Bjcorbin's Blog

(Another one from the achieve)

There is a demonic force that thrives in religious atmospheres, and for the purposes of this writing, I will refer to it as the “spirit of religion.” Because it so often comes dressed in robes and vestments, it is easily mistaken for orthodoxy.

The spirit of religion seeks:

• to put boundaries around what is infinite
• to place conditions on that which is unconditional
• to discredit anything that cannot be rationalized and reproduced
• to have us view other people as our source of connection to God, as opposed to viewing God as our source of connection to other people
• to redefine the “work of God” as something other than believing in the One whom He sent
• to inspire the church in the construction of an earthy replica of “the kingdom”, so that the genuine Kingdom does not come
• to keep us grasping, when we should be releasing

The spirit of religion opposes:

• spontaneity, because it understands the power that is released when God moves “suddenly”
• anything that puts our focus on the person of God, because when the body becomes connected to the head, all things become possible

The spirit of religion wants the church to accept:

• comfort as a substitute for healing
• ideas as a substitute for revelation
• activity as a substitute for fulfilling one’s true purpose
• stimulation as a substitute for manifestation
• recreation as a substitute for rest
• instant gratification as a substitute for renewed strength
• things done in the name of Jesus as a substitute for things done in His character
• intermediaries as a substitute for direct & personal connection
• symbols as a substitute for a living God
• earthly prosperity as a substitute for spiritual authority
• good form as a substitute for real substance
• morality as a substitute for being led by the Holy Spirit
• petition & declaration as a substitute for genuine communication with God
• the exaltation of men of God as a substitute for the exaltation of God Himself
• spiritual gifts as a substitute for Gods’ tangible presence
• government as a substitute for community
• accomplishment as a substitute for transformation
• what is seen as a substitute for what is unseen
• rituals as a substitute for relationship

The spirit of religion is always present at the funeral of revival