I understand the need for faith. It helps get people through tough times and provides a sense of hope for tomorrow and beyond. However, when religion gets into the mix, faith becomes something quite different, and it seems that so many religious people cannot differentiate the two.
I actually think that many of the people who define themselves as Christians often miss the mark when it comes to what the Bible teaches. For instance, it is recorded in Matthew 6:9-15 that Jesus instructs believers how to pray. It doesn't say to try to change God's mind or get him to bend to their will, but rather, to have his will done. Yet, I can't help but see such contradiction when I compare so many Facebook statuses from before the most recent presidential election to after it. An abundance of self-described Christians were praying that Obama would not get elected again. Some even saying it was all about God's will. After all, how could God want such a man in the White House?
Fast forward to today, though, and many of these same people are slandering the president, posting lies about him as though they were facts, without at all confirming what is true. Anyone who has read my past blogs about religion knows that I have journeyed from coming to the Lord to eventually coming to my senses. Even though there are verses that have created friction, as well as all-out wars, I still appreciate the positive messages to be found in the Bible, from loving thy neighbor to doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, but there is another one that I think I need to heed, Proverbs 20:19: Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
When it comes to these "simple babblers," here is the thing that is most apparent: It really wasn't God's will that these people wanted, but their own. However, they will make excuses, all in the name of religion, to justify their actions, in spite of the fact that Romans 13:1 states: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Again, I don't believe in the infallibility of the Bible, but as for me and my house, I will not associate with these babblers.