To the People of Athens, Georgia, and to All Who Have an Ear to Hear

RELIGION

Why do we continue to want to live under a term that keeps us in bondage? We have all these MAN made titles that we place on God’s Church. We say “my grandmother went to this church, that’s why I go”. We say “He’s been the pastor here for 30 years and the church has really grown.” My questions are, have you? When we say “grown”, are we talking building, congregation--- or are we talking in knowledge of the TRUTH? WHY do we have all these church names that show separation---terms that say we are different? Why do we have good speakers rather than good teachers? Why do we go every Sunday to hear one scripture read and a lot of moaning and groaning? We then exit and can’t tell anyone what we learned or what the pastor talked about. We come powerless and leave powerless. It’s time to hear what’s been there all along! It’s time to hear the grace of God and All Christ did for you and me on the cross! It’s time for you to truly understand how much Jesus loves you. It’s time for you to stop taking the beatings and feelings of condemnation. It’s time for you to know that, YOU DON’T GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF SIN!!!!!!!

People, our young are refusing to be manipulated by these religious tactics---all these rules and regulations. There were times when I came out of church saying, “boy the preacher read my mail today”; “he really stepped on my toes”. As I began to study the Bible for myself, I began to wonder, what’s good about having your mail read or your toes stepped on? Then God showed me, that this is not the gospel! The word Gospel means GOOD NEWS. There is nothing good about feeling condemned or feeling like I’m just an old sinner. Paul states in Romans 1:16 NKJV “I am not shamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Paul called it the “gospel of Christ”. In Galatians 1:7 NKJV, Paul says “there is no other”, yet we continue to want to put aside the Good News of Christ. It’s all in the line of manipulation: saying that you have to pay your tithes or God will take it in other ways or you have to come to church every Sunday or else. You’ve got to do this and you’ve got to do that---all this is to keep people under the wings of man. The right term for this is “bondage”. This is not the gospel; this is the way of the Pharisees. The religious group, the group that Jesus asked in Mathew 15:3 NKJV, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” Let me say and make it clear, pay your tithes but not for fear that God is going to get you. If you are in a Bible based church and manipulation free, do not forsake the assembly. The grace of God will teach you in all things. Teach our young about the Good News of Christ.