Red Letter

What we would
rather think
if we had a heart
to think such a thing
as that we are no worse
nor any better
than anyone else,
but then our minds
get in the way
of what we are feeling,
and our thoughts
get clouded
with the ruminations
of our insecurities
and the next thing
we know, we have
created a religion out
of our fears.

Why don't we
let go?
Why do we
always expect
others to let go first?

Why can't we
allow that life
is not made up
of secure moments
but rather is a response
to the insecurities
of the reality
we all live in?

Some may feel
that I am a peacenik
and have no backbone
to defend myself
but I would rather think
that the TV
I bought at Wal-Mart
is not worth a human life
and I really don't care
if they steal it or not.

I find it interesting
that people will predict
that this necessarily
means that others
will walk all over me
and leave me for dead.

They say that
if I don't accept Christ
as my Personal Lord
and Savior then
I am going to hell.

I point out that
the Lord
of the Universe
would not need
my permission
to be my Personal Lord.

I point out that
the words
"Personal Lord
and Savior"
are not found
in the Bible.

I point out that
if they really
believed that
they would spend
every day
and night working
on behalf
of that belief
by telling
everyone
door to door
about Jesus
morning, noon,
and night
because every
person
they do
not reach
may go
to hell
and have
an eternal torture
because
of their laziness,
but they retort
that they
need a life
and can't be
preaching
all the time.

And I ask them
if they still sin
and they say yes
and I tell them
to straighten out
their own lives
first before they come
and bother me
with their hypocrisy
and they tell me that
God forgives them
because they believe.

And I ask them
what sins
they commit
and they say
it doesn't matter
because
they are forgiven.

And I say
then it does not matter
if I believe
and they say yes it does
and I say no it doesn't, because
they have to ask
for forgiveness
when if they had had enough faith
they would never sin,
and they look at me
like I am insane.

They have only
enough faith
to take up an offense
for God
but not enough
to be faithful
themselves.

And so I see
their religion
as being an outgrowth
of fear.
The fear they have
is for being judged
when they themselves
judge all the time.

Interesting.  
Forgiveness.  
I would rather
go on.

Signed, God

runningturtle87