The Mighty Viking

I‘d like to say this about that: 

Tonight‘s Viking Sacrifice:

Moral Superiority.  It can come from many sources.  We think of it most often when we are reminded and enjoined to bask in our own by pointing out the same frailty in others.  You don‘t need the name ofcacreligiin or deity to be guilty.  But stay with me here, I think you‘ll understand better if I just dive in.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

– Exodus 20:7

If your Religion makes you feel safe in this world – you may be practicing the wrong religion.

If you use your Religion past forgiveness and salvation, and right on through to moral superiority, you‘ve gotten on the wrong theological bus.

If your Religion is what brings you to political empowerment – to force others to accept your vision of morality or holiness, you are neither with God, nor with free men.

If you practice your Religion to attain wealth and blessing, you are both climbing the wrong mountain, and using gear not supplied by the God who‘s banner you claim to represent.

If your wear your Religion to be fashionably hip, you are throwing pearls into the pig-pen.

If you cover yourself in the mantle of Religion to be accepted, you are still a wolf, and you look ridiculous wearing sheep‘s clothing.

– Religion is a weapon of war for a battle waged beyond the physical realm.  It loses its power here, it lacks Essence. And without it‘s Essence, it loses its righteousness .

– Religion is a vehicle to a higher plane. Not only does it not travel well on the roads of this world, it‘s fuel source cannot be found here.  Consider this: if you‘re going somewhere here, you‘re not running on spiritual fuel.  You are not riding in a spiritual vehicle.

– Politics and Religion do not combine.  You cannot serve God and money/power.  We are not one in spirit if we are practicing political gamesmanship. The very core of politics produces division and a quest for dominion over others.  If one is not a free man, none are.

– The path to God is a narrow path, fraught with road hazards requiring a vessel of rigorous, specialized design.  It is of no use on the highways of society.   Choose your vehicle, and drive it to the destination for which it‘s made.

– The clothes of godliness do not call attention to ourselves, and thus serve no fashion purpose in this world.  They are utilitarian garments, for an environment in which vanity offers no protection.  And since their purpose is to glorify God, and not ourselves, the world sees them as ugly.

– And by the same token, if the Christianity you are wearing serves to make you acceptable to others, it is not authentic Christianity.  It is a disguise.  There is no godly use for disguise.

“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…

 …And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

If your religion is about anything else than this, maybe Religion isn‘t what you wanted.

Exodus 20:7 (“The Voice” translation)- “You are not to use My name for your own idle purposes, for the Eternal will punish anyone who treats His name as anything less than sacred.”