Religion is a basically a shame management system, often with the best intentions and always with the worst results. it appears to work externally but only drove the bondage even deeper. People are still addicted to shame and bounce between self-pity and self-glory, never finding freedom to the simple Life in CHRIST. Religion makes people think God want a cause and effect relationship with them, if they'll be good, he'll be good to them.....it sad that we thought we could press people into spiritual change, instead of helping them grow to trust Father more and find him changing them? You can’t press a caterpillar into a butterfly mold and make it fly. It has to be transformed from the inside.”

Religion keeps people busy and occupied with rituals and obligations, that they do not have time and energy to infect or bless the world with the Fathers Love, Don't go to CHURCH, BE THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ and HEAL the WORLD.....

Are you saying that to be religious is a waste of time and energy..what is wrong with obligations and rituals in religion..are you afraid of responsibities..whatever part of the divide you are, i want to make it known to you that from the day you were born, you are by default a religious beign,you engage on rituals daily without your knowledge.

@coputa.
You see, that is the same way religion makes us to think, but you have to be specific, obligations for what? rituals for what? Religion assumes that when we fulfill some activities they will be rewarded, but what religion does not do is to map those activities to the reward or results expected. am i washing my feet or taking my bath everyday, since you say i was born into that, to be clean and righteous before God or to just be hygienic? my position is very clear, what we currently do in order to please God, requires re-evaluations in the light of the WORD of GOD...try and let me know from scriptures what rituals you want to explore and then we can both have an understanding. All i see in Jesus is that through his CHURCH, he can reach the WORLD, its all about BEING...then we can touch the WORLD as HE did...

What intentions are you talking about,and what worst result did religion achieved..Religion is a belief system in an invisible being (God) which guides our lives and existence,it has added value to our individual lives.We are talking about spiritual issues here and not your assumed personal thoughts and opinions.,How do you mean by saying that christians are in bondage,is it by being dedicated and commited to their creator (God) through religious obligations and rituals,how do you wish it to be done,to sit at home drinking beer and wine is that how to glorify your (father) creator,anyway,i dont know what religion you practise,but you mentioned CHRIST. You must be aware that as a being you must have a relationship with (God) or (a Deity) and that relationship involves some laid down rules and covenants to adhere to,otherwise you are living in the dark.

@gl450

I get what you meant by being the church, but what are you realing saying about going to church?

@coputa.
Hi, i guess you are not listening to what i am saying but you are basically focusing on your definitions of religion. same thing was said to Martin Luther, i did not say Christians are in bondage. I only said READ the BIBLE and look at what Jesus DID for HUMANITY and Compare it to what you call CHRISTIANITY...I am not against peoples beliefs or their beliefs in GOD or their services and commitment, what i have clearly spelt it is RITUALS for WHAT? Jesus Said that TRUE Worshipers will worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH, a lot of the so called obligations, activities are for what? Even GOD got to a point where with the children of Israel he told them 'Away with your sacrifices". They focused more on the rituals than on a relationship with GOD. It it easy my dear sir to follow structure, ordinances, ritual because it makes men feel good that they are doing something and at least they will get some credit from God for it, if that is the case now, we don't need Jesus...we just try as much as we can and hope we meet up. That is what religion does to peoples mindset...get me my dear sir,..ask yourself fundamental question, WHAT DID JESUS DO...why did Jesus even come, the word of GOD is very clear, "“When this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.” (Heb 10:12)" All i am saying...Jesus DID something that FREED MEN from the obligations and rituals of any religious system that exists....

@Pastor Olu
Hello Pastor Sir,
What i am saying is that going to church has been substituted for BEING the CHURCH, so people feel OK after a Sunday service that yes i have gone to church and its OK, what i am saying is we need to go further than that. i could not believe myself one day some few years ago that an incident happened and i was panicking and did not know what to do and i have been going to church since my childhood...name the ministry i have been there...then i started to read the WORD of GOD line by line, letter by letter and praying in the Holy Ghost for hours....then i realized what has been happening...Jesus DID not DIE for me to go CHURCH every Sunday or join a group...BUT HE CAME THAT I SHOULD Have LIFE and USE THAT LIFE TO REACH the world..my dear sir,,,,THE CHRISTIAN is the ONE THAT HAS BEEN SENT TO HEAL the WORLD...ONE BELIEVER is equally SUFFICIENT at any point in TIME to be the SOLUTION CENTRE for all THE WORLD TODAY..ONLY IF WE CAN SEE OUR SELF as CHRIST SEES US...can you imagine if JESUS is somewhere in the DESERT TODAY, that the WHOLE WORLD will flood there...and YET the SAME SPIRIT of Christ is in US today, the only difference is our priorities are different...we have substituted that LIFE with our conventional and traditional systems and people have learned to LEAN on them and rarely stop to THINK and ask "WHAT is this THING (CHRISTIANITY) really really about"...I am Learning everyday now..and i am made up my mind to walk with the HOLY SPIRIT through the WORD of GOD to search out this LIFE of CHRIST in ME so that someday, somewhere a man or woman in need of help can be liberated and set loose to LIVE and not give some nonsense excuse that GOD knows best....(something not once recorded of JESUS for everybody he came across...) he touched everybody in all circumstances of this life..we should MIRROR the SAME....(apologies for the long response, just to give more background on the context i am referring to)