April 30, 2009
Religious Drugs
Nitrous Oxide is a chemical compound used as a fuel for some forms of race cars.
It's also used as an anesthetic. You might be more familiar with it by its more
common name of laughing gas.
Laughing gas got its name because it creates a relaxed euphoria in the people
who inhale it. Every now and then it appears on the scene as a highly dangerous
recreational drug. The interesting thing about those who inhale laughing gas or
use other forms of recreational drugs is their mood changes dramatically without
any change in their circumstance.
Of course that is part of the appeal of the drug scene. You escape reality for a
while and don't have to deal with whatever problems you are facing. Like all
artificial escapes the use of drugs generally creates more problems in the long
run which means more drug use to hide them and the cycle spirals downwards.
That isn't just true of drugs.
Even religion can be used to escape reality. We can hide in the rituals of
religion and put off dealing with our problems drawing ever deeper into the
religious practices and rites associated with them.
That's one reason true Christianity is not a religion. It is of course primarily
about a relationship with God, but living for Christ does not isolate us from
our problems. Walking in faith and striving to become like Jesus brings us face
to face with our problems and issues.
God isn't interested in us hiding our issues and our baggage. He wants to bring
it right out into the forefront where it can be dealt with and changed. He wants
to purify and cleanse us from the inside out and not just allow us to hide from
the world and ourselves in rituals.
In many ways being a Christian is difficult precisely because God is in the
transformation business. He transforms our hearts, our minds and our will. He
loves us and accepts us just where we are when we come to Him, but He loves us
too much to allow us to stay there.
When we change from the inside out we are truly transformed.
God calls us to change, not simply hide.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will
is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
He wants to make us more like Jesus.
Until next time, instead of hiding in religion, may you open your heart up to
true life transformation though Christ.
Blessings to you!
Darrel Mason