understand Spirituality in totality. And on the contrary if
we desire to live the present physical manifested life in the
best manner possible then following the dictates of Religion
alone would suffice.

What is going on in the world? To answer that let’s examine the Christian image of our Heavenly Father. We will do this through a backwards scrutiny process. That is: we will begin where we are and look back into the history of our belief to find a foundation for our faith. In effect we are starting at the top of the house and examining the structure downward until we reach the foundation. Our objective is foundation identification. Our foundation is our Father.

I am going to start by referring to the book of Matthew. Jesus must be the root of our study because therein is the answer to our quest for understanding of our birthright and heritage. Jesus referred to us as seeds sown in the field of the world. He said those seeds that are good are the sons of the kingdom of God. He said that at the end of the age we would shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father. (Matt. 13:37-43) Further he told us that we should not worry about our lives but search for and seek the Kingdom of our Father. (Matt. 6:25-34) Jesus spent a great deal of time on this matter. It is contained in one of his longest surmons. He said we must struggle to understand, we must make an effort to incorporate these spiritual things into our very being. (Matt. 7:7-12) The very thought implies we must spend time thinking and pondering things beyond our physical capabilities. We must learn of our spiritual heritage through struggle. Not struggle in the physical sense. That is; not in combat, but in mental struggle, in our minds.

Jesus told us he and his Father are one. (John 10:29-30) Jesus said he was in the Father and the Father was in him. (John 10:38) He said that in our Father’s house are many rooms and he has gone to prepare a place for us. (This place having been prepared already after his death and resurrection. We need only accept this as our relative position in the universe.) He said we know the way to the place were he is going. (John 14:1-4; John 12:50) He was saying he and our Father were one when he said “if you really knew me you would know the Father.” (John 14:6-7; 14:10-14)

Now comes the really important thing that Jesus himself said that stipulates that we are members of the body of God! Jesus said that we would realize that he (Jesus) is in his Father and we are in him (Jesus) and he (Jesus) is in us. (John 14:20) I could, and probably should, rest my case here. I will not though, after all, I am a writer. I will continue to assert the strength of the spirit of our Father and its influence in our lives and the impact of such on the entire planet. The contingency of this entire life form renewal is this: obey Jesus’ command! (John 15:17)

Jesus said over and over that he would be raised because he had a command from the Father that he would do. This command was to lay down his life for those chosen and to take it back up again.

Jesus prayed shortly before his death that we would be brought into complete unity with him and the Father. (John 17: 20-23) Isn’t it clear? For Jesus this was not a matter of faith but of knowledge! He was certain! He knew! He needn’t have faith that he was the Son of God! He knew it! He realized we must have faith that we are the children of God, but certainly he gave us enough evidence to assume the facts are the facts. If we don’t accept this then we do not accept Jesus (do we?). For that purpose He left the Holy Spirit to guide us.

This is the mission of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not a part of God in the sense that it is a third entity in the trinity. The trinity is a doctrine thought up by the early Catholic Church that was an attempt to explain the presence of the Holy Spirit in the discussions of Jesus. The early Catholic Church had something when they described God in a Trinity and it has stuck through the years. I am not going to argue the validity of the doctrine however, Jesus never said I and my Father and the Holy Spirit are one! Likewise, you cannot separate the Holy Spirit from Jesus and God so, why argue about what you call that special relationship?

The Holy Spirit is:

* the glue that binds the body of God together.

* structure that connects the cells.

* the DNA of the God head.
* the comforter around your shoulders that says you belong.

* the indescribable knowledge of things you have not experienced.

* the share of the love of God that envelops you.

* the protocol converter that allows your soul and spirit to pray uninhibited to God.
* the conversion method that builds you into the full measure of the unity.

* the presence that warns you of danger and rewards you for things done in secret.
* the path on which God sends his peace and love.

The Holy Spirit is not:

* a ghost that travels from individual to individual.

* an entity that descends on you only in the presence of the TV evangelists.
* a member of the council of God.
* a messenger boy.
* a telecommunications link to dial when it is your will.

* a ticket to pass go and control God’s actions.

Jesus referred to the kingdom of Heaven in nearly every parable. Usually beginning with:

“The kingdom of heaven is like …”

Usually, he told of its similarity to a farmer sowing seeds or of something growing. The problem is that the early church (after experiencing phenomenal growth and severe persecution) let the power that was awarded them through spiritual growth go to their heads. (Remember: We grow spiritually in direct relation to the number of people that we influence toward the knowledge of God! Toward the gospel … that the Kingdom of God is near. We grow with the number of seeds of this type we plant.) These early churches began developing laws and councils not to establish new and more efficient ways to share the gospel that the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15) was near, but to usurp the power of God on earth and exert control over the humans themselves.

You and I must pay the price for this inconsiderate and arrogant behavior to this day. This behavior is referred to in the Bible as prostitution because the church, in so doing has subjugated itself to the governments of humans. It is no longer spreading the love of God but hoarding gold into their own treasuries. They have placed their treasure on earth and therefore their hearts on earth as well. They have allowed themselves to become the puppets of the governments and not the measure of it! Now; at long last; only in the end, do they begin to see that the ones thought to be their servants are actually their masters! What a sad day for them. It is as though they were drunk. They have lived off the money they have extracted through guilt placed religiously on the masses. They have increased the burden continually harder and heavier constantly taking more under the guise of good works until they have squeezed the life from the people. The people having been drained by the governments and by the religious groups calling themselves churches have grown callused and cold and incapable of trusting or loving. How can we trust these organizations to teach us who God is? How?

Don’t you see? Have you never read in the Bible where God had already worked mightily among the gentiles without the exertion of the Hebrew laws? The first vestiges of this human need to control were shown when the disciples from Judea were telling new believers in Antioch they would have to be circumcised to be saved. God didn’t impose that on them! What gave the humans the right to? (Acts 15) Who was to say what was impure and immoral? If God gave his spirit to these new believers who were these humans to issue controls? Jesus left only two commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might; and love one another. (Matt. 22:37-39) Just go sow the seed without judging or imposing laws … let the King worry about weather someone is dressed properly for the wedding. (Matt. 22:8-14)

So, let us get back to God. Who is God? How is he formed?

“Yet to as many as received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

The original apostles basically rejected Paul, who was called after Jesus had risen, due to his doctrine. Yet his letters have survived to this day. None of the apostles had more anointing from God than Paul did and certainly none had more vision. None seemed willing to accept God’s will to free human kind.

Paul teaches us we received the spirit of son-ship not fear. He told the Romans that if we were sons we were also heirs and if heirs, co-heirs with Christ. How can we argue with chapter eight of Romans? (Rom 8:28-30) If Jesus and God are one and Jesus and we are one are we not one with God? Or at least is that not the ultimate goal of God’s will? If then Jesus is one with God and yet still maintains his independent identity do we not also maintain ours after we have reached that glorified state? If Jesus maintains his independent identity (yet shared throughout our Father) then our Father must be a being constructed of many cells of independent identities purified and glorified! How can we continue to set our Father on some thrown in outer space? How long before we embrace him and let him take us into his embrace? How long must we maintain this adolescent arrogance that separates us from our Father?

Our Father … is just that! He is our Father!

Haven’t we been told our bodies are the temple of God, because God lives in us? (1 Cor. 3:16) How can we continue to think of ourselves as mere pawns and servants in a game of life that does not accept us? How can we continue to be encumbered by the physical burdens put on us by churches, governments, and the media?

If we are part of a body unit (as we are referred to in the very Bible we hold as truth) and so it is with Christ (1 Cor. 12:1) is it not so also with God? There is only one God. Only one Father. Only one body. Only one faith. Only one spirit. Over all, through all, and in all. (Eph. 4:4-6) It is impossible that our heavenly Father could have spawned a child different than himself. Jesus told us over and over that the Kingdom of heaven was like a farmer sowing seeds. He told us over and over the fruit would be of the same species as the plant on which it grew. But even earlier in the Bible there is evidence that everything God created brought forth after its own kind! (Gen. 1:11-12, 1:21-22, 1:24-25) Most important of these was in Genesis 1:27 when God created man in his (God’s) own image. This did not indicate that man looked like God! What one activity of creation set man apart from the remainder of the creatures and plants? We find the answer in Gen 2:7 where our Father breathed into our nostrils the breath of life. Not the breath of physical life, the breath of the spirit of our Father. This is the same breath; the same term; used in those last days of Jesus (after the resurrection) when he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22) Jesus was in actuality the redeemer of the human race because we lost the spirit of God in the fall of man when Adam disobeyed the commands of God.

As time passed and humans became more dependent on the physical solution; they lost all spiritual contact with the Father. Men relegated Our Father to a far away and distant kingdom. In effect (as a result of fear and guilt caused by disobedience) men created god! Whoa! What am I saying? I am saying only this … humans created the box that put our Father off in the far reaches of outer space … I am saying Adam rejected Him. Remember God used to walk and talk with Adam in the Garden of Eden. It was after Adam disobeyed that he (Adam) began to hide. He (human-kind) has hidden ever since. We still hide today.

Romans 11:32 reads that (you need to read all of Romans) God bound all humans to sin so that He could show mercy to all humans. Our Father in his infinite love for us sent another to redeem us from that sin. Because of this, we cannot say “I earned it!” or “God owes me!” There is only one way that God allows the bondage of sin (that He bound humans in) to be removed and that is through Jesus. This Jesus was the second Adam who did obey and conquered death and breathed into us the living spirit the second time! We can’t be good enough to earn our place with God. God will not allow it. If we want to be with Him we must accept the way He provided so that we cannot take credit away from Him. He will not allow us to place ourselves on an equal footing with Him. If you don’t like that, get over it!

Didn’t Jesus say He and the Father are one? If He and our Father are one yet different members, isn’t it true that God is also one as well as many members? I don’t say this to simplify God nor to reduce his deity! Don’t condemn me until you have allowed the spirit to open your eyes to the immensity of the potential! Do you think for a minute that our Father quit creating worlds when he created ours? Do you think for a minute God was created by humans and limited to their measly little calculation capabilities? Do you think for a minute the Father of our spirits is limited to just those things you can see? Get real! (1 Cor. 12:12-30)

God is love. If this is so (and I believe it is); then love never fails, keeps a record of wrongs, and is not easily angered. (1 Cor. 13) Does this imply that God is a blob, a cloud of entities floating around the cosmos making all who come in contact feel good? Not! Our Father is a body closely knit together by the Holy Spirit. Take a minute and read John 17.

As Jesus is our head so our Father is Jesus head. There is a government within the body of God. (This is a mystery still because the generation of the eternal Father pre-existed our generation and has not been revealed to us. I suspect because it is none of our business (yet). Be aware though that a body such as this with total and complete love and communication grows in power, strength, and glory exponentially through the sowing of the seeds of the gospel and harvesting of the souls of the chosen!) This is why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.” (Matt. 23:36) Why do we continue to limit our Father to a box in outer space? Are we one body or not? Are we sons of God, or not? Do we believe or not?

Isn’t it clear? By boxing our Father up in our own minds … by creating a window through which we will allow ourselves to view him … we are not limiting God … we are limiting our ability to accept his love and grace. We are pushing him away with our own hands and preventing his love from enveloping us.

Here then is my faith: That my Father (whom I love) has extended sufficient love toward me to include me in the body of Christ (which has become the body of God … because Jesus is IN God and God is IN Jesus). I will do my best to be worthy of that honor. I have HOPE because I know that the grace provided for me through Jesus is sufficient to cover the gap between who I am now and who I will be. Further, I have the peace that comes with total confidence that my Father’s intervention and investment is sufficient that he will not allow me to be taken (against my will) from the body. I know that my will is to do his will. That is to say; my will is to fulfill the command left me by Jesus. That command is “Love one another”. Jesus, having fulfilled the command our Father gave him (Matt. 26:42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42), has overcome time. Time was forced to acknowledge him its master when he was resurrected. Therefore, the time of Jesus life though non-synchronous with our own still includes us not only now, but in the past and in the future as well. That is to say that though I was unworthy I am worthy because the will of our Father was fulfilled through the obedience of Jesus. Since Jesus obeyed our Father’s command I can be justified through him. What a spectacular gift! Our Father has bestowed his kingdom on us and provided the method both to mature us and protect the kingdom from our disobedience in one single act!

I leave this final evidence: We are all sons of our Father through faith in Jesus; all of us who have been initiated into Christ; have been clothed with Christ. There are no races. There are no sexes. There are not bosses. We are all one in the body. We are all heirs with Christ. Even though we are heirs, we have been treated as employees; because we were too young spiritually to be afforded the position of our birth. Likewise, as children, we are subject to the fantasies and principles of the world. Our Father though sent Jesus (his son); born of a woman (so that he would also be flesh as we are); to rescue our spirits. He redeemed our spirits so we would be able to receive the full rights of sons. Because we are sons, our Father sent the spirit of his son (Jesus) into our hearts. That spirit calls out “Dad! Father!” We are no longer slaves to the laws! We are sons! We are the offspring of God; when will we accept this and begin to act like it? (Gal. 3:26 - 4:7)

Redeem means to rescue, ransom, or liberate from captivity. As children we hide from the potential punishment we believe is pending due to our guilty feelings brought on by our disobedience. (Additionally, the prosecution (the devil) sits at our side and accuses us of sins, to the point that we defy reality and turn our backs on the potential of our birthright.) The truth of the matter is that our only disobedience can be, not loving each other and not loving Him!

Our Father has given those to prepare God’s people for unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Don’t you see? As we continue to grow in love we also grow into him who is our head! We grow into Christ. That’s right! The same Christ who is one with God. (John 17, Eph. 4:12-16)

This is a very simple choice: continue in the struggle with ceaseless lust for more possessions and sensuality; thereby clouding our comprehension and separating ourselves from a life with our Father … or … love each other and grow into the unique and complete oneness with him! (Eph. 4:18-19)

Our Father … God … has invited us with all vigor to grow up! Our Father has given us a way to become one with him through Christ! What are we waiting for? Let’s do it!

Finally, as we mature spiritually, so also does the anti-body (the anti-Christ who is probably also of the seed of Abraham). We should be happy, as the world seems to become more embroiled in the anarchy that persists. It is inevitable that these things happen. I wanted to explain what was happening as best I could before they did.

# # #

Tim Tuohy is a senior designer for mainframe systems at one of this country’s largest railroads. He is assigned to the Communications Server Support group. He is an honorably discharged, decorated veteran of the Air Force. His extensive training and education, as well his travels throughout the North American continent, bring reality and excitement his novels and stories. His accomplishments include many highly technical designs and installations. He lives outside Atlanta where he is working on a new novel.

If someone came to your church, claiming to be called to build
churches both spiritually and numerically (offering no special
programs or gimmicks); you could see it their heart’s desire,
the Holy Spirit compelling them (I Jn. 5:6b), and every step of
instruction was scriptural … would you receive them?

If a prophet came to your front door, with glorious visions for
your future and they, not only proclaimed God’s message with the
veil of the Old Testament removed but, was willing to be the
person in the forefront; going through all the fires and floods
to show you how (fulfilling scriptural evidence that their gift
was real) … could you believe them (Is. 49:4, 7)?

If someone could interpret the misunderstood writings of Paul,
to guide you into the experimental administration; where Jesus
is truly the head of the church … would you still want more
proof (II Co. 13:3)?

If God rose up murders, adulterers, terrorist, and such to
places of special service (as He did the great men of old) …
would you be like the Pharisees, requiring signs from Heaven
(when they had already been provided in the scriptures)? Or,
would you be like the Greeks, relying on your own wisdom; with a
hundred reasons why God’s Word does not count for today (I Co.
1:22)?

God keeps His Word in that He will never walk over the heart of
man to accomplish His purpose. No apostle, no prophet, no
Savior, no calling has any power with man; except they first be
received by faith (II Co. 1:24).

If you want to see the works of Jesus, the power of Jesus, and
the truth of Jesus in their lives one, first, has to believe
they are a messenger of the Lord (Mt. 23:39); and faith without
works is dead.

For every action contained in the scriptures, there is a
reaction. First, ‘trust’ God (believe Him), ‘try’ Him (take the
step of faith), and then God will ‘prove’ He is who He says He
is.

Might we also require proof of Jesus, causing Him great sorrow,
and risk forfeiture of our blessings (Mk. 8:11)? Or, could we
accept the proof already provided in the scriptures and reap its
reward?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I
send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that
sent me.”

John 13:20

© by Joyce C. Lock http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/

This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIES

A fool’s paradise

Gal.5:26(The Message)
“That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”
Rom.12:6(The Message)
“let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.
If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else;”
1 Cor.15:10(KJV)
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Psalm 139:24(KJV)
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Prov 22:2(KJV)
“The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.”

The common folly of mankind is to exalt the creature above the Creator. One result of this folly is self-centredness that gradually or suddenly leads to the destruction of self and others.
When one tries to be what God has not made one to be or when one tries to be what God has made one to be without God’s help,one is really living in a fool’s paradise!
The fool’s paradise is that virtual world in which one wants and works to be ‘a clone’ of others(inferiority complex) or where one wants and manipulates others to be one’s ‘clones’(superiority complex).
‘A clone’ is a person who is re-inventing himself/herself to conform to the image of someone else,the latter could be a pop idol or a charismatic leader or a local hero/heroine.
In other words,the former is trying to fulfill the destiny of the latter instead of his/her own unique and original divine destiny.
This subtle and cruel process of ‘cloning’ sends the destinies of the former(victims) into the graveyard after their originalities have been deformed.
Each person has a divine destiny that is unique without being superior or inferior to that of another person despite differences in background.
Each one should celebrate the divine destiny of another person without envy,pride,or bitterness.

But there is still hope for anyone with a so-called lost or dead or buried or imprisoned destiny!
All it takes is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life(John 11:25).
It is only Jesus Christ who can give life and freedom to the real person within these victims so that their originalities are restored and they can fulfill their divine destinies.
The first step is to repent of one’s sins and receive Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Saviour(John 1:12).

When one is in Christ,one has to be Christ-centred as empowered by the Spirit of God so as to preserve and demonstrate one’s restored originality in conformity not to the world system around(Rom.12:1-2) but to Christ within(Rom.8:29)upon the throne of one’s heart.

For those favoured by God to be mentors or role models for others,the love and fear of God within is the only force that restrains one from making the latter(proteges) into clones(1Cor.11:1).
The proteges should be encouraged to fulfill their own destinies primarily to please their maker(the Lord God) who has entrusted them to the mentors.
And if one is guilty before God their maker for any kind of manipulation,one should repent now or face divine judgment later(Rev.20:11-12)!

For those who have their destinies restored,God’s love and forgiveness should be humbly and graciously extended to those who had wrongfully ‘cloned’ them(Eph. 4:32)!

Finally,now is the right time for anyone to leave the fool’s paradise and through the Lord Jesus Christ enter into one’s real divine destiny!!!

Rev. 4:11(KJV)
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

About the Author

A British-born Nigerian Christian writer living and working in London,UK
with website:www.firstloveministries.org.uk